bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
INTERACTIVE LEARNING METHODS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Authors: Ciobanica Mihaela  lavinia
Published: February 2023

One of the interactive methods of learning used for development of entrepreneurship is now the simulated enterprise.
The purpose of a simulated enterprises is to train students in the activity of a instructive-educational development to integrate successfully in the labour market.
The most commonly encountered phenomenon in our country is occupation by young graduates with higher education some jobs in fields different from what they have studied or lower positions.
The cause of this phenomenon more often encountered is lack of practical knowledge about the profession and about the mechanisms of functioning of a company.
To be effective, companies need people ready prepared, a comprehensive package of knowledge, skills, competencies, and this cannot be achieved just by following University courses, without an internship in a real economic environment or even to simulate one.
This learning method consists in simulating the economic processes that takes place in a real enterprise as well as its relationships with other firms and institutions.
The effect obtained at the end of this endeavor is materialized in developing the skills and competencies required to meet the demands of employers.
The general objective of the training through the simulated enterprise is development entrepreneurship by providing knowledge and information about the mechanisms of a market economy.
The advantages offered by this type of activity to the people involved, consist of familiarity with specific activities of a firm, business language improvement and, last but not least, the development of skills and abilities necessary for an enterprising competitive.
Summarizing, we can say that a simulate enterprise is a tool for practical training of students, that uses procedures and means which are identical with those of a real enterprise.
E-TWINNING - THE COMMUNITY FOR SCHOOLS IN EUROPE
Authors: Condruzbacescu Monica
Published: February 2023

The paper focuses on Etwinning, the community for schools in Europe. Launched in 2005 as a fundamental component of the eLearning program of the European Commission, eTwinning has become an integral part of the Erasmus +, the EU Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport, in 2014. The Central Support Service eTwinning is run by European Schoolnet, an international partnership formed of 31 European ministries of education, which designs learning tools for schools, teachers and students in Europe. ETwinning promotes school collaboration in Europe through information and communication technologies by providing support, tools and services to schools. The portal is available to teachers through online tools by which they may seek partners, can start the project, they can exchange ideas and best practices and can start to work immediately thanks to the broad range of customized tools on the eTwinning platform. From October 2007, eTwinning started to be carried out in Romania. In the long term, it aims to improve the abilities to use new technologies, to improve communication in foreign languages, knowledge and intercultural dialogue.The paper also deals with the development of key competences through eTwinning, rules of communication and behavior inside etwinning community and implications for teaching activities. The next part of the paper presents Etwinning advantages from eLearning perspective: accessibility, the freedom of decision, professional community, information resources, training opportunities for teachers, specialist support, motivation and recognition systems.
ETwinning platform is ideal for secondary education because it offers extensive opportunities for managing virtual spaces - which facilitates, in a much higher degree than other web platforms, learning activities. Benefits of eTwinning platform for students and teachers involved in online learning projects by collaboration at European level are very high due to factors such as: the opportunity to interact with students and teachers in other European countries, didactic and technological support offered by the portal to the highest European standards, innovative working tools, teamwork, stimulate interest and critical thinking. Advantages for school are also important because the image of the school is promoted by eTwinning projects and foundations of a future collaboration at the institution level in future partnerships are set up.
MOBILE APPLICATIONS FOR TRAINING MULTI-MODAL MOBILITY USING SOCIAL NETWORKS
Authors: Suciu George , Butca Cristina , Necula Lucian
Published: February 2023

Nowadays, mobile smartphone applications are becoming increasingly used and help users solve many problems of daily life, including multi-modal transport. One major cause of the fast adoption is the emergence of social networks that have a significant impact on the social life of users. In addition to the work schedule, the traffic conditions in large cities make citizens spend a lot of time on the road, having increasingly less time available for socializing with family or friends. This paper presents a solution that trains drivers, bicycle riders, pedestrians and other road users to combat traffic problems, finding out where their friends are and how to get to a specific location faster. The proposed solution demonstrates the success of implementing an accelerated validated learning process version, focused on its context and industry. The proposed validated learning process will allow the MobiWay (Mobility Beyond Individualism: an Integrated Platform for Intelligent Transportation Systems of Tomorrow) platform to be brought to the market faster and in a more successful manner. The main contribution of this paper consists of the integration of an Android application in the MobiWay platform that will focus on the social life of road users relying on their contacts from mobile devices and social networks. The users will be able to choose a combination of the three types of multi-modal transport (driving, cycling or walking) and the mobile smartphone application will provide an optimized route to their destination in concordance with the preferred options and traffic patterns learned by the platform.
LEARNING FROM NATURE: NATURE-INSPIRED ALGORITHMS
Authors: Albeanu Grigore , Madsen Henrik , Popentiuvladicescu Florin
Published: February 2023

During last decade, the nature has inspired researchers to develop new algorithms [1, 2, 3]. The largest collection of nature-inspired algorithms is biology-inspired: swarm intelligence (particle swarm optimization, ant colony optimization, cuckoo search, bees algorithm, bat algorithm, firefly algorithm etc.), genetic and evolutionary strategies, artificial immune systems etc. As well-known examples, the following have to be mentioned: aircraft wing design, wind turbine design, bionic car, bullet train, optimal decisions related to traffic, appropriate strategies to survive under a well-adapted immune system etc.

Based on collective social behavior of organisms, researchers had developed optimization strategies taking into account not only the individuals, but also groups and environment [1]. However, learning from nature, new classes of approaches can be identified, tested and compared against already available algorithms.

After a short introduction, this work review the most effective, according to their performance, nature-inspired algorithms, in the second section. The third section is dedicated to learning strategies based on nature oriented thinking. Examples and the benefits obtained from applying nature-inspired strategies in problem solving are given in the fourth section. Concluding remarks are given in the final section.

References

1. G. Albeanu, B. Burtschy, Fl. Popentiu-Vladicescu, Soft Computing Strategies in Multiobjective Optimization, Ann. Spiru Haret Univ., Mat-Inf Ser., 2013, 2, http://anale-mi.spiruharet.ro/upload/full_2013_2_a4.pdf
2. H. Madsen, G. Albeanu, and Fl. Popentiu-Vladicescu, BIO Inspired Algorithms in Reliability, In H. Pham (ed.) Proceedings of the 20th ISSAT International Conference on Reliability and Quality in Design, Reliability and Quality in Design, August 7-9, 2014, Seattle, WA, U.S.A.
3. N. Shadbolt, Nature-Inspired Computing, http://www.agent.ai/doc/upload/200402/shad04_1.pdf
CONVERGENCE CLUB OF ONLINE EDUCATION IN EUROPEAN UNION
Authors: Silvestru Ramona camelia , Prada Elena , Silvestru Catalin ionut
Published: February 2023

Education has a major role regarding human development and society, being the main resource of growth of a country. Along with the technological evolution and changes, education has gained other dimensions, as internet brings together. In this paper we aim to study if there are influences of the digital skills and access to technology on the education development and convergence in the European Union Countries. The method applied is based on convergence clubs principle: a group of countries tend to have similar tendencies regarding a specific characteristic. Considering that the European Union states may form clusters of countries with a specific characteristic based on the expenditures together with the internet use. On the clusters resulted we employ an econometric model that takes into consideration aspects as: influences on how European countries converge in terms of access to internet and technology of households, and stimulation of educational convergence in European Union.
Another aspect of our research is to point out the need of investments in all education and training forms in such a way that we can assure that the people that are attending this process will be more efficient and their effectiveness will raise as a consequence of improved skills and competences that are meeting rapidly the needs of the labor market. This process of education and training will allow the individuals to achieve the knowledge, skills and competences through the usage of the ELearnings platforms that enables them to grow and to influence their situations, by broadening their perspectives, equipping people favorably for their future lives.
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL APPROACHES TO TEACHING WOMEN'S WRITING BY USING DATABASES
Authors: Mihaila Ramona
Published: February 2023

The present article intends to produce new historiography about the nineteenth century Romanian women's writing from transnational and relational perspectives. It also takes as its starting point not only the production aspect of women's literary writing, but their reception-- especially by readers or other women writers or translators contemporary to the publication. This approach takes into account all the contributions to the literary field of both canonical and non-canonical women writers. A second approach refers to the fact that women's writing is viewed from an explicitly transnational perspective, underlining the connections between women writers across the world at the literary and translation levels. By using these methods, the students get familiar with social and cultural contexts in which women's writing was produced, promoted, and translated.
As a member of the European project Women Writers in History I have taken part into training schools, workshops and conference where along with my colleagues from other 25 countries I have worked for the Women Writers database (www.womenwriters.nl) as an electronic means for teaching literature. The present database contains information on the production of women writers from the Middle Ages up to 1900, and on the reception of their writing in the world. Thus the database offers students the possibility to study these women's writing in their international context and make connections concerning their transnational historiography. The entries for authors refer to biographical details, professional situation, writing achievements (fictional and non-fictional writings), translations, national and international critical reception, allowing the students to analyze women's writing from a comparative perspective.
ENHANCING E-LEARNING USING SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS
Authors: Onete Bogdan , Teodorescu Ioana , Vasile Viorel
Published: February 2023

This paper aims to identify and to analyze the positive outcomes of social media tools for e-learning platforms. Social media has endless benefits as youngsters today are permanently connected to new technology and applications. Young generation is connected online worldwide making new friends, interacting with new business contacts or just keeping in touch with family and relatives. In this way, people share information in real time. Although Facebook is a global phenomenon whose main mission is to develop social networking among people, it cannot be overlooked that its main purpose is a complementary indicator to add value to e-learning strategies. Until now, Facebook has proven that this kind of social network enhance support for e-learning because virtual classmates connect with each other and may build professional relationships, but also in sharing study of information in a pleasant and easy manner. This research will be focused on the advantages of integrating Facebook into e-learning experiences. The reasons of incorporating Facebook in web learning sessions stand as it follows: Facebook is a tool everyone nowadays is familiar with, it encourages social learning by sharing free content, it is not expensive in terms of costs and passive members of e-learning platforms become more motivated and popular in expressing opinions and ideas. Facebook environment has created an online community not only to be updated to latest news and events, but also has expanded rapidly towards education and training. This fact demonstrates that students at this moment adapt and develop more friendly methods of learning.
THE VALUE OF MOOC BASED LEARNING AS PERCEIVED BY HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS
Authors: Maiorescu Irina , Dina Razvan , Sabou Gabriel cristian , Dobrea Mihaela
Published: February 2023

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have known a rapid development and increased popularity within just a few years, with more and more people using them as means of complementary learning needed for both their personal and their professional development. As such, the current paper presents the status of MOOCs usage among higher education students, as well as their perception about the added value these Massive Open Online Courses bring to their skills and career, as part of the lifelong learning process. The analysis, quantitative research based, takes into consideration the opinion of senior students belonging to the largest Economics higher education institution from Romania - Bucharest University of Economic Studies. It reveals that while MOOCs are acknowledged as means of enhancing the personal development, their use for career change and improvement is less taken into consideration. While, by definition, these open online courses should offer free knowledge and learning materials to all registered users, nowadays, due to their increased popularity, some of the MOOC platforms charge participants' for attending many of their courses. Therefore, our research has measured respondents' declared willingness to pay for attending such courses, despite the fact that these are recognized neither by the national, nor by the international official higher education systems. Also we looked for an association between payment availability and Massive Open Online Courses value perception, the findings of the research linking the absence of transferable credit points - specific to higher education system, to the perceived value of MOOCs, and more exactly, to their willingness to pay.
THE POWER OF EXAMPLE
Authors: Colibaba Anca cristina , Colibaba Cintia , Colibaba Stefan , Dinu Claudia elena , Gheorghiu Irina
Published: February 2023

The article focuses on The School@Work project (Project Number: 2014-1-IT02-KA201-003985; Programme: Erasmus+ KA2 - Strategic Partnership), developed by partners from Belgium, France, Italy, Lithuania, Romania and Spain. The project underlying principle is the collaboration across Europe between schools and labour market with a view to joining all efforts in order to facilitate students' entrance in the labor market smoothly and easily. The article presents the project main objectives, activities and outcomes. The project aims at providing teachers and counsellors with the necessary e-tools in order to design guidance services for students and enhance their motivation to complete their studies and identify suitable jobs for them on the market. The aim of the project is to give evidence to the importance that companies and job market are giving when recruiting staff resources, to specific professional and sectoral skills and competences, but also to qualification and transversal knowledge that can be achieved only successfully completing the educational process. The collection of tests, which can be used by both schools and students to assess skills and aptitudes, the solid and reliable data base with aptitude and skill tests created in previous European projects as well the profiles of the most researched jobs in the six project countries will definitely enable teachers to improve quality of the job orientation services and experiences in their schools. The article examines the most recent project output: its collection of interviews with successful entrepreneurs. It highlights the role that examples play in choosing one's career and explores their persuasive power of their life lessons.
MOTIVATION STRATEGIES IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING/ LEARNING - A COMPARISON OF STIMULATING FACTORS IN FACE-TO-FACE VS. ONLINE STUDY
Authors: David Irina , Grosuradulescu Luciamihaela
Published: February 2023

Like all the other fields of activity, higher education is a constantly changing area, trying to keep up with the new requirements and expectations of all the stakeholders. Foreign language teaching makes no exception to this rule. With so much focus on the importance of having graduates who are proficient in at least one foreign language - according to EU Commission directives - teachers have to acknowledge the main challenges and deal with them effectively. When it comes to English, a language that nowadays Romanians start studying since kindergarten, trainers are often faced with challenges related to the class participants' previous experience with the study of this language. There are many students who think that after studying the language for so long they know enough English and they don't need to dedicate time to their business English classes. On the other hand, there are those who due to unpleasant experiences or failed trials have given up learning it and become even more demotivated when faced with the much better proficiency of some of their colleagues. Another major challenge is brought by students' increasing reliance on technology. By the time they join university many students have become more aware of the benefits and strategies of technology use than their university teachers and they expect the latter to integrate e-learning in their course planning. Motivating all the students, irrespective of their language proficiency, expectations and previous contacts with the study of the language is prerequisite to helping them develop their communication skills in English.
As traditional teaching/ learning is losing ground in favor of new knowledge enhancing methods under the pressure of technological advancement in all fields of activity and of young people's confidence in its benefits, new methods of foreign language learning are replacing or enriching traditional face-to-face interaction between trainees and language trainers. Since the role of e-learning has become essential, this article will advocate for the significance of strategies which increase e-learners' motivation and it will analyze their impact on the learning process. The present study will also compare these strategies to motivation techniques acknowledged as effective in traditional face-to-face training to improve the overall experience of foreign language acquisition.
REENGINEERING LEARNING SCENARIOS WITH WEB-BASED TECHNOLOGIES
Authors: Ionita Anca daniela , Olteanu Adriana , Pietraru Radu nicolae
Published: February 2023

Web-based technologies allow teachers to introduce new kinds of learning content and new tools, to diversify the educational options and increase the flexibility. This blending leads to a change in the learning process itself, which makes a major difference from the students' and the teachers' perspectives. Apart from the traditional guidelines, one currently uses web-based tools for generating wiki pages, lessons and reports, for presenting application domain concepts, integrating acquired data and executing queries on various results shared by colleagues. We analysed the practical work of engineering students and discovered that the learning process is reengineered if one adopts new technologies for managing educational materials and experiment results. Model-driven and semantic-based tools are also expected to introduce adaptation of teaching to individual requirements and styles. This paper presents the learning scenarios involved by two kinds of tools based on web technologies, dedicated to the management of laboratory guidelines and of practical work results. A part of the study was based on an integrated environment developed in-house, for offering computer support to educational experiments based on measuring instruments, including various devices, sensor networks and complex equipment; one presents its architectural modules driven by object-oriented models, and scenarios associated to its use cases. Furthermore, we also analysed the changes introduced by a new semantic wiki that presents concepts of nuclear hazard management, conceived not only for students' education, but also for public awareness. The Business Process Modeling Language was used to represent the traditional and the reengineered learning scenarios, and to make a comparison between them.
THE WAYS FOR IMPROVING THE USE OF VISUAL FEEDBACK BY E-PROGRAMMES IN MEN'S ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS
Authors: Corlaci Ionut , Puiu Mihaela
Published: February 2023

An important element for improving technical performances in sport is the access of coaches and athletes to objective information regarding the form and content of specific movements. In artistic gymnastics, the organisation and regulation of motor behaviour, necessary to improve the perceptual motor skills, are based mainly on proprioceptive information. Hypothesis: We want to highlight through this research the fact that by using visual feedback we can shorten or improve time for learning elements, combinations of elements, but also create attractive exercises in high performance training. However, an important role is played by visual information in the awareness of spatial characteristics of movements and bodily sensations correctly associated with the phases that compose the technical structures. In this paper we intend to introduce a training method, successfully applied on learning, correcting and perfecting the art of men's artistic gymnastics, based on visual feedback. For this method we used a modern technical system that enables the recording, storage and playback of actions executed by athletes as a video image. Visual information was provided to athletes and coaches in different ways. Thus, they tracked and analysed both their own technical execution of the structures made in the same exercise as well as different training and execution models made by elite gymnasts compared to their own executions. Improving the attractiveness of work on training apparatus in conjunction with desire for self-improvement and reporting their evolutions to the top values of the world order represent the aim of this research. The results found a shorter learning time or correcting technical elements with greater stability executions correct them after the consolidation phase.
THE IMPORTANCE OF USING ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR PREPARATION SHOOTERS SCATT THE USB VERSIONS, USED BY ATHLETES WHO PRACTICE SPORT SHOOTING, SAMPLE AIR RIFLE 10 M.
Authors: Serban Catalin , Tifrea Corina
Published: February 2023

Through this study we try to emphasize the importance of using SCATT the USB version electronic training shooter system, used by athletes who practice sport shooting, Air Rifle 10m. This system is used by many athletes worldwide, from beginners to high performance athletes.
In Romania the electronic system preparation shooters SCATT - USB was first used successfully in the 2009-2012 Olympic cycle, by the athlete Alin George Moldoveanu, the London 2012 Olympic champion in sample 10m,Air Rifle,male.
This system allows the athlete to monitor and analyze their own executions of shooting (chart the trajectory of the barrel on the target, splitting the time necesary to prepare the shoot, the value of the shoot, the orientation to wards the center target and others), and stores them on the PC and allows the athlete to compare them , the main objective being the improvement of technical features and increased performance.
The archived information can be used as a reference point for athletes of all ages and their coaches, they can assess the execution in comparison to model execution Olympic champion. Considering the performances of the Olympic champion Alin Moldoveanu, this system should be introduced as a complementary method in the training programs of all athletes practicing the "10m air rifle"
In the 2009-2012 Olympic cycle, I personally was a part of the technical staff of the athlete Alin Moldoveanu, as secondary coach, responsible with the physical training. Taking into considering the information provided by the SCATT we conceived and applied a series of physical training programs orientated on the specific needs of the athlete.
SERIOUS GAMES IN THE TENNIS PLAYERS' MENTAL TRAINING
Authors: Stanescu Monica , Stanescu Andrei bogdan
Published: February 2023

Today computer games are being developed more than for entertainment of the players. In the field of health and education, serious games aim to improve the level of the cognitive abilities, in a more attractive manner.
Among the mental process, the concentration and the relaxation are the basic cognitive abilities in tennis. The timely monitoring and the levels of these abilities are important when the performance enhancement is concerned.
Mental preparation of tennis players represents an essential aspect of the modern training process. In order to increase its efficiency, the mental preparation uses more often than before biofeedback systems, able to provide an objective and augumented feedback concerning the capacity to control and to maintain the mental abilities at a certain level, during a task. One of the biofeedback systems is represented by Neuroharmony, an electroencephalographic system, that uses also an educational software able to improve the cognitive abilities of the users, through different serious games.
In this paper we present one case study concerning the use of Neuroharmony serious games in the mental training of a 16 years old tennis player, who participated in 12 computer assisted lessons. Each lesson was 30 minutes and was held twice per week, before the practical training lessons. We were focused on the following experimental variables: the games results, the variation of the brain waves in the computer tasks and the constancy of the forehand, in a court test. The results reflect some characteristics of the mental training in tennis and the effect of this approach on the practical training efficiency.
EDUCATIONAL PERSPECTIVES OPENED BY THE USE OF T-2000 SOFTWARE IN THE PREPARATION OF WATER POLO PLAYERS
Authors: Marinescu Gheorghe , Radulescu Adrian , Bidiugan Simona nicoleta , Petre Andrei tiberiu , Ticala Laurentiu daniel
Published: February 2023

The use of SPI IQ software and GPSports equipment in the preparation of football players helps specialists and students in the field to acquire knowledge, competencies, abilities to assess exercise capacity, with a focus on the work volume (covered distances), metabolic cost during the effort, distribution of effort by metabolic zones, and also to control the effort dynamics. During a football match, metabolic systems are exerted as follows: 70% aerobic system, 15-20% anaerobic lactacid system and 10-15% anaerobic alactacid system. It is obvious that there is a connection between the time and space pressure during a match, the ball circulation speed under difficult conditions (against an active opponent) and the physical and technical preparation level of players on the field. Hypothesis of the research: the use of SPI IQ software and GPSports equipment to test exercise capacity of junior III football players provides coaches an objective assessment of the distance traveled in specific training effort and the value of maximal aerobic velocity (MAV) expressed during it.To validate this hypothesis, we used the following methods: test method, graphical method, statistical and mathematical method. The 5-minute endurance test was applied to a sample made up of 36 athletes, football players registered at two clubs entered in the Municipal Championship of Bucharest. This test consists of running at a constant speed. The subject must cover a distance as long as possible. At the end of the 5 minutes of running, the covered distance is recorded. Inclusion of GPSports device and SPI IQ software, specific to monitoring and analyzing certain parameters, in the preparation of junior III football players provides coaches and athletes an efficient scientific means to frame training efforts within the metabolic zones which are mandatory to be trained in the specific field.
ARAHPAINT, A POWERFUL DESIGNING TOOL FOR TEXTILE REPEAT PATTERNS
Authors: Arnautu Irina , Cioara Ioan
Published: February 2023

Textile design is basically the process of creating designs for woven, knitted or printed fabrics. To create a seamless repeat pattern or design on a textile fabric are used different traditional and digital art techniques. A pencil and paper could be present during the first part of this process. In order to complete a design and transfer it to the textile surface, before fabric weaving, knitting or printing process, it is necessary to use professional software.
ArahPaint is Arahne's open source software which can be downloaded it for free along with a demo version of programs ArahWeave for weaving and ArahDrape for mapping. ArahPaint is a drawing program for the textile professionals, but in equal measure and for the engineering students who intend to develop their full creative potential as surface textile pattern designers.
This paper presents the advantages of using ArahPaint as an inspired and unlimited teaching tool based on the elements and principles of construction of seamless repeat patterns.
Some of the most important features of ArahPaint program are related to ability to magnifying the drawings with a specifiable scale, degree of magnification and units, to working with large images up to 30.000 x 30.000 pixels, to drawing instantaneous in seamless repeat across borders, to viewing multiple repeats, to previewing the pattern in repeat and to generating fast pattern designs with special filters. ArahPaint contains many other useful tools for creative works, which, obviously, can never replace the human creativity, imagination and innovation, but can be used to explore a variety of repeat pattern formats.
In connection with the process of converting a design idea into a fabric are presented the steps and modalities to creating repeat patterns for Jacquard woven fabrics.
NEW TRENDS FOR DEVELOPING BLENDED LEARNING COURSES
Authors: Neacsu Mihaela gabriela , Adascalitei Adrian
Published: February 2023

The paper presents the conclusions of a qualitative study regarding the efficiency of new design/development models of pedagogical resurses very useful in blended learning. The purpose of the present study is the capitalization of the new blended educational directions used in designing/accomplishing/implementing modern courses used pedagogical methods, recent software products, new perspectives in the process of blended learning/education. The methodology is a qualitative one. The experts participating in the focus group introduce us to new insights with a view to blended learning, emphasizing the advantages of using the blended education in learning environments that allow the adults either on-line or face-to-face communication in oder to create and present their own content and evidence of learning through performance-based evaluations.
The specific objects of this study are:
o the analysis of the latest tendencies regarding the design and development of the adults' blended learning courses;
o the analysis of the complex role of the teacher in adult blended learning and of the mentorship relation with the beneficiaries of the course;
o the analysis of the benefits of the blended learning strategies including the evaluation of the acquired competences using blended learning strategies;
o outcomes of nowadays adult blended learning best practices in Romania.
The conclusions of the present study points out the efficiency of blended learning models designed for stimulating the adults' cognitive procecess in order to allow the capitalization of the educational differentiated and personalised content and to ensure a flexible structure of the learning steps, an instantaneous measurement of the students' progress in acquiring competences and last but not least, an increased involvement of the adults in their own learning process.
DECISION MANAGEMENT IN THE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Dragomir Florentina
Published: February 2023

The paradigm of e-learning educational process in the information society using information and communications technologies that result in increase creativity, improve teamwork and the changing role of instructor / teacher. Decision is an essential element of management is the most important tool of expression for a list of options for the development of online platforms. This paper proposes an approach to multi-criteria analysis methods to decide how software development tools used in virtual educational environment. Multi-criteria analysis (MCA) describes any structured approach used to determine overall preferences among the various options, alternative options could lead to the fulfillment of a number of objectives. The goal of this method is to make a comparative assessment of alternative options or other heterogeneous measures. Actually measure the indicators used in the MCA is usually based on the quantitative analysis (through scoring, ranking and weighting calculation) of a wide range of categories and criteria for qualitative impact. Multi-criteria analysis applies specifically where the approach via a single criterion is not sufficient especially when significant social and environmental impacts can not be assigned monetary values. The purpose of this tool is to structure and combine different evaluations that must be considered in the decision-making process when making decisions involves several alternatives and their treatment of each of these greatly influence the final decision. Importantly, the multi-criteria analysis is used to record the reasoning and subjective views of stakeholders in relation to each issue. As Postolache says is usually used to synthesize opinions to determine priority structures to analyze conflict situations or make recommendations or offer operational advice.
DEVELOPING A MICROLEARNING STRATEGY WITH OR WITHOUT AN LMS
Authors: Eldridge Bryan
Published: February 2023

Microlearning, the learning strategy that focuses on delivering training and performance support in small focused chunks, has been a concept floating around in our industry since the lexicon of reusable learning objects was first introduced by Cisco to the learning space over fifteen years ago. Large on promise, this strategy has been short on benchmarkable solutions due to the large number of barriers encountered by learning practitioners taking on this approach. Although these barriers are diverse and tend to vary greatly from one organization to another, the most common obstacle for adopting microlearning has often been tied to the confusion around how to manage this type of content within a traditional LMS (Learning Management System) implementation. LMS-delivered content is most often composed of courses and modules that can run anywhere from minutes to hours in terms of seat time and requires participation in the somewhat formal confines of the platform. The advantages of typically more informal nature of microlearning content are in peril of losing some or all of their value if they require the same process for access. To assist learning practitioners in addressing this and other common barriers to microlearning implementation, this presentation will provide: strategies for leveraging your organization's learning transformation initiatives as a catalyst for introducing microlearning; examples of how to use common LCMS features to support role-based microlearning offerings; a pedagogical framework for disambiguating between appropriate learning modalities and appropriate content chunk sizes for all learning offerings; a sample decision framework to determine what types of content can or should be delivered directly from the LCMS/Digital Repository; and use cases presenting how xAPI can play a pivotal role in making the most of your microlearning offerings.
THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN REDUCING COGNITIVE BIASES. STUDY CASE: INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS
Authors: Hahaianu Florentina , Dobre Teodora
Published: February 2023

The fast-paced technological advancements have generated instruments that changed the process of accessing information, allowing individuals to have almost instant access to worldwide data. Thus, in the informational era, characterized by an overflow of information, the main challenge is no longer obtaining data, but identifying relevant pieces of information and linking them with predefined knowledge. In this context, the present paper addresses the problem of inherent thinking errors that individuals make in processing information. There are two different dimensions which need to be addressed in regard to this topic: understanding the fundamental concepts and identifying efficient technological instruments for reducing subjectivity, as a precondition for competitiveness. Using the experiment as a scientific research method, the article narrows the narrative and focuses on the need for reducing cognitive biases in intelligence analysis, by using technology-based analytical tools. The option for focusing on intelligence analysis within the study case is sustained by the specificity of the activity itself. Defined as “knowledge and foreknowledge of the world around us”, intelligence seeks to achieve a deeper comprehension of the interactions existent within the society and to provide the decision-making body with relevant, opportune and most important, objective information needed in the decision making process. The objectivity exigence becomes primordial due to the fact that good governmental decisions rely on accurate and unbiased information about potential national security threats and vulnerabilities. The experiment conducted emphasizes the degree in which the use of specific analytical software can reduce the degree of subjectivity in intelligence analysis
E-LEARNING AS WINNING TOOL FOR SUPPORTING TEACHING AND FOR ENHANCING THE INTERNATIONALIZATION PROCESSES
Authors: Spinello Enrico , Marchisio Marina , Rabellino Sergio , Torbidone Gianluca
Published: February 2023

In order to improve education and to develop a stronger internationalization program, the Education and Training Command and School of Military Applied Studies of Turin and the University of Turin adopted a virtual learning environment as main tool within the Bachelor and Master Degree in Strategic Sciences for Military and Civilian students. A great number of modules of different subjects are available on a dedicated E-learning platform (MOODLE) where students receive additional contents, discuss with peers and are supported by teachers. Through interactive materials and different activities they can develop the capability of discerning, combining and applying the knowledge. These skills are very useful in the professional environment especially for a military officer and for civilians who are supposed to work in similar complex contexts. Thanks to this E-learning system education, programs such as the Military Erasmus, where military and civilian students of several European education institutions are involved are facilitated. Selected students share experiences, attend blended courses and finally can grow up with a common European feeling. In order to adopt this E-education the Education and Training Command and School of Military Applied Studies of Turin and the University of Turin invest time and effort into the training of teachers, developing new interactive materials and offers a custom helpdesk for a prompt and personalized support. This way of providing education is considered the best way for the future, because it prepares students for global changes and offers real opportunities of lifelong learning. Students' feedback is extremely positive and this encourages to continue with this kind of e-learning activities.
ADVANTAGES TO USE ELEARNING PLATFORM IN THE FIELD OF TECHNICAL SYSTEMS
Authors: Virca Ioan , Oancea Romana , Gligorea Ilie
Published: February 2023

Training using electronic learning platforms has become a current necessity among modern organizations, generating knowledge and performance products that help increase capacity for action and decision-making on each level of competence and tailoring the specific objectives to transformations generated by current environments. ELearning platform allows assisted instruction in technical systems, it can solve theoretical problems on their construction, planning, organizing and managing the production and maintenance activities etc., by linking content with practical production training. In the paper is conducted a case study in a category of technical systems, which highlights the fast and effective training opportunities, advantages and limitations of such a teaching platform. In the first basic level, general organization is shown on large components with significant role in ensuring the main functions for which it is intended and appropriate technical system, concepts and information necessary to operate at the strategic level of the organization. At the second level, assemblies and sub-assemblies are highlighted structural role and their components and information necessary for operation at the operational level of the organization. At the third actional level, there are given details about the role, functions and information to the individual component level / track. Making content for electronic assisted instruction in technical systems can be made according to how effectively the structural organization of the analyzed system, i.e. the hierarchical levels of knowledge. This variant of advanced training is mandatory for any organization, but complementary to the process of classical learning, the instructor / teacher is prior to clarify the unknowns to the students that will have to generate the entire contents of new knowledge in an attractive and adapted various features of students directly from the training environment (laboratory, specialized room, etc.) using adequate infrastructure.
NON-COGNITIVE SKILLS: WHAT STUDENTS NEED AND EMPLOYERS REQUIRE - THE ROLE OF CONTEXTUAL LEARNING IN A BLENDED ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Felea Cristina , Stanca Liana
Published: February 2023

European statistical data (2015) show that the employment rates of graduates aged 20-34 are lowest for those in search of their first job. This may reflect not only issues related to job market fluctuation, but also difficulties in matching educational outcomes and labour market needs, which is an issue known to be a key component of the Europe 2020 strategy. In Romania, the transition to competence-based curricula and an increasing number of university partnerships with companies have contributed to raise student employability. However, there are multiple signals that there seems to be an important skills gap that makes transition to work difficult and costly for both employees and employers. In this respect, the authors’ research on professional and transversal competences within technology-based blended learning environments, personal observation, discussion with students and colleagues from the industries, as well as a growing number of studies on success factors in higher education, career and life during the 21st century, have revealed the need for a complex mindset that includes cognitive and non-cognitive skills. It is also known that, in spite of agreeing on a certain set of core professional and transversal competences, higher education institutions and employer value differently these factors. Increased attention has been paid to modalities to develop social-emotional and affective skills (SEA), which are said to favour academic and career success. The major categories include: approach to learning, intrapersonal skills and social skills. The present study is based on the assumption that contextual learning may be a useful addition to the blended learning environment in place so as to help identifying which SEA skills are more important for career readiness and creating premises for their implementation. For this purpose, we created a non-formal learning context (workshop) bringing together students, teachers and IT professionals with the aim of raising students’ awareness of models of organizational and work culture and practitioners’ view on future employees’ essential competences needed for an efficient and smooth integration on the job market. Then, the impact of the event was surveyed with the help of a questionnaire applied at the end of the event. The results of data analysis are expected to provide suggestions to align and supplement skills needed by graduates with existing curricular provisions. Additionally, it could indicate directions for further exploration of the role and value of non-cognitive skills for all actors involved and blended learning solutions to improve them.
FRIENDS WITH TECHNOLOGY: MOBILE DEVICES AS MOTIVATIONAL TOOLS
Authors: Nistor Cristina mihaela , Mocanu Ionel , Stanescu Bianca , Groza Sebastiana
Published: February 2023

Since the technological boom that has turned babies into digital natives, there has been an increase in the multitude of uses of these miraculous devices. As soon as they go to kindergarten (or even earlier), our young children learn nursery rhymes from Internet sources, watch educational programmes and/ or their favourite cartoons on laptops, tablets or smartphones. In some ways, it is only natural for young people to consider technology their best friend, since they were born in the smartphone era; still, the question to be raised is, does this rapid technological development help or hinder people in their effort to communicate effectively? With the exception of those applications that are purposefully designed to help their users communicate and socialize as if they were in the same room, most types of on-line communication encourage the users to passively accept the interlocutor’s absence, and, at times, even to bless it. Indeed, if we only consider the fact that one may conduct one’s business with apparent ease, in one’s own kitchen, wearing pyjamas and making coffee while negotiating a contract, we may come to the conclusion that technology is the best thing ever, a true godsend. When it comes to teaching communication skills, though, the blended approach – combining traditional methods with on-line or mobile strategies – is to be preferred. Nowadays, faced with a constantly increasing number of people of all ages who favour virtual relations to the detriment of face-to-face interactions, psychologists have found one possible solution: turning mobile devices into motivational tools. That is why this paper intends to discuss the possible role of technological devices that may motivate people – from children to students – to socialize more, and develop those abilities that are the key to successful communication with their peers.