IMMEX News

What's Happening!

2011-04-17T09:50:00.000-07:00

is a worldwide leader in developing models of how students develop 21st century problem solving skills. The company's IMMEX™ software assisted learning in more than 150,000 students in classrooms internationally by integrating these multimedia simulations into a unique web-based learning platform for modeling strategic thinking and problem solving. These models help teachers teach, students learn, and administrators make informed educational decisions through the continual, and real-time evaluation problem solving progress. We accomplish this by leveraging existing proprietary libraries of tasks, data sets and advance intelligence-derived performance models, and then extending them with cutting-edge technologies such as second-by-second EEG-derived models of workload, engagement and distraction. During the past five years The Learning Chameleon, Inc. has applied these technologies and developed Team NeuroDynamics. While most people can recognize if a team is in the groove or out of synch, it is more difficult to predict when changes in the state will occur, yet having this ability would be important for dynamically adapting team performance. If we can predict when a team is going out of synch we can provide real-time feedback to help prevent performance errors, lapses in communication or lapses in attention. In this way the company, like its name sake successfully blends within and across educational and assessment environments. Please check out our new website for more information and thank you for your continued support!

Behavior Representation in Modeling & Simulation (BRIMS) Conference 2011

2011-03-17T10:57:00.000-07:00

Dr. Ron Stevens is presenting a paper on Linking Models of Team Neurophysiologic Synchronies for Engagement and Workload with Measures of Team Communication at The 20th Behavior Representation in Modeling & Simulation (BRIMS) Conference 2011. A poster named Mapping Cognitive Attractors during Submarine Piloting and Navigation will also be presented by Dr. Stevens at the same conference.

For more information on Team Neurophysiologic Synchronies and Team Neurodynamics, see the web site http://www.teamneurodynamics.com/.

The Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation & Education Conference (I/ITSEC)

2010-12-07T23:04:00.000-08:00

Dr. Ron Stevens presented: A Neurophysiologic Approach for Studying Team Cognition presentation at this year's Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference, November 29 - December 2, 2010, in Orlando, FL, at the Orange County Convention Center. I/ITSEC is the world’s largest simulation and modeling event. The manuscript was co-authored by Trysha Galloway, Chris Berka and Adrienne Behneman. A copy of the publication may be found here.

Human Factors and Ergonomics Society

2010-12-07T22:43:00.000-08:00

Author Dr. Ron Stevens presented: Temporal Sequences of Neurophysiologic Synchronies can Identify Changes in Team Cognition at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society held at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco from September 27 through October 1 and was attended by more than 1,590 members and nonmembers from the United States and around the world. The manuscript was co-authored by Chris Berka, Trysha Galloway, and Adrienne Behneman. A copy of the publication is here.

Developing Systems for The Rapid Modeling Of Team Neurodynamics.

2010-12-07T22:19:00.000-08:00

During the month of April, the IMMEX team collected data and developed working modules for NS real-time analysis. The development of these generic artificial neural network (ANN) and Hidden Markov Modeling (HMM) models has enabled the construction of web-based software (by Peter Wang) for researchers studying team dynamics where they can submit the individual EEG-E or EEG-WL raw files for three or six members of a team and receive detailed reports showing the dynamics of NS Pattern and NS state expression on a second by second basis. Screen shots of the input and report pages are shown below. While the software is not yet ready for real-time analysis, we should likely have such a version in several months.

Accelerated Learning 2010

2010-12-07T21:30:00.000-08:00

In continuation IMMEX’ research as part of DARPA/Defense Science Office’s Accelerated Learning Program, our experts in Team Neurosynchrony collected neurophysiologic indices at The Submarine Learning Center while Junior Officers of the Submarine Officers Advanced Course (SOAC) practiced Submarine Piloting and Navigation (SPAN) simulations. The Submarine Learning Center is accountable for all undersea curriculums, training delivery methodologies, and for developing and maintaining professional development continuums for all undersea warfare.

Changes in Team Neurophysiologic Synchronies During Concept Mapping in Chemistry

2010-12-07T21:14:00.000-08:00

As part of a study to determine the broad applicability of using EEG-derived Neuroophysiologic Synchronies(NS) as a measure of team cognition, Trysha Galloway, John Stallings and Peter Wang of the IMMEX team collected neurophysiological baseline and experimental data (using the Advanced Brain Monitoring B-Alert© system) from high school students taught by Master Teacher Marcia Sprang, Ph.D. at Esperanza High School. Two teams of 3 students engaged in a Concept Mapping task on the topic of periodic trends. Their task was to "Develop a concept map for periodic trends of elements and ions that includes the trends and underlying reasons in detail for the trends". We anticipated that there would be periods of brainstorming followed by periods of construction of the concept map, and visual analysis seems to confirm this. The data from these studies is undergoing further analysis and is being incorporated into generic network models.

2010 Behavior Representation in Modeling and Simulation

2010-12-03T19:20:00.000-08:00

Dr. Ron Stevens presented: The Identification and Application of Neurophysiologic Synchronies for Studying the Dynamics of Teamwork at the 2010 Behavior Representation in Modeling and Simulation (Brims) annual conference held at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina in Charleston, South Carolina on March 22-March 25, 2010. Co-Authors on the manuscript are: Trysha Galloway, Chris Berka, and Adrienne Behneman. A copy of the publication may be found under our publications link.

IMMEX Site Is Moving

2010-07-27T12:58:00.000-07:00

After over 100,000 student participants and nearly a million problem solving performances the IMMEX system is going to be moved from this URL at the end of July. Check back from time to time to IMMEX.COM for future directions of the IMMEX project including the real-time detection and analysis of the neurodynamics of teams.

- Ron Stevens and Team IMMEX

Recruiting Research Subjects for the Identification and Application of Neurophysiological Synchronies for Studying the Dynamics of Teamwork

2010-04-21T11:13:00.000-07:00

We are currently conducting a research study to measure brain activity, while engaged in problem solving exercises. Specifically electroencephalograph (EEG) indices of attention, workload and visual-spatial memory load will be measured. The objective is to combine simultaneous neurophysiologic signals from team members, to develop pattern categories called neurophysiologic synchronies that can be related to the second-by-second activities of teams. These studies were initiated with funding from the National Science Foundation and DARPA, the results of the research are intended to enhance the training and performance of teams on complex Real-World tasks.

For additional information please contact: Trysha Galloway Email: Trysha@Immex.com

Thank you in advance for considering this request.

BRIMS Paper Accepted

2010-03-01T10:03:00.000-08:00

The manuscript titled Identification and Application of Neurophysiologic Synchronies for Studying the Dynamics of Teamwork has been accepted for the 19th Behavior Representation in Modeling & Simulation (BRIMS) Conference which will be held March 22-25, 2010 at the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina, Charleston, SC.
In this paper we describe a process for collecting and combining neurophysiologic signals derived from individual members of a team to develop pattern categories showing the normalized expression of these signals at each second for the team as a whole. The expression of different neurophysiologic synchrony patterns is sensitive to changes in the behavior of teams over time and perhaps to the level of expertise. The utility and limitations of using this approach are demonstrated for three tasks including a team emotion recall research study, an educational study where teams of high school students solved substance abuse simulations and a complex training study where Submarine Officer Advanced Candidate trainees performed submarine piloting and navigation exercises.
Ron Stevens and Trysha Galloway from the IMMEX Project as well as Chris Berka and Adrienne Behneman from Advanced Brain Monitoring are co-authors of the paper. Once the proceedings are published we will link a copy of the paper at our Publications site.

Learning Trajectories

2009-12-07T13:44:00.000-08:00

Authors: Ron Stevens, Carole Beal, and Marcia Sprang had their paper published in the Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Computers in Education, Hong Kong: Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education.

Titled Tracking the Development of Problem Solving Skills with Learning Trajectories this manuscript includes analyses of problem solving approaches for 1,650 chemistry students using multiple measures. The manuscript can be found in our publications list or link here

HFES 2009

2009-10-21T11:31:00.000-07:00

Ron Stevens, Director of the IMMEX Project will present at a technical session at the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 53rd Annual Meeting, October 19-23, 2009, San Antonio, TX.
In the session that covers Human Performance Modeling, Ron will present findings on Neurophysiologic Collaboration Patterns During Team Problem Solving.

A copy of the manuscript accepted for publication in the meeting's proceedings can be found at our publications link.

HCI International 2009

2009-07-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

Ron Stevens, Director of the IMMEX Project presented at the 13th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (July 19-24, San Diego, CA). In the Augmented Cognition category under the topic; Adaptive Instruction, Dr. Stevens presented Can Neurophysiologic Synchronies Provide a Platform for Adapting Team Performance?
The poster session was attended by Trysha Galloway from the IMMEX Project. A scaled version of her poster Can Neurophysiologic Synchronies be Detected During Collaborative Teamwork is available here.

IMMEX Tutorials

2009-04-29T13:37:00.000-07:00

New tutorials have been created to explain Teacher Registration and the process of Staging a New Class. You may play the tutorials in a java-enabled browser with a Flash player.

Enhanced Date / Time Display for Improved User Experience

2009-04-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

Time Zone Preference
IMMEX recently introduced a new feature that allows the user to specify the preferred time zone when displaying date / time information. This new feature enables the user to visualize data in any specified time zone thus eliminates the need to mentally convert the displayed data from the server time zone. To take advantage of this new feature, go into Settings after logging in and select the preferred Local Time Zone under the Time Zone Option. For a step by step guide on how to change your Time Zone preference, see the Step-by-step Guide To Changing Time Zone Preference.

PROBLEM SET OF THE MONTH - January 2009

2009-01-22T14:34:00.000-08:00

RXN
Periodically IMMEX will highlight a problem set that has significant research data and/or potential.
RXN is a chemistry problem (RXN stands for reaction). Use your knowledge of Endothermic and Exothermic reactions to balance chemical equations, interpret particulate diagrams, determine ratios, and solve for unknowns.
To see the Prolem Profile, Statistics, Interactive Data, and more click here.

Data Downloads Available In Digital Dashboard

2008-12-30T11:48:00.000-08:00

A new update of IMMEX has just been released. The update is automatically applied when you log in. You will not have to do anything to take advantage of this new update.

This new update brings you the ability to download QuadScore data when using the Digital Dashboard. For a brief overview and tutorial of the IMMEX Digital Dashboard, please click on the icon on the left or use this link

PROBLEM SET OF THE MONTH - November 2008

2008-11-02T16:45:00.000-08:00

Which Plasmid is It?
Each month IMMEX will highlight a problem set that has significant research data and/or potential.
You need to use molecular biology techniques to determine which plasmid is in the container. From your lab book and invoices you know what the possible plasmids are.
While using the provided "Student Guide", the student takes notes on the various characteristics of the particular plasmid, including antibiotic resistance and restriction sites. Using data from the digests the student puts together a profile of the plasmid and uses an elimination strategy to determine the solution to the problem.
To see the Prolem Profile, Statistics, Interactive Data, and more click here.

PROBLEM SET OF THE MONTH - October 2008

2008-10-02T11:38:00.000-07:00

HAZMAT
Each month IMMEX will highlight a problem set that has significant research data and/or potential.
This month's selection is designed for high school, and freshman level chemistry students.
Hazmat, is a qualitative analysis problem, in which the student must identify an unknown compound based on the results of the physical and chemical tests that s/he requests within the problem space.
A volume of research findings has been published and/or presented on the data collected from this versitle problem set.
To see the Prolem Profile, Statistics, Interactive Data, and more click here.

Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 52nd Annual Meeting

2008-09-25T13:44:00.000-07:00

Ron Stevens, Director of the IMMEX Project presented findings at the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 52nd Annual Meeting in New York.
The session titled: FOUNDATIONS OF AUGMENTED COGNITION was chaired by Joseph Cohn, DARPA; & cochair: Sherry Ogreten, U. of Central Florida Inst. for Simulation and Training.
The following authors contributed to the manuscript: Stevens, R. H., Galloway, T., Berka, C., Johnson, R. & Sprang, M.
The manuscript published in the meeting's proceedings; Assessing Student’s Mental Representations of Complex Problem Spaces with EEG Technologies can be found under our list of publications or click here.

New Version of IMMEX

2008-09-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

A new version of IMMEX is now available to the general public immediately at the time of this announcement. The IMMEX Research and Development team has been hard at work to bring some new features and enhancements to our users. The most notable feature is our new Digital Dashboard that will enable teachers to view an instant snapshot of how the students are progressing in each class. Other enhancements include improved performance, more flexible Staging, and even more robust security.
A handout is available to guide you in the use of the Digital Dashboard

PROBLEM SET OF THE MONTH - September 2008

2008-09-01T14:40:00.000-07:00

Paul's Pepperoni Pizza
Each month IMMEX will highlight a problem set that has significant research data and/or potential.
This month's selection is designed for 3rd grade math students but is often used as an introductory problem for more advanced students.
There are nine cases in the problem set which ask the student to determine how many pizzas were ordered for the Stinger's baseball team. Sometimes you're given the size of the pizzas, sometimes not, which adds a degree of difficulty. Other factors must be considered in order to calculate a solution.
Also note our first look at the IMMEX Digital Dashboard which is availalbe for preview ...more

IMMEX Data Visualizations Reviewed at Tableau Customer Conference

2008-07-23T11:24:00.000-07:00

Tableau Software publishers of powerful analytic and visualization software held their first ever customer conference in Seattle, WA. The sold-out conference features industry experts, hands-on training sessions, and customer case studies. As part of the sessions featuring Best Practices, the IMMEX Project provided a challenging assortment of complex data for experts to review and improve upon. The goal is to recognize good visual analysis techniques and to offer constructive real-time advice on how to improve and enhance data visualization. Trysha Galloway from the IMMEX Project attended the conference.

Distinguished Visitors from Shanghai

2008-06-17T11:37:00.000-07:00

The Shanghai Principal Delegation consisting of ten outstanding school principals from China's largest city, traveled to California in June to study innovative educational practices. Their itinerary brought them to the IMMEX Software Development Lab for morning presentations and hands-on problem-solving simulations. Following the exercises the group analyzed each other’s performances using IMMEX reporting tools. The group performed well on their problem simulations and their analysis was very productive. Other stops on the three week tour included UCLA's campus and the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena.

Journal of Chemical Education

2008-06-02T11:40:00.000-07:00

Journal of Chemical Education has published the manuscript entitled An Assessment of the Effect of Collaborative Groups on Students' Problem-Solving Strategies and Abilities in their June 2008, (Volume 85, No. 6, pp. 866-872) issue. This paper reports the use of a suite of software tools and pedagogies to probe the effectiveness of using small group interaction to improve problem solving. Data modeling using artificial neural nets (ANN), hidden Markov modeling (HMM), and item response theory (IRT) is discussed. Authors: Cooper, Melanie M.; Cox, Charles T., Jr.; Nammouz, Minory; Case, Edward; Stevens, Ronald.

Beta Testing of Rapid Sequence Strategies

2008-04-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

Students at Esperanza High School in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District were the first to sample a new experimental approach designed to measure students' understanding of content in complex problem spaces. Students with experience solving the HAZMAT chemistry simulation were shown rapid sequences of test results from the problem and asked whether or not the sequence represents a successful approach to a particular solution. Each image is displayed for only 1.5 seconds and each stack of test results contained between six and 22 images. The sequence repeats until the student makes a decision. Students were generally able to make dozens of decisions in the time allotted. Results showed that the groups became faster with each stack and accuracy increased.

Pedagogical Agents Introduced in IMMEX Problem-sets

2008-03-24T09:56:00.000-07:00

In a partnership with K12@USC, IMMEX has updated a number of problem sets with pedagogical agents developed in the K12@USC program. These agents provide strategy advice to assist learners to develop successful strategies for solving problems. Teachers can choose animated text or audio-visual animated agents. See the PDF Handout for more information.

New Substance Abuse Problem Sets Added

2008-02-01T09:57:00.000-08:00

IMMEX has added four additional SOS Problems brining the total to six. SOS problems deal with substance abuse and are set in the form of a reality TV show which proposes to expose an individuals underlying problems and assist the featured guest toward recovery. During "the show" you have access to the subject's behavior, employment, medical, academic, and personal records including email, voicemail and statements from friends and family. A scrolling timeline allows you to view and compare the content for up to a dozen events. SOS problems are the most complex IMMEX problems developed to date and are designed for students of behavioral and neuroscience.

NSF Supplemental Award

2007-11-02T10:04:00.000-07:00

Ron Stevens, Director of the IMMEX Project has received a supplemental award to his Research on Learning in Education (ROLE) grant from the National Science Foundation. The supplement will fund the publication of a book which will document the research activities and findings of Dr. Stevens and several of his collaborators from academia and business. The book (currently untitled) is scheduled for publication in 2009.

Best of Augmented Cognition International (ACI) 2007

2007-10-19T10:09:00.000-07:00

The manuscript: Allocation of Time, EEG-Engagement and EEG-Workload Resources as Scientific Problem-Solving Skills Are Acquired in the Classroom received "Best Of" recognition at the HUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS SOCIETY 51ST ANNUAL MEETING. Authors Ron Stevens, and Trysha Galloway from IMMEX, and Chris Berka from Advanced Brain Monitoring were present for the award ceremonies. The paper describes the results of compositing decision data captured using IMMEX software with simultaneous capture of workload and engagement data using EEG equipment. The entire manuscript is available for review in our publications list, or click here.

New Strategic Performance Maps Debut

2007-08-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

Strategic Performance Maps, aka Search Path Maps or SPM's are graphic representations of a student's performance strategy. Today's SPM's have a new look and feel. Under the new spreadsheet-style format a students step-by-step sequence toward a solution is much easier to decipher than before. With the addition of a frequency chart, it makes multiple views of a performance a thing of the past. Another advantage is the efficiency at which the SPM's are produced. Teachers will not have to wait for their downloads to begin while the IMMEX servers create their class SPM's. SPM's are created in advance so downloads begin as soon as the instruction is given. To see an example of our new SPM click here.

IMMEX Returns to China for Expanded Activities

2007-07-24T10:35:00.000-07:00

Ron Stevens, and Trysha Galloway from IMMEX, and Marcia Sprang from Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, together with educators from Beijing Normal University, met with national and regional ministers of education in Beijing. Partnerships were discussed to bring the IMMEX concept to new areas in China and develop cross-language/cultural problem-sets which support China's high educational standards.

IMMEX Authoring Workshop in Deerfield, Illinois

2007-06-18T10:45:00.000-07:00

IMMEX teamed with the Metiri Group to provide an authoring workshop for teachers in the Deerfield #109 School District outside of Chicago. 19 teachers working in teams created IMMEX problems for their elementary and middle school classes. Facilities were provided at Alan B Shephard Middle School for the week-long event. The workshop was one in a series of meetings involving Problem Solving Technology presented by Metiri.

IMMEX Delivers Professional Development Training in Foshan, China

2007-04-21T11:32:00.000-07:00

The IMMEX Team were invited to provide training to ~40 teachers in a series of workshops for the Chancheng School District, in China's Guangdong Province. Led by "Master Teacher" Dr. Marcia Sprang from the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District in California, the team provided logistics, technical support, teacher instruction, and guidance in a pilot study aimed at presenting innovative assessment tools to the Chinese educational community. more ...

New IMMEX Platform Deployed

2006-11-01T11:51:00.000-08:00

After several years of collecting performances, the original IMMEX platform was put to rest and replaced with a completely new design that incorporates the latest internet technologies.
This new platform enables much greater interaction with users and will allow us to develop learning models well into the future.

2005-05-24T17:57:00.000-07:00

Cell Biology Education has published the manuscript entitled Probabilities and Predictions: Modeling the Development of Scientific Problem Solving Skills in their Spring 2005 issue. This article documents the research of IMMEX data generated by molecular genetics students at UC Irvine over two years. The development of probabilistic models of undergraduate student problem solving in molecular genetics are shown, and the spectrum of strategies students use when problem solving, and how their strategic approaches evolve with experience are detailed.
Download the PDF version of the manuscript.