bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teaching System Access Control
Authors: Bauer Mengelberg John
Published: October 2017

Many specialists believe that more emphasis on system infrastructure is needed, including the protection of the system’s data against unauthorized use or updates. This paper proposes a way to teach future information system specialists the main concepts involved, using a powerful yet very flexible method to implement access control. Constraints, widely known as context constraints, which depend on the value of a variable or data item, are included. We discovered it was extremely difficult for students to understand, let alone adopt, a model as general as the one we use to explain the necessary ingredients of an Access Control model. However, the order in which the concepts were introduced produced a very significant increase in the degree of understanding on the part of the students. Rather than just provide another method, the paper’s objective is to promote discussion as well as further study of the subject.
Towards an Information System Making Transparent Teaching Processes and Applying Informing Science to Education
Authors: Cartelli Antonio
Published: October 2017

The paper first describes the main features of the project for vocational and educational guidance the author recently planned. The main aim of the project was to help students develop self guidance skills and overcome the difficulties they meet at school. The information system used in the project was based on the use of action research and social statistic strategies and calculations for the analysis of individual and population features. The paper then analyzes two recent events: a) the investigation the author carried out together with some teachers in Italian High Schools (Liceos) on an educational guidance action, and b) the elements of innovation introduced in the Italian School system by a recent Reform Law. Last, after a re-consideration of the initial project, the features of a new information system, to be used both for assessment and guidance (i.e., it includes an e-portfolio for skills and guidance), and the role that informing science can play in helping teachers, students and families are reported.
Exploring the Key Informational, Ethical and Legal Concerns to the Development of Population Genomic Databases for Pharmacogenomic Research
Authors: Gladstone Julia
Published: October 2017

The completion of a high quality comprehensive sequence of the human genome has lead to the discovery of genetic links to complex diseases and the development of target drugs. Population genetic databases (PGDs) are a powerful resource to the systematic study of the genetic component of disease; in the quest to understand the impact of genetic factors on drug response data from laboratory experiments, computational methods and clinical studies must be integrated. The establishment of a pharmacogenomics knowledge base entails complex information management balanced with the appropriate legal and ethical standards. This article reviews some of the ontology development challenges and examines the need to establish a legal structure which creates the proper intellectual property incentives to develop PGDs and the ethical standards that must be upheld so that the terms of informed consent are legitimate.
Ethics and Education: Curriculum Issues
Authors: Bialaszewski Dennis , Bialaszewski Marsha
Published: October 2017

Ethical considerations are a very important aspect for each one of us. However, faculty typically are often so concerned with covering all content associated within course structure they may not have sufficient time for class discussion regarding ethical considerations relevant for one’s discipline. This is sometimes addressed by designing a specific course with a specific purpose being ethical considerations. For example one may see the existence of a “Business Ethics” course as a requirement for a business major. One of authors of this paper has designed an “Ethics and Information Systems” course offered as an elective in the MIS major. Issues such as downloading music without paying, ergonomic issues, issues of copyright, privacy issues, et cetera are covered through case studies. There is an examination of codes existing at the Midwestern university to cover ethical considerations related to computing. It is interesting to note that currently a student from this same Midwestern university is being sued for his file sharing practices.
An Empirical Evaluation of Visual Metaphors in the Animation of Roles of Variables
Authors: Stutzle Tuija , Sajaniemi Jorma
Published: October 2017

Roles of variables, which describe stereotypic usages of variables, can be exploited to facilitate teaching introductory programming. This paper describes the evaluation of visual metaphors for roles used in a role-based program animator. The evaluation is based on several criteria: properties of the images, metaphor recognition and grading, and effects on learning. The study demonstrates that as a whole the role metaphors facilitate learning. The results also identify ideas for further elaboration of the individual metaphors. Furthermore, the study suggests that the evaluation of animated metaphors may require special measures.
Progressive Programminq Assignments
Authors: Whittington Keith
Published: October 2017

Progressive programming assignments were used in an introductory Java programming course where every assignment built on the previous one. The major goal was to help students learn difficult, abstract concepts. This technique allows students to concentrate on the current topic while building on their previous work. This also provides an incentive for students to keep up with their work. Students often feel that they can skip the current topic and pick up after it is over, but it is difficult to do this in a programming course because every new concept builds on the previous ones. This approach also has built-in scalability, which is difficult to achieve in introductory programming courses due to time constraints and the students limited knowledge. These assignments were given in a CS2-type course where the topics predominantly deal with abstract concepts. This paper discusses the assignments, goals, faculty observations, student comments, and results.
ISExpertNet: Facilitating Knowledge Sharina in the Information Systems Academic Community
Authors: Viehland Dennis
Published: October 2017

In this study the global Information Systems academic community is viewed as a community of practice in which knowledge is resident but inadequately shared. The article begins by examining the application of knowledge management in communities of practice, especially the knowledge needs of shared work practitioners and conditions that facilitate knowledge sharing. The central part of the paper proposes an Information Systems Expert Network (ISExpertNet) as a solution for the global IS academic community to use in sharing expert knowledge. Especially, appropriate incentives to encourage knowledge contributions and operations of ISExpertNet are discussed. The article concludes by offering several suggestions for future research and development of ISExpertNet.
Evaluating Critical Reflection for Postgraduate Students in Computing
Authors: Fielden Kay
Published: October 2017

In this paper the assumption that critical reflection skills are acquired automatically during postgraduate study is queried by examining whether keeping a reflective journal is an aid in developing reflective habits. All course outlines in the postgraduate program studied for this paper state that students will learn how to critique issues relating to the topic being studied. The assumption is that critical reflection is a skill that is acquired automatically during the degree. Postgraduate students at this particular institution are required to complete a Research Methods course before enrolling in a thesis or dissertation. Research Methods students are encouraged but not required to keep a reflective journal. This paper reports on the effectiveness of keeping a reflective journal by analyzing results obtained over five semesters within the Research Methods course.
Panel Discussion: Learning Object Definitions, Metadata, Instructional Design, and Repositories
Authors: du Plessis Jacques , Koohang Alex , Schaalje Jared , Mu Xiangming , Britz Johannes
Published: October 2017

The many promises of learning objects (readily available quality instruction, reducing cost of production, personalized learning, interoperability, reusability, discoverability/accessibility, scalability, durability, content customization, and many more) have been the talk of the e-learning community in recent years. Higher education institutions have begun to capitalize on these promises by adopting, developing, and deploying learning objects in e-learning instruction.
Learning Technology Standards and Inquiry-Based Learning
Authors: Berge Ola , D. Slotta James
Published: October 2017

The proliferation of technology-enhanced learning environments and digital learning resources in formal educational institutions (both K-12 and higher education) has led to a corresponding interest in improving the cost-efficiency related to developing and deploying such materials within these institutions. In the e-learning industry, which has been primarily concerned with training in corporations and the military, this issue is approached through standardization of digital learning material in the form of learning objects. The Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) has emerged as the predominant approach to standardization among early adopters of learning object technology. While SCORM might aim at being agnostic with respect to pedagogical approaches, there is some concern that SCORM-based learning objects would not be well suited to all of the pedagogical approaches desired within formal educational contexts - particularly within those emphasizing social aspects of learning and inquiry-based learning. An alternative standard that attempts to describe use of learning objects more broadly and with greater flexibility is that of the IMS Learning Design (LD). We analyze the implications of the SCORM and LD specifications for the particular pedagogical domain of technology-enhanced inquiry learning. Our analysis builds on the extensive research conducted on technology supports for inquiry learning. We focus on a specific technology-enhanced inquiry science environment that has been designed through years of classroom-based research: The Web-based Inquiry Science Environment (WISE). Several important characteristics of the WISE pedagogical approach serve to illuminate our discussion on learning objects and standards. Learning activities are carried out in a social or collaborative context within WISE; they occur primarily in a classroom setting; they are student-centered, and they are concerned with ill-structured problems. These characteristics are not unique to inquiry science projects, but rather represent an approach to pedagogy and curriculum design that is increasingly common within formal education.
Learning Object Repositories
Authors: Mohan Permanand
Published: October 2017

In order to reuse learning objects created by others, they must be made available to potential users on the Web, and services must be provided to allow users to discover, obtain rights to, and use these learning objects in their own instructional scenarios. In the learning object economy, these services are typically provided by learning object repositories, which are collections of learning objects that are accessible to users via a network without prior knowledge of the structure of the collections. This chapter discusses the important role played by learning object repositories in the learning object economy. The success of the learning objects' approach depends on users worldwide (such as instructors, learners, and software agents) being able to access and search for learning objects in different repositories in a uniform manner. The first part of the chapter explains how this can be achieved using a standardized approach for accessing and describing learning objects in a repository. Standardized access and retrieval is facilitated by implementing a specification from the IMS known as the Digital Repositories Interoperability (DRI) specification, while standardized search and discovery is facilitated by implementing a metadata standard such as the IEEE Learning Object Metadata (LOM) standard, described earlier in the book. There are different architectural approaches and business models that can be employed when designing a learning object repository and these are discussed next in the chapter. Typical architectural choices include using a centralized repository based on the client/server approach versus using several local repositories connected in a peer-to-peer fashion. Typical choices for business models include using an online broker for advertising and receiving payment for learning objects versus making the learning objects freely available. The advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches and models are carefully examined, and concrete examples of research prototypes and real-world deployments are provided wherever appropriate.
Granularity of Learning Objects
Authors: Frango Silveira Ismar , Fernando Araujo Jr. Carlos , Henrique Amaral Luiz , Carlos Alcântara de Oliveira Ivan , Schimiguel Juliano , Fernández-Paradela Ledón Manuel
Published: October 2017

Traditional methods for developing digital learning content usually produce very large, monolithic content that barely can be reused even in similar contexts, despite of the quality they can have. Nonetheless, digital learning content can be described as a set of highly reusable, low-coupled learning objects that can be put together in order to build adaptive, learner-focused content Nowadays, in spite of all technological evolution, it cannot be affirmed that content development in computer-aided teaching/learning process had evolved the same way. This is, indeed, the most expensive, time-consuming undertaking among all tasks demanded by computer-based course building. One of the reasons for this is that digital learning content reuse, even nowadays, is frequently done through copy-and-paste mechanisms that transpose digital learning contents from a context to another. A vary of explanations can be arisen to justify this fact: first, digital learning content is often modeled in an ad hoc manner, in order that all content is very specific, going about some determined knowledge domain. Besides, such development often utilizes tools and techniques - like HTML - that aren’t concerned about separating content from presentation. A possible solution for this is to develop digital learning contents in function of the set of potential learning objects they can be made of. Thus, there will be analyzed a set of frequently used learning objects in order to classify them on types and discuss some possibilities for diminish their coupling to other learning objects, thus leading to finer granular contents, augmenting their potential for reusability.
Multiplatform Distributed Architecture of Learning Content Management System
Authors: Omar Nizam , Notargiacomo Mustaro Pollyana , Frango Silveira Ismar , Arndt Alves Daniel
Published: October 2017

Learning objects are constructed and used by a community during an undefined period of time and formatted as digital entities on diverse document types to be used, reused or referenced during a technology-mediated learning process. A Learning Content Management System (LCMS) is needed to their storage and retrieval. Electronic document management, data warehouse and data mining techniques will be presented. Effective management of a really big repository of Learning Objects by a community on a large network needs a system that facilitates the right access to the right document by its content and not only by title, author or other usual indexing fields. Learning Objects must be found by their full content and indexed and customized according to each user or user groups’ necessities. The main indexing and retrieving techniques will be discussed and a solution will be presented. Different learning objects can be stored on a common repository and duplication must be avoided. To fulfill this requirement the system needs to implement smart strategies that can be constructed based on AI techniques. Considering the diversity of users, machines and operating systems, the LCMS must be platform independent and manage portable resources, thus giving access to any user from any machine. LCMS must be scalable enough in order to avoid abrupt changes from small applications to big ones, without losing performance. A multiplatform distributed LCMS architecture is presented, and it is composed by: Interface server, data server, parser server, index server and repository server. These servers can run on a single machine or on a cluster of machines according to the needs of the application.
Structure of Storyboard for Development of Interactive Learning Objects
Authors: Notargiacomo Mustaro Pollyana , Frango Silveira Ismar , Omar Nizam , Maria Dotto Stump Sandra
Published: October 2017

A theoretical discussion and practical guidelines for development and production of learning objects as a result of a structural document named storyboard will be presented. A storyboard must contain instructions and detailed description for development learning objects. During the instructional design phase, the storyboards are elaborated by the instructional designer with collaborate of subject matter expert (SME), graphic artists, programmers, and other interdisciplinary team members research. This involves researches in instructional design procedures and processes for improvement materials, environments and learning experiences and promotes the acquisition of specifics skills and knowledge by students. But one of the problems to create learning objects is the simple transposing of traditional elements for cyberspace without concerning about the instructional strategies or considering learning styles that could be more significant than content-by-strategy. One solution for this problem is using storyboards as model schemes built over some theoretical proposals: Robert Gagne’s conditions for learning, levels of interaction present in Rod Sims’ Taxonomy, characteristics of hypertext systems presented by Pierre Levy and George Landow, and orientation in knowledge domain by using diagrams and reduction of information overload, characterized by Richard Wurman.
Using a Blackboard Architecture in a Web Application
Authors: Metzner Christiane , Cortez Leonardo , Chacín Doritza
Published: October 2017

In this work we discuss the development of a web application in the domain of movie chains using a Blackboard architecture, which is a well-established style for solving the problem of control, communication and collaboration in a system; it has traditionally been accepted as adequate for heuristic problem solving though not generally used for web applications. We present and discuss how the Blackboard architecture is used as the style for a graduate course project in Software Engineering. Issues about the implementation of the architecture are described and an assessment using some software metrics is presented.
An Actor Network Approach to Informing Clients Through Portals
Authors: Tatnall Arthur , Davey Bill
Published: October 2017

Portals are often seen as an appropriate method of informing clients. A problem of all web based solutions to informing clients is that the web is passive: clients must come to the web site. Approaches to research into use of portals are usually socio-technical, with common use of statistical techniques applied to survey results. Here we argue, informed by two detailed cases, that an actor network theory approach yields better results, more efficiently, when the case involves a number of small businesses being the clients. Alternative theories such as diffusion theories, based on the work of Rodgers and others, are more applicable when large, statistical effects are being anticipated.
Knowledge Discovery of Closed Frequent Calling Patterns in a Telecommunication Database
Authors: Adebukola Ibrahim Saidat , Folorunso Olusegun , Bamisele Ajayi Olutayo
Published: October 2017

A telecommunication network produces daily large amounts of calling data which contain hidden and valuable knowledge. This knowledge can be used in determining the calling patterns of customer, finding too thrifty customers, also for locating the best area to concentrate on in order to boost profits. In this paper, we designed an algorithm named CLOTELE which is based on the ideas of the pattern-growth method of mining, for mining closed frequent calling patterns of a telecommunication database from a telecommunication provider. First, by observing the features of the database and then extracting the attributes needed to be mined. Then, we merge the items to form an itemset, the algorithm is now applied to the transformed database. CLOTELE is built on the basis of viewing knowledge discovery as an interactive and iterative process in order to optimize decision making. The quality of the knowledge discovered is evaluated. The experimental results show the knowledge of closed frequent patterns obtained is very useful and easy to interpret by the network operators and administrators.
Interactive On-line Formative Evaluation of Student Assignments
Authors: Dreher Heinz
Published: October 2017

Automated Essay Grading (AEG) technology has been maturing over the final decades of the last century to the point where it is now poised to permit a transition in ‘assessment-thinking’. The administrative convenience of using objective testing to attempt to assess deep learning, learning at the conceptual level, has now been obviated by efficient and effective automated means to assess student learning. Further, the new generation AEG systems such as MarkIT deliver an unprecedented interactive formative assessment feedback capability, which is set to transform individualized learning and instruction as implemented in existing Learning Management Systems (LMS).
Collaborative Learning: A Connected Community Approach
Authors: Rae John , Roberts Carole , Taylor Gary
Published: October 2017

Collaborative Learning in group settings currently occurs across a substantial portion of the UK Higher Education curriculum. This style of learning has many roots including: Enterprise in Higher Education, Action Learning and Action Research, Problem Based Learning, and Practice Based Learning. As such our focus on Collaborative Learning development can be viewed as an evolutionary. This collaborative and active group learning provides the foundation for what can be collectively called connectivist ‘Learning Communities’. In this setting a primary feature of a ‘Learning Community’ is one that carries a responsibility to promote one another’s learning. This paper will outline a developmental collaborative learning approach and describe a supporting software environment, known as the Salford Personal Development Environment (SPDE), that has been developed and implemented to assist in delivering collaborative learning for post graduate and other provision. This is done against a background of much research evidence that group based activity can enhance learning. These findings cover many approaches to group based learning and over a significant period of time. This paper reports on work-in-progress and the features of the environment that are designed to help promote individual and group or community learning that have been influenced by the broad base of research findings in this area.
E-learning: Incorporating Information Security Governance
Authors: Kritzinger Elmarie , Von Solms Sebastiaan
Published: October 2017

The global society is living in the electronic age where electronic transactions such as e-mail, e-banking, e-commerce and e-learning are becoming more and more prominent. This paper primarily focuses on e-learning and how important it is to ensure that proper Information Security measures are put in place to ensure that all information within the e-learning environment is properly protected. This paper highlights four Information Security pillars that could be used to achieve this.
Honeypot through Web (Honeyd@WEB): The Emerging of Security Application Integration
Authors: Badrul Anuar Nor , Zakaria Omar , Wei Yao Chong
Published: October 2017

This paper discusses on the development of the Honeyd@WEB. Honeyd@WEB is a system that can deploy low-interaction, production, dynamic and manageable virtual honeypots via a web interface. It runs open source programs, such as P0f (a passive fingerprinting tool) and Honeyd (a low-interaction honeypot). Honeyd@WEB can automatically determine; how many honeypots to deploy, how to deploy them, and what they should look like to blend in with the environment. The first part of this paper highlights the basic security concepts of honeypot and honeynet. The second part of this paper explains the Honeyd@WEB system. Finally, the strengths and the weaknesses of the system are discussed.
Towards Building Secure Software Systems
Authors: Simon Sodiya Adesina , Adebukola Onashoga Sadia , Bamidele Ajayi Olutayo
Published: October 2017

Software security breaches are now very extremely common and a larger percentage is caused by software design defects. Since individuals and organizations now completely depend on software systems for their day-to-day operations, it is then important to produce secure software products. This paper discusses the problems of producing secure software products and provides a model for improving software security. The model - Secure Software Development Model (SSDM), is unified model that integrates security engineering with software engineering so as to ensure effective production of secure software products. Supporting structure in form of laws is also presented to guide developers throughout the development process. We then present our experience that validates the model.
Preparing Students for the Onslaught of Technology
Authors: Rich Wilbur
Published: October 2017

This paper will examine the various predictions about how technology will transform society. We live in an era of rapid technological development and deployment. Teachers are expected to prepare student for this onslaught on biomedical breakthroughs automation and communica-tion/computer tools. In light of these advances, students need to be anticipatory and congruent with rapidly changing technologies. What should they know about technological uncertainty and security? Technological dependency? Information overload? Technology/human relations? How can we, as teachers, stimulate a discourse about technology and changes in the workplace? What should we know about futurists’ predictions for the next decade? What should be the pedagogical strategy as the 21st century becomes more technologically sophisticated? The paper will raise these questions as a stimulus for further discussion.
Strategies to Enhance Student Learning in a Capstone MIS Course
Authors: Kumar Anil
Published: October 2017

The information systems marketplace is changing rapidly requiring students to be well versed in skills that go beyond traditional IT skills. To achieve this, management information systems (MIS) instructors in MIS programs across the country need to design courses that reflect these changes. Failure to incorporate these changes in the MIS program will lead to graduating MIS students who are not competitive in the marketplace. While curriculum changes are often times a time consuming process, the capstone course in an MIS program can be used effectively to reflect these changes. This paper highlights different strategies that can be used in a capstone MIS course to help students synthesize, analyze, and apply knowledge acquired over different courses in the program.
Advanced Data Clustering Methods of Mining Web Documents
Authors: Sambasivam Samuel , Theodosopoulos Nick
Published: October 2017

The aim of this paper is to evaluate, propose and improve the use of advanced web data clustering techniques, allowing data analysts to conduct more efficient execution of large-scale web data searches. Increasing the efficiency of this search process requires a detailed knowledge of abstract categories, pattern matching techniques, and their relationship to search engine speed. In this paper we compare several alternative advanced techniques of data clustering in creation of abstract categories for these algorithms. These algorithms will be submitted to a side-by-side speed test to determine the effectiveness of their design. In effect this paper serves to evaluate and improve upon the effectiveness of current web data search clustering techniques.
Dealing with Isolation Feelings in IS Doctoral Programs
Authors: Ali Azad , Kohun Frederick
Published: October 2017

This paper discusses the feeling of isolation among doctoral students; its’ origin and the effect it has on the decision of the students to leave doctoral programs. The paper explains the development of isolation feeling within four stages of completing the program. It explains how each stage contributes to increasing the feeling of isolation among the students and then suggests counter measures to this feeling. Last, the paper presents the experience of a particular university located in Western Pennsylvania; the doctoral program of Information Systems and Communications (DISC) at Robert Morris University (RMU) that has been able to graduate students at a rate that is substantially higher than the national average.
Towards a Framework of Literature Review Process in Support of Information Systems Research
Authors: Levy Yair , J. Ellis Timothy
Published: October 2017

This paper introduces an initial effort towards developing a framework for writing an effective literature review. The target audience for the framework are novice IS researchers or other researchers who are constantly struggling with the development of an effective literature-based foundation for the proposed research. The proposed framework follows the systematic data processing approach comprised of three major stages: 1) inputs (literature gathering and screening), 2) processing (Blooms Taxonomy), and 3) outputs (writing the review). This paper provides the rationale for developing a solid literature review and addresses the central stage, processing the literature. The paper concludes by providing arguments for the value of an effective literature review as well as implications for future work in this proposed framework.
Pedagogy and Process in 'Organisational Problem-Solving'
Authors: Paul Kawalek John
Published: October 2017

This paper outlines a case study in which a management development learning process was tightly coupled to organisational change and development objectives. The case discusses how a research and consulting team came together to develop highly reflexive pedagogy to support the work of internal managers who were organised into teams (‘learning sets’ of sorts, but which came to be known as 'ThinkTanks'). These were to undertake ‘organisational problem solving’, which involved the integration of various inquiring activities. These learning sets had as their objective, to help members become catalysts of organisational change and performance improvement within a large organisation, applying the inquiring principles. In order to structure the discourse amongst learning set members, a range of principles and constructs were used. Central to these was a form of process modelling, (termed ‘models of teleological human process’). These were carefully introduced to learning set members, and were used to provide a ‘basis for a discourse’ amongst set members about problematic organisational processes and how to change them. These were based on system theory, in a particular form, in which models were used as a component of inquiry into current and future processes, rather than to 'specify' a given process, in an absolute sense. The inquiring activities were facilitated by 'Set Advisers', whose role it was to keep the set focused on learning outcomes, and to encourage critical reflexivity in the process. Thus members were encouraged to 'think about the way they were thinking about action', which gave a much more dynamic intellectual basis for the learning set's activities. It also enabled a rich analytical discourse, in which members were expected to justify their perceptions rather than make assertions, or 'defend assertions'. The researchers were genuinely surprised by the way the set members were able to undertake this, and indeed, on reflection, how set members felt 'liberated' by the approach taken.
Readiness to Communicate in a Digital World
Authors: Lynch Kathy
Published: October 2017

Communicating with friends, family, peers and colleagues has always underpinned work and social behaviour. However, the devices that act as conduits to this communication have changed over time, and differ across the globe. People in industralised corners of the world are more and more frequently using advances in information and communication technologies (ICTs) to assist both the senders and receivers to have more timely, synchronous and value-added communiques. Well, that is what the promotional material is telling us. The primary role of undergraduate education is to best prepare graduates for the workforce that they are being primed. To this end, educators need to be knowledgeable in what students already know, do, and their perceptions of what is required and is of value in assisting them to communicate with colleagues or peers. This paper presents a study that aimed to identify directions for undergraduate IT curriculum in developing the information and communication technology (ICT) readiness of beginning IT (in particular Information Systems) professionals to work in a collaborative team. Three hundred undergraduate Information Systems (IS) students were invited to participate in the study, one-hundred and sixty responded. The results indicate that there is a definitive relationship between frequency of use and the perceived value of an information and communication technology, and that the use of an ICT as a communication device in a social situation does not guarantee its use or even its perceived value as a communication device in a work situation: Visa versa is also true. Findings from the research could be used to influence IS curriculum developers in preparing undergraduate students’ readiness for communicating (and collaborating) in the digital workforce of today.
What Makes Valuable Pre-experience for Students Entering Programming Courses?
Authors: Holden Edward , Weeden Elissa
Published: October 2017

For the past several years, the authors have been studying the impact of prior experience on performance in introductory Information Technology (IT) courses. Since 2002, data has been collected on all incoming freshmen and performance has been measured by the grade received in initial courses. The grades are expressed in the traditional four-point scale used at most US colleges and universities. Prior studies (Holden & Weeden, 2003, 2004, 2005) have used an experience index to determine the level of prior experience possessed by students entering the IT undergraduate program. The index has also been used to place students in appropriate classes. This study looks at the components of the formula used to calculate this index as well as some informal experience information that is collected as part of the survey. It concludes with a revised version of the experience index formula which will be used to place students into cohorts in the future.
The Power of Normalised Word Vectors for Automatically Grading Essays
Authors: Williams Robert
Published: October 2017

Latent Semantic Analysis, when used for automated essay grading, makes use of document word count vectors for scoring the essays against domain knowledge. Words in the domain knowledge documents and essays are counted, and Singular Value Decomposition is undertaken to reduce the dimensions of the semantic space. Near neighbour vector cosines and other variables are used to calculate an essay score. This paper discusses a technique for computing word count vectors where the words are first normalised using thesaurus concept index numbers. This approach leads to a vector space of 812 dimensions, does not require Singular Value Decomposition, and leads to a reduced computational load. The cosine between the vectors for the student essay and a model answer proves to be a very powerful independent variable when used in regression analysis to score essays. An example of its use in practice is discussed.
Defining Professional Behavior: A Situational Look at Ethics in the Classrooms and Laboratories of American Colleges and Universities
Authors: Ashford Tina , Davis Linda
Published: October 2017

This paper is designed to help identify specific behaviors that present challenging decisions for faculty in terms of questionable ethical behavior or conflicts of interest and ways to deal with the various situations. The behaviors are divided into five sections: 1) Dishonest or unethical behavior in teaching 2) Dishonest or unethical behavior in research 3) Sexual Harassment 4) Neglect of University-related duties and responsibilities 5) Unauthorized use of University facilities, equipment, materials, data, properties or service. Through the use of scenarios, a guided discussion of the various ethics involved in each scenario will be conducted. The sets will be followed by suggested ideas that may guide the practice of faculty professionals, as well as those behaviors that would constitute misconduct.
Getting Practical With Learning Styles In “Live” and Computer-based Training Settings
Authors: Fenrich Peter
Published: October 2017

Learning styles are relatively-stable characteristic behaviors that indicate how students prefer to leam. To maximize student learning, it is important for instructors to address learning styles when designing their lessons. What does the research say about learning styles? What should instructors do to factor learning styles into traditional lessons? What should be done differently with respect to learning styles when designing computer-based training software? This summary paper answers these questions. In this presentation, through discussion and demonstration, participants will be given practical suggestions for addressing learning styles in both traditionally-delivered lessons and computer-based training applications.
Information Retrieval Systems: A Perspective on Human Computer Interaction
Authors: Petratos Panagiotis
Published: October 2017

Traditional information systems design and development methodologies tend to overly focus on the technical details of the system such as memory management, system internals, algorithms and modules. It is not unusual for system designers and developers to often completely omit from the thought process the human element. This article offers a new information systems perspective particularly for information retrieval systems with a focus on human computer interaction.
Development of ICT Instructional Materials based on Needs Identified by Malaysian Secondary School Teachers
Authors: Azilah Ngah Nor , Masood Mona
Published: October 2017

For the last few years school teachers in Malaysia have access to ICT tools in their schools. However, these tools are used mostly for record keeping and word processing purposes. An in-depth study to identify the problems of using ICT in the classroom is currently being done to elicit information concerning the needs of secondary school teachers in the Northern region of Malaysia. This research-in-progress paper discusses the needs analysis phase of the study. The teachers were asked to identify their needs in becoming competent users of ICT in the classroom; the result from this study will be used to create specific topics that will be made accessible on-line to be shared by teachers in Malaysia. The ultimate aim of this study is to develop reusable instructional material in the form of learning objects.
Video Learning Object Application System: Beyond the Static Reusability
Authors: Mu Xiangming , Koohang Alex
Published: October 2017

This paper presents an advanced an innovative Video Learning Object (VLO) application model for optimal dynamic VLO reusability. The model contains three essential elements - the metadata, the links, and a learning center. Each element of VLO application system is configured for a specific assignment. The model allows for dynamic reconfigurability of VLO metadata based on usage profile. This leads into easy adaptation of VLOs to various contexts thus attaining optimum reusability. Two multimedia application cases are presented that further demonstrate the application of the proposed model and its use for optimal dynamic reusability of VLOs. Conclusion and recommendation for future development of VLO application systems are made. '
Evaluating the ENQA's Benchmarking Practice: Possible Strategies for the New Comers
Authors: Krbec Denisa
Published: October 2017

The origins of the concept of benchmarking show us the reason for its popularity primarily under the pressures of rapid internationalization in a wider context. The international competitiveness, the ‘movement’ for qualities, and the rapid growth of information technology, which has made sophisticated data collection possible, were usually identified as main economic and social impacts on the practice’s implementation. Even the main key activities of the European Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) are training and advisory support, this paper aim is to analyze the network's other tasks such as dissemination of general information, experiences, and good practices. How is it possible to transfer the best practices and techniques across institutions and across cultures efficiently and rapidly? Evaluation for accreditation purposes has been used in some Eastern European countries, such as Croatia, to determine the minimum level of degree programs. This paper summarizes policy recommendations made by European evaluation experts.
Processes for Ex-ante Evaluation of IT Projects - Case Studies in Brazilian Companies
Authors: Jose Barbin Laurindo Fernando , de Oliveira Moraes Renato
Published: October 2017

In the highly competitive nowadays markets, many companies actions assume the project form. In special, Information Technology (IT) projects assume great importance, enabling the dynamic actions that organisations need (Porter, 2001; Tapscott, 2001). However, IT applications assume different roles, from operational support to strategic, according to companies’ strategies and operations, besides the peculiarities of the industry in which they compete (McFarlan, 1984; Porter & Millar, 1985). According to this role (appraised by McFarlan’s Strategic Grid), ex-ante evaluation practices for selecting IT projects to be implemented can vary (Jiang & Klein, 1999). The objective of this paper is to analyse practices for selecting IT projects in Brazilian companies classified in different quadrants of the Strategic Grid and to observe any differences in ex-ante evaluation practices among them. The adopted methodological approach was qualitative research, more specifically case study (Claver, Gonzalez & Llopis, 2000; Yin, 1991) performed in four companies.
The Academic Open Access E-Journal: Platform and Portal
Authors: Koohang Alex , Harman Keith
Published: October 2017

This paper demonstrates that advanced technologies and the increasing acceptance of academic open access e-journals offer an opportunity to reconsider their form and function as a medium to enhance scholarly communication. The academic open access e-journal is envisioned as a platform and a portal within the context of an open source community including a format and functions that enable it to achieve that objective. A working model for academic open access e-journals is presented. This model is intended for open source communities involved in designing, developing, and/or improving open access academic e-journals.
The Relevance of Information Systems Research: Informing the IS Practitioner Community; Informing Ourselves
Authors: Steinbach Theresa , Knight Linda
Published: October 2017

Discussion of the relevance of Information Systems research to the practitioner community began in the 1990s. Though the issue has faded from top-tier journals, the problem remains. This article provides the first comprehensive consideration of the major papers relating to IS research relevance. It also recognizes that the problem of relevance is not one that is likely to be solved at the global IS level, or even the university level. Rather, the relevance of IS research ultimately will be determined by each individual researcher. To facilitate individual researchers’ progress in moving toward greater relevance, this research provides a concise plan of specific actions that are within the control of each individual IS researcher. These actions involve both how researchers attempt to inform the practitioner community about their work, and how researchers inform themselves about the concerns of practitioners. Several specific actions for improving the relevance of individual research are detailed.
Where Else Have You Been? The Effects of Diaspora Consciousness and Transcultural Mixtures on Ethnic Identity
Authors: Weerakkody Niranjala
Published: October 2017

In social science research, the demographic categories of ethnicity are linked to what the census bureau considers as a person’s ethnic heritage. However, these categories are based on the societal assumption that members of a given category share the same characteristics and life experiences, even though the heterogeneity between members within a category may be as diverse as between categories. The paper examines the 15 interview subjects of a research study drawn from 10 minority migrant groups, where seven of them indicated significant transcultural experiences before migrating to Australia. It argues that their lived experiences and subjectivity vary from others who migrated directly from their native countries. The formers’ diaspora consciousness and transcultural mixtures may introduce an artifact to a research study’s design, affecting the validity of the data collected. The paper examines other situations where this anomaly can occur and proposes precautions to minimize its negative effects.
The Increments and Transformations Institute at the University of South Florida: A Case Study
Authors: Gill Grandon , Patterson William , Williams Diane
Published: October 2017

The paper presents a research case study that describes the three year history of the Increments and Transformations Institute (ITI) at the University of South Florida. The ITI's goal is to encourage faculty members from all disciplines to enhance the effectiveness of their teaching through the appropriate use of technologies and pedagogical strategies. Institute participation consists of a year-long cohort-based program of faculty development divided into three distinct phases. In Phase I, participating faculty members attend an intensive week-long workshop on teaching with technology. Phase II takes place during the fall semester that follows, during which time each participant must implement a single technology-based/pedagogically-informed change to one or more courses (a.k.a., an "increment"). During Phase III, in the spring, each participant must share his or her experiences with additional departmental and college colleagues in a formal setting. There is also an optional Phase IV, during which participants may return to the institute and act as facilitators for subsequent cohorts. Since it was established, the ITI's organization and approach has undergone two significant changes, moving from extensive reliance on outside facilitators to almost exclusive use of former participants and moving from traditional workshop activities to a structure based around teaching cases. The case study considers how these changes impacted outcomes and have led to an approach to faculty development that is both highly effective and increasingly self-sustaining.