bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tax Security Methods Implemented in Selected OECD Countries
Authors: Tekin Ahmet , Gözen Serhat
Published: November 2019

Taxes have the most significant share among the usual income sources of states. Taxes, the most important part of public revenues, are considered as a burden on taxpayers and therefore this leads taxpayers to try some tax base erosive practices to minimize the tax burden. This situation necessitated states to take tax security measures to prevent revenue losses. Tax security measures are the institutions established to prevent tax base erosion primarily through taxpayers' declaration in fair manner by also including the autocontrol mechanism. Therefore, it is inevitable for the states which do not want to lose and suffer due to an erosion in their revenues to implement some tax security measures. In many countries today, various tax security measures are implemented. This chapter analyzes the tax security methods implemented in USA, Germany, and UK.
The Main Effects of MiFID on European Capital Markets and European Integration
Authors: Panagopoulos Athanasios
Published: November 2019

This chapter researches whether the application of European Directive MiFID had any significant effects on the European Capital Markets and the progress of the European Integration. This new regulation specifies the tasks and responsibilities of the supervisory authorities of the Member State of origin and the host Member State, to enhance the certainty of effectiveness of cross border transactions supervision and to reduce the risk of imposing unnecessary legal reforms from the host Member State on investment firms which perform cross border transactions. The author concludes, among others, that the aligning of the national regulatory approaches to a common European regulatory system is quite necessary. MiFID will contribute to reduce problems at country level as the previous experience of the Investment Services Directive, where the European investments and economies of Member States were based mainly on the level of “country” and not of the “sector”.
A Decision Support System for Sustainable Waste Collection
Authors: Strand Mattias , Syberfeldt Anna , Geertsen André
Published: November 2019

This paper presents a decision support system (DSS) for making the waste collection process more sustainable. Currently, waste collection schedules and routes are created manually in most waste management organizations. This is both very time consuming and likely to result in poor solutions, as the task is extremely difficult due to the large number of bins combined with the many parameters to be considered simultaneously. With a sophisticated DSS, it becomes possible to address the complexities of optimal waste collection and improve sustainability—not least from the environmental perspective. The DSS proposed here is designed to be used on the operational level in the waste management organization and supports daily operations and activities. System evaluation indicates that it can reduce truck operating time by approximately 25%, corresponding to a saving of approximately 21,300 kg of carbon dioxide and 187 kg of nitrogen oxides per year and truck.
SCOR Model and the Green Supply Chain
Authors: Akkucuk Ulas
Published: November 2019

Supply chain management (SCM) is a continually evolving field, relying on breaking down internal and external organizational barriers to gain efficiencies, improve customer support and increase flexibility, thereby resulting in lower costs and increased market share. An emerging area in supply chain practice is green SCM, which integrates environmental management with traditional SCM. Green supply chain management is seen as an important step companies need to take on the road to sustainable practices. SCOR Model (Supply Chain Operations Reference) has been developed by the Supply Chain Council (SCC now merged with APICS) in order to guide companies applying SCM principles. The GreenSCOR model was also developed as an integrated green SCM tool that allows companies to manage their supply chain's environmental impacts, resulting in more efficient operations which have minimal impact on the environment. This chapter will talk about how SCM principles can be modified to reduce the adverse effects of company operations on the environment, especially using the GreenSCOR model.
Water Quality Impacts of Abattoir Activities in Southern Africa
Authors: Mujere Never
Published: November 2019

The meat processing produces solid, liquid and gaseous wastes from stockyards, abattoirs and packing plants contain blood, fats, protein, gut contents, heavy metals, antibodies, hormones and other substances. Solid and liquid wastes can lead to an impairment or disruption of water eco-functionality and a preponderance of disease-causing organisms. In developing nations, many abattoirs dispose of their waste directly into streams or rivers and also use water from the same source to wash slaughtered meat. Most solid, liquid and gaseous wastes are released into the immediate environs of the abattoir. This chapter is a literature review of the impact of untreated slaughterhouse wastewater on water quality in selected areas of Southern Africa. The review shows that abattoir activities significantly reduced the physical, chemical and microbiological quality of water bodies. Although an improvement of the water quality was observed downstream, this was a result of self-purification and dilution effects.
Constructed Wetlands
Authors: Stefanakis Alexandros I.
Published: November 2019

Constructed Wetlands are an alternative, promising technology for water/wastewater treatment and pollution mitigation. They belong to the wider category of natural treatment systems. The main principle is to exploit natural materials (gravel, sand, plants) and naturally occurring processes under controlled conditions for treatment purposes. Constructed Wetlands have been characterized as an environmentally friendly, sustainable technology which provides multiple economic, ecological, technical and societal benefits. It is a rising technology which can be effectively used for domestic, municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, as also for sludge dewatering and drying. This chapter presents an overview of this eco-technology; its different types, main design considerations and various advantages over conventional treatment methods.
Geopolymer Sourced with Fly Ash and Industrial Aluminum Waste for Sustainable Materials
Authors: Onutai Sujitra , Jiemsirilers Sirithan , Kobayashi Takaomi
Published: November 2019

Geopolymer is alumino-silicate material which can apply for many applications due to that geopolymers have several attractive properties of high strength, low permeability, high acid resistance, hazardous materials, and immobilization of toxic materials. This chapter presents synthesis of the dense and the porous structures of geopolymer by using fly ash and industrial waste as the raw materials. Aluminum hydroxide waste (Al-waste) and fly ash (FA) were used to synthesis the dense geopolymers for cement materials. The Al-waste based geopolymer influenced the geopolymer strength, when sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentration was changed at different curing temperatures. As preliminary microwave oven was exposed in the lower NaOH paste of geopolymer, the successful synthesis of geopolymer cement was obtained. In addition, porous fly ash geopolymers was achieved using a household microwave oven. The geopolymer paste was cured within 1 min by using a microwave oven at different output power. Porous geopolymers were formed immediately as ued at 850 W power of the microwave oven.
Biological Treatment Technology for Landfill Leachate
Authors: Tajarudin Husnul Azan Bin , Othman Mohd Firdaus Bin , Serri Noor Aziah Binti , Tamat Muhammad Redzwan Bin
Published: November 2019

Biological process for environmental preservation and treatment is not a new technology. It was used a decade ago until now. The most important tools in biological processes are the microorganism and upstream instruments (bioreactor, pond and others) to run the process. Furthermore, the efficiency of the process depends on many factors such as temperature, pH, type of microorganism, conditions, and other nutrients. To understand the factors that will affect the process, mechanisms of microorganisms to treat or protect the environment must be considered. For leachate treatment, biological process is one of the most widely used techniques for low cost and environmentally friendly.
Bioremediation of Agricultural, Municipal, and Industrial Wastes
Authors: Garg Shivani
Published: November 2019

Growth of agriculture and manufacturing industries has resulted in increased a wide range of complex and hazardous compounds to the environment. Excess growth of hazardous waste has led to reduce availability of clean water and disturbances of soil thus limiting crop production. Waste generated from different sources like Industrial, domestic and agricultural etc. having different kinds of chemical compound i.e. organic or inorganic. Traditional methods are not able to deal with some of these chemical compounds. Bioremediation process is good option in such environmental problems. Bioremediation provides a technique for cleaning up pollution by enhancing the natural biodegradation processes. It treats such waste with the help of microorganism. Number of microbes including aerobes, anaerobic and fungi are involved in bioremediation process. Specific types of microbes are used to treat specific type of chemical contaminant. The chapter include all the techniques of bioremediation used to treat different kinds of contaminant.
Legislation for Solid Waste Management
Authors: Halim Azhar Abdul , Hassan Siti Hafizan
Published: November 2019

The legal and institutional framework, as well as the international trends in solid waste management, serves as the basis for the formulation of a policy framework that seeks to improve solid waste management (SWM) practices in the future. Recently, SWM has become a global concern, especially for urban environments such as Malaysia, whose economy could potentially be adversely affected. To address these issues, the authors has reviewed several laws, including the Federal Constitution 1957; Local Government Act (Act 171) 1976; Town and Country Planning Act (Act 127) 1976; Environmental Quality Act (Act 127) 1974; Street, Drainage, and Building Act (Act 133) 1974; and Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007. Relevant international norms and principles at the federal, state, and local levels have also been reviewed. Exploring this topic generates an overview of SWM implementation in the context of Malaysia and the rest of the world.
Green IT Adoption Practices in Education Sector
Authors: Hernandez Alexander A.
Published: November 2019

Green IT is a resource efficient and effective consumption to reduce organizations processes impacts to the environment using information technology. This article aims to explore GIT practices of higher education institutions in the Philippines, where a qualitative multiple-case study is used. The study found that higher education institutions Green IT adoption covers the use of paperless and digital archiving systems, resource efficient IT equipment, responsible electronic waste disposal, recycling and reuse, and initiated awareness programs to educate the employees about Green IT and sustainability. The study also found that these practices are in its early stage of adoption in higher education institutions in the Philippines. This article also presents practical and research implications to further the uptake of Green IT in higher education institutions.
Green Information Technology Usage
Authors: Hernandez Alexander A.
Published: November 2019

Green information technology is resource efficient and effective consumption through the use of IT infrastructures to address environmental sustainability. This study aims to understand the level of awareness and practices of IT professionals towards GIT in organizations. A survey questionnaire was used, the study found that participants have a high awareness and practices of Green IT covering the efficient use of computing resources, energy conservation in an office environment, responsible disposal of electronic wastes, and demonstrate an individual contribution and commitment to GIT adoption practices in organizations. The study also found that male IT professionals have better awareness of GIT in organizations. The awareness and practices of IT professionals in GIT offers direction for organizations to strategically integrate GIT within their core business objectives and activities to attain environmental sustainability. Practical and theoretical implications are presented.
Reverse Logistics in the Electronics Waste Industry
Authors: Ayvaz Berk , Görener Ali
Published: November 2019

Recently, due to the rapid world population growth, decreasing of natural resources and raw materials, increasing environmental awareness, interesting for wasting raw materials, using produced products more efficiently, and reusing of sources is rapidly increasing. Nowadays, reverse logistics as an important business strategy for profitable and sustainability is becoming important. The effective implementation of reverse logistics gives companies a competitive advantage in sectors. Due to mentioned reasons firms intend to incorporate reverse logistics activities such as the recovery, remanufacturing, recycling or disposal. Reverse logistics has become increasingly important as a profitable and sustainable business strategy. Therefore, more and more manufacturers have adapted the practice of recovering value from returned products and integrate product recovery activities into their processes. The electronic industry is one of the fastest growing manufacturing industries and the main purpose of this chapter is to explore the opportunities for waste returns within this sector.
Enhancing Writing Skills via Mobile Learning and Wikis
Authors: Vurdien Ruby
Published: November 2019

This chapter reports on how a group of advanced EFL students in a private language school in Spain employed their smartphones and wikis to create a learning environment outside their classroom context to enhance their writing skills. Twenty-one participants of C1 level downloaded the Google application on their smartphones with a view to performing their reading and vocabulary tasks prior to writing their essays on a wiki learning platform, with subsequent peer editing and feedback. The findings suggest that the participants' general overview of this novel learning experience was positive and that collaborative work on the wiki fostered negotiation of meaning and sharing knowledge, which can benefit the writing process. The smartphone was deemed a convenient tool for reading and completing vocabulary exercises as its portability permits ubiquitous learning. Peer editing and feedback are crucial for developing linguistic proficiency, thereby improving writing skills.
An Exploratory Study of Using Personal Blogs for L2 Writing in Fully Online Language Courses
Authors: Lee Lina
Published: November 2019

The chapter reports the results of an exploratory study examining the use of personal blogs for the development of L2 writing skills in fully online language courses. The chapter outlines the methodology of the blog project including pedagogical objectives, task design, selection of digital tools, and implementation. The study involved 48 beginning students who used blogs for their writing assignments over the course of two consecutive summers. Both quantitative and qualitative data collected from post surveys, blog entries, and comments, and final interviews were analyzed. The results indicated that students perceived blogging as an effective tool for building their writing skills. Moreover, the chapter revealed that feedback scaffolding affected students' efforts to make improvement on both content and form. The study concludes that while writing performance can be assessed by the implementation of a well-designed blog project, sufficient time for feedback interaction and strategies for effective use of feedback are vital to foster reflective thinking and collaborative learning.
English Language Learner Motivation in the Digital Technology Classroom
Authors: Baetty Baetty , Thomas Michael
Published: November 2019

This chapter investigates learner motivation in an English as a foreign language writing classroom in an Indonesian university. Its originality arises from the fact that no substantive studies have explored learner motivation in the digital classroom in Indonesian higher education. A mixed methods data collection process was conducted involving 144 students from three-year groups who responded to an online questionnaire. Two classes from Year 1 (47 students) were taken as a sample to observe the learning process between an existing group that was introduced to the learning of English writing through Edmodo. The other group used traditional materials for their writing tasks. The findings are significant in that the high levels of motivation reported by the students were not reflected in the way they completed their writing tasks as the use of technology affected their motivation in complex ways. In conclusion, the study encourages future research in Indonesia that measures English students' motivation and technology-mediated writing task performance through longitudinal studies.
What Constitutes an Effective Instructional Video?
Authors: Ding Yan
Published: November 2019

Online English courses have been developing rapidly in the past few years. As instructional videos play a central role in such courses, what constitutes an effective instruction video becomes a critical question for online English course developers. This chapter offers perspectives of EFL learners on this issue via content analysis of their feedback on existing instructional videos used in online English courses. The data consisted of 51 learners' comments on three micro-courses and 3,510 learner reviews on 41 English MOOCs. Analysis of the data revealed the most favorable features of an instructional video, the means to actualize these features, and learners' perceptions of different aspects of the physical design of an instructional video. The findings provided video producers with suggestions on the design and production of instructional videos used in online English courses.
Mobilisation and Enactment of Malaysian ESL Teachers' Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge
Authors: James Cynthia C. , Lee Kean Wah
Published: November 2019

This chapter is a review of a three-year journey into exploring the development, mobilisation, and enactment of Malaysian ESL teachers' technological pedagogical content knowledge through a professional learning community known as ‘Going Digital'. The first part of the chapter summarises the investigation on the effectiveness of the TPACK-IDDIRR + PLC as a transformative model of professional development to engender technology integration practices in the classroom. The findings reveal that the model is effective in enhancing technology integration practices of ESL teachers. In the second part, individual experiences of four members of the ‘Going Digital' are narratively explored to understand the mobilisation and enactment of TPACK from professional development to practice in the classroom. The affordances and constraints of technology integration is explored in the third part. The chapter concludes with discussions on the interconnectedness of knowledge, context, and identity; and how it has led to the proposition of the model for TPACK mobilisation, appropriation, and enactment.
Exploring Pre-Service Teachers' Developmental Trajectories of Digital Literacies
Authors: Wang Le , Luo Yi , Feng Pengpeng
Published: November 2019

Digital literacies are gaining popularity in teacher education over the past decade, but little research has been conducted on the developmental trajectories of pre-service teachers' digital literacies. Adopting a case study, four L2 Chinese pre-service teachers were examined during the spring semester of 2016 when they assisted teaching in a wiki writing classroom. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and observation diaries. Drawing upon the framework of digital literacies, this chapter identifies the core components of digital literacies in a wiki-based collaborative writing context: attitudes towards technology and application (Thinking), task organization and feedback provision (Doing), modes and genres (Meaning), teacher-student relations (Relating), and roles and responsibilities (Being), and further explores pre-service teachers' developmental trajectories of digital literacies before concluding with a discussion of implications for instruction and teacher education.
Accountability Practices and Their Importance for the Management of Public Sector Entities
Authors: Couto Maria Cristina Ribeiro da Silva Rib , Ferreira Augusta da Conceição Santos
Published: November 2019

New public management reflects a paradigm and orientation shift regarding the cornerstone of management in the public sector. With this new type of management, emphasis was given to accountability in order to, on the one hand, instill the need to render accounts when talking about the way decisions are taken (responsibility) and the way public resources are used (clarity) and, on the other hand, the citizens having the possibility of getting information which will allow them to make the public officials responsible. Considering the importance of accountability, this chapter was an attempt to carry out a bibliographic review, as a way of getting to know the different approaches to the concept, as well as getting to know the mechanisms that have been created in order to give explanations whether for the performance or accomplishment of a responsibility and if this is inherent to the responsibilities of the public officials.
Disclosure of Financial Information via the Internet by the Portuguese Local Authorities
Authors: Mendes Helena Carla Antunes , Santos Carlos , Ferreira Augusta , Marques Rui Pedro Figueiredo , Azevedo Graça , Oliveira Jonas da Silva
Published: November 2019

In the context of new public management, public administration must be alert to the increasing needs of citizens, providing public organizations with efficient management systems in order to rationalize the financial resources and disseminate transparent and accurate economic and financial information to further assess the organizational performance. There have been recent technological advances, namely the use of the internet, that have influenced the way financial information is accessed. This work aims to assess the level of disclosure of financial information on the websites of local authorities in Portugal and the identification of possible factors that may influence the level of disclosure. Given the results in this study, it is time-consuming and difficult to find financial information on the websites. This hinders the users in their assessment on where and how mayors apply public resources. Among the factors tested, the size and political competition are the ones that seem to influence the level of disclosure of financial information on the website.
Organisational Risk Management Plan
Authors: Pinho Marisa , Santos Carlos
Published: November 2019

This chapter presents the results of the application of the failure mode and effects analysis methodology, within the scope of the Organisational Risk Management Plan, in the Municipal Division of Contract Works and Concessions of Oliveira de Azeméis City Council of the metropolitan area of Porto located in the north of Portugal with an area of approximately 164 Km2 and a few more than 20,000 inhabitants. An update of the literature review allows us to conclude that this methodology remains a good approach for establishing a bridge between risk management and the Plan for Prevention of Risks of Corruption and Related Infractions, in line with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recommendation on public integrity. Once the application of this methodology is understood, an example of its implementation for the management of risk in the contract works service of the Municipality of Oliveira de Azeméis is also provided.
Application of Deep Learning in the Processing of the Aerospace System's Multispectral Images
Authors: Kuchuk Heorhii , Podorozhniak Andrii , Hlavcheva Daria , Yaloveha Vladyslav
Published: November 2019

This chapter uses deep learning neural networks for processing of aerospace system multispectral images. Convolutional and Capsule Neural Network were used for processing multispectral images from satellite Landsat 8, previously processed using spectral indices NDVI, NDWI, PSRI. The authors' approach was applied to wildfire Camp Fire (California, USA). The deep learning neural networks are used to solve the problem of detecting fire hazardous forest areas. Comparison of Convolutional and Capsule Neural Network results was done. The theory of neural networks of deep learning, the theory of recognition of multispectral images, methods of mathematical statistics were used.
Artificial Intelligence Methods in Aviation Specialist Training for the Analysis and Transmission of Operational Meteorological Information
Authors: Rudas Sergiy I. , Znakovska Evgeniya A. , Bondarev Dmitriy I.
Published: November 2019

The authors present methods for the application of artificial intelligence for operational meteorological information (OPEC). The means of communication for distribution of meteorological data using information technologies are presented. Practical courses for aviation specialists (pilots, air traffic controllers, operators of unmanned aerial vehicles) are considered in which artificial intelligence methods are used: datamining, deep learning, machine learning, using information technologies.
Basic Analytics of Anti-Failure Avionics
Authors: Polozhevets Hanna , Derets Sergiy , Chebukin Bogdan
Published: November 2019

The chapter analyzes anti-crash avionics. Classifications are given for complex failures of avionics and onboard aviation equipment. The technological failure of the voice informant in an aircraft crash is investigated using process analysis. New technologies to reduce the risks in the elimination of functional failures of avionics are proposed. Considered are the first “computer” accidents and incidents, as well as the causes of errors. Authors present the chronology of the definition of the category of “failure” of radio-electronic equipment and onboard aviation equipment. The complexity of avionics is estimated using process analysis. The methodology of the analysis of technological processes of flights is proposed.
Perspective Directions of Artificial Intelligence Systems in Aircraft Load Optimization Process
Authors: Sahun Yelyzaveta Serhiyivna
Published: November 2019

The chapter represents an overview of different approaches towards loading process and load planning. The algorithm and specificities of the current cargo loading process force the scientists to search for new methods of optimizing due to the time, weight, and size constraints of the cargo aircraft and consequently to cut the costs for aircraft load planning and handling procedures. These methods are based on different approaches: mix-integer linear programs, three-dimensional bin packing, knapsack loading algorithms, tabu-search approach, rule-based approach, and heuristics. The perspective direction of aircraft loading process improvement is a combination of multicriteria optimization method and heuristic approach using the expert system.
Future Ready Universities
Authors: Ponnudurai Prema , Ponniah Logendra Stanley
Published: November 2019

The sands of education are constantly shifting, and in order to stay significant, higher educational institutions (HEIs) need to reinvent themselves in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. With high global unemployment rates of fresh graduates and internal institutional challenges, future conscious HEIs understand the importance of the need to redesigned curriculum, content, and assessments to prepare graduates for employment. Through a detailed evaluation of the newly developed Taylor's curriculum framework (TCF), this chapter will elaborate on the core purposes of this curriculum framework and the governing principles in redesigning a curriculum that focuses on the 21st century needs. By shifting the focus from teaching to learning and by redirecting the focus of assessment from knowledge base to skills base, HEI graduates will be equipped meet the needs of industry, the Fourth Industrial Age and beyond.
Transforming Online Learning Beyond the Digital Data
Authors: Jaleel Haniffa Beevi Abdul , Ling Pauline Teo Hwa
Published: November 2019

Experiential Online Classroom (ExOC) for Introduction to Business Presentation under the English 1 module at Taylor's University has expanded the landscape of blended learning from self-directed learning to experiential learning through participation in an online learning environment (OLE). The ExOC has been completely modernised and humanised to shape students' skills in a business presentation by building intangible elements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR), which are character building, higher order thinking, soft skills, and lifelong learning. Human touch to technology-based content encourages students to build a community virtually, which naturally gives a deep learning experience with greater engagement. This chapter explains the design and development Introduction to Business Presentation MOOC as a modernised and humanised blended learning method that transformed online learning. Finally, the preliminary impacts of students' participation and engagement in using the MOOC are also discussed.
Re-Designing the Architecture Curriculum Through the Lens of Graduate Capabilities
Authors: Ng Veronica
Published: November 2019

Aligned to the national and global movement towards the definition, design, and mapping of graduate capabilities of university curriculum, universities are assigned the colossal task to incorporate these capabilities through curriculum design, delivery, and assessment. Using curriculum design research as the methodology of study, this chapter presents the framework and principles for the development of an innovative curriculum in architecture to enhance specific graduate attributes. It describes the constraints of time as well as competency in curriculum design to make critical evaluations of mappings, integration, and progression throughout the different year-level of the programme and within each module. While fueled with challenges, it suggests the propensity for enhancement of a curriculum that engages with the whole-person development as well as opportunities for teaching and learning innovations.
Mobile Learning in the Era of IoT
Authors: Papadokostaki Koralia , Panagiotakis Spyros , Malamos Athanasios , Vassilakis Kostas
Published: November 2019

Teaching is always affected by the advent of technology. Nowadays, mobile devices can offer an air of innovation in classrooms and multiple benefits in learning. On the other hand, IoT is expanding rapidly and promises to provide education with new dynamics: sensors and beacons may contribute to pervasive provision of educational content to students, whereas wearables can track the students' interaction with educational objects. As a result, learning is changing and may happen anywhere, anytime, and with any means. This evolution, described under the term Ubiquitous learning, promises to be the future of education for all ages and needs. This chapter presents the transformation of learning from traditional to e-learning, mobile learning, and Ubiquitous learning, and discusses the features and applications of the latter. Furthermore, authors describe the Experience API specification and investigate how it can be used to implement adaptive learning applications and make Ubiquitous learning a reality not only in typical but also in Early Childhood learning.
Social Hazards or Helpers?
Authors: Blackwell Courtney K.
Published: November 2019

This chapter reviews current theoretical and empirical work on associations between young children's mobile media use in early childhood education settings and their social development, including social relationships and foundational social skills such as communication, collaboration, and positive social interactions and engagement. Touchscreen tablets are highlighted given their increased presence in early childhood education as well as their unique affordances specifically for young children. Particular attention is paid to factors influencing whether, what, and how educators integrate tablets into their classroom environments; facilitators and barriers to integration; how such integration may enable or interfere with social skills and relationships; and implications for practice and policy.
Increasing Access, Social Inclusion, and Quality Through Mobile Learning
Authors: Ossiannilsson Ebba
Published: November 2019

Mobile learning is part of a new learning landscape created by the availability of technologies and increasing digitization. As the use of mobile technology has increased worldwide, interest has grown in its potential for supporting flexible, accessible, and personalized education. As a result, higher education is facing a variety of challenges both now and in the coming decade (2020–2030) because of the continuing advances in technological development and digitization. Daily life, school, and work have become mobile. Moreover, the digitalized society fosters digital citizenship. Students entering higher education today have grown up using the internet and mobile devices. Universities need to offer a mix of face-to-face and online learning possibilities, such as open educational resources (OER) and massive open online courses (MOOC), which allow individuals to access education anywhere, anytime, and through any device. This article focuses on mobile learning (m-learning) in open learning educational contexts and quality enhancement in mobile learning in higher education. The article starts by defining mobile learning and the usefulness of m-learning in education, followed by some examples of mobile devices and a discussion of the principles of mobile learning. Examples of mobile learning design are then presented. Next, the advantages and uses of mobile learning in education are discussed. Because the issue of quality in e-learning and mobile learning is complex, this article focuses on course design, learning design, media design, and content. Additional dimensions of quality are security, accessibility, interactivity, flexibility, personalization, mobile devices, and their interfaces. Moreover, concepts such as personal learning and social innovation in relation to mobile learning are discussed. In the concluding section, future challenges are discussed.
Students' Acceptance of Mobile Learning
Authors: Li Xiaoqing
Published: November 2019

With the rapid development of telecommunications, mobile learning is appearing as a promising learning approach for students to learn anytime anywhere. However, many key issues regarding the design and implementation of mobile learning are still unclear. This research investigates key factors leading to the acceptance of mobile learning based on students' use of Blackboard Mobile Learn. The research findings will help instructors to design courses for mobile users and system developers to design better mobile learning systems.
Students' Perception of the Integration of Mobile Devices as Learning Tools in Pre-Primary and Primary Teacher Training Degrees
Authors: Riaza Blanca García , Rodríguez Ana Iglesias
Published: November 2019

University education is nowadays facing the need to rethink teaching processes carried out, to accommodate them to new understandings about how the human beings learn, also transcending the use, access and appropriation of a methodology adapted to changing times where, no doubt, mobile devices have a leading role. Besides their obvious communicative and playful function, teachers and learners must be aware of the pedagogical potential of these devices that can become allies in educational processes. This study analyzes the perception of university students, enrolled in the Pre-Primary and Primary Teacher Training Degrees at the University of Salamanca (Spain), about the use of mobile devices as tools to assist the learning process and as gadgets to practice and boost the learning process carried out in the classroom. Relevant outcomes have been extracted from the inspection of the data obtained through a survey to students, what has enabled us to draw interesting conclusions about the opinion of students about the inclusion of mobile devices as learning resources at tertiary level, that unravel the good disposition of the students polled towards the incorporation of these devices, both to university classes as well as to their future professional development.
Students' Use of Mobile Technologies
Authors: Baytiyeh Hoda
Published: November 2019

Mobile technologies are all-pervasive in the current digital generation, and college students rely on their mobile phones to communicate on a daily basis. In the midst of the myriad of applications available to download on the mobile, some tools have become more well-known and more often adopted than others. An example of such a tool is WhatsApp, which gains an increasing, widespread number of users on a daily basis, particularly in the Middle East region. The present study investigated college students' use of WhatsApp as a communication tool, and used Lebanon as a case study. A qualitative research design was implemented to understand the perceptions of college students vis-à-vis WhatsApp, and to investigate the motivational factors behind the popularity of this communication tool. The results revealed four themes: simplicity for discussion and coordination, cost-effectiveness, immediacy and sense of belonging.
The Use of iPad® Devices and “Apps” for ASD Students in Special Education and Speech Therapy
Authors: O'Connor Jr. Johnny R. , Jackson Keonta N.
Published: November 2019

This chapter presents an examination of the various uses of iPads and applications (“apps”) for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in special education and speech therapy settings. Although many individuals view these technologies as less academic and as more entertainment or “busy tasks,” if appropriately vetted, and with proper training, they can serve a significant purpose in the lives of individuals with ASD. Using this technology in educational and therapeutic environments can further extend the often static approach to education and therapy treatments to a more fluid and flexible approach meeting the varied and individualized needs of students with ASD.
E-Discovery Components of E-Teaching And M-Learning
Authors: Nielit Stephen G. , S. Thanuskodi
Published: November 2019

Electronic discovery is the electronic aspect of identifying, collecting and producing electronically stored information (ESI) in response to a request for production in a law suit or investigation.ESI includes, but is not limited to, emails, documents, presentations, databases, voicemail, audio and video files, social media, and web sites. E-Teaching is the teaching students using electronic equipment either directly or indirectly. As well as M-Learning also anytime and anywhere for fixing timings for learning process. M-learning or ‘m'obile learning is defined as “learning across multiple contexts, through social and content interactions, using personal electronic devices”.A form ofdistance education, m-learners use mobile device educational technology at their time convenience.M-learning technologies include handheld computers, MP3 players, notebooks, mobile phones and tablets. M-learning focuses on the mobility of the learner, interacting with portable technologies. This paper deals with some important things about E-Teaching and M-Learning with advantages of both.
A Trend Analysis of Mobile Learning
Authors: Karataş Serçin , Ceran Onur , Ülker Ülkü , Gün Ezgi Tosik , Köse Nimet Özgül Ünsal , Kılıç Mustafa , Akçayır Gökçe , Tok Zeynel Abidin
Published: November 2019

The aim of this study is to determine current tendencies regarding mobile learning in published research between 2010 and 2015. In this study, 221 articles collected from the Web of Science Core Collection database with SSCI index were examined by using the content analysis technique. In the analyses, eight criteria were used, namely; research technique, sampling size, sampling level, learning domain, topical domain, data collecting tool, data analysis method and mobile application development approach. The results suggest that the main tendencies under these categories were experimental method; sample sizes of 31-100 people; higher education students; humanities and social sciences domain; learner outcomes topical domain; mixed data collecting tools; mixed analysis methods; and native mobile application development approach.
Preservice Teachers Consider Game-Based Teaching and Learning
Authors: Sardone Nancy B.
Published: November 2019

Gaming has become a core activity with children and more teachers are using games for teaching content than they did five years ago. Yet, teachers report that they learn about game titles, impact studies, and facilitation techniques through their own initiatives or from other teachers rather than from their teacher education program. This chapter reports on a combined curricular strategy built on game strategy research that asked teacher candidates (n= 125) to discuss news headlines about games, play educational games, review games, and game research, teach others how to play educational games, and construct games. Findings reveal that candidates saw value in using games in K-12 to teach content, were able to develop assessments based on game content at a novice level, and were able to construct games either alone or in small groups. Educators contemplating gaming as an instructional strategy may be interested in the espoused combination strategy to encourage game adoption in K-12 settings.
Informal language Practices via Digital Technology
Authors: M.Talib Al-kadi Abdu
Published: November 2019

The main contention of this chapter is to dig into ICT-based serendipitous activities that second language (L2) learners perform beyond formal curriculum. It is based on an idea that juxtaposition of formal and informal language learning, under the auspices of ICT, broadens the ecology of learning and thus contributes to learners' overall proficiency. Nevertheless, formal language learning continues to be disconnected from practices that take place outside the classroom in hyperspaces, and the language uptake obtained from informal electronic involvement generally goes unnoticed. The chapter undertakes this missing proficiency and suggests implications to bridge or at least narrow the gap between formal and informal learning. It familiarizes teachers, parents, and course designers with today's learners' experiences of learning that occur after structured lessons. It implies that informal ICT-enabled practices should be fostered as supplementary and complementary to the formal instruction.
EFL Learning Beyond the Wall with MALL
Authors: Alotumi Mohialdeen
Published: November 2019

This chapter reports an exploratory study that examines Yemeni college students' perceptions of mobile-assisted language learning (MALL), using their mobile phones, in their informal learning of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). The sample population comprised 150 EFL college students. Data were obtained through a questionnaire based on technology acceptance model (TAM). The findings revealed that EFL college students had positive perceptions towards utilizing MALL for informal EFL learning. Most participants maintained positive perceptions on the two constructs of TAM: perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. They believed that utilizing MALL furthered their EFL learning. Therefore, policymakers, curriculum designers, and educators are recommended to capitalize on using mobile phones for informal autonomous EFL learning in a way that can serve the objectives of formal EFL learning.
Social Media and E-Commerce
Authors: Costa Tiago Da , Casais Beatriz
Published: November 2019

Several studies have approached the link between social media and e-commerce with different lenses, however, the study of motivations for sharing content specifically from e-commerce websites into social media has not been thoroughly approached and provides fertile ground for further exploration. This chapter uncovers which motivations serve as a background for individuals sharing intentions of e-commerce content. After a focus group with 7 individuals, results indicate participants focus more on intrinsic rewards than extrinsic ones when sharing, that self-interest is more predominant than reciprocity as a motivator for sharing, one-to-one exchanges are the preferential direction of exchange. Also, websites with cleaner designs and higher usability positively impact sharing intentions, experiences tend to be more likely shared than physical products, and participants are purposeful in their selection of sharing channels.
Efficient CRISPR/Cas9 Disruption of Autoimmune-Associated Genes Reveals Key Signaling Programs in Primary Human T Cells
Authors: Anderson Warren , Thorpe Jerill , Long S. Alice , Rawlings David J.
Published: November 2019

Risk of autoimmunity is associated with multiple genetic variants. Genome-wide association studies have linked single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the phosphatases PTPN22 (rs2476601) and PTPN2 (rs1893217) to increased risk for multiple autoimmune diseases. Previous mouse studies of loss of function or risk variants in these genes revealed hyperactive T cell responses, whereas studies of human lymphocytes revealed contrasting phenotypes. To better understand this dichotomy, we established a robust gene editing platform to rapidly address the consequences of loss of function of candidate genes in primary human CD4+ T cells. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we obtained efficient gene disruption (>80%) of target genes encoding proteins involved in Ag and cytokine receptor signaling pathways including PTPN22 and PTPN2. Loss-of-function data in all genes studied correlated with previous data from mouse models. Further analyses of PTPN2 gene–disrupted T cells demonstrated dynamic effects, by which hyperactive IL-2R signaling promoted compensatory transcriptional events, eventually resulting in T cells that were hyporesponsive to IL-2. These results imply that altered phosphatase activity promotes evolving phenotypes based on Ag experience and/or other programming signals. This approach enables the discovery of molecular mechanisms modulating risk of autoimmunity that have been difficult to parse in traditional mouse models or cross-sectional human studies.