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AI-based simulations for educational and assessment purposes are gaining global recognition. Informed by cultural comparison research, this study investigates cross-country variations in users' utilization and perceptions of a simulation-based assessment. Specifically, we conducted a comparative analysis between a sample of South African and Canadian students to uncover potential differences in assessment scores, communication patterns, and reactions vis-a-vis a simulation assessment for evaluating teamwork skills. Data were collected from over 500 undergraduate students in South Africa and Canada who completed a simulation assessment and reported their reactions and perceptions. The findings yielded several noteworthy observations. First, South African students attained higher assessment scores than Canadian students; although, the difference did not quite reach statistical significance at p < 0.05. Second, significant variations were observed in the quantity and style of communication. South African students used fewer words and more polite language, while Canadian students tended to use more decisive language and provided more explanations and help to their virtual teammates. Third, South African students were more likely to perceive their virtual teammates as "human" and were less concerned whether they were real people or virtual. Lastly, compared with their Canadian counterparts, South African students reported more positive reactions and perceived the assessment to be more accurate. These findings warrant further investigation.

Animal communication is an important aspect of ecology across taxa, and there is a growing area of research that examines how animals plastically adjust their signals to account for both abiotic and biotic factors. Song type use and the temporal plasticity of song have been described in many bird species, but as of yet, few studies have examined how song type use may change across both seasonal and diel timeframes, and no studies have considered individual‐level variation in plasticity. Using a hierarchical framework, we examined temporal patterns of primary and flight song use in ovenbirds (Seiurus aurocapilla; N = 21 individuals). We recorded ovenbird songs (N = 99,259) with autonomous recorders over 24‐hr periods once per week across a breeding season near Sault Ste. Marie, Canada. As predicted, the occurrence and frequency of both song types significantly decreased over the season and showed temporal separation over diel periods. Primary songs peaked at dawn and declined throughout the day, while flight songs peaked at dusk and night. Our results support that primary songs have multiple functions as they remained more frequent during dawn and morning across the breeding season, while flight songs likely serve an intersexual function as they decreased similarly for all diel periods as mating opportunities decreased. Individuals were consistent in how frequently they sang their primary songs, but not their flight songs, suggesting that flight songs are more plastically expressed. We highlight the importance of examining plasticity in animal communication at the individual level as we show that males significantly differed in both their song behaviours (random intercepts) and the seasonal plasticity (random slopes) in these behaviours. Integrating themes such as song type use, temporal plasticity, and individual variation will be important for examining the evolutionary mechanisms that shape animal communication systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

States that the history of frequently offered Saturday morning art classes in museums and university art departments is largely unknown. Traces the development of the earliest known North American example of such classes, the 1887 beginning of children's Saturday art classes in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (JDH)

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Three authors, all art teacher educators, explore the essential qualities of pedagogy that make teaching an art form in its own right. Pedagogy is first looked at from a social perspective, as a special kind of relationship between teacher and learner. Continuing the belief that understanding be embodied in praxis, teaching is then considered as performance. The third part expands on the theme of pedagogy as transformation, drawing from the author's conviction that she and her art education students are participants in a community of artists who teach. The three parts interact in an attempt to rediscover and reclaim the art in teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for reference materials for quality control of analysis of foodstuffs has been stressed frequently. This has been particularly true in the phycotoxins field, where there is a great shortage of both pure calibration standards and reference materials. Worldwide there are very few independent bodies that produce certified reference materials for phycotoxins, the main producers currently being the National Research Council Canada and the Japanese Food Research Laboratory. Limited availability of contaminated shellfish and algae, as well as the time and knowledge necessary for the production of adequate reference materials, continuously lead to limited editions of certified reference materials and even more limited production of in-house reference materials. The restricted availability of in-house quality control materials promotes the rapid use of the limited certified reference materials, which in turn hampers the production of the suite of materials required globally for complete protection of public health. This paper outlines the various options that analysts can pursue in the use of reference materials for internal and external quality control, with a view to optimising the efforts of both reference materials users and reference materials producers. For this purpose, the logical sequence is reviewed from the discovery of a new bioactive compound in shellfish, through initial method development up to regulation for food safety purposes including accepted reference methods. Subsequently, the requirements for and efforts typically spent in the production and characterisation of laboratory reference materials, certified reference materials and other test materials used in inter-laboratory studies or proficiency testing, in the area of marine biotoxins are evaluated. Particular emphasis is put on practical advice for the preparation of in-house reference materials. The intricate link between reference material characterisation and method performance is outlined to give guidance on the appropriate in-house method validation in the rapidly developing field of phycotoxins. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explains how senior high school students increased their ability to critically analyze the visual images that bombard them daily through television by making a videotape which involved the students in critiquing the paintings of Francis Silver. (JDH)

We experimentally evaluated the effect of predator removal on mallard (Anal platyrhynchos) duckling survival in south-central Saskatchewan, Canada, in 2000 and 2001. Previous predatorremoval research has focused on nest success, but our study was the first to document an effect on duckling survival. We compared 4 control sites (no predator removal) with 4 treatment sites where professional trappers removed common nest predators. Survival of 686 ducklings from 78 broods was determined using radiotelemetry and periodic counts of ducklings. Duckling survival was higher on predator-removal sites relative to control sites in 2000 and 2001 and negatively correlated with hatch date in 2000. Results of analyses including and excluding hatch date as a covariate suggest that hatch date was confounded with predator removal (i.e., predator removal influenced hatch dates). Based on these results, we concluded that duckling survival was affected by predator removal in 2 ways. First, predator removal increased duckling survival by removing predators that likely caused total brood loss. Second, in-the-year hatch date was negatively correlated with duckling survival, earlier average hatch dates on predator-removal areas contributed to increased duckling survival. Combining the 2 effects and averaging over years, 30-day duckling survival was 0.573 (90% CI: 0.492 to 0.657) on predator-removal sites and 0.357 (90% CI: 0.275 to 0.456) on control sites. We concluded that predator-removal efforts conducted primarily to increase nest success of upland-nesting ducks also increased survival of mallard ducklings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which summarized the development of Quebec's Zones d'Exploitation Controlee (ZECs) system, a delegated management which provide local management of fish and wildlife in rural Quebec. Origin of the local resource management system; Principles of the ZEC system; Quebec's unique history and attitudes toward restricted access.

Describes results of an empirical investigation of variation in reforestation among different types of forest tenure in British Columbia. Management indicators that have been compared across four major forms of forest tenure; Technique adopted to examine factors that are affecting reforestation measures.