bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adult Learners Learning Online
Authors: Baylen Danilo M.
Published: May 2010

This chapter presents a case study in which an online experience for adult learners facilitated improved understanding of blogs and its applications to K-12 classrooms. Data were primarily derived from archived documentation provided by students as components of several completed course assignments. The case study illustrates and examines how the online experience, specifically the creation and maintenance of a blog, supported student learning about use and application of a specific technology. The chapter discusses processes and results given the contexts of adult learning and instructional technology as well as suggests directions for effective practice.
Teaching Technology to Digital Immigrants
Authors: Rockett Danika , Powell Tamara , Vessel Amy Massey , Kimbell-Lopez Kimberly , Cummins Carrice , Hill Janis
Published: May 2010

Someone has to prepare faculty who are in need of technology skills. For example, in Louisiana, in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, every faculty member at the university level has to have a Blackboard presence and a disaster plan so that classes can continue in the event of a catastrophe. Those faculty called upon to assist their peers in complying with the directives are often chosen only because they are more comfortable than others with technology. Often, trainees are uncomfortable in such training, and senior faculty, often later “digital immigrants,” can be resentful. The researchers and authors of this paper have garnered $443,658 in grants involving training faculty in instructional technology. Through their experiences, the authors and researchers have isolated seven key practices that make such training successful. This article describes those practices and supports the findings of the primary research with secondary research on andragogy and Marc Prensky’s ideas of the literacy divide that exists between “digital natives” and “digital immigrants.” By considering the basic tenets of adult education, we can be better facilitators of valuable training sessions that will bridge the digital divide.
Some Key Success Factors in Web-Based Corporate Training in Brazil
Authors: Joia Luiz Antonio
Published: May 2010

Brazilian companies are increasingly turning to web-based corporate training by virtue of the fact that they need to train their employees within tight budget constraints in a country of continental dimensions. However, most of these companies do not know what the critical success factors in these endeavors are. Therefore, this chapter seeks to investigate some key success factors associated with such digital enterprises. In order to achieve this, the multiple case study method is used, whereby two cases, both conducted within the same Brazilian company, leading to opposite outcomes – a success and a failure – are analyzed in depth. Accordingly, the two aforementioned cases are investigated by using quantitative data analysis based on bi- and multi-variate linear regressions, as well as t-tests. The conclusions were that “Goal Orientation”, “Source of Motivation”, and “Metacognitive Support” were the three critical dimensions in these two web-based corporate training programs under analysis.
Online Learning
Authors: Moskal Patsy D. , Dziuban Charles , Hartman Joel
Published: May 2010

The authors describe the distributed learning program (Online@UCF) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) that serves a number of adult learners. They present outcomes from several years of research collected by the Research Initiative for Teaching Effectiveness on adults enrolled in online courses. Paradoxically, most educators in online learning focus on millennial generation students, their learning styles, and preference for Web 2.0 technologies. However, research at UCF confirms that online education resonates with adult students because it responds to their lifestyle needs, provides more active learning environments, and empowers their learning beyond classroom boundaries. This chapter examines the strategic elements required for successful adult online programs and explores components of online student satisfaction. The authors conclude by considering the opportunities and challenges for adults in online distance education.
Fear Factors
Authors: Sendall Patricia , Shaw Raymond J. , Round Kim , Larkin Jane T.
Published: May 2010

The purpose of this chapter is: (1) to examine the interrelationship between andragogy and online learning; (2) to uncover the hidden challenges to successful online learning for non-traditional students; and (3) to uncover hidden challenges in faculty adoption of online instruction. The authors believe that fear is often the biggest factor which can present itself in a variety of ways. A study was conducted to identify those hidden challenges facing students and faculty who choose not to take or teach online courses. This study identifies how institutions can support students and faculty who desire to take or teach online courses. This study also discusses how online learning is aligned with andragogy1, which traditionally leverages learners’ experience, independence, and interaction (Gibbons & Wentworth, 2001).
Perspectives of Online Doctoral Students in Educational Leadership
Authors: Gilpin Vicky
Published: May 2010

This study examines the perspectives of adult learners in an online Educational Leadership doctoral program. A qualitative survey research instrument was used to elucidate and explore phenomenological themes connected to student attitudes and perspectives regarding the experience of adult online education, the perceived challenges of an online doctoral program, the perceived benefits of an online doctoral program, student or teacher-connected strategies for success within online graduate education, the on-ground residencies in connection with the asynchronous aspects of the program, the perception of an online doctoral degree within their fields, and recommendations for online doctoral programs in the future. The findings suggest that strategies to increase student success in doctoral online programs should include a recognition of differentiated instruction toward multiple intelligences, increased communication of the dissertation or program timeline, an examination of how online students meet the contact hour requirements through teams, residencies, and individual time management, and an exploration of the social aspect of online learning.
IT Standards Adoption and Diffusion Models
Authors: Wapakabulo Thomas Josephine
Published: May 2010

The motivation behind this research is to identify the factors that impact the adoption of data-exchange standards, such as STEP. Research into the adoption of STEP and other standards produced by ISO/TC184/SC4, which is the ISO technical committee responsible for the development of STEP, is very limited. Currently there are only two specific empirical studies (Dreverman, 2005; Meister, 2004) that shed light on the factors associated with the adoption of ISO/TC184/SC4 (referred to as SC4 for the remainder of the chapter) standards like STEP. This means that practitioners devoted to the ongoing development and use of these standards, and academics, still lack a significant body of evidence regarding the factors and barriers critical to their adoption.
Adopter-Centric Perspective
Authors: Wapakabulo Thomas Josephine
Published: May 2010

The focus of this research is to identify the factors and barriers critical to the adoption of data-exchange standards. Chapter Five identified these factors from an innovationcentric viewpoint, and the purpose of this chapter is to establish the factors that are relevant from an adopter-centric approach. This approach focuses on the adoption of an innovation, in this case standards, within an organization. The chosen organization for this research is the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). However, in order to limit some of bias of adopter-centric studies identified by West (1999), this chapter not only focuses on the adoption of an ISO data-exchange standard within the MoD, but also looks at the adoption of a regional and UK national defence standard. It is hoped that by comparing the adoptionof an ISO standard with a regional standard and national standard, a better distinction can be made between the factors that are unique to the adoption of an ISO data-exchange standard, and those that are common to the adoption of any standard or innovation within the MoD.
Emergent Innovation-Centric and Adopter-Centric Checklists
Authors: Wapakabulo Thomas Josephine
Published: May 2010

Data-exchange standards adoption research is important to both the SC4 community and the IT standards research community. Chapter Five and Six presented case studies of four standards to assess the factors and barriers critical to the adoption of standards. Two models were developed and these models sought to shed light on the relationships between factors and barriers critical to the adoption of dataexchange standards. However, as part of this research it was deemed important to develop two novel standards ‘Adoption Checklists’ from both an innovation- and adopter-centric point of view. The purpose of these checklists is to act as a frame of reference to support the decision-making process in the development and adoption of new and emerging data-exchange standards. The checklists are a series of ques-tions that can be used to assess the adoptability of a data-exchange standard. The checklists have been developed so that positive answers to the series of questions indicate that a standard is more likely to be adopted. In addition, these checklists act as a foundation for the action research into the adoption of PLCS, which is detailed in Chapters Eight and Nine. This chapter begins by chronicling the development of the innovation-centric ‘Adoption Checklist’. Following on from that is the development of the adopter-centric ‘Adoption Checklist.’ The final section summaries and concludes this chapter.
Homeland Security Preparedness
Authors: Reddick Christopher G.
Published: May 2010

September 11, 2001 or 9/11 has put extra pressures on public officials and their agencies in the United States to prepare for new terrorist threats (Rosenthal, 2003). After 9/11 the idea of homeland security became a part of American thinking and behavior (Beresford, 2004). In this relatively new environment that governments must contend with, it is important to be aware of some issues associated with homeland security preparedness. The traditional distinction among the major sectors of the government has blurred, since the war on terrorism is no longer just the purview of military agencies (Wise and Nader, 2002). In this new environment both civilian and military agencies share the responsibility in protecting the homeland. This chapter attempts to address homeland security preparedness by focusing on city governments examining organizational, collaboration, and management elements of homeland security. The main purpose of this chapter is to set the context of homeland security preparedness. It is vital to know some of the issues that governments face in homeland security in order to understand how Homeland Security Information Systems (HSIS) might be used to address these issues. In order to accomplish this task this chapter first provides background information and an overview of some of the existing homeland security literature in public administration. There is a discussion of the research methods of this article and the results of a homeland security preparedness survey are presented. A conclusion demonstrates the significance of the key findings found in this chapter.
Collaboration and E-Government
Authors: Reddick Christopher G.
Published: May 2010

Collaboration is an important element in the advancement of e-government (Hu et al., 2006). This chapter examines the level of collaboration among state governments to see how advanced they are in e-government. Collaboration is critical in homeland security because it is one of the often cited challenges in the time of a crisis (Reddick, 2008). In order to understand Homeland Security Information Systems (HSIS), one must delve into the impact of collaboration and e-government. There is a growing body of research on e-government and its impact on managerial effectiveness; with collaboration being an important area of management effectiveness (Yang and Paul, 2005; Reddick 2007). This chapter examines how state governments measure up against some noted principles of effective collaboration. The role of citizens in the collaborative process is examined, with citizens arguably being the key to more effective collaborative efforts through e-government (Vigoda-Gadot, 2002). Indeed, research shows that citizen involvement in the decision-making process through collaborative efforts will enhance democracy and accountability of governments (Vigoda-Gadot, 2003). In order to examine collaboration and e-government this chapter first outlines several key principles of effective collaboration and relates them to e-government. Second, this chapter provides a conceptual framework of collaboration and e-government. Third, there is a data analysis of a survey of Chief Information Officers (CIO) opinions on collaboration and e-government. The conclusion of this chapter summarizes and examines the impact of collaboration on HSIS.
Federal Government Homeland Security Information Systems
Authors: Reddick Christopher G.
Published: May 2010

This chapter focuses on Homeland Security Information Systems (HSIS) in the federal government. One definition of HSIS, in the federal government, is the application of information technology to homeland security with the aim of detecting fragmented clues, assembling them as a puzzle, then using the information to stop a terrorist attack (Nunn, 2005). Nunn’s definition focuses on the use of information for data mining for deducing possible terrorist attacks and responses to these incidents. This chapter recognizes the importance of data analysis, but uses a broader definition of federal HSIS being the use of information systems to prepare for and respond to a terrorist attack or significant national emergency. This definition of HSIS covers the importance of data mining to discover how information fits together as pieces of the puzzle, but it also incorporates other elements of information technology (IT) that are used to respond and prepare for a national incident. This chapter will first examine the Department of Homeland Security which has a tremendous influence over homeland security policy and information systems in the United States. There is an examination in this chapter of the environmental context of HSIS in the federal government, demonstrating some of the important pieces of legislation that have an influence in this area. This chapter discusses the roles and responsibilities of federal government Chief Information Officers (CIOs) to discern the scope of their responsibilities. A section of this chapter examines some principles of effective IT management in federal agencies. The final part of this chapter provides the results of a survey of CIOs in federal government departments/agencies to determine the influence of HSIS on their organizations.
Information Technology and Emergency Management
Authors: Reddick Christopher G.
Published: May 2010

Section 214 of the E-Government Act of 2002 called on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in consultation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure that IT is studied to enhance crisis preparedness and response as a consequence of natural and manmade disasters (Rao, Eisenberg, and Schmitt, 2007). This important e-government legislation demonstrates the vital role of IT in emergency management. E-emergency management is especially critical to understand given the important role that the different levels of government play in disasters. This chapter will show that there is a need to be comprehensive in IT and emergency management. For effective emergency planning there is a need to use IT to leverage planning efforts. Federalism mat-ters when doing emergency lanning and should be taken into account in these efforts. Citizens play a critical role in emergency management. Information that is timely, and of high quality, is essential for emergency management. The digital divide matters in planning for emergency management and there is an importance of public libraries in the event of a disaster to serve those populations impacted from the disaster. This chapter first examines the four functions of emergency management to determine how these functions relate to IT. Emergency planning and its application to IT adoption is discussed in this chapter. The intergovernmental aspects of emergency management are discussed to set the context of the environment that emergency responders work under. The role that citizens play in emergency management is discussed to determine the important influence they have over the process. The chapter also examines the impact of management information systems on emergency management. This chapter examines the important organizational, societal, and technology issues of IT and emergency management. There are results from a survey of state government directors of emergency management to determine what impact that IT has had on their departments. Finally, a conclusion summarizes the important findings of this study.
CALL Course Design for Second Language Learning
Authors: Alabbad Abbad , Gitsaki Christina , White Peter
Published: May 2010

The study presented in this chapter investigated the impact of computers and the Internet on both the achievement of learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) and their attitudes toward learning EFL. The field study took place at a University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where first year students study English 101, a compulsory English language course. Thirty students were randomly selected to study in an alternative EFL course using computers, the Internet and collaborative activities within a constructivist framework. Another group of 38 students was also randomly selected to be the control group. These students attended English 101 taught using traditional teaching aids and the grammar-translation teaching method. The study was 13 weeks long. The findings of the study indicate a strong positive shift in the subjects’ attitude and motivation toward learning EFL after using the new technology-based approach. As to the subjects’ language achievement, the treatment group outperformed the control group by 30%. These findings provide strong support for the effectiveness of a technology-enhanced learning environment for second language teaching and learning.
A Snapshot View of how Senior Visual Arts Students Encounter and Engage with Technology in Their Arts Practice
Authors: Kerby Martin , Baguley Margaret
Published: May 2010

This chapter reports the findings of a pilot research project that investigated how senior visual arts students engage with and utilise technology in the creation of art works during their program of study. During the course of a year, six students from two schools were interviewed and their work was visually documented to ascertain whether technology played a predominant part in their practice. Analysis of the interview data was framed within a social constructivist perspective and drew on notions of skills and expertise, support, access, awareness and inspiration. The findings revealed that the senior visual arts students regularly used technology as part of their process but often reverted to using traditional media with some technological aspects in the creation of their final work.
Kernel Stack Overflows Elimination
Authors: Wiseman Yair , Isaacson Joel , Lubovsky Eliad , Weisberg Pinchas
Published: May 2010

The Linux kernel stack has a fixed size. There is no mechanism to prevent the kernel from overflowing the stack. Hackers can exploit this bug to put unwanted information in the memory of the operating system and gain control over the system. In order to prevent this problem, the authors introduce a dynamically sized kernel stack that can be integrated into the standard Linux kernel. The well-known paging mechanism is reused with some changes, in order to enable the kernel stack to grow.
Device Driver Reliability
Authors: Swift Michael M.
Published: May 2010

Despite decades of research in extensible operating system technology, extensions such as device drivers remain a significant cause of system failures. In Windows XP, for example, drivers account for 85% of recently reported failures. This chapter presents Nooks, a layered architecture for tolerating the failure of drivers within existing operating system kernels. The design consists techniques for isolating drivers from the kernel and for recovering from their failure. Nooks isolates drivers from the kernel in a lightweight kernel protection domain, a new protection mechanism. By executing drivers within a domain, the kernel is protected from their failure and cannot be corrupted. Shadow drivers recover from device driver failures. Based on a replica of the driver’s state machine, a shadow driver conceals the driver’s failure from applications and restores the driver’s internal state to a point where it can process requests as if it had never failed. Thus, the entire failure and recovery is transparent to applications.
Identifying Systemic Threats to Kernel Data
Authors: Baliga Arati , Kamat Pandurang , Ganapathy Vinod , Iftode Liviu
Published: May 2010

The authors demonstrate a new class of attacks and also present a novel automated technique to detect them. The attacks do not explicitly exhibit hiding behavior but are stealthy by design. They do not rely on user space programs to provide malicious functionality but achieve the same by simply manipulating kernel data. These attacks are symbolic of a larger systemic problem within the kernel, thus requiring comprehensive analysis. The author’s novel rootkit detection technique based on automatic inference of data structure invariants, which can automatically detect such advanced stealth attacks on the kernel.
Application of both Temporal and Spatial Localities in the Management of Kernel Buffer Cache
Authors: Jiang Song
Published: May 2010

As the hard disk remains as the mainstream on-line storage device, it continues to be the performance bottleneck of data-intensive applications. One of existing most effective solutions to ameliorate the bottleneck is to use the buffer cache in the OS kernel to achieve two objectives: reduction of direct access of on-disk data and improvement of disk performance. These two objectives can be achieved by applying both temporal locality and spatial locality in the management of the buffer cache. Traditionally only temporal locality is exploited for the purpose, and spatial locality, which refers to the on-disk sequentiality of requested blocks, is largely ignored. As the throughput of access of sequentially-placed disk blocks can be an order of magnitude higher than that of access to randomly-placed blocks, the missing of spatial locality in the buffer management can cause the performance of applications without dominant sequential accesses to be seriously degraded. In the chapter, we introduce a state-of-the-art technique that seamlessly combines these two locality properties embedded in the data access patterns into the management of the kernel buffer cache management. After elaboration on why the spatial locality is needed in addition to the temporal locality, we detail a framework, DULO (DUal LOcality), in which these two properties are taken account of simultaneously. A prototype implementation of DULO in the Linux kernel as well as some experiment results are presented, showing that DULO can significantly increases disk I/O throughput for real-world applications such as Web server, TPC benchmark, file system benchmark, and scientific programs. It reduces their execution times by as much as 53%. We conclude the chapter by identifying and encouraging a new direction for research and practice on the improvement of disk I/O performance, which is to expose more disk-specific data layout and access patterns to the upper-level system software for disk-oriented policies.
Exploiting Disk Layout and Block Access History for I/O Prefetch
Authors: Chen Feng , Ding Xiaoning , Jiang Song
Published: May 2010

As the major secondary storage device, the hard disk plays a critical role in modern computer system. In order to improve disk performance, most operating systems conduct data prefetch policies by tracking I/O access pattern, mostly at the level of file abstractions. Though such a solution is useful to exploit application-level access patterns, file-level prefetching has many constraints that limit the capability of fully exploiting disk performance. The reasons are twofold. First, certain prefetch opportunities can only be detected by knowing the data layout on the hard disk, such as metadata blocks. Second, due to the non-uniform access cost on the hard disk, the penalty of mis-prefetching a random block is much more costly than mis-prefetching a sequential block. In order to address the intrinsic limitations of filelevel prefetching, we propose to prefetch data blocks directly at the disk level in a portable way. Our proposed scheme, called DiskSeen, is designed to supplement file-level prefetching. DiskSeen observes the workload access pattern by tracking the locations and access times of disk blocks. Based on analysis of the temporal and spatial relationships of disk data blocks, DiskSeen can significantly increase the sequentiality of disk accesses and improve disk performance in turn. We implemented the DiskSeen scheme in the Linux 2.6 kernel and we show that it can significantly improve the effectiveness of filelevel prefetching and reduce execution times by 20-53% for various types of applications, including grep, CVS, and TPC-H.
Sequential File Prefetching in Linux
Authors: Wu Fengguang
Published: May 2010

Sequential prefetching is a well established technique for improving I/O performance. As Linux runs an increasing variety of workloads, its in-kernel prefetching algorithm has been challenged by many unexpected and subtle problems; As computer hardware evolves, the design goals should also be adapted. To meet the new challenges and demands, a prefetching algorithm that is aggressive yet safe, flexible yet simple, scalable yet efficient is desired. In this chapter, the author explores the principles of I/O prefetching and present a demand readahead algorithm for Linux. He demonstrates how it handles common readahead issues by a host of case studies. Both static, logic and dynamic behaviors of the readahead algorithm are covered, so as to help readers building both theoretical and practical views of sequential prefetching.
Modeling Software Development Processes
Authors: Chroust Gerhard , Kuhrmann Marco , Schoitsch Erwin
Published: May 2010

In this chapter the authors discuss the WHY and WHAT of modeling software development processes: defining the components of a software process and proposing 5-dimensional grid of attributes of existing models: strategy and path, levels, main subprocesses, components and aura. Specific process models, currently used or historically important, are described. This is followed by an extensive discussion of methods for and problems of modeling a software process, followed by a shorter discussion on the enactment of process models via software engineering environments. The chapter closes with a discussion of the human aspects concerning introduction and enactment of a process model.
Recent Developments in Supplier Selection and Order Allocation Process
Authors: Demirtas Ezgi Aktar , Ustun Ozden
Published: May 2010

Because the purchasing department can play a key role in cost reduction, supplier selection and order allocation are the most important functions of purchasing management. In view of its complexity, it will be focused especially on the final selection stage that consists of determining the best mixture of suppliers and allocating orders among them so as to satisfy different purchasing requirements. In recent years, many researchers used new integrated models for supplier selection and order allocation. They combine multi-criteria approaches such as AHP/ANP and linear programming (LP), mixed integer programming (MIP), non-linear programming (NLP), mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP) and goal programming (GP) with different achievement scalarizing functions. In this chapter, after the stages of supplier selection process are explained, these new integrated models are introduced and their constraints, variables, and goals/objectives of these models are explained in detail. Then the solution methods of these integrated models are given. Finally, different integrated models are compared by considering their advantages and disadvantages.
Enterprise Information Systems
Authors: Tung Hui-Lien , Marshall-Bradley Tina , Wood Joseph , Sofge Donald A. , Grayson James , Bergman Margo , Lawless W.F.
Published: May 2010

Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) provide a platform that enables small organizations and distant collections of organizations to better integrate and coordinate their operations. We provide a theory of organizations and review two case studies beginning to use EIS-type architectures that form common information infrastructures to be more responsive, flexible and agile first for a system of medical organizations and second for a small college. The system of organizations is a distributed collection of military medical department research centers (MDRC) whose mission is to train physicians how to conduct and publish research; and the small college is providing a liberal arts education (Future College). Both MDRC and Future College (pseudonyms) are reorganizing their operations. We review theory for our approach, the two case studies, field evidence, computational models, and future prospects.
Modern ICT Technologies In Business Administration
Authors: Koumpis Adamantios , Moumtzi Vasiliki
Published: May 2010

In this chapter, we present the DERN project and discuss a set of complementary methodologies that have been used to promote intra-enterprise training in the area of modern business administration technologies and corporate capacity building.
The Misfortunes of "Criminology" in France
Authors: Mucchielli Laurent
Published: May 2010

The state of a discipline—or, more simply, the state of a discourse field and the related academic practices—cannot be understood outside the historical framework of its national genesis. According to Mucchielli (2004), this ‘broad picture’ view of France suggests a three-period split: (1) paradigmatic assertions and the impossible transdisciplinary dialogue typical of the years 1880-1940; (2) the normative context of the years 1945-1975, and the fresh associations it brought about; (3) the renewed dissociation between professional rationales and transdisciplinary dialogue from the mid-1970s onwards, alongside the considerable development of social science research. Finally, the authors question the current situation and the renewed, politically motivated attempt at establishing criminology as a full discipline in France.
How to Train Professionals to Effectively Manage Child Abuse Cases
Authors: Caffo Ernesto , Forresi Barbara , Lepri Gianluigi
Published: May 2010

Despite the increasing number of child psychological, physical and sexual abuse cases, and the subsequent need for interagency interventions, professional knowledge about the dynamics, nature, strengths and difficulties of the integrated response to child abuse is not universal. In addition to this, training programs for the delivery of a multidisciplinary approach to child abuse cases has always received little attention. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the postgraduate training course “Assessment and treatment approach when handling child abuse cases and paedophilia”, developed by the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy), as an example of a university based and multidisciplinary training to child abuse professionals. This program is aimed at assisting graduated communities’ professionals - such as child psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, educators, law enforcement officers, judges and lawyers - to develop evidence based strategies to respond to child abuse. First the training program will be presented, describing contents and methods used to facilitate critical reflection and analysis of practice/policy: lectures, case studies, work-groups and team-building, web-based and experiential learning. Furthermore, the impact on trainee knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors will be described and discussed on the basis of the existing literature. Barriers to multidisciplinary work such as work style and communication differences among professions, attitudes and behaviors toward children, will be also critically discussed.
Victims of Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation
Authors: Lucchi Silvia R.
Published: May 2010

This chapter shows the production of a video documentary, realized to deepen the knowledge about actual interventions to assist the victims of a particular crime of international interest, namely the trafficking of women for purposes of sexual exploitation. The video documentary has been made in Italy and especially through a restricted area in the North of the Country, Emilia-Romagna region, where particularly widespread are the phenomenon and the heterogeneity of interventions brought against. The dynamics of trafficking and exploitation are described as well as the legislation on them and the interventions brought about in order to give the victims the chance to redeem from the condition of sexual exploitation. This part is accompanied with the step-by-step explanation of how the video documentary has been made. The relevant objective is to define the modalities used to set up the video, in order to examine part of the actual interventions aimed to defend the victims, and to underline how it represents a useful effective document for teaching the dynamics associated with this particular kind of crime.
The Present Cybercrime
Authors: Apruzzese Antonio
Published: May 2010

The preponderant role played by the computer means, which is the more and more direct aim of the criminal action through sophisticated computer technologies, incites to reconsider the classical criminological and victimological patterns. In fact, new kinds of criminality linked to the use of sophisticated computer technologies, which are taking up the state agencies in the activities of prevention and repression, have recently assumed aspects of great and worrying importance. So, the need to formulate suitable training course of the personnel of those police branch (Postal and Communication Police of the Italian National Police), specialized in countering the high tech crime, is becoming more and more compulsory.
The Professional Training of the Italian Surveillance Magistracy
Authors: Fanci Giovanna
Published: May 2010

The Italian prison system is characterized by a sort of schizophrenia (Ferrajoli, 2000) due to two opposite principles of legal framework: the certainty of sentence and the re-educative purpose of imprisonment. The action of the Surveillance Judge (Magistrato di sorveglianza) – a relevant authority for the enforcement of a criminal judgment – takes its place in the heart of such tension. In fact, he must ensure a right implementation of the sentence and, at the same time, he has to attend that the sentence serving is realized in accordance with penal rules and, particularly, with the re-educative aim. Therefore this study will highlight the importance of professional training for serving sentences judges whose educational programming would provide for inputs of criminology and victimology studies. They supply the Surveillance Magistracy (Magistratura di sorveglianza) with cognitive tools to identify the right treatment program for the convicted personality and to promote a mediation process between offenders and victims.
Teaching Criminology to Police Officers
Authors: Piselli Andrea
Published: May 2010

This article introduces the main division within the police corps in Italy and explains some historical reasons and their different task. Then it is exposed the recent change of the local police from political evolution of the State and new tasks established by law. This fast translation entailed a new training of policemen and in few years many changes occurred. While analyzing what happened in these years and which choices were made, it is argued that local police well adapted to new role with flexible cultural instruments. Main school were organized to satisfy the need of standard training, but corps independence allowed to realize single efficient projects particularly needed. Conclusion is the appreciation of free training method for police subjects.
Instructional Leadership and Blended Learning
Authors: Reardon Martin R.
Published: May 2010

Dewey’s concept of experience as an active engagement with a process of action, feedback, and reflection permeates the setting of the case reported in this chapter. The case involves an initiative to engage a group of experienced teachers and school administrators (in the context of a doctoral level course) with reading and reflecting on a vision of the future of education in a professional learning community permeated by the experience of blended learning. While the blended learning was heavily weighted towards face-to-face meetings, issues relating to the integration of technology with education became experienced realities for the group members. These issues included pre-service teacher education, equitable access to online resources, and the creation of an environment in which contemporary approaches to curriculum, teaching, and learning can flourish.
Blended Learning in a Creative Writing Program
Authors: Morgan Chris , Conway-Herron Janie
Published: May 2010

This case study reports on the results of a two-year pilot study in blended learning in an undergraduate creative writing program at Southern Cross University in Australia. It documents the development and implementation of a blended delivery model that dispenses with outdated divisions between face-to-face and distance modes of delivery, creating a converged, blended learning experience for all students. Findings from the pilot provided important data in relation to student satisfaction, pedagogical considerations, institutional constraints, teaching technologies, faculty workload issues, and costs associated with blended learning. These findings will contribute to a University-wide move to converged, blended learning in 2009.
Virtual Reality or Virtually Real
Authors: Lidstone John , Shield Paul
Published: May 2010

This paper examines the enabling effect of using blended learning and synchronous internet mediated communication technologies to improve learning and develop a Sense of Community (SOC) in a group of post graduate students consisting of a mix of on-campus and off campus students. Both quantitative and qualitative data collected over a number of years supports the assertion that the blended learning environment enhanced both teaching and learning. The development of a SOC was pivotal to the success of the blended approach when working with geographically isolated groups within a single learning environment.
Teaching Online
Authors: Kang P. Toyoko
Published: May 2010

This chapter provides an argument endorsing blended learning and teaching for foreign language (FL)/second language (L2) courses, in lieu of total online learning and teaching or total face-to-face learning and teaching (FFLT). Two main arguments are posed, citing concrete examples. First, that in total online learning and teaching, one of the greatest challenges is to reduce the psychological and social distance between teacher and student that leads to a dysfunctional parser (a mental language processor) for FL/L2. And secondly, online learning and teaching encourage more input, hence clarify communication---by making not only currently incomprehensible input comprehensible but also hard-tobe-comprehended output easy-to-comprehend---- through “self-negotiation of form and meaning,” and the parser’s strategy of being “first (prosodic phrase) come, first interpreted/processed.” This chapter proceeds to strongly recommend that FL/L2 teachers make simple audio files to provide their students with spoken input to prevent students from employing the L1 strategy of “first come, last interpreted/ processed.” Furthermore, this chapter shows what kind of spoken input is to be recorded in audio files for students in Elementary Japanese II and Intermediate Japanese I.
A Case of Using Wikis to Foster Collaborative Learning
Authors: Lin Hong , Kelsey Kathleen D
Published: May 2010

In recent years, Wikis, an open Web-based editing tool, have increasingly been used for collaborative writing projects in classrooms. Hailed as a collaborative learning and writing tool that is more powerful than blogs and e-mail, the pedagogical impact of using Wikis in the classroom is underrepresented in the literature. This case reviews the design and implementation of a Wikibook project for graduate students at a major land-grant university in the mid-South United States. Our findings challenge idealistic hypotheses that work using Wikis, without careful design and implementation, is naturally beneficial. The case also provides design recommendations for educators who are interested in using Wikis to enhance collaborative writing.
Bothering with Technology
Authors: Doherty John J.
Published: May 2010

This chapter discusses the role that technology can play in a first-year Honors seminar. For the purposes of the chapter, blended learning is defined as re-tasking face-to-face time or out of class time to build community and meet course objectives more effectively. The challenge in an Honors seminar, however, is to apply this when technology is not considered a viable solution to potential course challenges. The chapter presents four strategies to build community through interaction and engagement: (1) icebreakers can be moved online to build more student interaction; (2) online journals can facilitate better engagement with the course and the texts; (3) documents can be delivered online to model good practice and promote sustainability; and (4) quizzes can be used to develop metacognitive skills outside of class. Technology, it is concluded, allows instructors to explore effective and engaging mediated instruction in multiple formats.
A Forecasting Concept for Virtual Organisations Supporting SMEs
Authors: Eschenbächer Jens , Duin Heiko
Published: May 2010

Planning and management of Virtual Organisations (VOs) depends on accurate prognosis and forecasting of several organisational aspects. New and innovative business models such as the VO offer a variety of new options for SME to do business. This chapter presents a system-oriented view to understand planning and forecasting needs in VOs. The strategic issues in planning will be elaborated by using the cross-impact analysis. For the medium-term planning the focus lies on investigations based on the so-called collaborative network analysis. An industrial case study is introduced to demonstrate the application of the concept.
Conducting Multi-Project Business Operations in SMEs and IS Support
Authors: Vrecko Igor , Hauc Anton , Cancer Vesna , Perko Igor
Published: May 2010

revision of information systems. Present ERP solutions are not suitable in a multi-project environment. This chapter presents a newly designed IS model that supports strategic and commercial multiple project operations. The importance of connecting business goals with project performance and upgrading operational CRM into multi-partner management technology is considered. Significant added functions of IS in a multi-project environment should support project evaluation and management of project portfolios, intra- and inter-project communication, and mastering multi-task workflow. To reduce the need to spend limited SMEs’ resources, technological development of the designed IS model must assure its simplicity for use and deployment.
An ERP Adoption Model for Midsize Businesses
Authors: Alizai Fahd , Burgess Stephen
Published: May 2010

This chapter theorizes the development of a conceptual ERP adoption model, applicable to midsize businesses. The general business factors associated with ERP implementation along with the corresponding organisational benefits are identified. This chapter also highlights the constraints that confront midsize businesses whilst implementing sophisticated applications. The needs for ERP adoption can occur due to an attempt to be more competitive or due to an external pressure from large businesses to adopt an ERP application. The proposed conceptual model uses a strategic approach containing; ERP implementation processes, stages, factors & issues associate with ERP adoption in midsize businesses. This research also focuses on identification of strategies in the organisational, people and technical domains that could be influential for ERP adoption.
State of the Art Solutions in Enterprise Interoperability
Authors: Balzert Silke , Burkhart Thomas , Werth Dirk , Laclavík Michal , Šeleng Martin , Mehandjiev Nikolay , Carpenter Martin , Stalker Iain Duncan
Published: May 2010

More than 99% of European enterprises are SMEs. While collaboration with other enterprises provides potential for improving business performance, enterprise interoperability research has yet to produce results which can be used by SMEs without the need for high start-up costs (e.g. learning, infrastructure and installation costs). Therefore the Commius project (funded by the European Union) aims towards the development of such a “zero costs of entry” interoperability solution for SMEs, allowing them to reuse existing and familiar applications for electronic communication. This chapter provides an overview of the research field “Enterprise Interoperability.” Based on a four layer interoperability framework, this chapter will examine which technical, process-based and semantic solutions for enterprise interoperability are available at the moment and which strategic motives drive or prevail SMEs to engage in E-business activities.
Communication Issues for Small and Medium Enterprises
Authors: Stojanović Mirjana D. , Acimovic-Raspopovic Vladanka S.
Published: May 2010

This chapter considers communication issues for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from both provider and customer perspectives. SME communication infrastructure at the individual site should usually be built around Ethernet-based local area network with a remotely manageable integrated access device that enables high speed Internet access, virtual private networking, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) functionality and collaborative services. We further address several open quality of service (QoS) issues that include: service level agreements, signaling for quality of service and management aspects. The proposed framework for service management encompasses interfaces for QoS-aware and legacy applications, generic service level specification, functional model of service negotiation and management policies.
Selecting Appropriate Communication Tools to Support Teams' Creative Processes in SMEs
Authors: Martins Hélder Fanha , Ferro Maria João
Published: May 2010

Accomplishing creative tasks collaboratively is particularly problematic when team members who are attempting to achieve the creative results are geographically dispersed throughout the globe in a virtual team. Therefore, sound communication tools are needed to ensure communication does not hamper team creativity. This chapter highlights the communication tools available for doing creative work, offering a short analysis of the most relevant synchronous and asynchronous communication tools. Some rules and tips are given to allow for a better choice of the communication tools to use according to both the nature of the team and the work it is performing in terms of creative processes in SMEs. This chapter also presents how knowledge experts and knowledge-based companies consider whether it would be any benefit to apply Web 2.0 in their organisational architecture to strengthen collaboration.