bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning Objects: Adaptive Retrieval through Learning Styles
Authors: Mustaro Pollyana , Silveira Ismar
Published: October 2017

Nowadays, the amount of information grows in an exponential way, mainly because of technological advances in media. This scenario claims for the development of different skills in order to increase learning abilities, making them personal and customizable. Such factor is significant in a changing society, which implies in a range of mechanisms which would allow to identify, in a non-intrusive way, which learning style some specific student would prefer to perform in order to build knowledge from some learning object under a learning context. This requires defining some strategies in order to recognize adult learner’s learning styles for some specific learning context. This work is based on theoretical references of Felder, Kolb and Gardner, proposing the implementation of a metadata annotation to identificate prime learning styles that are present in specific learning objects. This classification constitutes a starting point to recover learning objects from a repository according to apprentice’s profile and experiences. As a result, the effectiveness of the use of learning objects will be improved.
A Virtual Learning Environment for Mobile IP
Authors: Bergstrom Laura , Grahn Kaj , Pulkkis Goran
Published: October 2017

This paper presents a virtual learning environment for Mobile IP (Internet Protocol). The learning environment has been produced in a production circle of Virtual Polytechnic of Finland. Protocols and mechanisms for secure mobility in the Internet are surveyed. A detailed description of the development of the learning environment and the content of the Mobile IP animation is given. The chosen didactical approach and the graphical design of the learning platform are presented and motivated. The IT technology and the IT infrastructure needed to implement and use the learning platform are also described and assessed.
Remote Method Invocation and Mobile Agent: A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Adesola Aderounmu G. , Oyatokun Bosede , Adigun Matthew
Published: October 2017

This paper presents a comparative analysis of Remote Method Invocation (RMI) and Mobile Agent (MA) paradigm used to implement the information storage and retrieval system in a distributed computing environment. Simulation program was developed to measure the performance of MA and RMI using object oriented programming language (the following parameters: search time, fault tolerance and invocation cost. We used search time, fault tolerance and invocation cost as performance parameters in this research work. Experimental results showed that Mobile Agent paradigm offers a superior performance compared to RMI paradigm, offers fast computational speed; procure lower invocation cost by making local invocations instead of remote invocations over the network, thereby reducing network bandwidth. Finally MA has a better fault tolerance than the RMI. With a probability of failure pr = 0.1, mobile agent degrades gracefully.
A Didactic Experience in Collaborative Learning Supported by Digital Media
Authors: Cattafi Ricardo , Metzner Christiane
Published: October 2017

Collaboration is a learning strategy used in various domains such as e-health, e-business, e-education, e-government and e-research. In e-learning and under a constructivist approach, collaboration is expected to increase the performance of students. Although it can be used without digital media, given the pervasiveness of technology, their systematic application by educational institutions as instructional tools is nowadays common. In this work, we present our anecdotal experience to introduce collaborative learning at one of the main universities in Venezuela and analyze the results in terms of how students perceived what they learned, how they apprehended collaborative work and we describe a set of collaborative learning strategies with digital media and independent interaction tools that were chosen in this experience by students and teachers. These results will be used for improving the programs and courses in informatics aimed at preparing educators with a profile taking into account ICT’s.
An Integrated Model of Collaborative Knowledge Building
Authors: Singh Gurparkash , Hawkins Louise , Whymark Greg
Published: October 2017

This paper describes a model for studying collaborative knowledge building (CKB) as a group activity. We integrate the model described by Stahl (2000a) with an analysis based on the principles of cultural historical activity theory (CHAT), using the analysis of a self reflective case study to guide the description. The concept of the CKB activity system is developed, and the role of contradictions in CHAT is described. The case is then analyzed to show how the model explains collaboration in practice. The final model includes two additional cycles representing the role of reflective practice in CKB. The new model of CKB processes combined with the concept of the activity as the unit of analysis and the tools of CHAT provides an efficacious way of investigating collaborative knowledge building.
Towards a Student Advisory System for E-learning
Authors: Saade Raafat , Kira Dennis , Dogmoch Dani
Published: October 2017

Web-based courses are being introduced by higher education institutions at an increasing rate, such that a systematic shift from face-to-face teaching to web-based teaching has become evident. This enthusiasm in web-based education is primarily driven by cost savings and bottom line net profits to institutions. However, research work in the field still has a long way to demonstrate the effectiveness and benefits of web-based learning in general and more specifically, which student can benefit most. Regardless of all the benefits reported, difficulties are still encountered by students, professors, and institutions alike. In fact, many studies show that the web environment for learning is not appropriate for everyone. Therefore, the primary question should be “who is appropriate to take web-based courses?” This of course is in the context of success as it relates to enhanced learning experience and improved performance. Considering the reported benefits and difficulties, this paper identifies seven factors characterizing student success in a web-based learning environment. In addition, we use those factors within a decision support advisory system to help screen students for their appropriateness to take a web-based course. The system was used with few students and this paper reports on one case. The advisory system identifies unfavorable conditions for success to the student and suggests remedial activities to enhance the student’s success.
Python and Roles of Variables in Introductory Programming: Experiences from Three Educational Institutions
Authors: Nikula Uolevi , Sajaniemi Jorma , Tedre Matti , Wray Stuart
Published: October 2017

Students often find that learning to program is hard. Introductory programming courses have high drop-out rates and students do not learn to program well. This paper presents experiences from three educational institutions where introductory programming courses were improved by adopting Python as the first programming language and roles of variables as an aid in understanding program behavior. As a result of these changes, students were able to write working code from the very beginning, they found programming easy and interesting, they passed exams with good grades, and drop-out rates were low. Students became interested in programming and some of them even changed their personal study plan to include more of programming and computer science.
Valuing IS/IT Resources as an Antecedent of Ab-sorptive Capacity: An RBV Perspective
Authors: Joglar Hernan , Chaparro Julian
Published: October 2017

Knowledge recognition as an organizational asset of strategic importance has generated growing interest on absorptive capacity. Surprisingly enough, research on the factors that originate this capacity has been rather scarce. Thus, existing knowledge on the matter suffers relevant omissions. One significant factor that has been excluded from the identified set of antecedents is the collection of resources and capabilities that derive from information systems and information technology (IS/IT). Therefore, this article is aimed at developing the arguments that justify considering IS/IT resources as an antecedent of absorptive capacity, and also at identifying the main relationships among these resources and the most relevant antecedents previously identified. This research concludes that IS/IT resources not only are an important antecedent of absorptive capacity, but also play a moderating role over the effects of many other antecedents.
Project Based Learning and Learning Environments
Authors: Kurzel Frank , Rath Michelle
Published: October 2017

In this paper, we describe the characteristics of Project Based Learning, a derivative of problem based learning and report on a multimedia course where this methodology was pursued. The instructional materials are reported on and the artefacts/documentation developed by students discussed. A factor analysis was performed on questionnaire data that was collected at the end of the semester to evaluate the methodology pursued and the instructional artefacts developed. The results of this analysis are discussed along with the implications of this analysis on the use of online learning environments. A model to provide alternate instruction in an online environment are further discussed.
Advancing Sustainability of Open Educational Resources
Authors: Koohang Alex , Harman Keith
Published: October 2017

This paper discusses the concept of Open Educational Resources (OERs). The discussion then shift to OER sustainability, a fundamental element essential for the success of OER. Special attention is given to the following as they relate to the OER sustainability: instructional design & presentation; cost of production and maintenance; support; and OER communities of practice as relate to scalability. The paper concludes with recommendations for OERs future research.
Conceptual Framework for Modeling Business Capabilities
Authors: Brits Jean-Pierre , Botha Gerrit , Herselman Marlien
Published: October 2017

Staying competitive in today’s fast changing markets and business environments has become a big issue in organizations these days. To be able to foresee the future of the industry and have insight into customer’s articulated and unarticulated needs are critical capabilities that organizations need to acquire in order to stay competitive. The objective of this research project is to provide a conceptual approach to analyze an organization and to provide a foundation that would support the architecture of an agile organization. Enterprise architecture, business capabilities, organizational analysis and innovation are the main practices that contribute towards the construction of capabilities and the development of the conceptual business capability framework. The most significant findings from this research study were the development of a conceptual framework that is later utilized to construct business capabilities. A business capability model has also been produced to visually depict a business capability. This study also provided two feedback loops, namely the organizational feedback loop and the innovative feedback loop.
Know Your Discipline: Teaching the Philosophy of Computer Science
Authors: Tedre Matti
Published: October 2017

The diversity and interdisciplinarity of computer science and the multiplicity of its uses in other sciences make it hard to define computer science and to prescribe how computer science should be carried out. The diversity of computer science also causes friction between computer scientists from different branches. Computer science curricula, as they stand, have been criticized for being unable to offer computer scientists proper methodological training or a deep understanding of different research traditions. At the Department of Computer Science and Statistics at the University of Joensuu we decided to include in our curriculum a course that offers our students an awareness of epistemological and methodological issues in computer science, and we wanted to design the course to be meaningful for practicing computer scientists. In this article the needs and aims of our course on the philosophy of computer science are discussed, and the structure and arrangements—the whys, whats, and hows—of that course are explained. The course, which is given entirely on-line, was designed for advanced graduate or postgraduate computer science students from two Finnish universities: the University of Joensuu and the University of Kuopio. The course has four relatively broad themes, and all those themes are tied to the students’ everyday work or their own research topics. I have prepared course readings about each of those four themes. The course readings describe, in a compact and simple form, the cruces of the topics that are discussed in the course. The electronic version of the course readings includes hyperlinks to a large number of articles that are available on-line. The course readings are publicly available on the course home page, and they are licensed under the creative commons license.
An Improved Assessment of Personality Traits in Software Engineering
Authors: Sodiya Adesina , O. D. Longe H. , Onashoga Adebukola , Awodele Oludele , O. Omotosho L.
Published: October 2017

The success or otherwise of Software Engineering (SE) activities depends on the interactions among software engineers. Consequently, effective interactions depend largely on personality traits, which is a consistent and long-lasting tendency in behaviour. In psychology, five major trait factors (The Big Five Factors) have been generally used to assess personality of people. But, these might not be adequate in SE because of the required technical and cognitive skills. In this work, we first present Cognitive Ability as an additional factor that must be measured in order to adequately assess personality in SE. A research survey was conducted in order to capture personality requirements in SE. Based on the result of the survey conducted, we develop a model for assessing personality traits in SE. We then design an assessment technique that is based on responses to some well-structured and deductive on-line questions. The implementation of the model using Visual Basic resulted in a much-needed tool that can guide intending software engineers in choosing area of specialization in SE based on their personality traits.
The Concept of an Unstructured Book and the Software to Publish and Read it
Authors: Bauer Mengelberg John
Published: October 2017

An unstructured book is defined as a set of digital multimedia files called items, together with ordered subsets of them presented to its readers. Thus different readings of the same set of items are possible. Additionally, items may be shown in different versions and languages. The functionality of the software package SPRP used to publish and read such books is described with an overview of what it offers, in a way which should enable readers to further understand the underlying concept and its possible applications but without any details. The software allows the introduction of reader constraints which will prevent them from seeing certain items, as well as protecting the computer files from unauthorized viewing.
From Tailored Databases to Wikis: Using Emerging Technologies to Work Together More Efficiently
Authors: Regolini Amanda , Berger Frederic , Jannes-Ober Emmanuelle , Dorren Luuk
Published: October 2017

This article describes the emergence of collaborative work between researchers and information professionals through the presentation oftwo tools developed within Cemagref. The first tool is a traditional database and the second a Wiki; they were both implemented by information professionals with the contribution of information technology (IT) experts. The role of Cemagref information professionals is to provide researchers with expertise on information technology. The first task ofthe ten Cemagref documentation departments is to supply our researchers with suitable data. This paper develops this experience through the description of two existing systems. Not only can researchers now retrieve information, but they are also able to feed the databases with their own information.
Honeypots: Basic Concepts Classification and Educational Use as Resources in Information Security Education and Courses
Authors: Hernandez y Lopez Miguel , Francisco Lerma Reséndez Carlos
Published: October 2017

This paper deals with the basic aspects of Honeypots, their use in modem computer networks and their implementation in educational environments. Initially, the implementation of Honeypots solves a common problem of Information Security and Forensics: The dissection of the elements that make up an attack against a computer system. Next, the paper explains the different types and functions of Honeypots once they are implemented in a network in order to make a distinction in terms of what is needed for the Honeypot to do. Finally, the use of Honeypots in educational environments, its benefits and the use of virtualization technologies is discussed.
Interweaving Rubrics in Information Systems Program Assessments- Experiences from Action Research at Two Universities
Authors: Petkova Olga , Petkov Don , D'Onofrio Marianne
Published: October 2017

This paper describes research experiences in student learning assessment in information systems programs. These research experiences resulted from research implemented at two Connecticut State universities during the past six years. The paper provides an overview of the expanding research in Information Systems education assessment and links assessment work at the program level with the use of standardized rubrics for projects or other artifacts. Additionally, the paper presents reflections on the authors’ action research achievements in student learning assessment and gives some directions for future work.
Impact of Open Files vs. Closed Files Testing: An Experiment with Mid-Eastern IT Students
Authors: Neil Westley D.
Published: October 2017

The question to be examined in the intended research is whether and to what degree access to previous files gives students an advantage during a practical IT test , i.e. does it produce higher results on tests and if so how much? The hypothesis is that viewing previous files will make little or no difference to student performance. This was validated by the results.
Meaningful Learning in Discussion Forums: Towards Discourse Analysis
Authors: Saade Raafat , Huang Qiong
Published: October 2017

This document presents the analysis of a discussion forum used as a learning component in a ‘management information systems’ university course. By reporting on two macro level measures namely, participation and interaction, we seek to understand the occurrence of any collaborative knowledge-building activities/processes and at the same time work towards discourse analysis. Our analysis is based on the qualitative case study approach. Participation and interaction analysis from student usage of the discussion forum provide some insight into their learning and behavior in a virtual environment. Students spent time on reading forum discussions, reflecting and planning their contribution before posting it in the forum. Moreover, their participation behavior throughout the semester follows an s-curve, interestingly, typical in adoption theory studies.
SMS User Interface Result Checking System
Authors: Adagunodo Emmanuel , Awodele Oludele , Idowu Sunday
Published: October 2017

In this paper, we present a way to bring information to students by leveraging the availability of phones (with SMS capability), especially cell phones. We review the use of mobile phones for delivering examination results via Short Messaging Service (SMS) in a university, where student who have written examinations and anxious to see their results need to get their grades in a convenient and accessible way, whether in the comfort of their homes, on the road or while at work. Mobile phone seems to be an asset most individuals’ posses, and take almost everywhere with them, it is therefore a highly effective means of bringing information to them faster, easily and on the move. An SMS result checking system not only enables students to request for their grades, the system can also deliver the grades to their phones as soon as the grades become available. This means that they can access their grades even in the remotest locations where internet facility might be unavailable, preventing them from accessing the school’s website. This study shows the implementation of such system and considers the security issues associated. The system enforces security with the use of secret information (password), and also provides access to new and old grades.
Analyzing Responses Moves and Roles in Online Discussions
Authors: Wishart Craig , Guy Retta
Published: October 2017

There is much debate regarding the value and utility of grading discussions to ensure and assess full participation in the online classroom. Proponents of threaded discussions view it as an integral part of the learning process, where students seek knowledge and express understanding. Consequently, they deem it essential to assess participation. On the other hand, opponents of assessing or grading participation assert that an exceedingly active discussion can distract students from other equally or more important coursework, not to mention the impracticality of instructors responding to the vast number of submissions. This article examines a variety of grading rubrics used to promote critical thinking about course content and assess the quality of participation and contributions of online threaded discussions. We present the results of a study conducted at a historically Black institution that used Kneser’s Exchange Structure Analysis (ESA) to analyze dialogue in order to understand student exchanges, moves, and roles as well as the influence of gender in online discussions during 3 consecutive summer sessions.
Towards a Guide for Novice Researchers on Research Methodology: Review and Proposed Methods
Authors: Ellis Timothy , Levy Yair
Published: October 2017

The novice researcher, such as the graduate student, can be overwhelmed by the intricacies of the research methods employed in conducting a scholarly inquiry. As both a consumer and producer of research, it is essential to have a firm grasp on just what is entailed in producing legitimate, valid results and conclusions. The very large and growing number of diverse research approaches in current practice exacerbates this problem. The goal of this review is to provide the novice researcher with a starting point in becoming a more informed consumer and producer of research. Toward addressing this goal, a new system for deriving a proposed study type is developed. The PLD model includes the three common drivers for selection of study type: research-worthy problem (P), valid quality peer-reviewed literature (L), and data (D). The discussion includes a review of some common research types and concludes with definitions, discussions, and examples of various fundamentals of research methods such as: a) forming research questions and hypotheses; b) acknowledging assumptions, limitations, and delimitations; and c) establishing reliability and validity.
A Data Driven Conceptual Analysis of Globalization — Cultural Affects and Hofstedian Organizational Frames: The Slovak Republic Example
Authors: DeLorenzo Gary , Kohun Frederick , Burcik Vladimir , Belanova Alzbeta , Skovira Robert
Published: October 2017

It has been argued that culture effects how individuals implement, understand, live, and do business within a defined political, organizational, and ethnic environment. This essay presents a context for analyzing possible cultural shifts based on Hofstede and Hofstede’s conception that a society’s culture constituted in and presented in individuals’ views and routines determines an identifiable cultural profile. In particular, Hofstede’s indices on Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, Masculinity and Individuality are applied to two populations—one a United States university population and the other from a Slovak Republic university. The overall purpose is to determine if Hofstede’s orginal research findings are the same today in an era of the internet, globalization, and economic change.
Modified Watershed Algorithm for Segmentation of 2D Images
Authors: Sikander Hayat Khiyal Malik , Khan Aihab , Bibi Amna
Published: October 2017

With the repaid advancement of computer technology, the use of computer-based technologies is increasing in different fields of life. Image segmentation is an important problem in different fields of image processing and computer vision. Image segmentation is the process of dividing images according to its characteristic e.g., color and objects present in the images. Different methods are presented for image segmentation. The focus of this study is the watershed segmentation. The tool used in this study is MATLAB. Good result of watershed segmentation entirely relay on the image contrast. Image contrast may be degraded during image acquisition. Watershed algorithm can generate over segmentation or under segmentation on badly contrast images. In order to reduce these deficiencies of watershed algorithm a preprocessing step using Random Walk method is performed on input images. Random Walk method is a probabilistic approach, which improves the image contrast in the way image is degraded.
Age and ICT-Related Behaviours of Higher Education Teachers in Nigeria
Authors: Jegede Philip
Published: October 2017

The study examined ICT attitude, competence, and use pattern of teacher educators. It also examined the effect of age of educators on time used in interacting with ICT. Four hundred and sixty seven teacher educators from 10 teacher education institutions (5 colleges of education and 5 universities) participated in the study. Data were collected with the aid of four research instruments. Resulting data were analyzed using One-way ANOVA and Chi-square statistics. Findings revealed that age is not a factor when considering the attitudes, competence and use pattern of teacher educators. In addition, age was not found to affect the time used on ICT by higher education teachers in Nigeria.
Computer Anxiety in E-Learning: The Effect of Computer Self-Efficacy
Authors: Saade Raafat , Kira Dennis
Published: October 2017

It has been reported that as many as fifty percent of adults, including first-year University students, have some sort of computer-related phobia. This report demonstrates that the use of computers still has some unpleasant side effects despite the Internet boom in the past decade. Past research shows that computer anxiety influences how users perceive ease of use of an information system. However, few have investigated the role of computer self-efficacy in mediating computer anxieties on perceived ease of use. Therefore, in this study we base our contribution on the variables of computer self-efficacy and computer anxieties. These two variables are believed to impact an individual’s use of computers and performance for computer-based tasks. Anxiety has been argued to impact computer-based learning by affecting levels of self-efficacy anchored in social learning and outcome expectation theories. Self-efficacy is determined by levels of anxiety such that reduced anxiety and increased experience improves performance indirectly by increasing levels of self-efficacy. In this study, we investigate the influence of computer anxiety on perceived ease of use and the mediating effect of computer self-efficacy on this relationship, within an e-learning context. A survey methodology approach was used in this study using 18 items for 3 constructs (perceived ease of use, anxiety, and self-efficacy). Survey data from 645 university students were analyzed. The psychometric properties of the items and constructs were validated followed by the assessment of mediation of computer self efficacy. Results from the use of a learning management system indicate that computer self-efficacy plays a significant role in mediating the impact of anxiety on perceived ease of use. This role is observed by computer selfefficacy (1) reducing the strength and significance of the impact of anxiety on perceived ease of use and (2) having a strong and significant relationship with computer anxiety. The findings demonstrate the importance of self-efficacy as a mediator between computer anxiety and perceived ease of use of a learning management system (LMS). With the continuous development of richer and more integrated interfaces, anxieties about learning to use the new interface and executing tasks effectively becomes of primary importance. Limitations and suggestions for future research are elaborated.
Using Digital Video Game in Service Learning Projects
Authors: Mensch Scott , Ali Azad
Published: October 2017

This paper details the experience of a particular department in integrating digital video games into a service learning project. The department of Technology Support and Training program (TST) within the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology (ECOBIT) at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) has taken the initiative to integrate service learning projects into their courses. Various initiating proposals have taken place in regards to ideas for the selection of the service learning projects and the methods of their implementation. Among these initiatives is a project taken by faculty members to donate a digital video game to a senior citizen center within the community. The paper first provides a theoretical feedback on service learning projects in general and the steps that led these faculty members to select this idea for a service project. More details is given regarding the planning and implementation for this project including the procedures followed to collect funds for the video game and the selection of the senior citizen center.
M-Government Services Initiatives in Oman
Authors: Naqvi Syed , Al-Shihi Hafedh
Published: October 2017

Information technology and communications have now become the main elements that move forward and help Oman in its national development process. Internet penetration in most developing countries like Oman is still low as oppose to mobiles dissemination, despite the government plans and strategies to enhance internet diffusion. Internet subscribers comprised about 2.5% of the general population of Oman. In contrast, the number of mobile holders increased substantially since the launch of these services in 1996. Prepaid mobile services and SMS were introduced in 2001 and both are currently popular with subscribers. Such fine appeal influenced many government organizations to go mobile with their services. This paper reviewed the ICT sector and the current m-government initiatives in Oman setting up the mobile services and aimed to understand the key factors to adoption and diffusion of these services.
Determining the Effects of LMS Learning Behaviors on Academic Achievement in a Learning Analytic Perspective
Authors: FIRAT Mehmet
Published: October 2017

Two of the most important outcomes of learning analytics are predicting students’ learning and providing effective feedback. Learning Management Systems (LMS), which are widely used to support online and face-to-face learning, provide extensive research opportunities with detailed records of background data regarding users’ behaviors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of undergraduate students’ LMS learning behaviors on their academic achievements. In line with this purpose, the participating students’ online learning behaviors in LMS were examined by using learning analytics for 14 weeks, and the relationship between students’ behaviors and their academic achievements was analyzed, followed by an analysis of their views about the influence of LMS on their academic achievement. The present study, in which quantitative and qualitative data were collected, was carried out with the explanatory mixed method. A total of 71 undergraduate students participated in the study. The results revealed that the students used LMSs as a support to face-to-face education more intensively on course days (at the beginning of the related lessons and at nights on course days) and that they activated the content elements the most. Lastly, almost all the students agreed that LMSs helped increase their academic achievement only when LMSs included such features as effectiveness, interaction, reinforcement, attractive design, social media support, and accessibility.
Benefits of Employing a Personal Response System in a Decision Analysis Course
Authors: Or-Bach Rachel
Published: October 2017

This paper describes the employment of a Personal Response System (PRS) during a Decision Analysis course for Management Information Systems (MIS) students. The description shows how the carefully designed PRS-based questions, the delivery, and the follow-up discussions; provided a context for eliciting and exercising central concepts of the course topics as well as central skills required for MIS majors. A sample of PRS-based questions is presented along with a description for each question of its purpose, the way it was delivered, the response rate, the responses and their frequencies, and the respective in-class discussion. Lessons from these findings are discussed.
Evaluating the Effect of Arabic Engineering Students’ Learning Styles in Blended Programming Courses
Authors: Al-Azawei Ahmed , kadhim Al-Bermani Ali , Lundqvist Karsten
Published: October 2017

This study investigated the complex relationship among learning styles, gender, perceived satisfaction, and academic performance across four programming courses supported by an e-learning platform. A total of 219 undergraduate students from a public Iraqi university who recently experienced e-learning voluntarily took place in the study. The integrated courses adopted a blended learning mode and all learners were provided the same learning content and pathway irrespective of their individual styles. Data were gathered using the Index of Learning Styles (ILS), three closed-ended questions, and the academic record. Traditional statistics and partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) were performed to examine the proposed hypotheses. The findings of this research suggested that, overall, learning style dimensions are uncorrelated with either academic performance or perceived satisfaction, except for the processing dimension (active/reflective) that has a significant effect on the latter. Furthermore, gender is unassociated with any of the proposed model’s constructs. Finally, there is no significant correlation between academic performance and perceived satisfaction. These results led to the conclusion that even though Arabic engineering students prefer active, sensing, visual, and sequential learning as do other engineering students from different backgrounds, they can adapt to a learning context even if their preferences are not met. The research contributes empirically to the existing debate regarding the potential implications of learning styles and for the Arabic context in particular, since respective research remains rare.
Building an Informing Business School: A Case Study of USF's Muma College of Business
Authors: Gill Grandon , Mullarkey Matthew , E Mohr Joseph , Limayem Moez
Published: October 2017

[This paper is published in Informing Science: the International Journal of an Emerging Transdiscipline, Volume 19.]

As the complexity of a system grows, the challenge of informing the stakeholders of that system grows correspondingly. Nowhere is that challenge more daunting than in business education, where globalization, technological innovation, and increasingly complicated regulations continuously transform the business environment facing graduates and practitioners. Informing science theory proposes that different levels of complexity require different channels if effective informing is to be achieved. The paper first examines how two important sources of complexity—the diversity of clients and the ruggedness of the business landscape—are changing, and how these changes demand vastly more interactive informing channels if impact is to be achieved. Using an exploratory case study methodology, it then takes a detailed look at how one institution—the University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business—has introduced a variety of new channels, many of which enable informing flows without necessarily directing them, to adapt to these environmental changes. It then considers both outcomes related to these individual informing channels and college-wide outcomes related to a broad and deep mosaic of informing flows. Finally, it considers the question of the resources required to support these new channels and the relationship between resource acquisition and channel introduction. The proposed framework for looking at business school informing channels can be applied by administrators, faculty members, and key stakeholders in understanding, evaluating, and planning programs and activities supporting informing in a complex environment. Ultimately, the informing business school framework may also provide a means for communicating impact to business school accrediting agencies (such as AACSB).
Training Librarians for 21st Century Repository Services: Emerging Trends
Authors: Emasealu Helen , Nnadozie Umeozor Susan
Published: October 2017

[The final form of this paper was published in the journal Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology.]

The paper reviewed the emerging roles of the 21st century librarians, charged with the responsibility to manage repository services across libraries in present-day information technology environment. Librarians need to be trained and empowered with requisite skills and knowledge needed for successful management of the ICT driven repository initiatives that the 21st century demands. Literature was reviewed on the roles and responsibilities of librarians, training needs and opportunities, career path and recruitment of librarians, and community support necessary for effective and efficient implementation and management of repository initiatives. This entails the ability to comprehend trends and change patterns which are essential for providing research focused and user-friendly models in open repository services that are based on thorough analytical understanding of the challenges of emerging trends. To achieve this requires the training and retraining of librarians to reposition them as information specialists in their career path. The role of the library as an integral part of its social environment is to educate the community about the existence of an open repository by building partnership with community-oriented research centres through seminars, workshops, symposium, training, and awareness programmes. The study recommends that librarians should strategize and collaborate with researchers to make open repository an essential research tool.
Beyond the Periphery: Towards the Peer Review of Online Teaching
Authors: P Egan John
Published: October 2017

In this paper I examine both philosophical and operational aspects of cultivating a peer review of teaching process that embraces online learning as an integral, unique part of university teaching and learning endeavors. Reflecting on my own experiences as both a candidate and reviewer, my analysis seeks to disrupts presumptions about observation, interaction, teaching and assessment, which are experienced substantively differently in online than in face-to-face classes. A protocol for reviewing peers’ online teaching is also proposed.
Student Preferences and Performance in Online and Face-to-Face Classes Using Myers-Briggs Indicator: A Longitudinal Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Boghikian-Whitby Seta , Mortagy Yehia
Published: October 2017

This longitudinal, quasi-experimental study investigated students’ cognitive personality type using the Myers-Briggs personality Type Indicator (MBTI) in Internet-based Online and Face-to-Face (F2F) modalities. A total of 1154 students enrolled in 28 Online and 32 F2F sections taught concurrently over a period of fourteen years. The study measured whether the sample is similar to the national average percentage frequency of all 16 different personality types; whether specific personality type students preferred a specific modality of instructions and if this preference changed over time; whether learning occurred in both class modalities; and whether specific personality type students learned more from a specific modality. Data was analyzed using regression, t-test, frequency, and Chi-Squared. The study concluded that data used in the study was similar to the national statistics; that no major differences in preference occurred over time; and that learning did occur in all modalities, with more statistically significant learning found in the Online modality versus F2F for Sensing, Thinking, and Perceiving types. Finally, Sensing and Thinking (ST) and Sensing and Perceiving (SP) group types learned significantly more in Online modality versus F2F.
A Holistic Approach to Estimating the Influence of Good Practices on Student Outcomes at Liberal Arts and non-Liberal Arts Institutions
Authors: P. An Brian , T. Parker Eugene , L. Trolian Teniell , D. Weeden Dustin
Published: October 2017

Many higher education administrators and researchers have considered certain “good practices” of institutions as an instrumental way to improve student outcomes. Chickering and Gamson’s (1987) seven principles of good practice has been particularly salient in defining these practices. Often, prior studies only select some of the seven principles for their analysis. Even studies that consider several principles of good practice on student outcomes typically examine the net effect of each principle instead of assessing how these principles holistically influence student outcomes. Using structural equation modeling, we test a basic conceptual framework where we investigate the contribution of the seven principles on a global measure of good practices (GP), as well as the influence of GP on a multitude of student outcomes. We further test whether liberal arts colleges promote an institutional ethos of good practices as compared to non-liberal arts colleges. Overall, the majority (but not all) of the principles affect GP. Moreover, we find partial evidence that liberal arts colleges foster an institutional ethos of good practices. Although a commitment to foster good practices may create a supportive environment that influences student outcomes, this commitment may lead to unintended consequences for those with little exposure to these good practices.
Facilitating mCommerce Growth in Nigeria through mMoney Usage: A Preliminary Analysis
Authors: Nedu Osakwe Christian , Chukwuemezie Okeke Titus
Published: October 2017

A general belief is that Mobile Money (mMoney) has the catalytic effect of spurring mCommerce growth and driving financial inclusion in developing nations like Nigeria. In Nigeria, mMoney service is certainly a new financial service innovation in the country, and as a result critical issues surrounding its early critical mass adoption, including its perceived usefulness, remain largely opaque. In this paper, our aim was to explore factors influencing perceived usefulness of mMoney by using the extended technology acceptance model (TAM) as the theoretical underpinning of our work. This work is based on a usable sample of 127 respondents from two major cities in Nigeria. Overall, the study’s results indicate that perceived regulator assurance, service affordability, convenience, proximity to the nearest bank branch, and worry over ease of use are significant predictors of mMoney perceived usefulness. The work helps shed new insights about the significant factors that are closely related to the consumer’s perception of the relevance of mMoney services (to his/her financial needs). In sum, the study is an initial step to addressing the issue of perceived usefulness of mMoney service, including its pivotal importance to laying a solid foundation for mCommerce growth in Nigeria and similar sub-Saharan African (SSA) coun-tries.
Cycles of Diversity – An Approach towards Building Diversity Acceptance in Volunteer Organisations
Authors: Jones Michael , He Valerie
Published: October 2017

Many organisations around the world are beginning to move towards a position of increased diversity in their numbers. There are many ways to look at the issue and achieve satisfactory outcomes. This paper explores an approach which offers strong advantages and benefits for the functional integration of minority groups. Operating on the theoretical principles of Diversity Acceptance and Organisational Inclusive Behaviour, the paper will explore the two cycles of diversity. The first cycle follows a ‘vicious’ path, where diversity adjustments are not applied or effective. This cycle highlights the problems that occur as a result of increased heterogeneity. The second cycles follows a ‘virtuous’ path, where diversity adjustments are successful, and the benefits of Diversity Acceptance and Organisational Inclusive Behaviour can be realized. The paper will close with a presentation of the strategies that can be employed to deliver effective diversity adjustments through Diversity Acceptance and Organisational Inclusive Behaviour.
Win-Win-Win: Reflections from a Work-Integrated Learning Project in a Non-Profit Organization
Authors: C MacKrell Dale
Published: October 2017

This paper reports on the educational aspects of an information systems work-integrated learning (WIL) capstone project for an organization which operates to alleviate homelessness in the Australian non-profit sector. The methodology adopted for the study is Action Design Research (ADR) which draws on action research and design research as a means for framing a project's progress. Reflective insights by the project stakeholders, namely, students, academics, and the non-profit client, reveal a curriculum at work through internal features of the organization; personal features of the participants and features of the external environment. Preliminary findings suggest that students in a WIL project for a non-profit are highly engaged, especially when they become aware of the project’s social value. As well, the improvement of professional skills and emotional intelligence by students is more likely in real-life practice settings than in other less authentic WIL activities, equipping graduates for the workforce with both strong disciplinary and generic skills. Win-win-win synergies through project collaboration represent worthwhile outcomes to education, industry and research.
Cloud Computing as an Enabler of Agile Global Software Development
Authors: Haig-Smith Timothy , Tanner Maureen
Published: October 2017

Agile global software development (AGSD) is an increasingly prevalent software development strategy, as organizations hope to realize the benefits of accessing a larger resource pool of skilled labor, at a potentially reduced cost, while at the same time delivering value incrementally and iteratively. However, the distributed nature of AGSD creates geographic, temporal, socio-cultural distances that challenge collaboration between project stakeholders. The Cloud Computing (CC) service models of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS) are similar to the aspirant qualities of AGSD as they provide services that are globally accessible, efficient, and stable, with lower predictable operating costs that scale to meet the computational demand. This study focused on the 12 agile principles upon which all agile methodologies are based, therein potentially increasing the potential for the findings to be generalized. Domestication Theory was used to assist in understanding how cloud technologies were appropriated in support of AGSD. The research strategy took the form of case study research. The findings suggest that some of the challenges in applying the agile principles in AGSD may be overcome by using CC.