bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing and Testing a Sleep Education Program for College Nursing Students
Authors: Ye Lichuan , Smith Amy
Published: September 2015

Background:

The need to educate the future nursing workforce to increase understanding of healthy sleep practices, adverse health consequences of impaired sleep, and common sleep disorders is pressing. Unfortunately, education about sleep and sleep disorders has not been part of established undergraduate nursing curricula.

Method:

This study developed a sleep education program for college nursing students and tested its effect on knowledge about sleep and sleep disorders.

Results:

With a total time commitment of 10 hours, this program included three sequential components: traditional in-classroom teaching, guided online virtual self-learning, and interactive simulation-based discussion. This innovative education program was implemented in a core course offered to senior nursing students in spring 2013, and demonstrated its effectiveness in improving knowledge about sleep and sleep disorders.

Conclusion:

Translating into undergraduate nursing curriculum, it will lay a foundation for improving health care of patients and decreasing the health risks of nurses as care providers. [
J Nurs Educ.
2015;54(9):532–535.]
MOOCs – A Challenge or an Opportunity
Authors: Hvam Keld
Published: September 2015

This article discusses whether universities should create some MOOCs themselves or use the existing ones constructively in their teaching – thus meeting the potential challenges head-on and turning these into opportunities. After presenting various definitions the writer goes on to discuss whether MOOCs are a challenge or an opportunity for universities. The answer to this question depends on the strategies adopted by the individual university. Therefore, a strategy for embedding MOOCs in current courses is presented. It seems that we are moving towards teaching and learning in networks rather than following the centuries-old linear thinking. Lecturers will agree with their students what their individual learning goals are – so there will be much more focus on goals or aims (learning outcomes), and a system will then be set up in which the individual student is motivated to seek and identify his or her own personal learning path towards that goal – also called adaptive learning. And MOOCs can be an integral part of this.
Learning Objects in MOOC
Authors: Marcus-Quinn Ann , Clancy Ian
Published: September 2015

Massive Online Open Courses (MOOC) are still in their infancy on the surface they look like the necessary silver bullet to provide alternate pathways to education. However, when completion rates and retention figures were published in 2013 the whole concept of the MOOC came under criticism. This criticism has grown largely as a result of the uncertainty and lack of detail about what a MOOC actually is; yet there appears to be a global drive behind MOOC. The ubiquitous presence of technology may be seen as a change agent and there is arguably sufficient demand for a new delivery model to provide education to a modern market. MOOC could fulfil this requirement for an alternate model. Central to the success of MOOC is the availability of high quality learning objects or Open Educational resources (OERs). This chapter provides a background to learning objects and MOOC and looks at good practices in the design, development and management of learning objects in MOOC.
Information Security Policy
Authors: Fontes Edison , Balloni Antonio José
Published: September 2015

In this chapter, the reader finds a structured definition to develop, implement, and keep the needed regulatory rules or principles for an Information System Security (ISS). In addition, the reader finds how to ensure the right use of this ISS, as well as in authorization and protection against disaster situations such as an effective system protection when accessing, storing, using, and retrieving the information in normal or contingency situations. This compound is the structure of information security policy that is based on a set of controls as described in NBR ISO/IEC 27002 (ABNT, 2005). The definition of this structure for the information security policy is important because the Norm ABNT (2005) does not indicate nor define—nor explain—how the structure of this policy should be (i.e., which are the fundamental elements and functions, which are the standards of rules for the controls and other practical issues) so that the policy could be effective for the organization. The structure shown in this chapter represents a practical and useful architecture regarding the elements of the information security policy of the organization.
Intercultural User Interface Design
Authors: Heimgärtner Rüdiger
Published: September 2015

This chapter starts with an introduction illuminating the theoretical background necessary for taking culture into account in Human Computer Interaction (HCI) design. Definitions of concepts used are provided followed by a historical overview on taking culture into account in HCI design. Subsequently, a glimpse of the current state of research in culture-centered HCI design is derived from secondary literature providing the gist of the structures, processes, methods, models, and theoretic approaches concerning the relationship between culture and HCI design. Controversies and challenges are also mentioned. A short discussion of results from empirical studies and design recommendations for culture-centered HCI design lead to implications and trends in future intercultural user interface design research.
Model-Based System Design Using SysML
Authors: Tsadimas Anargyros , Nikolaidou Mara , Anagnostopoulos Dimosthenis
Published: September 2015

Model-based system design is served by a single, multi-layered model supporting all design activities, in different levels of detail. SysML is a modeling language, endorsed by OMG, for system engineering, which aims at defining such models for system design. It provides discrete diagrams to describe system structure and components, to explore allocation policies crucial for system design, and to identify design requirements. In this chapter, SysML is used for the model-based design of enterprise information system architecture, supporting a systemic view of such systems, where software and hardware entities are treated as system components composed to create the system architecture. SysML extensions to facilitate the effective description of non-functional requirements, especially quantitative ones, and their verification are presented. The integration of evaluation parameters and results into a discrete SysML diagram enhances the requirement verification process, while the visualization of evaluation data helps system engineers to explore design decisions and properly adjust system design. Based on the proposed extensions, a SysML profile is developed. The experience obtained when applying the profile for renovating the architecture of a large-scale enterprise information system is also briefly discussed to explore the potential of the proposed extensions.
Multi-Level Adaptation in End-User Development of 3D Virtual Chemistry Experiments
Authors: Liu Chang , Zhong Ying
Published: September 2015

Multi-level adaptation in end-user development (EUD) is an effective way to enable non-technical end users such as educators to gradually introduce more functionality with increasing complexity to 3D virtual learning environments developed by themselves using EUD approaches. Parameterization, integration, and extension are three levels of adaptation ranging from straightforward to complex in terms of what end users have to understand in order to develop functional software applications, all within reach of end users without special training on programming. A 3D educational application EUD system prototype, iVirtualWorld, has been expanded to support 3D virtual chemistry experiments generation using these three levels of EUD adaptation. An evaluation has been conducted on 18 participants from the education domain, and the results confirmed ease-of-learn, ease-of-use, and usefulness of this solution. Contributions of this paper are 1) a paradigm for applying EUD technologies in 3D virtual learning environment creation; 2) an easy-to-use tool for educators to build customized virtual chemistry experiments; and 3) empirical assessment data for the multi-level adaptation solution.
Moodle-Based Tool to Improve Teaching and Learning of Relational Databases Design and SQL DML Queries
Authors: Antón-Rodríguez M. , Pérez-Juárez M. A. , Jiménez-Gómez M. I. , Díaz-Pernas F. J. , Martínez-Zarzuela M. , González-Ortega D.
Published: September 2015

The challenge to prepare the graduates for working in a constantly changing environment like software engineering requires an effective learning framework. This chapter presents a tool, integrated in the Moodle learning management system, that allows students to train the process of designing relational databases. The tool also allows them to practice with SQL queries that are executed over relational databases previously designed. This chapter also describes the result of a qualitative analysis of its use in an engineering course offered at the University of Valladolid and focused on the teaching of the Web applications development. The results of the refereed study reveal that the tool was found useful by both students and teachers to support the teaching and learning process of relational databases.
Towards Ubiquitous and Adaptive Web-Based Multimedia Communications via the Cloud
Authors: Panagiotakis Spyros , Vakintis Ioannis , Andrioti Haroula , Stamoulias Andreas , Kapetanakis Kostas , Malamos Athanasios
Published: September 2015

This chapter at first surveys the Web technologies that can enable ubiquitous and pervasive multimedia communications over the Web and then reviews the challenges that are raised by their combination. In this context, the relevant HTML5 APIs and technologies provided for service adaptation are introduced and the MPEG-DASH, X3Dom, and WebRTC frameworks are discussed. What is envisaged for the future of mobile multimedia is that with the integration of these technologies one can shape a diversity of future pervasive and personalized cloud-based Web applications, where the client-server operations are obsolete. In particular, it is believed that in the future Web cloud-based Web applications will be able to communicate, stream, and transfer adaptive events and content to their clients, creating a fully collaborative and pervasive Web 3D environment.
An Unstructured Information Management Architecture Approach to Text Analytics of Cancer Blogs
Authors: Raghupathi Viju , Raghupathi Wullianallur
Published: September 2015

In this research the authors explore the potential of the Unstructured Information Management Architecture (UIMA) platform in text analytics of cancer blogs. The application is developed using the UIMA open source platform. They use the text analytics methods of categorization, clustering, taxonomic classification, and others to identify and analyze the patterns in cancer blog postings. The authors establish a comprehensive UIMA methodology for developing text analytics applications for the analysis of cancer blogs. Additional insights are extracted through the development of categories or keywords contained in the blogs, the development of a taxonomy and the examination of relationships among the categories. The application has the potential for generalizability and implementation with health content in other blogs and social media. It has the potential to provide insight and decision support for cancer management and to facilitate the efficient and relevant search for information on cancer.
The Role of Electronic Commerce in the Global Business Environments
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: September 2015

This chapter presents the role of electronic commerce (e-commerce) in the global business environments, thus describing the overview of e-commerce, the strategy of e-commerce, the applications of e-commerce, the barriers to e-commerce adoption, the value chain of e-commerce, and the benefits of e-commerce. E-commerce is one of the most recognized forms of electronic technology applied to businesses. The effectiveness of e-commerce is significant for modern organizations that seek to serve suppliers and customers, improve business performance, foster competitiveness, and acquire routine success in global business. Thus, it is necessary for modern organizations to explore their e-commerce applications, expand a strategic plan to analyze their feasible advancements, and directly respond to e-commerce needs of customers. Applying e-commerce in the global business environments will significantly enhance organizational performance and achieve business goals in the digital age.
Tracing the Use of Communication Technologies in Higher Education
Authors: Ramos Fernando , Pinto Marta , Coelho Dalila , Raposo Rui , Pombo Lúcia , Pedro Luís , Almeida Pedro , Batista João , Morais Nídia , Souza Francislê , Balula Ana , Lucas Margarida , Moreira António
Published: September 2015

This chapter presents a comprehensive view of the main activities and findings of a research project entitled TRACER-Portuguese Public Higher Education Use of Communication Technologies, which focused on how the information about the use of Communication Technologies in Higher Education Institutions can be collected, systematized, processed, and deployed to stakeholders. The project was carried out between 2011 and 2014 and its main results are a consolidated proposal of an analysis model to address the use of Communication Technologies in Higher Education institutions, as well as the U-TRACER® tool. This Web-based tool provides support to the process of collecting, processing, and deployment of data related with the use of Communication Technologies in a specific Higher Education or in a group of institutions, based on institutional or geographical criteria.
Increasing Research Students' Engagement through Virtual Communities
Authors: Limniou Maria , Holdcroft Clare , Holmes Paul S.
Published: September 2015

This chapter describes important issues regarding research students' participation in a virtual community. Within a virtual community, university staff can communicate with research students without geographical/space constraints, and research students can exchange views, materials, and experience with their peers and/or academics in a flexible learning environment. Students' participation in virtual communities is mainly based on socio-emotional and informational motivations. Initially, this chapter describes the conditions of research in a traditional environment and the role of students and academics in it, along with the role of pedagogical and psychological aspects in virtual communities. Examples from a university virtual community developed in a Virtual Learning Environment and a Facebook™ closed group are presented. Apart from discussion forums, blended learning activities also increase students' engagement in virtual communities. Technical issues and difficulties based on different learning environments and university members' experience and familiarity with technology are highlighted and discussed.
Information Architecture For IS Function
Authors: Carriço Nelson , Varajão João , Fernandes Vítor Basto , Dominguez Caroline
Published: September 2015

Today's complex, unstable and competitive society raises several difficulties to organisations. In this context, Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and information itself have become resources of vital importance. The pressing need for Information Systems (IS) to meet several business requirements, in addition to the complexity involved in technology and business management, turns the IS Function one of the main areas of influence for success of modern organisations. Through its capacity of representing activities, management objects and corresponding relations, the Information Architecture of the Information Systems Function (IAISF), a technique derived from the well-known Information Architecture but exclusively focused on the Information Systems Function (ISF), allows not only the conceptualization and understanding of the ISF itself, but also of its interactions with other areas within organizations. This paper presents the main results of a case study related to the application of the IAISF technique in a computer service centre of a University.
Actor Network Theory Applied to Organizational Change
Authors: Páscoa Carlos , Tribolet José
Published: September 2015

There are various models proposed in the literature to analyze trajectories of enterprise change projects in terms of success and failure. Yet, only the Actor-Network Theory (ANT) perspective considers the interaction factors among network actors and actants. In 2009, with an initiative started in 2007, the Portuguese Air Force developed and carried on a Change project. The aim of this project was to obtain better information to support decision processes. This chapter proposes the ANT for approaching the Portuguese Air Force change process initiative as a case study. In doing so, it provides valuable insight in terms of both local and global actor networks, which surround the initiative.
A Linguistic Approach to Identify the Affective Dimension Expressed in Textual Messages
Authors: Rigo Sandro José , Alves Isa Mara da Rosa , Barbosa Jorge Luis Victória
Published: September 2015

The digital mediation resources used in Distance Education can hinder the teacher's perception about the student's state of mind. However, the textual expression in natural language is widely encouraged in most Distance Education courses, through the use of Virtual Learning Environments and other digital tools. This fact has motivated research efforts in order to identify feelings expressed by students in textual messages. A significant part of the known approaches in this area apply textual analysis without a deep linguistic representation, which can lead to some weakness in the results obtained. This paper reports an approach using theories of Computational Lexical Semantics for the representation of the lexicon of emotion. The methodology was developed through studies regarding corpus analysis, lexical unit description, and the implementation of a computational system to identify the feelings expressed in the textual messages in natural language, using the lexicon of emotion. This system was used in evaluation experiments that indicate improvements when comparing the adopted approach with other similar approaches.
Examining Design Pattern Strategies as a Means to Achieve Social Presence in the Online Classroom
Authors: Matthews Araminta , Kitchin Jr. Robert M.
Published: September 2015

Design patterns have received much attention across multiple design domains where social interaction is a central goal because they have great potential for capturing and sharing design knowledge. Design patterns, design pattern language, and design pattern libraries demonstrate potential benefits to novice and expert online course designers. Trends affecting the growth of online courses and resultant pitfalls negatively affecting students and instructors indicate the need for social presence design. A literature review addresses the importance of social interaction, differentiated design, learning-oriented social networking, and Web design structures in an effort to assuage the experience of isolation reported by the majority of online students. The authors argue that design patterns are a method of overcoming many of these apparent obstacles to quality online course design and learning engagement. Additionally, they present example design patterns to solve specific social interacting problems.
A Short History of Instruction in the Use of Libraries
Authors: Cordell Rosanne M.
Published: September 2015

Instruction in the use of academic libraries has a long history but was not well established as a permanent and formal part of academic libraries in the United States until well into the 20th century. It has taken many forms, but none are likely to be maintained as formal programs unless measures are taken to move them beyond the status of the efforts of single individuals. The development of information literacy as an area of study coincided with the institutionalization of instruction programs and has given academic context and form to the curricula for instruction in the use of academic libraries.
The Benedum Collaborative
Authors: Steel Sarah , Shambaugh Neal , Curtis Reagan , Schrum Lynne
Published: September 2015

The idea of simultaneous renewal articulated in the work of John Goodland (1994) has guided the Benedum Collaborative, a 20-year-old school-university partnership at West Virginia University. A strategic plan was developed in 2007 and updated in 2009 to guide simultaneous renewal activities. A rationale for simultaneous renewal is provided followed by a summary of the Collaborative's coordination features and governance structure. Previous program evaluation efforts are summarized. How the strategic plan was evaluated is followed by an analysis of the plans and reports across the ten goals. The current dean of the college taps her lenses and experiences in qualitative research, teacher education, and technology integration to comment on what has been done to support simultaneous renewal. The chapter recommends a program evaluation structure utilizing dynamic logic models be implemented in school-university partnerships to inform practice and understand the complexities of simultaneous renewal.
Information as a Human Right
Authors: Farmer Lesley
Published: September 2015

Information lies at the core of freedom of expression since it empowers citizens to understand the functions of media and other information providers, to access and critically evaluate their content, and to make informed decisions as users and producer of information and media content. Information and related technologies have become increasingly essential to education, employment, social interaction, and civic participation. Resultantly, greater focus has been placed on the idea that information is a necessary human right. While physical access to technology is now imperative to survive and contribute in today's Information Society, intellectual access is also required, particularly with the Internet's interactive socially collaborative mode. In addition, organizations need to provide the infrastructure and other preconditions to insure equitable access and use of information.
Getting the Context Right for Quality Teaching and Learning
Authors: Hunt Lynne , Sankey Michael
Published: September 2015

This is the story of top-down, middle-out, and bottom-up change to promote learning and teaching at a regional university in Australia. The case study documents a whole-of-university change process designed to get the context right to enhance university learning and teaching. It describes the baseline for action, the planning processes, and implementation strategies that adapted a project management approach. The chapter explores contestable issues associated with centralised university change processes versus devolved, faculty initiatives, and it shows how these might be combined. It also outlines the guiding principles of the change process, which was informed by a concern to develop coherent student learning journeys, cross-institutional planning, and a community development approach to engage the hearts and minds of staff. It also featured a systems approach designed to make it difficult for staff to get things wrong.
Incorporating Information Literacy into Instructional Design within Pre-Service Teacher Programs
Authors: Farmer Lesley S. J.
Published: September 2015

As information and technology increase, the need for help in accessing, evaluating, and using information efficiently rises. Preservice teachers need information literacy for their own study, instructional practice, and as a set of skills to teach PK-12 students. Librarians are uniquely trained and experienced in this arena, so their instructional role has the potential to serve as a central function in teacher preparation. In reality, educator librarians collaborate on several levels; ideally, they are instructional partners with teacher educators.
The Networked Learning Framework
Authors: Ostashewski Nathaniel , Reid Doug
Published: September 2015

This chapter describes the Networked Learning Framework (NLF), a networked learning model utilized in the development of a networked teacher professional development (nTPD) program. The NLF is a model which combines the use of social media tools found in common social networking sites with guided online activities to deliver innovative and engaging learning opportunities. One implementation of the NLF, the nTPD Courselet, delivered in a social networking site for Alberta teachers, is described in detail. Teachers report that the sharing of resources, reflective blogs, and collegial discussions are the most valuable outcomes of nTPD Courselets. Design principals and factors for designers of faculty PD developers to follow when using the Networked Learning Framework, as well as descriptions of two other NLF implementations, are presented in the chapter. Further research to identify effective supports for social networking novices and ways to build online facilitator capacity are needed.
Effective Online Learning Begins with Effective Teacher Preparation
Authors: Frazier Laura Corbin , Palmer Barbara Martin
Published: September 2015

This chapter provides a description of four models for professional development for online instruction and analyzes each model according to clearly defined domains of effective online instruction including faculty stance, student self-regulation, faculty support, authentic practice, engagement, community development, and cognitive demand. Subsequent to model analysis, a decision model is provided for K-12 and university administrators, teacher educators, and policymakers to guide strategic decision-making in the determination of a model for professional development best suited to the needs and resources of their institution.
Teacher Development, Support, and Training with Mobile Technologies
Authors: Wilson Nance S. , Zygouris-Coe Vassiliki I. , Cardullo Victoria M.
Published: September 2015

Preparing teachers to integrate iPads into the classroom requires designing professional development that supports teacher knowledge development as well as the development of a teacher as metacognitive. In this chapter, the authors describe training and support that builds teachers' development of a Metacognitive Technological Pedagogical Framework (M-TPACK) for integrating iPads. The professional development emphasizes the metacognitive teacher with positive dispositions towards technology integration as a key factor in ensuring that teachers implement knowledge of content, technology, pedagogy, and students. Finally, this chapter presents authentic and relevant examples for teacher development with mobile technologies.
Planning for and Managing iPads in a PreK-4th Grade Independent, Co-Educational Elementary School
Authors: Milman Natalie B. , Carlson-Bancroft Angela , Vanden Boogart Amy E.
Published: September 2015

This chapter chronicles the planning and classroom management practices of the first-year implementation of a 1:1 iPad initiative in a suburban, co-educational, independent, PreK-4th grade elementary school in the United States that was examined through a mixed methods QUAL ? QUAN case study. Findings demonstrate that the school's administrators and teachers engaged in pre-planning activities prior to the implementation of the iPad initiative, teachers viewed the iPads as tools in the planning process (iPads were not perceived as the content or subject to be taught/learned), and teachers flexibly employed different classroom management techniques and rules as they learned to integrate iPads in their classrooms. Additionally, the findings reveal the need for continuous formal and informal professional development that offers teachers multiple and varied opportunities to share their planning and classroom management practices, build their confidence and expertise in effective integration of iPads, and learn with and from one another.
MOOCs in Initial Teacher Training
Authors: López Carlos Monge , Hernández Patricia Gómez , Saborido David Montalvo
Published: September 2015

The main aim of this research is to understand future teachers' attitudes, knowledge and needs about Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). These courses may be a supplementary resource in higher education that can fill fields of knowledge which the curriculum could not encompass. In addition, this type of course can contribute significantly to both initial and continuing teacher training. For this reason, understanding students' perspectives on MOOCs is essential. For this reason a questionnaire was administered to students of the Bachelor in Teaching of Childhood Education, Bachelor in Teaching of Primary Education and Master in Training Teachers of Secondary Education (n=145). The results indicate that a large part of the sample confirm not that they do not know anything about MOOCs. The chapter concludes that universities need to train future teachers in MOOC culture. Keeping the focus on the book section “RIA and education practice of MOOCs”, this chapter provides a valuable research insight into the topic of “educational training design.”
Exploring the Use of Technology, Multimodal Texts, and Digital Tools in K-12 Classrooms
Authors: Lawrence Salika A.
Published: September 2015

This chapter explores how teachers and students use technology in K–12 classrooms, the extent to which these practices align to previous research, and the ways in which digital tools are being used to support literacy instruction. Qualitative data from an exploratory, descriptive study were collected and analyzed. Observational data from classroom visits and teachers' reports show that teachers and students use many digital tools including computers, iPads, and videos, and demonstrate practices that characterize 21st century skills such as collaborative learning, technology literacy, and information literacy. Through the use of digital tools, students are provided with different ways to access the curriculum and have the opportunity to interact with a wide range of texts. However, it appears that in-class experiences are fostering only basic technology skills and limited critical literacy practices, and few students are empowered to take leadership and transformative roles in the technology integration process.
Differentiation 2.0
Authors: Beasley Jennifer G. , Imbeau Marcia B.
Published: September 2015

This case study highlights the essential components of differentiating instruction to meet the needs of all students, including those most advanced, and English Language Learners by using a variety of technologies. Many teachers in the study had access to technology, but few received limited professional development. Roadblocks that many teachers encountered are identified with possible solutions for addressing those concerns. The recommendations provided for addressing concerns that classroom teachers face are (1) how to differentiate instruction for all learners, (2) how to learn and sustain growth in using the tools of technology in lesson planning and implementation, and (3) how to manage all of the various components so that chaos does not ensue and every students' learning is maximized. A review of all of these issues can be beneficial to other teachers in heterogeneous classrooms who want to use technology as tool for differentiating instruction.
Health Information Literacy and the Experience of 65 to 79 Year Old Australians
Authors: Stoodley Ian , Bruce Christine , Partridge Helen , Edwards Sylvia Lauretta , Cooper Helen
Published: September 2015

Information Literacy (IL) is presented here from a relational perspective, as people's experience of using information to learn in a particular context. A detailed practical example of such a context is provided, in the Health Information Literacy (HIL) experience of 65 to 79 year old Australians. A phenomenographic investigation found five qualitatively distinct ways of experiencing HIL: Absorbing (intuitive reception), Targeting (a planned process), Journeying (a personal quest), Liberating (equipping for independence), and Collaborating (interacting in community). These five ways of experiencing indicated expanding awareness of context (degree of orientation towards their environment), source (breadth of esteemed information), beneficiary (the scope of people who gain), and agency (amount of activity) across HIL core aspects of information, learning, and health. These results illustrate the potential contribution of relational IL to information science.
Clever Health
Authors: Braun Patrice
Published: September 2015

This chapter reports on the evaluation of Clever Health, an Australian e-health project. The evaluation took place from mid-2007 through 2010 and consisted of both qualitative and quantitative approaches to capture awareness, expectations, and use of Clever Health components—which included video-conferencing for patient care, professional development, and peer support—and to compare initial perceptions and expectations to perceived changes in awareness and uptake of Clever Health components. The study found that while use of components increased at a satisfactory pace, health services and professionals struggled with change management issues, which, in turn, impacted changing work practices. Findings suggest that it is imperative to address and integrate the human factors of e-health delivery in the rollout of future e-health programs. The study proposes a robust evaluation framework for future telemedicine projects that uses a patient-centred unit of analysis and examines the costs and benefits that accrue for different stakeholders.
The Nature of a Successful Online Professional Doctorate
Authors: Joyes Gordon , Fisher Tony , Firth Roger , Coyle Do
Published: September 2015

This chapter provides a case study of a wholly online professional doctorate in Teacher Education that has been running successfully since 2003 within the School of Education at the University of Nottingham, UK. It begins with both the background and context in which the development took place—this covers the team involved and identifies the drivers that led to this innovative course. The main body of the chapter focuses on the course itself, which was constructed collaboratively through written reflections of the team. This illuminates the reasons for its success as measured by healthy recruitment, high student evaluation scores, and high retention and completion rates. The pedagogic rationale for the design of one module involving collaborative knowledge creation is presented with some student reactions to this. Six student voices are then presented, which provide an insight into the value of the course. This leads to a consideration of the current context and the new challenges facing the course.
A Perfect Match
Authors: Kraus Hilary , Kraus II Rudolf V.
Published: September 2015

A persistent challenge for many librarians is a lack of formal training in pedagogical techniques. In addition to lacking academic coursework in this area, librarians seldom look beyond their professional community for opportunities to develop these vital skills. Given the obvious parallels in mission and responsibilities, the field of education seems a natural fit. This chapter explores the benefits of cross-disciplinary professional development in the context of a collaboration between a librarian and an educational studies professor. Through alternating points of view, it presents the motivation for the partnership, the challenges it presented, and the positive outcomes for each participant. It also offers an in-depth look at the instructional development itself.
Leveraging a Professional Development School Project to Address Students' Learning in Elementary School Mathematics
Authors: Polly Drew
Published: September 2015

This chapter presents the partnership between a university faculty member and an elementary school that started to address students' learning needs regarding mathematics. This chapter provides: a) an overview of learner-centered professional development as a framework for this Professional Development School partnership, b) a description of the various professional development activities, c) and a summary of the impact of the project on instruction and student achievement. The chapter closes with recommendations for establishing and maintaining PDS partnerships focused on addressing students' learning needs.
Workplace Learning
Authors: Wang Victor X. , Allen Jeff
Published: September 2015

This chapter attempts to address a paradigm shift from training to workplace learning in the 21st century as a means of improving the workforce. For any country or organizations to remain highly competitive, it is workplace learning, not organized training, in which adult employees should seek to engage. This chapter addresses how workplace learning has evolved as the most critical stage in boosting employees' skill sets among all other training mechanisms. Various theorists' views and principles have been discussed. It is hoped that the chapter can serve as the basis for teaching, learning, and research regarding this important area called workplace learning. A central theme has emerged from this chapter; that is, the success of a country or organization should be sufficiently gauged by workplace learning. A country's gross domestic product (GDP) can be misleading given multiple factors such as an emerging aging population.
Strategic Management of Workplace E-Learning
Authors: Caudill Jason G. , Reeves Barry
Published: September 2015

Continuing education has become a necessary component of the modern knowledge worker and, by extension, of the modern firm. Increasingly, cost effectiveness points firms to using e-learning solutions in the workplace over older, more traditional methods. This chapter explores the strategic positioning of e-learning in the workplace, the instructional design process, and different types of training that are necessary in the workplace.
Interventions for Learning at Global Workplaces
Authors: Toiviainen Hanna
Published: September 2015

This chapter discusses the need for rethinking cultural differences when designing and implementing learning interventions at global workplaces. Selected concepts of cultural-historical activity theory and anthropological and philosophical studies of globalization are included. Empirical data from a learning intervention directed towards a globally distributed design engineering project is analyzed. The purpose is to find intermediate concepts weaving together abstractions of culture and development with immediate observations of cultural differences. Conclusions drawn from intermediate notions imply that spontaneous presumptions about cultural differences and the developmental potential of an activity may distance the actors in global units from the object of collaborative production. Participants may become alienated from their true motive for working. In the design of future learning interventions in globalizing work, sociocultural embeddedness and universality of human activity make up the challenging starting points.
Preparing Tomorrow's Library Managers
Authors: McLean Evadne , Scale Mark-Shane , Rouse-Jones Margaret D.
Published: September 2015

This chapter reports on a study of leadership development and succession planning at The University of the West Indies Libraries. The research shows that in the absence of formal succession planning, leadership training takes place in tandem with the staff appraisal and career development process. The annual appraisal and assessment system provides the opportunity for staff who aspire to leadership positions to be guided in their career development and thus be better prepared when vacancies arise. The benefits provided to academic, senior administrative and professional staff—for example, funding for travel and professional activities, special leave for scholarly pursuits and other career development opportunities—are utilised by librarians to advance their careers. The chapter highlights the importance of strict adherence by library administration to the annual appraisal and assessment processes and staff use of organisational support for career development as integral components in leadership development and succession planning and implementation.
Global Literacy Skills and Collaborative Strategies for Enhancing Professional Development for Teachers and Educators
Authors: Mutisya Philliph Masila , Rotich Jerono P.
Published: September 2015

Development trends in educational institutions in the 21st century reflect increased initiatives on internationalization and globalization. As the world becomes more interdependent and interconnected, globalization is also becoming a reality. This chapter addresses the theoretical and practical strategies that empower educators to meet the growth in institutional and professional development. The focus is to raise awareness of the need to re-conceptualize American educational institutions and professional development for K-20 educators so as to meet the demands of the 21st century international and global society. The proposed framework provides an effective approach and strategies for preparing teachers, faculty, and institutional leaders on developing a conceptual framework model that promotes international and global literacy and collaboration on professional development for K-20 teachers and educators.
Empires of the Future
Authors: Garofalo Denise A.
Published: September 2015

Exploring technology and academic libraries concerns more than just machines, functions or processes; the human factor is as important as the equipment. Implementing successful technology changes requires attention to the people involved, and academia is no exception. Technology can be divided into either disruptive or sustaining technologies, and these technological changes impact students, faculty, and staff. In higher education, technology changes are shifting knowledge transfer to a more participatory environment and a more synergistic experience. The academic library is in a transitive state of change, evolving from a warehouse of things to a collaborative learning destination for resources. Both the library and the academic environment must adapt to survive. Overcoming the challenge of changes to the delivery of instruction may lead to extensive restructuring of courses and curriculum. The academic library can serve as a collaborative partner with faculty, leading by example to incorporate technological changes.
Energy Conservation Law for the Turbulent Motion in the Free Atmosphere
Authors: Kaliyeva Kulyash
Published: September 2015

This chapter presents convergent-divergent flow in the free atmosphere which is governed by the three dimensional Navier-Stokes equations and deals with the fundamental problem of fluid dynamics. Considering air movement under influence divergence and rotation were found the true dependencies between the velocity vector and the pressure distribution. Following the classical procedure by using rotor operator and a well-known formula of vector analysis were obtained the second kind nonlinear Volterra-Fredholm integral equations in a matrix form which contained only three components of the velocity vector. According to the theory of the matrix operators were defined the velocity components by the successive approximation method. According to the obtained balance equation for the pressure distribution were defined significant properties of the transient convergent-divergent flow which provide a description of the constitutive relationships between three physical quantities: the velocity vector, the external and internal forces, the pressure distribution.
Multi-Objective Optimization of Two-Stage Thermo-Electric Cooler Using Differential Evolution
Authors: Khanh Doan V. K. , Vasant Pandian , Elamvazuthi Irraivan , Dieu Vo N.
Published: September 2015

In this chapter, the technical issues of two-stage TEC were discussed. After that, a new method of optimizing the dimension of TECs using differential evolution to maximize the cooling rate and coefficient of performance was proposed. A input current to hot side and cold side of and the number ratio between the hot stage and cold stage are searched the optima solutions. Thermal resistance is taken into consideration. The results of optimization obtained by using differential evolution were validated by comparing with those obtained by using genetic algorithm and show better performance in terms of stability, computational efficiency, robustness. This work revealed that differential evolution more stable than genetic algorithm and the Pareto front obtained from multi-objective optimization balances the important role between cooling rate and coefficient of performance.
Simulation and Modeling
Authors: Mushiri Tawanda , Mbohwa Charles
Published: September 2015

The chapter describes the design of the speed governing system of 150 MW Francis turbines at a power station. The turbine governing system is vital for the safety and availability of a power plant. The dynamic characteristics of the turbine system are nonlinear and difficult to predict. The identification, development and implementation of the hydraulic system for the power plant were done via literature survey and computer based simulations and also analyzed by comparing different controllers through simulation. The governor system parameters were simulated with the actual data available in the power plant. Traditional PID controller parameters are difficult to tune when used in control systems and a fuzzy PID which can tune the parameters on-line is introduced to be appropriate in the turbine governing control system. In MATLAB/SMULINK simulation environment, the simulation results show that fuzzy logic PID control strategy has better performances than traditional PID controller.
Methods for Assessing Still Image Compression Efficiency
Authors: Dragan Dinu , Petrovic Veljko B. , Ivetic Dragan
Published: September 2015

Assessing the computational efficiency of an image compression technique plays an important part in evaluations used to estimate the overall quality of the compression. In this chapter, different methods for assessing computational efficiency will be explored as a part of the evaluations used to determine still image compression usability in image storage/communication systems such as a Picture Archiving and Communication System. Efficiency describes how well the image compression makes use of the available computing resources. It is not an obligatory part of evaluation and there is no unique method for assessing compression efficiency. The results of compression efficiency assessment are usually interpreted in the context of the hardware and software platform used in the evaluation. This dependence is addressed and different ways for its amelioration are discussed in the chapter. This is the groundwork for research in developing a platform-independent method for assessing compression efficiency.
Sensitivity Analysis of Laser Cutting Based on Metamodeling Approach
Authors: Al Khawli Toufik , Eppelt Urs , Schulz Wolfgang
Published: September 2015

In this work, the utility of a metamodel in gaining valuable information relating to the optimization of a laser cutting process using a CW laser source is analyzed. The simulation itself is characterized by a high dimensional input parameter set. Each parameter has its own range, and thus the complete parameter sets with their ranges form the full parameter domain space. The quality criteria are analyzed and used as objective function to optimize the process. Simulation results can only help in the build-up of process understanding, if they can be presented in their entirety and together with their origin in the parameter domain. For this purpose a metamodeling concept is presented, which takes the results from simulations and generates a process map that clearly indicates the process domains. For gaining insights, the Elementary Effect method is applied to screen the important parameters that exhibit the greater impact on the process.