Converting a date to acceptable format in excel

Currently, I am using Smart Sparrow to collect data for the effectiveness of using adaptive learning platforms to improve the pre-class experience of flipped learning.

Amongst the data, I want to collect is when a student completes the lesson.  If the student is completing the lesson too close to the deadline, his/her data needs to be interpreted differently than the one from who does it within a reasonable time frame.  The latter would help me to better address how the lesson can be improved as a student.  A student racing against the deadline would give unreliable data on how a lesson can be improved.

Smart Sparrow does track the time when a student completes the lesson but the format is as follows.

Dayth Month Year, Hour:Minute AM/PM format (e.g. 7th Sep 2017, 9:40am).

The data is downloadable as in a CSV format.  Unfortunately, they do not give day/time since epoch or in acceptable excel format to find the time difference between when the lesson was completed and the lesson deadline.  So I wrote a VBA module function ‘changedate’ to do this.  Here it is.

function changedate (DateTimeOriginal)
‘This program converts a date/time given in XXth Month Year, Time format
‘Example 19th Sep 2017, 9:40 am
‘to be converted to
’09/19/2017 9:40am
‘to acceptable excel format to subtract from other dates
‘declaring a 12 element long vector for months
Dim monthvector(11) As String
monthvector(0) = “JAN”
monthvector(1) = “FEB”
monthvector(2) = “MAR”
monthvector(3) = “APR”
monthvector(4) = “MAY”
monthvector(5) = “JUN”
monthvector(6) = “JUL”
monthvector(7) = “AUG”
monthvector(8) = “SEP”
monthvector(9) = “OCT”
monthvector(10) = “NOV”
monthvector(11) = “DEC”
‘Uppercasing the date for accurate comparison
DateTimeOriginal = UCase(Trim(DateTimeOriginal))
‘Length of input date

‘Adding a 0 in front if day of month is between 1-9 so that the
‘length of string is same for all dates
If IsNumeric(Mid(DateTimeOriginal, 2, 1)) = False Then DateTimeOriginal = “0” + DateTimeOriginal

‘Capturing Day Number
daynumber = Mid(DateTimeOriginal, 1, 2)

‘Capturing the Year
yearnumber = Mid(DateTimeOriginal, 10, 4)

‘Capturing the Month
For i = 1 To 12
If Mid(DateTimeOriginal, 6, 3) = (monthvector(i – 1)) Then
monthnumber = Str(i)
End If
Next

‘Capturing time of day
timenumber = Right(DateTimeOriginal, 8)

‘Writing the date in acceptable format
changedate = monthnumber + “/” + daynumber + “/” + yearnumber + ” ” + timenumber
changedate = Trim(changedate)
End Function

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Badges added to MOOC courses

In response to the MOOC students of the numerical methods courses, we have added badges to every module in the course. Simply answer the quiz questions at the end of each module and you will see a badge in your grades.  We are exploring how we can provide certificates for the course.

We have a two-part MOOC course on Numerical Methods

To enroll in the courses, avoid the upper given links as it may ask you for elusive “join code”. Simply go to https://canvas.net. Search for numerical methods. Click on the course of your choice. Click on enroll at bottom of screen. You will not need a “join code”.

You can also register at https://learn.canvas.net/register

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Covariance between residuals and predictor variable is zero for a linear regression model.

Prove that covariance between residuals and predictor (independent) variable is zero for a linear regression model.

The pdf file of this blog is also available for your viewing.

covariance error predictor variable zero Page 1covariance error predictor variable zero Page 2
The pdf file of this blog is also available for your viewing.

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Sum of the residuals for the linear regression model is zero.

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A MATHCOUNTS problem solution via abstraction

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the textbooks on

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Unexpected zeros error in MATLAB in zeros function

YouTube Comment: This MATLAB program gives me an error.  W=2.4; L=3; Delta=0.6; i=(W./Delta)+2; j=(L./Delta); T=zeros(i,j); . When I write 0.1 for Delta, there is an error for zeros statement.

Answer: When writing a new program, avoid using the semicolon as it suppresses the output. Write each line separately in a .m file and run the mfile. That way you would have noticed that “i” is turning out to be a real number. It shows up as 26.0000 but if you use format long statement, you will see that you get 25.999999999999996. You can round(i) and round(j) to the nearest integer. The reason “i” turns out to be 25.999999999999996 is because of roundoff error, as numbers and calculations get represented in binary format.

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Using Smart Sparrow as Clickers

In Fall 2017, I will be using Smart Sparrow platform to improve the efficacy of the flipped classroom for pre-class learning.  I have been using clickers in the classroom for the last ten years and stumbled on this link https://www.best.edu.au/2016/02/11/using-a-smart-sparrow-poll-an-alternative-to-classroom-clickers.html.  This link shows how to use Smart Sparrow to do polling in the class, and hence is an alternative to clickers for my class. This will save my students money and also save them from having to navigate another platform for use of personal response systems.  I will move the clicker questions over in Fall 2017 and use them in Spring 2018.  Yes, it is a long time from now, but you do not have to wait.

New Picture (1)

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Getting Started on Smart Sparrow Adaptive Platform

May 13, 2017

Autar Kaw

We are developing content for a course in Numerical Methods on the Smart Sparrow adaptive platform. There is a learning curve for you to get started but it does not have to be difficult.  To get going, we propose the following.

  1. Watch this YouTube Smart Sparrow playlist to get an overview (22 minutes of video).
  2. This tutorial video will help you make your first lesson (52 minutes long).
  3. This tutorial from Learning Solutions magazine illustrates the authoring environment.
  4. The knowledge base for Smart Sparrow is an essential resource and I would concentrate just on the creating lessons part first.
  5. Then there is always the dependable support available by emailing to support@smartsparrow.com or by filling an online form.

In our future blogs, we will be illustrating our use of Smart Sparrow in the development of our lessons by creating tutorials based on generic content.

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Prerequisite Example for Newton Raphson Method

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