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Abstract. We propose a method for controlling Gaussian mixture splitting in HMM states during the training of acoustic models. The method is based on introducing special criteria of mixture quality in every state. These criteria are calculated over a separate part of the speech database. We back up states before splitting and revert to saved copies of the states whose criteria values have decreased, which makes it possible to optimize the number of Gaussians in the GMMs of the states and to prevent overfitting. The models obtained by such training demonstrate improved recognition rate with a significantly smaller number of Gaussians per state.

The purpose of the paper is to examine crucial needs, pedagogical issues and challenges of redesigning and developing courses for training MBA students about the kind of decision problems that they are increasingly called upon to analyse. The paper will view both the "supply side" and the "demand side". The "supply side" refers to the desired course content in terms of balance between theoretical knowledge, domain knowledge and business applications. The "demand side" refers to the corporate recruiting point of view, type of career paths open to graduates in various functional areas like corporate finance, investment banking, manufacturing, marketing and traditional MIS departments.

The main principles of Sizer's "Coalition of essential schools" project in the US, and Chen's "Kramim school" project in Israel, two "school of the future" projects, are presented. ITEM's possible contribution to each of their principles is exemplified. It is argued that ITEM is indispensable in the school of the future, especially as a tool for enhancing school leadership, change introduction and management and, for teaching and learning evaluation. The "school of the future" still has to evolve and current ITEM systems will have to be redesigend to serve its emerging pedagogical and administrative needs.

The purpose of the paper is to identify the basic requirements for a network centric education and learning and to discuss the technological developments that enable the applications of educational multimedia over the network. Some of these applications will be reviewed as well as the problems ("balkanization", inequality and economical cost) associated with the positive and the negative impact of the network centric society.