bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Community of Practice
Authors: Koeglreiter Gerlinde , Torlina Luba
Published: May 2011

In developing a conceptual framework of a Community of Practice’s (CoP) role in organisational KM this chapter summarises preliminary findings of a long-term Action Research study. Interventions address CoP identification, group boundaries, trust related issues, communication, knowledge work and resources. It is argued that these aspects equally need to be addressed as part of complex multilevel organisational KM strategy. The organisational challenge is to achieve strategic alignment between knowledge activities of informally operating CoPs and formalised organisational processes. The conceptual framework aims at providing a comprehensive approach to KM strategising.
How We Organize What We Know
Authors: Geisler Eliezer
Published: May 2011

In developing the model of the structure of knowledge, I embraced the risk of wandering off into the wilderness of marginal, perhaps inconsequential, modeling. This first part of the book addresses the structure of knowledge, whereas the second part deals with how knowledge grows, progresses, and advances. I had written several papers about how I believed human knowledge progresses. I had flatly rejected the evolutionary model of knowledge growth and progression. My views had congealed in the form of a different, clear, and consistent model.
The Cumulation Hypothesis and the Model of Continuous Cumulation
Authors: Geisler Eliezer
Published: May 2011

We generate, store, organize, and utilize knowledge in order to represent complex phenomena in ourselves and in our environment. We accumulate knowledge consistently and furiously from the moment of our birth to the last breath of air we take. Further, we catalog and preserve knowledge in various forms: in our memories, in oral story telling, and in physical modes such as written language, architecture, art, and with our genetic materials. Thus, we impart knowledge through our own biological traits and by all the means we use to impact our environment.
Processes, Events, and Temporal Relationships
Authors: Mitra Amit , Gupta Amar
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes how structured and unstructured business processes and their properties morph out of relationships, when information on the flow of time is added. It integrates business rules, processes, and inference into a single cogent and holistic information based ontology of meaning, tying, them to business goals and agility. The chapter shows how product and process innovation may be partially automated, and how processes and goals may be engineered to support business agility.
Method Chunks to Federate Development Processes
Authors: Mirbel Isabelle
Published: May 2011

Method engineering aims at providing effective solutions to build, improve, and support the evolution of development methodologies. Contributions in the field of situational method engineering aim at providing techniques and tools allowing one to build project-specific methodologies. However, little research has focused on how to tailor such situational methodologies when used as organization-wide standard approaches. Moreover, current approaches have been thought of for method engineers, that is to say, expert users, and they are not enough dedicated to nonexpert ones. In this context, we propose an approach that consists of federating the method chunks built from the different project-specific methods in order to allow each project to share its best practices with the other projects without imposing to all of them a new and unique organization-wide method.
Theories and Models
Authors: Nilakanta Sree , Miller L. L. , Zhu Dan
Published: May 2011

This chapter is about conceptualizing the applicability of grid related technologies for supporting intelligence in decision-making. It aims to discuss how the open grid service architecture—data, access integration (OGSA-DAI) can facilitate the discovery of and controlled access to vast data-sets, to assist intelligence in decision making. Trust is also identified as one of the main challenges for intelligence in decision-making. On this basis, the implications and challenges of using grid technologies to serve this purpose are also discussed. To further the explanation of the concepts and practices associated with the process of intelligence in decision-making using grid technologies, a minicase is employed incorporating a scenario. That is to say, “Synergy Financial Solutions Ltd” is presented as the minicase, so as to provide the reader with a central and continuous point of reference.
Social Capital Knowledge
Authors: Davenport Daniel L. , Hosapple Clyde W.
Published: May 2011

Organizations have capabilities for creating and sharing knowledge (intellectual capital) that give them their distinctive advantage over other institutional arrangements, such as markets (Ghoshal & Nahapiet, 1998). But, what is the basis of a firm’s knowledge development capabilities? At least in part, the answer is that these capabilities stem from the social capital that an organization possesses as a result of bringing people together for extended periods of time, creating interdependence through specialization and integration, forcing interaction, and providing boundaries and directions. Following the resource-based theory of the firm (Conner & Prahalad, 1996), enterprises that cultivate particular forms of social capital are likely to realize competitive advantages (Ghoshal & Nahapiet, 1998).
A Social Network Perspective on Knowledge Management
Authors: Nelson Reed E. , Hsu H.Y. Sonya
Published: May 2011

Social networks—the sets of relations that link individuals and collectives—have implications for the speed and effectiveness with which knowledge is created and disseminated in organizations Both social networks and knowledge management (KM) are complex, multifaceted phenomena that are as yet imperfectly understood. Not unsurprisingly, our understanding of the interface between the two is similarly imperfect and evolving. There are, however, a number of foundational concepts upon which existing thought converges as well as a body of emerging research that offers practical and conceptual guidance for developing the kind of network best suited for managing different kinds of knowledge. In this article, we introduce rudimentary network concepts, briefly recapitulate KM and organizational learning concepts related to networks, and then explore some of the interfaces between social networks and KM.
An Overview of Knowledge Management
Authors: Gupta Jatinder N.D. , Sharma Sushil K. , Hsu Jeffrey
Published: May 2011

One of the key factors that distinguishes the intelligent business enterprise of the 21st century is the emphasis on knowledge and information. Unlike businesses of the past, the fast, high-tech, and global emphasis of businesses today requires the ability to capture, manage, and utilize knowledge and information in order to improve efficiency, better serve customers, manage the competition, and keep pace with never-ending changes. Knowledge management is an important means by which organizations can better manage information and, more importantly, knowledge. Unlike other techniques, knowledge management is not always easy to define because it encompasses a range of concepts, management tasks, technologies, and practices, all of which come under the umbrella of the management of knowledge. This chapter takes a broad view of the topic of knowledge management and aims to provide a comprehensive overview of knowledge management — the technologies, processes, and concepts involved, and the challenges and future of this important area.
Taxonomies of Knowledge
Authors: Ein-Dor Phillip
Published: May 2011

Knowledge management has become a major application of information technology (IT) and a major focus of IT research. Thus, it becomes increasingly important to understand the nature of the knowledge object and knowledge engineering processes. The assumption underlying this article is that in order for knowledge to be managed by technological means, it must first be represented in the relevant technology. As Sowa (1999) puts it:Knowledge engineering can…be defined as the branch of engineering that analyzes knowledge about some subject and transforms it to a computable form for some purpose.
Knowledge Management, Communities of Practice, and the Role of Technology
Authors: Hin Wee Hin Leo , Koh Thiam-Seng , Hung Wei-Loong David
Published: May 2011

This chapter reviews the current work in knowledge management (KM) and attempts to draw lessons from research work in situated cognition about the nature of knowledge which can be useful to the field of KM. The role of technologies and the issues of literacy in technology are discussed in the context of communities of practice (CoPs) and the KM framework with some examples described for K-12 settings. Implications are drawn in terms of how teachers and students can be a community of learners-practitioners through technologies which support their work and learning processes.
Knowledge Synthesis Framework
Authors: Vat Kam Hou
Published: May 2011

The last decade of the 20th century saw explosive growth in discussions about knowledge—knowledge work, knowledge management, knowledge-based organizations, and the knowledge economy (Cortada & Woods, 2000). At the center of such discussions are the two notions of process and knowledge. The former represents not only the organization’s operations characterized by clearly defined inputs, outputs, and flows, but also management practices which give the organization its depth and means for handling change and turbulence. The latter is represented by a range of complexity and intellectual richness, from Plato’s “justified true belief” (Nonaka & Takeuchi, 1995) to a more mundane “the capacity to act” (Sveiby, 1997). How knowledge is characterized, used, and even created within an organization is a very complicated process. Nevertheless, we believe that each member of an organization has his or her own knowledge space, which is subject to some level of description, and thus may be architected, integrated, and designed into an organization (Davenport & Prusak, 1998; Levine, 2001). As the source of wealth shifts from capital to knowledge (Drucker, 1992), it is clear that organizations that actively seek to create their own communal knowledge space from that, which exists among its members, will have a decided advantage over those who do not. One working definition of knowledge is hereby interpreted in terms of its potential for action and its ability to change context and goals—the rules of relevance and adaptation. Yet, what is the means by which a communal knowledge space may be built? And how would an organization use it for advantage? To answer these questions, this article is divided into five sections: The Background of Knowledge Synthesis; Pursuing the Ideal of a Learning Organization; Scaffolding the Knowledge Framework; Future Trends of IS Design for Knowledge Sharing; and Conclusion.
Organizational Structure
Authors: Hendriks Paul H.J.
Published: May 2011

For many decades, organization scientists have paid considerable attention to the link between knowledge and organization structure. An early contributor to these discussions was Max Weber (1922), who elaborated his concepts of professional bureaucracy. History shows a multitude of other descriptions and propositions which depict knowledge-friendly organization structures such as the ‘organic form’ for knowledge-intensive innovation promoted by Burns and Stalker (1961), professional bureaucracies and adhocracies described by Mintzberg (1983), and the brain metaphor for organization structure (Morgan, 1986). Discussions on such knowledge­friendly organization structures led to many neologisms including the flexible, intelligent, smart, hypertext, N-form, inverted, network, cellular, or modular organization.
Knowledge Flow
Authors: RibiŠre Vincent M. , Roman Juan A.
Published: May 2011

Various models and frameworks have been used to represent the flows of knowledge in an organization. The first and most popular of these remains the spiraling SECI (socialization, externalization, combination, internalization) model presented by Nonaka and Konno (1998), Nonaka and Takeuchi (1995), and Nonaka and Toyama (2003), which presents the various knowledge interactions and creations between tacit and explicit knowledge. Knowledge flows can also be represented and assessed through the knowledge life cycle.
Distributed Knowledge Management
Authors: Cuel Roberta , Bouquet Paula , Bonifacio Matteo
Published: May 2011

In dynamic markets (characterized by the specialization of work, outsourcing processes, just-in-time and distributed productions, etc.), firms have moved from hierarchical structures to networked models. These are based on both intraorganizational networks among strategic units, divisions, groups, and so on; and interorganizational networks, such as industrial districts and knowledge networks (Hamel & Prahalad, 1990). Production is based on the coordination of a constellation of units, some of which are part of the organization (administration, R&D [research and development], etc.), and others refer to different companies (such as specialized outsourcing production, logistics, etc.). All these units might not totally be controlled by a unique subject, and might grow and differentiate their activities in an autonomous way, coexisting as in a biofunctional system (Maturana & Varela, 1980) and creating unexpected combinations of processes and products (Chandler, 1962).
Coopetition
Authors: Loebbecke Claudia , Angehrn Albert
Published: May 2011

Behind the emerging digital façade, companies have started to operate in a distributed fashion. The intricate connectivity among these firms implies the exchange of valuable resources like knowledge and information. Such cooperation or collaboration is what enables organizations and individuals to make decisions collectively, learn from one another, communicate effectively, and thus create knowledge (Brown & Duguid, 1991; Huber, 1991; McDonald, 1995; von Krogh & Roos, 1995).
Multimedia Capture, Collaboration and Knowledge Management
Authors: Vdaygiri Subramanyam , Goose Stuart
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents methods and technologies from Siemens Corporate Research that can assist in the process of creating multimedia collaborative knowledge bases: capture, querying, visualization, archiving, and reusability of multimedia knowledge bases. A selection of Siemens products in the healthcare and communication domains are introduced, above which novel multimedia collaboration and knowledge management technologies have been developed by the authors. With examples, it is explained how in concert these technologies can contribute to streamlining the processes within healthcare enterprises, telemedicine environments and home healthcare practices.
Domain Ontologies
Authors: Cristani Matteo , Cuel Roberta
Published: May 2011

In conceptual modeling we need to consider a general level of abstraction where the domain of interest is formalized in an independent way with respect to the specific application for which the conceptual modeling process is performed. This leads to an integrated approach that takes into account knowledge about a domain and metaknowledge about a methodology. Indeed, knowledge about a domain is represented by a system of concepts and instances that reify the knowledge that is managed within a domain, and the metaknowledge about a methodology is the description of the knowledge deriving from the method used. For instance, when a technology is used to unveil ontologies within a specific domain, the knowledge about the domain is the resulting ontology, and the metaknowledge about a methodology is the description of the method used to construct the ontology. In this article, a novel method for the creation of both upper level and specific domain ontologies, called the bidirectional method for developing ontologies, is described. In particular, it will guide the developer to obtain ontologies resulting from the combination of both top-down and bottom-up approaches. The first one focuses on conceptual modeling through “armchair” research (philosophical, psychological, sociological aspects) and figures out a formal draft schema. The second approach employs an automatic (or semiautomatic) extraction of categories, taxonomies, partonomies, and dependency graphs in particular from linguistic corpora of documents related to the topics of the domain.
Document Search Practices
Authors: Corral Karen L. , LaBrie Ryan C. , St.Louis Robert D.
Published: May 2011

A large portion of the knowledge of most organizations is contained in electronic documents. For users to get pertinent information from the accumulation of stored documents, they need effective document retrieval systems. Unfortunately, electronic document management has fallen into the same trap that electronic data processing fell into: simply automating what previously was done manually. Paper documents were stored in folders in drawers in file cabinets. Electronic documents are stored in folders in directories on disk drives.
Effects of Knowledge Management on Electronic Commerce
Authors: Jih Wen-Jang Kenny , Helms Marilyn M. , Mayo Donna Taylor
Published: May 2011

The Internet-enabled e-commerce field provides capabilities for firms in all sectors to reach global buyers and suppliers. Knowledge management provides frameworks to manage intellectual capital as a valuable organizational and strategic resource. Current literature on e-commerce and knowledge management primarily emphasizes the benefit of knowledge management for innovative e-commerce operations. Do knowledge management practices significantly benefit electronic commerce? If so, does the relationship work in the other direction? Does a firm’s e-commerce applications significantly benefit knowledge management practices, as well? To test these exploratory propositions, empirical data were collected from companies in a variety of industries in Taiwan, a country emphasizing e-commerce initiatives. The results revealed significant relationships between the way businesses implement electronic commerce projects and how they experiment with knowledge management concepts, as well as interesting benefits and difficulties in implementation. These relationships were found to operate in both directions, offering reinforcing effects as well as connections.
An Investigation to an Enabling Role of Knowledge Management Between Learning Organization and Organizational Learning
Authors: Lu Juin-Cherng , Tsai Chia-Wen
Published: May 2011

This chapter is an exploratory investigation of the relationship and interaction between the learning organization and organizational learning in terms of an enabling role of knowledge management. In the severe and dynamic business environment, organizations should respond quickly to their rivals and environment by transforming into a learning organization. A learning organization could provoke innovation and learning through its structure, task and process redesigns, and evermore adapt gradually toward the eventual goal of organizational learning. Therefore, the dynamic process between the learning organization and organizational learning is an important issue of current knowledge management and practice — that is, the enabling role of knowledge management could enhance the interaction between learning organization and organizational learning. Furthermore, the authors will explore the relationship and interaction between the learning organization and organizational learning in terms of knowledge management processes in business. Two cases, TSMC and Winbond, the semiconductor and high-tech firms in Taiwan, will be studied to illustrate the findings and insights for the study and the chapter.
Assessing Knowledge Management System User Acceptance with the Technology Acceptance Model
Authors: Money William , Turner Arch
Published: May 2011

This article presents the results of a study investigating the applicability of Davis’ Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to user acceptance of a knowledge management system (KMS) in a modern organizational environment. The study endeavors to expand empirical research of two important and complex research questions: (1) What are the important factors, conditions, and mechanisms that affect people’s acceptance and usage of collaborative and interdependent KMS in the modern organizational environment?, and (2) How applicable is the TAM, and the substantial body of information technology (IT) research around this model, to user acceptance and usage of a KMS in a modern organizational environment where collaboration, knowledge sharing, and role based system usage is necessary for the organization to function competitively? The study provides preliminary evidence suggesting previous TAM research may serve as a foundation for research of KMS user acceptance. Relationships among primary TAM constructs found in this study are in substantive agreement with those of previous research. These findings are significant because they suggest that the considerable body of previous TAM related IT research may be usefully applied to the knowledge management (KM) domain where interdependent social processes that require knowledge creation, storage and retrieval, transfer, and application are required for effective organizational functioning.
Intellectual Capital
Authors: Hsu HY Sonya , Mykytyn Jr. Peter P.
Published: May 2011

Today’s economy is characterized by a rapid rate of change, globalization, and knowledge-intensive products. This makes knowledge management (KM) vital to organizations. The resource-based view of the firm postulates that a firm’s profitability is not only a function of its market and competitive position but also a function of its internal capabilities and know-how in combining its resources to deliver products and services and to enhance organizational performance (Alavi, 2000).
Secure Knowledge Management for Healthcare Organizations
Authors: Mundy Darren , Chadwick David W.
Published: May 2011

As the healthcare industry enters the era of knowledge management it must place security at the foundation of the transition. Risks are pervasive to every aspect of information and knowledge management. Without secure practices that seek to avoid or mitigate the effects of these risks, how can healthcare organisations ensure that knowledge is captured, stored, distributed, used, destroyed and restored securely? In an age where risks and security threats are ever-increasing, secure knowledge management is an essential business practice. The cost of security breaches in a healthcare context can range from the unauthorized access of confidential information to the potential loss or unauthorized modification of patient information leading to patient injury. In this chapter the authors highlight different approaches to minimising these risks, based on the concepts of authentication, authorization, data integrity, availability and confidentiality. Security mechanisms have to be in-depth, rather like the layers of an onion, and security procedures have to be dynamic, due to the continually changing environment. For example, in the past, cryptographic algorithms that were proven to be safe, e.g., 56 bit key DES, have succumbed to advanced computer power or more sophisticated attacks, and have had to be replaced with more powerful alternatives. The authors present a model for ensuring dynamic secure knowledge management and demonstrate through the use of case studies, that if each of the security layers are covered, then we can be reasonably sure of the strength of our system’s security.
Organizing for Knowledge Management
Authors: Johnson J. David
Published: May 2011

The Cancer Information Service is a knowledge management organization, charged with delivering information to the public concerning cancer. This chapter describes how societal trends in consumer/client information behavior impact clinical knowledge management. It then details how the CIS is organized to serve clients and how it can interface with clinical practice by providing referral, by enhancing health literacy, by providing a second opinion, and by giving crucial background, assurance to clients from neutral third party. The CIS serves as a critical knowledge broker, synthesizing and translating information for clients before, during, and after their interactions with clinical practices; thus enabling health professionals to focus on their unique functions.
Measuring Organizational Learning as a Multidimensional Construct
Authors: Real Juan C. , Leal Antonio , Roldan Jose L.
Published: May 2011

The traditional way of measuring learning as a result has been through the so-called learning and experience curves. The learning curves, developed within the production framework (Levitt & March, 1988), relate the manufacturing cost of a product to the accumulated experience in its production. This establishes that its cost decreases as the number of units made increases. At first, although this relationship was limited to the direct labour cost, it later extends to the total production cost.
Knowledge Management in Higher Education and Professional Development in the Construction Industry
Authors: Ng Fung Fai
Published: May 2011

Development of a ‘knowledge society’ affects not only enterprises and organisations, but also individuals. Lifelong learning and continuing professional development are essential for graduates and workers to remain competent and competitive. Hence, knowledge management is not only important in business processes, but also in education. As the importance of knowledge management in the construction industry is growing, competence in knowledge management is essential for graduates of curricula related to the construction industry. Design and implementation of such curricula should take into account methods for enriching the knowledge management competences of students in higher education. This chapter reports on lessons learned from the design and implementation of a particular module where principles of knowledge management are integrated into the learning activities.
Transforming Small Businesses into Intelligent Enterprises through Knowledge Management
Authors: Jones Nory B. , Gupta Jatinder N.D.
Published: May 2011

As small businesses struggle to survive in the face of intense competitive pressures, an emerging strategy to help them involves using knowledge management tactics to harness their intellectual capital and improve their sustainable competitive advantage. This chapter discusses the issues involved with the transformation of small businesses into intelligent enterprises via knowledge management tools and strategies. However, because a “build it and they will come” approach usually leads to failed initiatives, this chapter further addresses the issues of how small businesses can successfully incorporate adoption and diffusion theories to help them effectively transform themselves into successful learning organizations or intelligent enterprises. Finally, a case study from one small business is presented to validate some of the theories.
The Phenomenon of Duality
Authors: Wickramasinghe Nilmini
Published: May 2011

In today’s knowledge-based economy, sustainable strategic advantages are gained more from an organization’s knowledge assets than from its more traditional types of assets, namely, land, labor, and capital. Knowledge, however, is a compound construct, exhibiting many manifestations of the phenomenon of duality such as subjectivity and objectivity as well as having tacit and explicit forms. Overlooking this phenomenon of duality in the knowledge construct has not only led many knowledge management initiatives to stumble but has also resulted in the discussion of the apparent contradictions associated with knowledge management in the IS literature as well as numerous discussions and debates regarding the “nonsense of knowledge management.” It is the thesis of this chapter that a full appreciation of the phenomenon of duality is indeed necessary to enable inquiring organizations to reach the state of wisdom and enlightenment.
Knowledge Management as the Future of E-Learning
Authors: Pedreira Nieves , Dorado Julián , Rabu¤al Juan , Pazos Alejandro
Published: May 2011

Since technological changes are touching many aspects of today’s society, education cannot stay behind; in a world where information is the key to progress, the education of its citizens should not be based on expositive means alone (Adell, 1997). The inevitable increase in complexity and quantity of the information that is available and necessary has led to a need for continuous learning. Information handling requires a profound transformation of learning and teaching methods: from a model in which the teacher is the monopolizing agent and the authorized representative of knowledge, we must move towards a model that offers the student room for individual exploration and self-learning. The student needs to build relations, discover the process from within, and feel stimulated to draw his own roadmap (Piaget, 1999). This way, he will not only learn, but learn to extract the relevant information, that is to say, he will “learn to learn” in actual society.
A Brief History of Networked Classrooms
Authors: Abrahamson Louis
Published: May 2011

The objective of this chapter is to explain the huge, burgeoning sense of excitement surrounding response systems, and more generally, networked classrooms today. Also why, for an idea apparently more than 40 years old, it took this long to happen! Beginning with a brief history of early response systems, it takes up the story from the author’s own experience, leading through hardware barriers, misconceptions about pedagogy, and classroom successes, to summarize the variety of uses, and how they lead to improved teaching and learning. It then discusses why this is such a potentially important area of study for improving education, and finally goes on to describe the emerging characteristics of, and rationale for, more powerful types of modern systems.
Patterns in Electronic Brainstorming
Authors: Dennis Alan R. , Pinsonneault Alain , Hilmer Kelly McNamara , Barki Henri , Galupe Brent , Huber Mark , Bellavance Franc¸ois
Published: May 2011

Research has shown that some groups using electronic brainstorming generate more unique ideas than groups using nominal group brainstorming, while others do not. This study examined two factors through which group size may affect brainstorming performance: synergy and social loafing. Groups brainstormed using three techniques to manipulate synergy and two group sizes to manipulate social loafing. We found no social loafing effects. We found a time effect: nominal brainstorming groups that received no synergy from the ideas of others produced more ideas than electronic groups in the first time period and fewer ideas in the last time period. We conclude that synergy from the ideas of others is only important when groups brainstorm for longer time period. We also conclude that electronic brainstorming groups should be given at least 30 minutes to work on tasks, or else they will be unlikely to develop synergy.
Accessibility of Technology in Higher Education
Authors: Proctor Deborah W.
Published: May 2011

In systems thinking divisions apparent in science specializations are seen “as arbitrary and man made” (Checkland, 1981, p. 4). A key idea embedded in systems theory is that it can assist us in understanding of phenomena and that its holistic emphasis will promote orderly thinking. According to Checkland (1981), there are natural systems, designed systems, abstract systems, and human activity systems (p. 112). Human activity systems can be broken down into examples of open systems that are relationship dependent. Change is inherent in human systems, as the intricacy of the relationships in these kinds of systems require continuous adaptations if the system is to remain stable. Checkland viewed human activity systems as wholes that are emphasized by the existence of other systems.
Administering a Virtual School
Authors: Long Gaye
Published: May 2011

Why build a Virtual School? The rationale for the virtual school project arose from the need to address the shortage of teachers, especially in the area of advanced placement (AP) classes that school districts experience from time to time. Houston Independent School District was interested in providing a cost-effective model of instructional delivery that would positively affect student transportation issues and related expenses. In addition, there was a need to improve middle school students’ academic skills in preparation for high school and college. Reclaiming the home school market in the greater Houston area was another benefit that was anticipated. In addition, a virtual school would prepare students for a 21st century learning environment.
Intelligent and Adaptive Web-Based Instruction
Authors: Woolf Beverly , Stern Mia
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes Web-based instructional tutors that support active and engaging learning. Towards that end, a theoretical foundation for designing such tutors is proposed and two Web-based tutors described. The tutors reason about a student’s knowledge and their own teaching strategies while taking advantage of the possibilities of the Web, by being open to other resources (Web sites) and other people (online communities). One tutor, Rashi, provides problem-based activities and tracks a student’s critical thinking in biology and geology, and the second, iMANIC, uses hypermedia to customize online lectures for individual students based on learning need. This work provides promising data points for the development of authentic and effective learning that can take advantage of the possibilities of the Web, without being rooted in extensions of what already exists in the classroom, such as lectures or bulletin boards.
Medical Education in the 21st Century
Authors: Kabene Stefane M. , Takhar Jatinder , Leduc Raymond , Burjaw Rick
Published: May 2011

As with many disciplines, the fields of healthcare in general and medicine, in particular, have made vast strides in improving patient outcomes and healthcare delivery. But, have healthcare professionals and medical academia been able to maximize the utilization of new technologies to improve the delivery of the right knowledge, to the right people, at the right time across geographical boundaries? In order to provide the best quality of care, regardless of patient or provider location, specific issues must be addressed.
Strategic Design for Web-Based Teaching and Learning
Authors: Corbitt Brian , Holt Dale , Segrave Stephen
Published: May 2011

Deakin University has established and integrated a major, corporate technology infrastructure to unify and enhance its on-campus and distance education. This environment is called Deakin Online. Efforts to realize its potential for creating enduring teaching and learning benefits are understood in the context of the University’s commitment to “relevance, responsiveness and innovation.” How are these values and benefits realized in an evolving, educational enterprise using the new digital, corporate technologies and new concepts of organizational structure and function? We argue for the transforming influence of a new academic teacher role, new forms of academic development and open collegiality. Moreover, changes in role and process need to be grounded in systemic, organization-wide and program-wide approaches to designing and working within comprehensively conceived, contemporary learning environments. We argue for system-wide education design, situating e-learning within broader curricular and pedagogical concerns to create enduring benefits in the learning environments of higher education.
Using Virtual Instrument to Develop a Real-Time Web-Based Laboratory
Authors: Chu Kin Cheong
Published: May 2011

In this study, an online experiment was developed for sub-degree students at remote locations to control and obtain real-time measurements or experimental data. Online video is set up for better visual impact of what is going on in the remote site. The intention of this Web-based laboratory package is to make the experiment more interactive, attractive, and easily accessed. Background knowledge is included for better understanding of the theory behind the experiment and gives an overview of the operation of the remote controlled software used in this remote laboratory. Multimedia elements including sound, video, and animation are added for better explanation and easier understanding of software as well as basic theory for this remote laboratory. This remote equipment control and monitor was added as a supplement laboratory to a class of engineering students. Positive feedback from students was obtained through questionnaires and interviews. These results throw light on doing remote laboratory through the Internet and direction for improvement.
Reliving the Revolution
Authors: Schrier Karen
Published: May 2011

Students need to learn the critical thinking of history, yet they rarely have opportunities to authentically simulate historic inquiry. Research has suggested the pedagogical potential for using augmented reality (AR) games—location-based games that use wireless handheld devices such as PDAs to provide virtual game information in a physical environment. The novel AR game, Reliving the Revolution (RtR), was created as a model for studying how AR games can engage students in interpretive, collaborative, and problem-solving activities. In this chapter, the game is introduced and main results of the initial iterative tests are discussed, including what went wrong and how the game was redesigned to better support deeper engagement and historical thinking and learning.
Toward a Comprehensive Model of E-Learning Evaluation
Authors: Bonk Curtis J. , Wisher Robert A. , Champagne Matthew V.
Published: May 2011

Whether one is at conferences, responding to e-mail, or chatting with colleagues, the topic of e-learning is bound to prompt a discussion related to assessment and evaluation. But there are many aspects of e-learning evaluation. Naturally, most are interested in comparisons between online and traditional instruction. Others want to know about the effectiveness of the instructors or the instructional designers in designing interactive and engaging courses. Of course, given the newness of this area, some ask for information about what the training actually provided them. Still others might inquire about what makes some courses and programs highly popular while others are seemingly hidden from view. Those focused on pedagogy might analyze the course tasks and syllabi, while those with technological interests might favor an exploration of the courseware tools and services. Finally, administrators and managers of e-learning might request evaluations of e-learning policies, partnerships, return on investment, and strategic planning. When asked to evaluate e-learning, therefore, the focus of that evaluation must be clearly specified and detailed.
Complex Adaptive Enterprises
Authors: Potgieter Anet , April Kurt , Bishop Judith
Published: May 2011

In a world where the market, customer profiles and demands change constantly and the events in the global marketplace are unpredictable, it becomes increasingly difficult for an enterprise to sustain its competitive advantage. Under these conditions of uncertainty, complexity and constant change, it becomes very important for an enterprise to be able to learn from its experience and to adapt its behavior in order to constantly outperform its competitors. An enterprise that has these characteristics is a complex adaptive enterprise.
Core Principles of Educational Multimedia
Authors: Torrisi-Steele Geraldine
Published: May 2011

The notion of using technology for educational purposes is not new. In fact, it can be traced back to the early 1900s during which school museums were used to distribute portable exhibits. This was the beginning of the visual education movement that persisted throughout the 1930s, as advances in technology such as radio and sound motion pictures continued. The training needs of World War II stimulated serious growth in the audiovisual instruction movement. Instructional television arrived in the 1950s but had little impact, due mainly to the expense of installing and maintaining systems. The advent of computers in the 1950s laid the foundation for CAI (computer assisted instruction) through the 1960s and 1970s. However, it wasn’t until the 1980s that computers began to make a major impact on education (Reiser, 2001). Early applications of computer resources included the use of primitive simulation. These early simulations had little graphic capabilities and did little to enhance the learning experience (Munro, 2000).
Wireless Technologies in Education
Authors: Yang Chia-chi
Published: May 2011

The development and change in computer technologies today is so incredibly fast, and the lifecycle of technologies has been so shortened, that new technologies sprout up to replace old ones like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. However, the utilization of common features of the computer and the Internet, such as using spreadsheets and searching for resources over the Internet, are still considered to be essential for supporting learning in all levels of education. The Internet began facilitating Web-based learning in the early 1990s, and wireless technology has been offering stunning opportunities for educators since the late 1990s. A growing volume of research suggests that wireless and mobile technologies have the potential to enable collaborative learning (DiGiano, Yarnall, Patton, Roschelle, Tatar, & Manley, 2002), sharing of resources faster and more effectively (Kranz, 2002), and connection to resources at any time and from any place, as well as to have a positive impact on motivation (Wangemann, Lewis & Squires, 2003). Boerner (2002) has identified the benefits of implementing wireless networking on campus; these include mobility, ease of installation, less space constraints, less cost, and the flexibility to expand and upgrade systems. Improving communication technologies and affordable mobile devices accelerates the adoption of wireless technologies in the classroom, and more and more schools have been connecting to the Internet with wireless technologies.
Technology of Formal Education
Authors: Hantula Donald A. , DeRosa Darleen M.
Published: May 2011

Internet distance education is a natural consequence of fin de siecle industrial transformations from a manufacturing economy, in which standard educational practices are based, to an information economy, in which greater autonomy, collaboration, flexibility and a project orientation to work are the norm. The Internet did not cause changes in education, but rather enabled educators to meet new demands for instructional practices and outcomes and adapt to a rapidly changing economic and social environment that was beginning to outpace the academy. Today, just as 100 years ago, educational institutions and practices are modeled on prevailing industrial examples of work and organization. This is especially the case in the United States where an overriding intended effect of formal education is to prepare students to fill roles within the prevailing economic system. Against this backdrop, it is only those components of education that reflect and reinforce the prevailing industrial system that are incorporated into the technology known as formal education. Components of education such as teaching machines and distance learning existed throughout the 20th century but never became standard educational practice until fairly recently because they were not acceptable in terms of preparing students to enter the prevailing industrial system.
Grid Technology for Smart Organizations
Authors: Sipos Gergely , Kacsuk Peter
Published: May 2011

This chapter summarizes the most relevant results that grid research achieved in the last decade, it presents the actual issues of the topic, and it outlines how current and future results from this area can contribute to smart organizations. At the first place the basic goal of the Grid is presented and its state-of-the-art, service-based realization is discussed. This global infrastructure will one day connect together diverse types of hardware and software elements, abstracting them out as intelligent autonomous agents that can discover and collaborate with each other on demand. The middle part of the chapter introduces two potential middleware technologies that service grids can be built on. They are the Web services-based open grid services architecture (OGSA) and Jini. The final part of the chapter presents the future of service grids and the important role these flexible infrastructures will probably have in the life of smart organizations.
Online Behavior Modeling
Authors: Chen Charlie , Ryan Terry , Olfman Lorne
Published: May 2011

Organizations need effective and affordable software training. In face-to-face settings, behavior modeling (BM) is an effective, but expensive, training method. Can BM be employed effectively, and more affordably, for software training in the online environment? An experiment was conducted to compare the effectiveness of online BM with that of face-to-face (F2F) BM for software training. Results indicate that online BM and F2F BM provide essentially the same outcomes in terms of knowledge near transfer, immediate knowledge far transfer, delayed knowledge far transfer, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and satisfaction. Observed differences were not significant, nor were their patterns consistent, despite sufficient power in the experimental design to detect meaningful differences. These results suggest that organizations should consider online BM as a primary method of software training.
Library Services for Distance Education Students in Higher Education
Authors: Buchanan Elizabeth
Published: May 2011

Contemporary distance education has its roots in early forms of postal correspondence study but has evolved to sophisticated, technologically grounded forms of education. It has progressed from simplistic forms of written, correspondence study, known as the first wave of distance education (1870-1970), to early forms of television, satellite, and compressed video delivery and open education, known as the second wave (1970-1992), to its present stage of computer-based delivery, mainly over the Internet and its multimedia component, the World Wide Web (WWW). This form constitutes the third wave or phase.
Perspectives from Multiplayer Video Gamers
Authors: Beedle Jonathan B. , Wright Vivian H.
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this study is to determine whether multiplayer video gamers perceive that playing video games can increase higher order thinking skills such as motivation, problem-solving, communication, and creativity. Multiplayer video gaming allows participants the opportunity to collectively discuss problems with other players, find solutions and accomplish objectives. This study was used as a barometer to determine if multiplayer gamers perceived that playing multiplayer games had educational value. This research specifically sought to verify whether multiplayer video gamers perceived that higher-order thinking skills such as motivation, communication, problem-solving, and creativity were increased by playing multiplayer video games. The bulk of respondents reported that they somewhat felt there was learning occurring in all of these areas.
Overcoming Organizational Barriers to Web Accessibility in Higher Education
Authors: Metcalfe Amy Scott
Published: May 2011

The number of students with disabilities who attend college is rising, which may be one of the many positive outcomes of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. While issues of adequate access to assistive technologies in computer labs, classrooms and libraries continue to be of importance for students with disabilities, it is apparent that consideration of the accessibility of academic cyberspace is also important for this growing population of students. This chapter is a case study of a successful Web accessibility initiative at the University of Arizona. Recommendations for both policy and implementation are included, with a discussion of how organizational culture and structure affects such efforts.