bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pedagogical Agents for Learning
Authors: Schroeder Noah L.
Published: February 2018

Throughout the past two decades, researchers have seen rapid innovations in the field of learning technologies. Virtual reality, video games, and online learning are becoming quite common in educational contexts. Pedagogical agents are often present in a variety of these virtual environments. Pedagogical agents are virtual characters with an on-screen presence that are designed to facilitate learning in multimedia environments. In this chapter the author examines the theoretical rationale for incorporating a pedagogical agent into a learning environment, critically examines their effectiveness for learning, and discusses how they have been implemented in research studies to date. Suggestions for future research in virtual reality environments are highlighted.
Augmented Reality for Tourism Service Promotion in Iran as an Emerging Market
Authors: Shabani Neda , Hassan Azizul
Published: February 2018

Recently tourism service industry is becoming one of the fastest growing industries in the world that has a positive impact on global economy. Tourism service industry growth in some emerging markets such as Iran is faster due to the expansion of Iran's international relationships. This growth also positively affects tourism service demand. Augmented Reality (AR) is a relatively new technology that allows tourists to combine their experience with technology and place it in real life. It also helps tourism service providers to promote their services. This technology can attract more tourism service consumers by enhancing their experiences that leads to increased revenue. This conceptual chapter explains AR technology and its potential possibilities to promote tourism service market in Iran. Findings determines AR as a better accepted tool for tourism service industry promotion in Iran as an emerging economy as supported by the recent development of international relations.
Emergence of Successful Online Courses
Authors: Sedivy-Benton Amy L. , Hunt Andrew L. , Hunt Teri L. , Fetterly James M. , Wood Betty K.
Published: February 2018

This chapter seeks to investigate the common characteristics that make online courses high quality. With an increase in online education and the increased attention to national standards and accreditation, there is a need for research to focus on the quality of online education. The literature related to online education suggests that more studies compare traditional courses with online courses as well as ways to affect the social climate of online courses and programs than the quality of online education. Questions to be considered range from, “How much time do instructors spend developing online courses compared to traditional courses?” to “What are the students' perspective of the quality of online courses / instruction?” McGorry (2003) suggests seven constructs “to evaluate quality and learning in online courses: flexibility, responsiveness and student support, student learning, interaction, technology and technical support, and student satisfaction” (p. 162).
Introducing a Teaching Innovation to Enhance Students' Analytical and Research Skills
Authors: Miniaoui Hela , Kaur Avneet
Published: February 2018

The term “blended learning” has gained considerable interest in recent years as a description of particular forms of teaching combined with technology. This chapter reports in some detail the experience of a small group of undergraduate learners as they progress through their Bachelor course at University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) in the United Arab Emirates. In particular, this study looks at discussion forum approach as a blended learning initiative and what that entails to the learners in terms of making the subject more interactive and enhancing students' analytical and research skills. From the findings, a conclusion has been drawn regarding the role of the Blackboard tool in learning by helping students to obtain a deep sense of understanding of how to operate in a virtual team despite the challenges.
Blended Learning and Distance Education
Authors: Manzoor Amir
Published: February 2018

The emergence of online technologies generated the belief that traditional print-and-post distance education would be transformed. The need for a compromise between the conventional face-to-face workshop sessions and online learning led to a new approach to teaching and learning called blended learning. Blended learning has become a popular method for the delivery of distance education, however, it has not always delivered on its promised potential. This chapter investigates various enablers and barriers of blended learning and highlights their significance.
Creating Online Community
Authors: Deutschmann Mats
Published: February 2018

The challenges in creating a collaborative environment for online learning are great. This chapter describes some practical examples of community building in online learning contexts and discusses the effects of such activities. It draws its data from six years of online courses in English at Mid Sweden University, where the author was employed from 2003-2009 and worked with development and implementation of their Internet course program.
Content and Language Integrated Learning in Higher Education
Authors: Carloni Giovanna
Published: February 2018

This chapter describes the online learning component of a blended model designed to promote Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) at the University of Urbino, Italy. A technology-enhanced learning environment is presented along with an analysis of how CLIL was implemented across multiple university departments.
Inclusion and Universal Design for Learning in Italian Schools
Authors: Aiello Paola , Di Gennaro Diana Carmela , Palumbo Carmen , Zollo Iolanda , Sibilio Maurizio
Published: February 2018

The present theoretical-argumentative research is aimed to put in evidence the Italian perspective on the use of technologies for promoting inclusion in school contexts. In a society which uses technological innovations and multimediality in all the domains of everyday life, indeed, school is required to explore the potential and meaning of educational technologies. During the last years, in light of these new requirements, national and international educational policies have tried to take advantage of the opportunities offered by new technologies to create flexible educational pathways so as to ensure equal access to information and learning processes, by promoting the elimination of all barriers that deny students the right to education. In the perspective of inclusive education, technologies within the educational field can't only represent a compensatory tool to support students with disabilities or with learning difficulties, but they also definitely play a very important role in the reconfiguration of learning environments by creating the necessary conditions for the promotion of each student's differences and abilities.
Portraits of the Activity Systems of International Higher Education Students in Online Learning
Authors: Murphy Elizabeth , Rodríguez-Manzanares María A.
Published: February 2018

This chapter presents findings of a study of the activity systems of seven international students enrolled in online learning at Memorial University of Newfoundland, in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The seven students were interviewed using questions focused around the components of an activity system. Data were analyzed using a coding protocol designed for the study and based on Activity Theory. Findings are presented as seven individual portraits of the activity system of students. Each portrait is summarized according to the following components: subject, object, tools, norms, community, division of labour, outcomes.
Design of Blended Mobile Learning in an Urban Environment
Authors: Wong Adam K. L. , Ng Artie
Published: February 2018

As mobile phones become more and more common, the term mobile learning has received a lot of attention in recent years. Although teachers at educational institutions and managers in companies are aware of this new learning mode, many are uncertain if such adoption of technology is suitable for them. They are also puzzled by the various forms of e-learning, including Learning Management System (LMS), Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC), Augmented Reality (AR) and Student Response Systems (SRS). This aim of this chapter is to provide educators and managers with an overview of the different forms of e-learning. It begins by reviewing LMS and MOOC, and then it focuses on SRS and AR. The following three types of SRSs are discussed – Clicker-based, Mobile phone-based and Game-based. Exemplars are described to show the benefits of mobile learning when it is properly designed and well-implemented by the educators in an urban environment. The chapter concludes by stating the implications of mobile learning technologies for working professionals.
Making Sense of Building Online Learning Communities
Authors: Kwapy Justina
Published: February 2018

The last decade has brought an increase in online courses in the educational setting. Online enrollment has increased from 1.98 million in 2003 to 2.35 million in 2004 (Allen & Seaman, 2005). While students, higher universities, and faculty are enjoying the convenience and flexibility of online learning environments, there is an increasing concern over the support in distance education, teaching methods, and a social disconnectedness of students from the course. This chapter explores how these factors can impede a successful online learning experience and can cause dissatisfaction and higher dropout rates among students in distance learning programs. Carr (2000) found higher dropout rates for distance education (10-20%) over traditional programs. Higher institution's online faculty are now faced with the task of creating a virtual community of learners, meeting both academic and social needs of students.
Motivational Active Learning in Blended and Virtual Learning Scenarios
Authors: Pirker Johanna , Riffnaller-Schiefer Maria , Tomes Lisa Maria , Gütl Christian
Published: February 2018

The way people learn has changed over the last years. New pedagogical theories show that engaging and active learning approaches are particularly successful in improving conceptual understanding and enhancing the students' learning success and motivation. The Motivational Active Learning approach combines engagement strategies based on active and collaborative learning models with gamification. While many active learning models rely on in-class setups and active and personal interactions between students and between instructors, MAL was designed to integrate active learning in different settings. Our research project focuses on enhanced learning strategies with MAL in different computer-supported scenarios. This chapter outlines the potential of the pedagogical model MAL (Motivational Active Learning) in the context of blended and virtual learning scenarios; it also summarizes relevant literature and discusses implications and future work.
Teacher Conceptions and Approaches to Blended Learning Environments
Authors: Caravias Vicki
Published: February 2018

This chapter provides Australian perspectives on blended learning. An overview of the ways in which the concept of blended learning is interpreted in the Australian higher education is presented. This is followed by a discussion of the results of research carried out at one Australian University about teachers' conceptions on blended learning and their approaches to design and teaching in higher education. On the basis of twelve interviews with teachers, some important factors are analyzed pertaining to pedagogical, technological, interface, evaluation dimensions as well as resource support, management, ethical and institutional. Research results indicate that teachers consider their subject's learning objectives and apply the technologies and approaches that will work best for their students following the eight dimensions of blended learning environments.
Using Blended Learning Approach to Deliver Courses in an Engineering Programme
Authors: Moalosi Richie , Uziak Jacek , Oladiran Moses Tunde
Published: February 2018

The paper discusses how the use of blended learning approach was adopted to deliver a 3rd year Mechanics of Machines course for Mechanical Engineering students at the University of Botswana. The course delivery involved a mix of both face-to-face and Blackboard technology to create an efficient and effective learning environment. A survey of 101 students was conducted over a period of 3 years for the respondents to evaluate their teaching and learning preferences. The results show that students accepted the blended learning approach because of its benefits. More lecturers are encouraged to use blended learning and teaching approaches to promote active, independent and lifelong learning.
Constructivist Internet-Blended Learning and Resiliency in Higher Education
Authors: Penland Jennifer L.
Published: February 2018

This chapter focuses on the changes that have occurred recently in the distance education arena and the impact on higher education institutions focusing on undergraduate and graduate students taking these courses. Data were gathered from 164 individual participants enrolled in education courses at Shepherd University during the spring 2013, fall 2013 and spring 2014 semesters from end of course surveys with ten questions focusing on the following areas: when students learn, why students learn and how students learn. Findings suggested; (1) increased enrollment in distance education courses, (2) courses allow for flexible schedules (3) better communication with instructor and (4) more meaningful learning overall for students.
Challenges Faced by Key Stakeholders Using Educational Online Technologies in Blended Tertiary Environments
Authors: Tuapawa Kimberley
Published: February 2018

Traditional learning spaces have evolved into dynamic blended tertiary environments (BTEs), providing a modern means through which tertiary education institutes (TEIs) can augment delivery to meet stakeholder needs. Despite the significant demand for web-enabled learning, there are obstacles concerning the use of EOTs, which challenge the continued success of blended implementations in higher education. As technology usage accelerates, it is important for TEIs to understand and address the current challenges faced by key stakeholders using EOTs in BTEs, and provide appropriate support. This paper identifies and discusses the challenges stakeholders experience in using EOTs in BTEs. Interviews with 13 blended learning experts from New Zealand, Australia and Canada identified the challenges in using EOTs, and the extent to which these prevent widespread adoption and effective use of EOTs in BTEs. The outcomes of this study will enable them to design relevant approaches to tackle current obstacles in EOT usage, and deliver meaningful support to key stakeholders in BTEs.
Factors That Contribute to Students' Course Satisfaction While Attending Online or Distance Learning Courses
Authors: Esquivel Dinah A.
Published: February 2018

This case analyzed what factors contribute to students' satisfaction levels in online classes, and how the instructors' nonverbal immediacy impacts those factors. Surveys were administered to participants that have taken a minimum of one online course. Data was analyzed to identify the specific factors that positively and negatively impact student satisfaction levels.
Teaching English for Academic Purposes Through the Use of Digital Tools
Authors: Levy Tal , Cohen Leslie J.
Published: February 2018

This chapter discusses an ongoing seven-year Digital Development Program (DDP) which has trained and encouraged English for Academic Purposes (EAP) instructors to teach digitally. As leaders of an EAP team at Ruppin Academic Center, and as proponents of the idea that mindful use of technology enhances both teaching and learning, we adopted the Technology, Pedagogy, and Content Knowledge model known as TPACK (Koehler & Mishra, 2008), as our guiding. We used Moodle as the virtual learning environment (VLE) platform for our program. In our attempt to achieve as paperless and digital a classroom as possible, we continue to introduce numerous online programs and activities via our VLE. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the transition from face-to-face English and content teaching to blended and flipped learning at our institution. Feedback has been positive. We also offer suggestions to other institutions which may be seeking to make similar changes. The appendix lists the websites, resources, software, and applications, which are mostly free or open source.
Interactive Online Learning
Authors: Rusko Rauno
Published: February 2018

This study is focused on the implications of the student voice in digital-based entrepreneurship education basing on the case study example from university-level schooling from Finland. Practice-based subjects, such as entrepreneurship, have been seen in literature as a problematic field for digital-based education. The studied education was implemented using the synthesis of two computer-mediated communication channels. Analysis based on the content analysis of individual portfolios (diaries), which were returned and stored in the asynchronous platform. In the case study environment, the decision of using use two-channel digital teaching platforms (synchronous and asynchronous) seemed to be successful, because dual channels enable wider forms of feedback and student voice activities during and after the lecture. The results of this study encourage educators to use multifaceted digital educational technology in education and as a channel for the student voice also in practice-based subjects, such as entrepreneurship.
Information Superhighway and Continuous Professional Development for the Networked Teachers
Authors: Saglam Asli Lidice Gokturk
Published: February 2018

This chapter focuses on the impact of technology on teacher training through online communities of practice (CoP) and investigates its potential for facilitating continuous professional development for the educators who can create personal learning networks on the web. Wenger's Community of Practice Theory (1998) and Garrison et al.'s (2000) Community of Inquiry (CoI) are explored as underlying theories of CoP. Furthermore, examples of online communities of practice will be briefly enlisted. The chapter will provide brief information how online learning is operationalized within the confines of CoP. The chapter will also discuss role of online communities of practice for teachers' continuous professional development with reference to current literature, explore challenges and focus on suggestions and avenues for further research.
A Review of Activity Theory Studies of Domestic and International Students Using Technology in Higher Education
Authors: Murphy Elizabeth , Rodríguez-Manzanares María A.
Published: February 2018

This chapter serves as an introduction to the two studies featured in Section 2 (Chapters 7-10). It presents a review of a decade (2002-2012) of nine Activity Theory studies from peer-reviewed journals of higher education students' learning in technology-mediated contexts. The review is organized around the following elements: purpose; rationale for Activity Theory use; summary of technology use; focus on technology-mediated learning; data collection; data analysis; findings, conclusions, and implications. The methods section provides an overview of why the nine studies were included while others were excluded. The chapter includes a comparison of the nine studies with those presented in Section 2, Chapters 7-10.
A Blended Approach to Canadian First Nations Education
Authors: Vaughan Norman , Auger Neepin , Sacher Martin , Sacher Mavis
Published: February 2018

This chapter describes a research study that investigated how a blended approach to Canadian First Nations education could be used to foster student engagement and success. The study examined the SCcyber E-Learning Community program through the lens of the Seven Principles of Effective Teaching (Chickering & Gamson, 1999). Data was collected via an online survey, interviews, and site visits. The study participants indicated that the deliberate and intentional integration of mentors at local learning centers with online teachers, who provide synchronous tutorials through the use of a Web-based learning management system and conferencing tool, was the key to academic success.
Getting Brand Commitment Through Internet and Mobile Sports Marketing
Authors: Baena Verónica
Published: February 2018

This chapter provides a better understanding of the impact that the Internet and mobile sports marketing are having on a business's ability to achieve customer engagement. To achieve this goal, the case of Real Madrid football team is analyzed, as it is calculated to have over 200 million supporters worldwide. Information about Real Madrid was gathered from September 2012 to March 2013 by repeatedly browsing the team's Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and apps. Data from interviews of Real Madrid's marketing department published in business press and posts was also compiled. Additionally, a focus group was conducted to discuss the customer engagement of Real Madrid's fans. The findings offer new opportunities to get customer engagement. They also highlight the important role of social media to gain insight about the fans.
Automatic Live Sport Video Streams Curation System From User Generated Media
Authors: Fujisawa Kazuki , Hirabe Yuko , Suwa Hirohiko , Arakawa Yutaka , Yasumoto Keiichi
Published: February 2018

Emerging Internet of Things (IoT) technologies will allow spectators in a sport game to produce various video streams from various angles. With existing technologies, however, it is difficult to process massive and various data streams for multi-channel contents in real-time. To solve this problem, we aim to construct a software agent (called “Curator”) that compiles video contents automatically according to his/her values. In this paper, we propose a system to automatically switch multiple video streams that general sports spectators have taken using Random Forests classifier. Meta data such as image feature data and game progress data is extracted for each video scene as the input of the classifier. For evaluation, we constructed a camera switching timing estimation model using the live TV broadcast of some baseball game data. A video of another baseball game was curated with the constructed model. As a result, our system predicted the camera switching timing with accuracy (F-measure) of 85.3% on weighted average for the base camera work and 99.7% for the fixed camera work.
Between Sports Event and Media Event
Authors: Spalletta Marica , Ugolini Lorenzo
Published: February 2018

Since its first edition (1896), modern Olympic Games have represented a far-reaching sport event, because they draw the attention of a wide audience and because their “festivity” breaks daily routines. According to Dayan and Katz (1992), Olympic Games are to be considered certainly as a sport event, but also as a media event. They also state that the affirmation of media events is strictly linked to their live broadcasting on TV. This chapter aims to understand if, referring to the Olympic Games, it is still possible to talk about “media events” in the shift between their representation in live broadcasting and their journalistic reports on printed news media. Through a qualitative media content analysis, the chapter examines the way in which two Italian significant newspapers (Corriere della Sera and La Gazzetta dello Sport) covered the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games. The research shows that the analysis of Sochi 2014 as a media event cannot abstract from the current main features of sports journalism, that are hybridization, mediatization and popularization. Therefore, Sochi has represented a break of journalistic daily routine because of a journalistic coverage strongly hybridized but, on the other hand, it can't be fully considered as a “media event” because of the lack of mediatization and popularization.
Understanding How the Mind Works
Authors: Feitosa-Santana Claudia
Published: February 2018

The understanding of the inner workings of the mind are relevant to enhance curriculum achievements, therefore optimizing the professional practice in general and of the arts and design in particular. The recent birth of neuroscience as a transdisciplinary field poses a challenge to the curriculum and is yet to be included as an integral part of its core. The lessons taught by #TheDress viral Internet phenomenon are here discussed with the intention of enlightening the urgency of a popularization of neuroscience knowledge, from daily life to the professional practice, as a tool to explain how context and experience influence our perception. Along the same lines, the section “The Roots of Human Behavior” addresses the fundamental concept of human behavior and how our emotions were built by our genes, helping us understand basic and complex human choices. Finally, the section “The Neuroscience of Creativity” discusses the neural basis of creativity and its relation to intelligence by dissecting what neuroscience already knows about the development of creativity and how the work environment could foster creativity. The discussion of these topics in this chapter aims to enlighten readers of the importance of neuroscience knowledge in the curriculum and how the arts and design practices can benefit society to become more tolerant.
Understanding the Interdisciplinary Meaning of Beauty to Neuroscience
Authors: Araujo Bruno H.S. , Nasseh Ibrahim Elias
Published: February 2018

The search for the source of beauty has exercised the speculation of philosophers and writers throughout the ages. The classical conception is that beauty consists of an arrangement of integral parts into a coherent whole, according to proportion, harmony, symmetry, and similar notions. The opposing view is that art is a fully subjective enterprise and our preferences are shaped by our values and experiences. To study beauty, neuroscience evokes the juxtaposition of concepts such as symmetry, geometry, proportion, judgment, affection, grotesque, erotic, sensitive with certain loci in the human brain. However, to explain and understand the aesthetic experiences at the network level, neuroscience have to incorporate the ambiguity in their research field. And with the continuous increasing of knowledge and comprehension of how beauty is perceived by the human brain, the world in its wholeness will be highly impacted, since we will start to live in pleasant societies.
Cognitive Neuroscience in Information Systems Research
Authors: Zhao Yeli , Siau Keng
Published: February 2018

This paper reviews cognitive neuroscience and several neurophysiological tools (e.g., fMRI, PET, EEG, MEG, and eye tracking). The strengths and weaknesses of such tools for information systems research are presented. The paper provides examples of existing cognitive neuroscience studies in varies areas, such as neuroeconomics, neuromarketing, and eye tracking. In addition, this paper provides an overview of brain areas that response to various mental processes, and discusses the localization and functionality of each brain area. Because of the popularity of eye-tracking research in information systems, measurements and metrics related and derived from eye-tracking technique (e.g., fixation, saccades and scanpath) are described and discussed in this paper. Opportunities for applying cognitive neuroscience techniques to IS research as well as future research directions are also discussed.
Exploring Perception, Cognition, and Neural Pathways of Stereo Vision and the Split–Brain Human Computer Interface
Authors: Garvey Gregory P.
Published: February 2018

This chapter examines research from psychology of perception and cognition as well as select developments in the visual arts that inspired the design of the split-brain user interface developed for the interactive documentary Anita und Clarence in der Hölle: An Opera for Split-Brains in Modular Parts (Garvey, 2002). This experimental interface aims at ‘enhanced' interaction while creating a new aesthetic experience. This emergent aesthetic might also be described as induced artificial cognitive dissonance and recalls select innovations in the rise of modernism notably the experiments of the Surrealists. The split-brain interface project offers a model for further investigations of human perception, neural processing and cognition through experimentation with the basic principles of stereo and binocular vision. It is conceivable that such an interface could be a design strategy for augmented or virtual reality or even wearable computing. The chapter concludes with a short discussion of potential avenues for further experimentation and development.
Marketing Meets Neuroscience
Authors: Cherubino Patrizia , Cartocci Giulia , Trettel Arianna , Rossi Dario , Modica Enrica , Maglione Anton Giulio , Mancini Marco , Di Flumeri Gianluca , Babiloni Fabio
Published: February 2018

In this chapter, findings of an experiment aimed to investigate cognitive changes of cerebral activity during the observation of TV commercials will be presented. In particular, it has been recorded Electroencephalographic data (EEG) from a group of 24 healthy subjects during the observation of a series of TV advertisements. The group was divided by gender (male, female). Comparisons of cerebral index previously defined have been performed to highlight gender differences between scenes of interest of a specific TV commercials and the influence of the speaker's gender on the subgroups perception. Findings show how EEG methodologies could be used to obtain information not obtainable otherwise with verbal interviews. These cerebral index could help to analyze the perception of TV advertisements according to the target consumer's gender.
A Systems Theory of Organizational Information
Authors: Manh Tuan Nguyen
Published: February 2018

Standing on both the Peircean pragmatism semiotics and the Churchmanian systems thinking, this chapter is an empirically grounded conceptualization of the phenomena of organizational information in terms of the nature and the formulation process of information in organizations. By the author's systemic conception, organizational information would be a unity that comprises six nonexclusive aspects: structure, function, process, context, time, and epistemology. From the relational perspective, organizational information would manifest itself as a dynamically triadic process that comprises three states of mind (i.e., surprise, doubt, and belief) and three human activities (i.e., experience, abduction, and inquiry). The author's system of organizational information introduces a foundational framework for both information and organization domains, which offers that information and organization constitute each other. The author also posits that the model of organizational information would imply an information paradigm for and hence a theory native to the information systems and knowledge management field.
Knowledge-Scientific Evaluation of Social Service Systems
Authors: Nakamori Yoshiteru , Meng Fei , Huynh Van-Nam
Published: February 2018

This chapter proposes a new evaluation method for social service systems in order to support participants to create new knowledge and value. The main proposal is a rating scale method that can evaluate the current level (as-is) and the future desire (to-be) of participants, and with which we can analyze achievements of individuals. By using a concrete example of an education program, which is a worth living discovery seminar for retired men, the chapter reports the results of hypothetical tests on the relationships between items of evaluation and an interesting finding related to the reason of differences in attitude of participants.
Assessing Knowledge Management Performance in Organisations Based on the Criteria of Total Quality Management
Authors: Pun Kit Fai , Yiu Man Yin Rebecca
Published: February 2018

Knowledge management (KM) has been gaining momentum as the means toward organisational growth. Recent literature also gives much prominence to emerging performance measurement (PM) systems for assessing performance. This chapter comprehends the concepts of integrating KM with PM, and in short, KM performance measures in organisations. It reviews the issues that surround KM/PM initiatives, and discusses the assessment criteria that integrate the philosophy and the principles of total quality management (TQM) with KM performance measures. Five KM/PM enablers/criteria are identified, namely 1) senior management leadership, 2) management by processes, 3) people development, 4) continuous improvement, and 5) results orientation. These concepts are constituted the development of an integrated knowledge management (IKM) model for assessing organisational KM performance. Future research could evaluate the efficacy of the IKM model, validate the key KM/PM criteria, and develop an implementation framework to foster the KM/PM efforts in organisations in different sectors.
Improvisational Self-Directed Learning
Authors: Norris Sharon E.
Published: February 2018

Developing the capacity to think quickly, take swift action, and do so with competency and character is necessary for success in today's complex and continually changing organizations. Improvisational self-directed learning is presented in this chapter to describe people who can solve novel and surprising problems, create value from fortuitous events, and take action without preplanning. The exercise of human agency, bolstered by strong psychological capital, which includes self-efficacy, hope, optimism, and resilience, is presented as the foundation for the development of improvisational self-directed learning.
Capstone Experiences
Authors: Starr-Glass David
Published: February 2018

Capstone experiences were originally incorporated into the curriculum to provide students with an opportunity for reviewing, consolidating, and integrating their undergraduate learning and to serve as a cap for the degree program or a bridge to future graduate and professional work. Capstone experiences are recognized as high impact educational experiences and provide a significant opportunity for promoting a positive disposition towards future scholarship and disciplinary research. This chapter traces the evolution of capstones, stresses their bridging role between undergraduate and graduate life, and suggests ways in which faculty can use them to stimulate professional development, continuing personal growth, and lifelong learning among their senior students. In particular, this chapter considers the merits of capstones from the perspectives of positive scholarship and appreciative inquiry.
Adult Education With Technology for Transformative Learning
Authors: Wang Victor C. X. , Stelson Uta M.
Published: February 2018

Adult learners often fear that employment will be difficult if they lack technological skills. Newspapers, magazines, and advertisements for positions often emphasize the importance of the use of technology in the workplace. Without adequate skills in the use of appropriate technologies, adult workers may face challenges in finding employment. Web technologies can provide powerful teaching and learning strategies, enhance learner engagement, provide a chance to acquire critical technological skills, and promote critical reflection. This chapter addresses technological applications in vocational and adult education advancement from different perspectives. Technology has the potential to support transformative learning. Technology, along with the vital role of adult educators, helps learners grow, change, and develop. Through the discussion of these, and related issues, a model titled, Learners' Seeking Transformation via Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 Technologies, emerged.
Online and International Field Experiences in STEM Education
Authors: Dickerson Jeremy , Kubasko Jr. Dennis S. , Winslow Joe
Published: February 2018

This chapter describes the development and integration of engagement-rich, short-immersion field experiences using international and online settings in STEM education areas, specifically science and technology. Many STEM programs in higher education settings are now utilizing online and international formats to add value to their programs and to give students unique delivery options that are outside of the traditional college classrooms. Online and international settings create challenges and opportunities to the way that field experiences must be organized and managed. This chapter addresses how some programs are meeting these challenges and using online and international program development to their advantage as STEM fields continue to emerge.
A Scenario That Works
Authors: Gibson Patricia K. , Smith Dennis A. , Smith Sarah G.
Published: February 2018

Technology use in K-12 classrooms in this era of rapid high-tech change ranges from deep and meaningful technological immersion to an outright classroom ban on electronic devices. Attempting to mitigate this technological divide between students and teachers, school districts increasingly require professional development in applicable student technologies and teacher support resources. Unfortunately, the standards for continuing education requirements are broad, money is tight, and development efforts are often far less organized. As unfortunate, current issues and general information sharing dominate the professional learning communities (PLCs) or teacher learning communities (TLCs) originally designed to fulfill professional development requirements. These challenges render the occasional professional development initiative included in a PLC or TLC event, ineffective where the fragmented, uninteresting, and often poorly planned technology instruction very rarely seems to stick. Drawing on experience with military training and continuing education training, the authors propose a simple, inexpensive, and internally resourced means used by soldiers to train individual and collective military tasks, to assist elementary and secondary teachers to learn how emerging technology works, and more importantly, how to maximize its effective use in the classroom.
The Development and Evolution of Design Education From Secondary School to Tertiary Education
Authors: Wong Yi Lin , Siu Kin Wai Michael
Published: February 2018

Design education is interdisciplinary by nature and provides a platform for students to learn different knowledge and skills and then apply them to solve design problems. It is inspirational and innovative at many different educational levels. However, the curricula of design education may not be aligned at different levels. To investigate this issue, Hong Kong is chosen to be the case because of its uniqueness in the development of its design education. This chapter discusses this issue by reviewing the design curricula in secondary school education and tertiary education. This review provides an overview of how students learn design thinking and problem solving in design education. The problems of the transition from one curriculum to another are highlighted. It is suggested that better communication between the curriculum developers is needed to cultivate a smooth transition so that the students of design can enjoy a better learning experience.
State of the Art Recommendation Approaches
Authors: Rawat Bhupesh , Dwivedi Sanjay K.
Published: February 2018

Recommender systems have been used successfully in order to deal with information overload problems in a wide variety of domains ranging from e-commerce, e-tourism, to e-learning. They typically predict the ratings of unseen items by a user and recommend the top N items based on user's profile. Moreover, the profile can be enriched further by using additional information such as contextual data, domain knowledge, and tagging information among others for improving the quality of recommendations. Traditional approaches have not been effective in exploiting these additional data sources. Hence, new techniques need to be developed for extracting and integrating them into the recommendation process. In this article, the authors present a survey on state of the art recommendation approaches their algorithms, issues and also provides further research directions for developing smart and intelligent recommender systems.
Governance and Collaboration in Regulatory Supervision
Authors: Ruano Silvia van der Pligt-Benito , Hulstijn Joris
Published: February 2018

This article describes how in regulatory supervision some form of collaboration is necessary between regulator and company in the way evidence about compliance is collected and evaluated. How to arrange such collaboration? In this article, we investigate specific ideas about continuous control monitoring and apply them to regulatory supervision. By means of a design science approach, we propose a particular governance mechanism for continuous monitoring of compliance. We derive objectives based on the literature about regulatory supervision and about auditing. By means of a case study of a new customs supervision mechanism for container terminals in a large port, we identify legal, economic and technical feasibility conditions. In particular, we discuss the role of an intermediary. The case shows that continuous control monitoring is legally and technically feasible in the customs domain, and that a suitable party can be found to play the role of intermediary. However, a good business case for parties to invest in such a system needs to be developed.
Building a Certification and Inspection Data Infrastructure to Promote Transparent Markets
Authors: Luciano Joanne S. , Sayogo Djoko , Ran Weijia , DePaula Nic , Jarman Holly , Tayi Giri , Zhang Jing , Hrdinova Jana , Pardo Theresa , Andersen Deborah Lines , Andersen David F. , Luna-Reyes Luis Felipe
Published: February 2018

This article reports on data architecture that reduces information asymmetries to support public-private collaboration to govern product certification and inspection for promoting transparent markets and building consumer trust. The data architecture is a proof-of-concept set of data standards called the Certification and Inspection Data Infrastructure Building Block (CIDIBB) for data storage, retrieval, sharing and automated reasoning of data that can be used to respond the question: what constitutes a trustworthy certification and inspection process? CIDIBB consists of three interrelated ontologies, focusing specifically on certified fair-trade coffee that has the potential to become universally applicable to any certification and inspection process for products or services. The evaluation results suggest that CIDIBB is able to test the trustworthiness of certification schemes, providing consistent results. CIDIBB will contribute to support public-private collaboration to solve public problems such as the promotion of sustainable production and fair labor practices.
Achieving Dynamic Capabilities Through the Benefits Management Approach
Authors: Gomes Jorge , Romão Mário
Published: February 2018

The IS/IT has played a key role in the improvement of business strategies and in changing skills and organizational capabilities. However, the promised benefits of these investments have been difficult to monitor, implement and account for. Benefits Management (BM) is becoming an increasingly important approach for projects which implement IS/IT investments. The authors' motivation was answer to the following research question: How BM can help organizations obtain the Dynamic Capabilities (DC) required to meet the growing market challenges? This paper proposes a framework for assisting organizations identify and monitor the benefits of IS/IT investments, and for leveraging through IS/IT the internal changes necessary to quickly respond to the demands presented by the dynamic business environment. The authors' research approach explored an enriched single case study. They conducted an in-depth and multi-faceted exploration, collecting and using data from documentation, archival records, interviews, direct and participant observations.
Association of body shape with amount of Arabian genetic contribution in the Lipizzan horse
Authors: Druml Thomas , Horna Michaela , Grilz-Seger Gertrud , Dobretsberger Maximilian , Brem Gottfried
Published: February 2018

Abstract. Crossbreeding between individuals of different breeds and introgression, the transfer of genes between breeds and/or populations mediated primarily by backcrossing, have been characteristic tools used in the refinement or optimisation of practical horse breeding. In this study we analysed the genetic contribution of the Arabian horse to the gene pool of the Lipizzan horse and its association with the overall type via shape regression analysis in 158 Lipizzan horses from the Austrian federal stud farm of Piber and the Spanish Riding School. Although crossbreeding with Arabian horses took place between 1776 and 1945, we found a significant association between Lipizzan body shape (p < 0.003) and individual coefficients of Arabian gene proportion, which varied from 21 to 29 %. In order to compare and interpret the estimated Lipizzan shape transitions from Iberian type towards the oriental type, we included a sample of 32 Shagya Arabians from the Slovak National stud farm Topol'ćianky. The estimated shape transitions in Lipizzans due to an increasing proportion of Arabian genes are similar to those we observed in the population comparison study of Lipizzan and Shagya Arabian horses. The main morphometric differences due to increasing Arabian genetic contributions in Lipizzans were found in the conformation of head, neck, withers, and legs. Although selection in the Austrian Lipizzan breed favours the Iberian type, Arabian shape characteristics are still present, indicating the segregation of Arabian founder haplotypes in the population. We also demonstrated that techniques of shape analysis are able to differentiate phenotypes associated with the gene pool and can be applied for phenotypic evaluation and prediction in crossbreeding programs.