The use of case studies in the context of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is described. A rationale for the use of a problem-based approach is given together with some key features that arise. Two case studies are described briefly in terms of their relevance to an interdisciplinary subject area (Environmental Sciences), their content, some operational aspects, and their applicability in the teach...

Learning a language by parameter setting is almost certainly less onerous than composing a grammar from scratch. But recent computational modeling of how parameters are set has shown that it is not at all the simple mechanical process sometimes imagined. Sentences must be parsed to discover the properties that select between parameter values. But the sentences that drive learning cannot be pars...

We introduce an algorithm for learning a local metric to a continuous input space that measures distances in terms of relevance to the processing task. The relevance is defined as local changes in discrete auxiliary information, which may be for example the class of the data items, an index of performance, or a contextual input. A set of neurons first learns representations that maximize the mu...

Foraging insect pollinators such as bees must find and identify flowers in a complex visual environment. Bees use skylight polarization patterns for navigation, a capacity mediated by the polarization-sensitive dorsal rim area (DRA) of their eye. While other insects use polarization sensitivity to identify appropriate habitats, oviposition sites, and food sources, to date no nonnavigational fun...