bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Apologie de l’archéologie préventive
Authors: Schnapp Alain
Published: June 2017

Après avoir donner quelques exemples et contre-exemples historiques significatifs de la naissance d’une pensée archéologique, Alain Schnapp s’emploie à retracer dans les grandes lignes l’apparition et le développement de l’archéologie préventive en Europe. Si la Scandinavie, l’Allemagne ou encore l’Italie se sont doté précocement de structures de surveillance, de fouille et d’étude, la France a dû attendre 1941 pour se donner un embryon de législation archéologique et 1975, avec la sortie du rapport Soustelle et la création de l’Afan, pour passer d’une archéologie passive à une archéologie réactive qui tentait de maîtriser les destructions de sites. La création de l’Inrap en 2001 s’inscrit dans ce processus.
En marge des femmes : la société contre le désir des hommes
Authors: Lemonnier Pierre
Published: June 2017

L'auteur réfute une partie des idées de Pierre Clastres en abordant la dimension inintentionnelle et paradoxale des logiques sociales qui accompagnent la recherche de l’équité, à travers l’exemple de sociétés mélanésiennes. En effet, bien que nombre de ces dernières cherchent vigoureusement à défendre la parité des personnes et des échanges, elles élèvent certains de leurs membres au statut de big men, qui prospèrent en convainquant les autres de leur fournir gratuitement le fruit de leur travail. Cet attrait pour les richesses matérielles est en fait la conséquence directe du désir d’échanger des femmes contre des femmes, mais des femmes jugées de même valeur. P. Lemonnier décrit ces systèmes complexes d’échanges dans diverses sociétés mélanésiennes, où le don de biens précieux compense un déficit d’égalité entre des femmes échangées dans le cadre d’un mariage et permet ainsi de maintenir la paix. C’est donc ce désir d’égalité des femmes que les hommes échangent qui ouvre la voie à des systèmes sociaux moins égalitaires.
Archéologie et langage : éloge du scepticisme
Authors: Renfrew Colin
Published: June 2017

Éminent archéologue britannique, Colin Renfrew livre ici sa vision de l’origine des langues indo-européennes. Il salue l’apport de Jean-Paul Demoule qui dès 1980 expose son scepticisme devant les hypothèses alors en vogue dans les études indo-européennes. Tous deux critiquent dans ces études l’approche principalement fondée sur la linguistique qui ne fait appel à l’archéologie que pour confirmer les hypothèses avancées. Les concepts d’Ursprache et d’Urheimat, qui impliquent un modèle généalogique linguistique, sont aujourd’hui battus en brèche par l’archéologie d’une part et par certains linguistes d’autre part. C. Renfrew plaide pour une approche en « réseau » qui utiliserait les données linguistiques et archéologiques.
L’archéologie entre Paris et Rome
Authors: Gras Michel
Published: June 2017

Directeur de l’École française de Rome, Michel Gras compare le développement de l’archéologie en Italie et en France depuis les années 1960 jusqu’à aujourd’hui. Lorsque l'auteur arrive à Rome en 1973, il mesure l’écart abyssal entre une archéologie française balbutiante et une archéologie italienne déjà très bien structurée couvrant l’intégralité du territoire national avec son système de surintendances. Aujourd’hui la situation a bien changé et l’archéologie italienne est dans une situation très précaire. En France, la situation s’est améliorée avec le développement de l’Afan puis celui de l’Inrap, même si certains problèmes persistent et que la rivalité SRA – Inrap reste vive. L'auteur appelle à surmonter ces différences et à définir des politiques publiques adaptées aux réalités archéologiques tout en assurant l’équilibre entre sauvegarde du patrimoine et développement économique et social du pays.
Territorialidade de espaço público em uma cidade ribeirinha na Amazônia Setentrional Brasileira – Afuá, Pará
Authors: Medeiros José Marcelo Martins , Neto Jacy Côrrea , Medeiros Mariana Martins
Published: June 2017

A Amazônia Brasileira possui distintas manisfestações espaciais nas cidades. Nesse contexto, a compreensão dos fênomenos urbanos permite o reconhecimento das apropriações contemporâneas e possibilita a tentativa de apreensão do cotidiano. Esta pesquisa investiga o espaço público da cidade ribeirinha de Afuá (Arquipélago do Marajó, Estado do Pará, Brasil) que estrutura-se sob o regime de palafitas e não permite o tráfego de veículos motorizados. Busca-se a compreensão da apropriação da orla desta cidade pela população local através da noção de territorialidade. A pesquisa realizada possui caráter quantitativo e qualitativo mediante a aplicação de questionários, referências bibliográficas e levantamento de campo (técnicas de mapeamento do uso do solo, registros fotográficos e coleta de dados). As teorias de território, sobretudo, as de Raffestin (1993, 2003) permitiram a elaboração de análises estruturadas em dois aspectos: urbanos e socioterritoriais, que poderão servir de subsídios para elaboração de uma proposta de intervenção urbana a fim de promover o desenvolvimento local.
O Amapá e a Guiana francesa sob a ótica do corredor transfronteiriço
Authors: Tostes José Alberto , Ferreira José Francisco de Carvalho
Published: June 2017

Os territórios fronteiriços são espaços de características variadas, natureza diversa e ambientes complexos, mas são também espaços de contato, articulação e cooperação. Tratados, por muito tempo, como lugares periféricos, assumem-se, hoje, como espaços estratégicos. É neste contexto que este artigo se propõe abordar o Corredor Transfronteiriço como base reflexiva para compreender as interações presentes e futuras entre o Amapá (Brasil) e a Guiana Francesa (França), dois territórios com mais de 600 km de fronteira conjunta. O objetivo principal é definir e apresentar o conceito de Corredor Transfronteiriço, oferendo uma possibilidade de entendimento das relações sócio-político-econômicas destes dois territórios. Os resultados evidenciam que essas relações não são, ainda, cabalmente percebidas e desenvolvidas.
Integração ou separação? Uma reflexão sobre a governança territorial no Prata a partir da construção da ponte da integração São Borja-Brasil/ Santo Tomé-Argentina
Authors: Pinto Muriel , Colvero Ronaldo Bernardino , Retamoso Alex Sander Barcellos
Published: June 2017

A região de fronteira São Borja-Brasil/ Santo Tomé-Argentina possui desde as missões Jesuítico-Guaranis (século XVII) uma relação marcada por processos de câmbios culturais, sociais e econômicos. A devida região possui como limite o rio Uruguai, corpo d’água que foi de grande importância para as comunicações culturais, disputas territoriais e interesses especulativos e geopolíticos pela região. A importância territorial e estratégica da bacia do Prata vem despertando interesses especulativos europeus na região desde o século XVII E XVIII (consolidação urbana e social das reduções Jesuítico-Guarani), século XIX (consolidação do modelo produtivo privado, individualista e essencialista, além da constituição dos estados nacionais), século XX (construção da ponte da integração). Durante todos estes momentos observa-se as influências extra-locais perante ao sistema social e produtivo regional, estas que sobrepuseram seus modelos de vida perante as comunidades primitivas e recentemente sobre as tradicionais regionais. No ano de 1997, foi construída nesta região a ponte da Integração São Borja-Brasil/ Santo Tomé-Argentina e a primeiro Centro Unificado de Fronteira (CUF). Até então o translado era via balsa e com menos burocracias para a migração para o outro lado do rio. Esta pesquisa problematizou como se deu a governança socioterritorial durante o processo de construção da ponte da integração entre estas cidades Gêmeas São Borja-Santo Tomé, para tanto foram realizados uma análise sociohistórica da região missioneira; análise das dinâmicas socioespaciais e culturais da região fronteiriça estudada; Revisão bibliográfica nacional e internacional sobre os estudos fronteiriços na bacia do Prata; Reflexões sobre os atores territoriais e suas escalas de geográficas de poder; Novas juridisções sobre as questões fronteiriças; Análise das narrativas sociais geradas no período de construção da ponte. Após estas reflexões destaca-se que durante o processo de construção da ponte houve a participação nas arenas decisórias de vários atores multiescalares. A composição territorial regional se volta atualmente para articulação de uma rede territorial que interliga Belo Horizonte-São Paulo-Uruguaina-São Borja-Córdoba-Rosário-Assunción-Santiago, que sustenta um fluxo de mercadorias. Nesta perspectiva as pontes surgem como uma forme de controle estatal que não priorização os fluxos humanos e culturais.
Rios: território das águas às margens das cidades: o caso dos rios de Uruaçu-GO
Authors: Gandara Gercinair Silvério
Published: June 2017

Neste texto procuro mostrar que os indivíduos produzem a sua história, construindo suas noções de natureza e imprimindo nela a sua marca. Elegi os rios Maranhão, Passa Três e o Ribeirão Machambombo em Uruaçu-GO como um símbolo representativo dos rios brasileiros que se constitui ingrediente básico para a vida citadina acontecer, mas que, também, se tornam palcos dos problemas ambientais. Como consequência, as cidades surgidas à margem dos rios invertem e os conduzem a rios à margem das cidades. A História Socioambiental se apresentou como uma possibilidade de análise e de reflexões sobre as impressões inscritas neste processo. Contudo, outras categorias, preocupações conceituais e metodológicas, também, se apresentaram necessárias para reunir aportes mais consistentes e fundamentais para esta análise.
Paisagem Cultural da Cidade Templária de Tomar. O Rio Nabão como Identidade Urbana
Authors: Valla Margarida
Published: June 2017

As férteis margens do Rio Nabão foram sempre uma referência na paisagem natural da região. Em 1160, o Castelo dos Templários e sua vila implantaram-se em Tomar numa colina junto a este rio, configurando este Lugar como uma referência da nacionalidade portuguesa. No séc. XV, o Infante D. Henrique fundou a “Vila de Baixo” situada na várzea, estabelecendo uma relação com rio através do eixo principal direccionado à ponte antiga, estendendo-se a cidade no séc. XX “para além do Nabão”. Este rio sempre forneceu energia hidráulica explorada através de noras e barragens, e ao longo do seu curso várias fábricas foram implantadas na época da industrialização. A Paisagem Cultural de Tomar define-se pela simbologia do Convento de Cristo e a Vila/Cidade que se relaciona com o percurso orgânico do rio Nabão
Visões sobre o rio Araguaia : imprensa goiana e imaginário no século XIX
Authors: Silva Eliete Barbosa de Brito , Rocha Leandro Mendes
Published: June 2017

A água tem configuração essencial na vida das pessoas. O seu simbolismo vincula-se ao sagrado, ao mítico. Os rios são condutores desse fluido. Por extensão, tornam-se espaço de relevância para os sujeitos. Estes, em seu imaginário concebem os rios como elementos primordiais para a geração e manutenção das formas de vida. São eles os agentes de fertilização dos campos. São fontes de alimento, são vias de circulação. São potencialidade. São também construtores de cidades. Estas foram brotando de acordo com os usos do rio. Assim foi com Aruanã, cidade Goiana às margens do rio Araguaia. O referido rio era via de ligação entre as províncias de Goiás e do Grão-Pará. Rota para a interiorização do país. Este trabalho apresenta uma leitura do rio Araguaia pelas páginas do periódico da imprensa goiana no século XIX. Através de uma leitura investigativa, analisamos as publicações do jornal “A Matutina Meyapontense (1830-1834)”. O Brasil do século XIX foi percorrido por diversas expedições científicas. Estas adentraram o interior do país e nos ofereceram uma leitura bastante enriquecedora dos lugares percorridos. Dentre eles, o espaço do rio Araguaia. Nosso objetivo foi deslindar as construções física e social do rio Araguaia pela imprensa, influenciada pela visão dos viajantes e pelos interesses políticos, no referido século. Entender como as visões do rio Araguaia por esses órgãos enunciados repercutiram e povoaram o imaginário e os relatos posteriores.
Child Poverty and Social Inequalities in Africa
Authors: Tshabangu Icarbord
Published: June 2017

Africa has continually faced challenges in providing public services for its vast populations culminating in wider inequality gaps and rising levels of child poverty. Consequently, child poverty has led to dim prospects for most children. This chapter discusses child poverty and social inequalities since these aspects are critical to child development and welfare. An analytic review of World Bank and United Nations agencies data was conducted, consisting of existing surveyed data and literature on contemporary contexts in Sub-Saharan Africa. It was noted how inadequate investment levels; children's voicelessness and a lack of social security safety nets, has negatively impacted children's rights and development. Indications are that child poverty and other social inequalities continue to be experienced in most parts of the continent despite the economic rise in some of these emerging economies.
Maasai Girls' Subjectivities and the Nexus of Gender Justice and Education Rights Discourse
Authors: Koissaba Serena
Published: June 2017

Global development discourse around the interplay between social justice and childhood issues are complicated when interpreting these ideas contextually through translocational gender and cultural lenses. This chapter attempted to address some of the following questions: How do international gender and education interventions problematize the transition for Maasai girls as they transition from childhood to adulthood? Can Amartya Sen's ‘capability framework, work effectively for African children in Kenya who by their cultural norms become adults before the age of 18? In what ways are the social justice schemes producing disaggregated cultural structures for Maasai Girls? This chapter, therefore examined how Maasai girls' subjectivities are affected by gender and education rights mediation through Amartya Sen's ‘capabilities approach' and a human rights framework. The experiences and perspectives of female subjects have seemingly been distorted within feminist and geopolitical rhetoric. Transnational feminism in this work is positioned as a postcolonial project that employs theories of human rights, capabilities, and multiculturalism as lenses in which to interrogate practices of erasures of voice and representation of active participants within the movement, but reconsider what feminist theory can do to move the conversation away from male-centric ideologies.
Postscript
Authors: Koch Cynthia M.
Published: June 2017

At the height of the culture wars, I was Executive Director of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH), one of the state programs affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Like all state humanities councils, NJCH was a nonprofit organization governed by a board of academics and public-spirited citizens. At the time it was almost entirely dependent on the NEH for funding. If the NEH were eliminated, the NJCH—like most of the humanities councils in the 55 other states and territories—would cease to exist. Our grants provided program support for speakers at local libraries, small exhibits at museums and historical organizations, and public programs organized by nonprofits, community colleges, and local community groups. Our budget was not large but it was important to our communities. In New Jersey we ultimately found new sources of support in private donations, foundation grants, and a modest appropriation from the New Jersey legislature. This chapter, written in 2015, reconsiders the status of the cultural endowments during their fiftieth anniversary. As we prepare to go to press in early 2017, there are reports that as part of his budget-cutting agenda, President Trump plans to eliminate the endowments (Bolton, 2017).
Reclaiming Funding and Benefits for the Liberal Arts
Authors: Burt Hilary
Published: June 2017

The current focus on promoting STEM disciplines is, on the surface, an understandable reaction to the present economic environment. But a defense of the liberal arts does not need to be blind to today's economic and educational climates. In fact, now is the time for liberal arts academic programs to modernize and develop. Just as it is clear that proponents of STEM programs should recognize the value of creative and comparative thinking fostered by the broader educational fields, the time has clearly arrived for the liberal arts to also recognize, and be infused with, more practical, tangible training. In addition to enhancing graduates' preparedness for the workforce, these tactics would also buttress the argument for continued funding of liberal arts programs by appealing to the current desire to allocate resources to practical disciplines.
Arts Partnerships Are Bridging Disparities
Authors: DiFiglia Jennifer
Published: June 2017

Government, non-profit and industry partnerships are giving disadvantaged youth access to successful careers in the Arts. Although the trend has been toward an ever growing “opportunity gap” between children from low socio-economic communities and their wealthier peers, cross-sector arts education partnerships are bridging disparities in access to the creative professions. Currently, the lack of opportunity for young people from poverty disproportionately affects their career prospects in the Arts, where consistent exposure to the tools and techniques of the creative disciplines is necessary in order to guide students toward college and/or careers in these growing fields. Despite a burgeoning creative economy, remarkably little progress has been made to diversify the workforce in this sector. Collectively, we've underestimated how creating opportunities for young people is economically valuable to government, non-profit and industry. A fundamentally different framework is needed that puts a proper valuation on the future of our youth.
Strategies of Engagement
Authors: Fortner Kitty , Lalas Jose W.
Published: June 2017

School, parent involvement, and at-risk students do not always make a winning combination. However, for the students at Mountain View High School, things were different. Strategies used by the Mountain View Parent Advisory Group helped to transform education for students of color who participated in their program. This chapter follows a study at a high school located in an upper/upper middle-class neighborhood where barriers to academic growth were considered addressed. However, there was a pocket of students of color who were not being successful academically. Strategies used by a parent group to help re-engage at-risk students, raise their GPAs, and redirect their future towards success are highlighted. Understanding that these strategies can be initiated by any group of parents or teachers provides promise for at-risk students, parents, and schools.
A Reconstructed Conception of Learner Engagement in Technology Rich Online Learning Environments
Authors: Gillow-Wiles Henry , Niess Margaret L.
Published: June 2017

Teaching and learning in a technology rich digital context challenge established thinking about student engagement in their learning. This chapter presents a reconstructed conception of learner engagement for online environments consisting of: engagement with community; engagement with technology; engagement with mathematics content; and an amalgam of all three. This descriptive, cross-case study combines current literature with the authors' past research to develop characterizations of these components of online learner engagement. This reconstructed model of learner engagement is the focus of the study, providing: 1) a vocabulary for developing a narrative describing how teachers as students think and learn with technology in an online environment and 2) a framework for mathematics teacher education professional development. Results indicate that this model supports teacher educators in both describing and evaluating how teachers as learners engage in a unit of instruction, and framing the course design and instructional strategy choices that support learner engagement.
Connecting the Past and the Present
Authors: Blatt-Gross Carolina Eve
Published: June 2017

Given our deep history of socially-situated artmaking and the human propensity for learning in social contexts, participation in community art offers a wealth of educational potential. Supported by research from neuroscience, anthropology, psychology, education and the arts, as well as concrete examples from higher education, this chapter will outline the theoretical basis for a curriculum rich in community art and establish such practices as a potential antidote to student apathy in contemporary classrooms. This body of interdisciplinary research situates community-based art education at the intersection of transformative community art, social learning theory, and student engagement. By first generating a community of practice within the classroom, then providing students with an opportunity to apply course content, contribute to their immediate culture, and take advantage of some of our most entrenched educational tendencies, community-based art education can be invaluable to student learning and engagement.
Engage Online Learners
Authors: Chan Sang , Bose Devshikha
Published: June 2017

Online learning will continue to be one of the popular modes of instruction offered by higher education institutions to accommodate different learning needs. Student engagement is critical to the success of online learning. Students should be engaged cognitively, emotionally, and behaviorally. This chapter discusses design considerations for online courses to promote student-instructor, student-student, and student-content interactions to engage students cognitively, emotionally, and behaviorally. The chapter also discusses the application of flow theory, specifically, in the design of instruction to engage students during their interaction with course content.
Personal Learning Environments and Social Networks in the Traditional School System
Authors: Manolis Christos , Kalaitzidou Eleni
Published: June 2017

An effort to integrate new technologies in learning and school life in general has been put forward by the ministry of education in Greece with an action known as “Digital School.” One of the components of “Digital School” is the digital platform that includes all schoolbooks converted to an electronic format (e-books), enhanced with additional interactive educational material. This research focuses on how the enhanced 10th grade mathematics books could comprise a constructive learning environment beyond the classroom, facilitating pupils studying on their own and at their own pace. The results of the research show that social networks, digital tools, and the resources that pupils use on a daily basis can pave the way in this direction on condition and that they are utilized for the configuration of a PLE (Personal Learning Environment) by each pupil, which ensures the required communication and feedback between the community of pupils and teachers.
Reconceptualizing Learning Designs in Higher Education
Authors: Ostashewski Nathaniel , Dickinson-Delaporte Sonia , Martin Romana
Published: June 2017

This goal of this chapter is to provide a design and development roadmap for the adaptation of traditional classroom activities into engaging iPad-based digital learning activities. Reporting on an ongoing longitudinal case study, the chapter provides an overview of rationale and design considerations of the authentic iPad learning design implementation project, and the outcomes and improvements made over time. The iPad activities described provide further details of the approach taken and adaptations made. Since implementing iPad activities into this higher education environment several terms ago, the lecturer reports significantly higher levels of student engagement. Additionally, students report that the classroom activities in the post-graduate marketing course are authentic, transferrable, and are more engaging due the use of the iPad-based activities.
Engagement and Creativity in Music Education
Authors: Kokotsaki Dimitra
Published: June 2017

The wider benefits of active engagement with music throughout life have been well documented. There is evidence that playing a musical instrument and integrating music in the curriculum can have a range of positive effects on children's self-esteem, their social behavior and cognitive skills, such as creativity, spatial-temporal ability, reading, language and IQ score. Music is a vital part of children's everyday lives and schools have a major role to play in helping children develop a positive musical identity by encouraging active participation in musical activities. When children are actively involved in creative work in music, they are affectively, behaviorally and cognitively engaged with the creative task. This chapter concludes that there is a problem with lack of engagement in formal music education and that we need to do more to understand why many students are disengaged with music at school and put music to its proper place of being an integral part of students' lives.
Using the WebQuest Approach to Elicit Student Engagement in a University Course
Authors: Asunka Stephen
Published: June 2017

Following a realization that first year undergraduate students at a private university in Ghana engaged very minimally in their learning processes, and consequently obtained very weak grades in their courses, this study adopted a qualitative research approach to investigate whether the integration of a WebQuest into the learning processes can help foster student engagement through interactivity, and thus improve learning outcomes. Five students and one instructor participated in the study, and over the course of one academic semester, teaching and learning processes were varied by introducing WebQuest-based learning. Data were gathered by observing student activities as they engaged in the learning processes, and also assessing student learning and satisfaction by looking at student grades and also administering a survey questionnaire to students. Findings indicate that educational technologies such as the WebQuest can potentially foster student engagement in learning and also help improve learning outcomes. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Improving Online Course Performance Through Customization
Authors: Sankaran Siva , Sankaran Kris
Published: June 2017

The number of educational courses offered online is growing, with students often having no choice for alternative formats. However, personal characteristics may affect online academic performance. In this study, the authors apply two business analytics methods - multiple linear/polynomial regression and generalized additive modeling (GAM) - to predict online student performance based on six personal characteristics. These characteristics are: communication aptitude, desire to learn, escapism, hours studied, gender, and English as a Second Language. Survey data from 168 students were partitioned into training/validation sets and the best fit models from the training data were tested on the validation data. While the regression method outdid the GAM at predicting student performance overall, the GAM explained the performance behavior better over various predictor intervals using natural splines. The study confirms the usefulness of business analytics methods and presents implications for college administrators and faculty to optimize individual student online learning.
Learning About Blended Learning Through Students' Experiences
Authors: Carter Margaret Anne , Pagliano Paul , Knight Cecily , Goldie Donna
Published: June 2017

The digital age together with the political and economic agenda to make higher education more accessible and cost effective are challenging teaching academics worldwide to rethink and redesign their pedagogical practices. The challenges include how to respond to increasingly diverse twenty first century learners who demand flexibility, and the requirements of a more service driven economy. For a program to be successful in higher education's current learnscape, teaching and learning need to optimise students' experiences and learning outcomes. The exploratory study discussed in this chapter investigates seventy-three postgraduate students' experiences with blended learning in guidance and counselling programs in one Australian university with an offshore branch campus in Singapore. The study aims to inform the future design and delivery of teaching and learning within blended learning spaces with a focus on pedagogical practices for student engagement. As such, it contributes to the body of knowledge about learning design that enhances student learning experiences.
Regenerating HBCU Persistence and Retention
Authors: Woods-Warrior Erica J.
Published: June 2017

The public discourse on postsecondary education emphasizes the ability of minority-serving institutions to improve the national status of college completion. As incubators for a large proportion of African American professionals, HBCUs play a critical role in meeting the nation's goals for degree attainment. However, these institutions are susceptible to challenges including recruitment, retention, and pipelining. To ensure sustainability in the contemporary marketplace and produce workforce-ready alumni, HBCUs must innovate and assess to strengthen the educational process. This chapter examines the significance of nontraditional students and contextualizes targeted retention efforts. The author highlights comprehensive pedagogy and practices, including learning communities, first-year programs, and mentorship. The work addresses two goals: (a) to understand conceptual bases on which retention strategies for at-risk students are developed, and (b) to isolate effective practices for improving academic and professional, success outcomes for these students.
The Influence of Social Media on International Students' Global Life Satisfaction and Academic Performance
Authors: Saha Neete , Karpinski Aryn C.
Published: June 2017

Numerous studies have investigated the impact of socialization agents (social media) on domestic university students' academic performance and psychological well-being, while the influence of these agents on the increasing population of international students at universities in the United States (US) remains understudied. The current study examined international students' (N = 331) global satisfaction with life as a mediator in the relationship between general social media use (and Skype™ use) and academic performance. The results indicated that both mediation models were supported. Social media and Skype™ use were positively predictive of satisfaction with life, and there was a positive relationship between satisfaction with life and academic performance. These findings have implications for university staff and administrators who need to be aware of the positive influence social media use has on international students' perceptions of their experiences, which in turn can positively impact their academic performance.
Weaving Web 2.0 and Facial Expression Recognition Into the 3D Virtual English Classroom
Authors: Shih Ya-Chun
Published: June 2017

Of late, considerable attention has been given to the linking or “mashing up” of virtual worlds and Web 2.0 tools. The authors incorporated several Web 2.0 tools, including blogs, audioblogs, wikis, Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr, and a facial expression organizer together into the 3D Virtual English Classroom called VEC3D 5.0, thereby opening up new possibilities for collaborative language learning. In considering the needs of language learners, this study combines synchronous and asynchronous learning environments and methods to propose a blended language learning solution. VEC3D 5.0 offers the possibility of applying situated learning, multimodal communication, and facial expression recognition to language learning and teaching. VEC3D 5.0 has shown itself to possess tremendous potential as an optimal language learning environment. Integrating Web 2.0 applications in the form of open social networking and information sharing tools into VEC3D 5.0 supports collaborative and reflective language learning, and in particular, writing and cultural learning. The purpose of this study is to explore the application of a hybrid prototype solution, which combines the inherent strengths of both virtual environments and Web 2.0 applications, and to provide a framework for developing innovative pedagogies for experiential language learning in this context.
RFID and Dead-Reckoning-Based Indoor Navigation for Visually Impaired Pedestrians
Authors: Lim Kai Li , Seng Kah Phooi , Yeong Lee Seng , Ang Li-Minn
Published: June 2017

This chapter presents an indoor navigation solution for visually impaired pedestrians, which employs a combination of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag array and dead-reckoning to achieve positioning and localisation. This form of positioning aims to reduce the deployment cost and complexity of pure RFID array implementations. This is a smartphone-based navigation system that leverages the new advancements of smartphone hardware to achieve large data handling and fast pathfinding. Users interact with the system through speech recognition and synthesis. This approach allows the system to be accessible to the masses due to the ubiquity of smartphones today. Uninformed pathfinding algorithms are implemented onto this system based on our previous study on the implementation suitability of uninformed searches. Testing results showed that this navigation system is suitable for use for the visually impaired pedestrians; and the pathfinding algorithms performed consistently according to our algorithm proposals.
Information Communication Assistive Technologies for Visually Impaired People
Authors: Ang Li-Minn , Seng Kah Phooi , Heng Tee Zhi
Published: June 2017

The information explosion era provides the foundation for a technological solution to enable the visually impaired to more independent living in the community. This paper first provides a review of assistive technologies for visually impaired people. Current technology allows applications to be efficiently distributed and operated on mobile and handheld devices. Thus, this paper also summarizes recent developments of assistive technologies in mobile interaction. It then presents the Wireless Intelligent Assistive Navigation Management System Using SmartGuide Devices for visually impaired people. The “SmartGuide” of the system is built as a standalone portable handheld device. The system is to assist blind and low vision people to walk around independently especially in dynamic changing environments. It also includes a camera sensor network to enhance monitoring capabilities for an extra level of security and reliability. Finally, the paper presents an improved system with some new designs involving mobile interaction.
ZatLab
Authors: Baltazar André , Martins Luís Gustavo
Published: June 2017

Computer programming is not an easy task, and as with all difficult tasks, it can be faced as tedious, impossible to do, or as a challenge. Therefore, learning to program with a purpose enables that “challenge mindset” and encourages the student to apply himself in overcoming his handicaps and exploring different theories and methods to achieve his goal. This chapter describes the process of programming a framework with the purpose of achieving real time human gesture recognition. Just this is already a good challenge, but the ultimate goal is to enable new ways of Human-Computer Interaction through expressive gestures and to allow a performer the possibility of controlling (with his gestures), in real time, creative artistic events. The chapter starts with a review on human gesture recognition. Then it presents the framework architecture, its main modules, and algorithms. It closes with the description of two artistic applications using the ZatLab framework.
Playing with Ambiguity
Authors: Georgalos Konstantinos
Published: June 2017

This chapter discusses the way that three distinct fields, decision theory, game theory and computer science, can be successfully combined in order to optimally design economic experiments. Using an example of cooperative game theory (the Stag-Hunt game), the chapter presents how the introduction of ambiguous beliefs and attitudes towards ambiguity in the analysis can affect the predicted equilibrium. Based on agent-based simulation methods, the author is able to tackle similar theoretical problems and thus to design experiments in such a way that they will produce useful, unbiased and reliable data.
Game-Theoretic Approaches in Heterogeneous Networks
Authors: Wang Chih-Yu , Wei Hung-Yu , Bennis Mehdi , Vasilakos Athanasios V.
Published: June 2017

Improving capacity and coverage is one of the main issues in next-generation wireless communication. Heterogeneous networks (HetNets), which is currently investigated in LTE-Advanced standard, is a promising solution to enhance capacity and eliminate coverage holes in a cost-efficient manner. A HetNet is composed of existing macrocells and various types of small cells. By deploying small cells into the existing network, operators enhance the users' quality of service which are suffering from severe signal degradation at cell edges or coverage holes. Nevertheless, there are numerous challenges in integrating small cells into the existing cellular network due to the characteristics: unplanned deployment, intercell interference, economic potential, etc. Recently, game theory has been shown to be a powerful tool for investigating the challenges in HetNets. Several game-theoretic approaches have been proposed to model the distributed deployment and self-organization feature of HetNets. In this chapter, the authors first give an overview of the challenges in HetNets. Subsequently, the authors illustrate how game theory can be applied to solve issues related to HetNets.
E-Commerce
Authors: Meira Daniela , Magalhães Luís , Pereira Francisco , Peres Emanuel
Published: June 2017

Despite being a recent phenomenon and being in constant evolution, e-commerce (EC) is already embedded in current society. However, difficulties in establishing a universally accepted definition have resulted in a multiplicity of meanings that sometimes merge with the e-business (EB) concept. This article presents a brief historical and conceptual evolution of EC and some of its most significant aspects.
A 3D Virtual Space for the E-Commerce Strategy Model
Authors: Cheng Gong , Yu Changrui , Liu Kecheng
Published: June 2017

In recent years, innovative applications of electronic commerce (e-commerce) are facing the challenges of mobile commerce (m-commerce) and ubiquitous commerce (u-commerce). To address these challenges and improve the competitiveness of e-commerce, the three-dimensional e-commerce (3DEC) theory is proposed and a 3DEC business strategy model is built up in this study. The new conceptual 3DEC model incorporates the industrial environment analysis, SWOT analysis, and business model canvas (BMC). As a case demonstrated in the British Museum program, this model brings benefits to a wide range of organizations in public and private sectors, as well as e-commerce researchers and practitioners.
Online Distribution Strategies
Authors: Izquierdo-Yusta Alicia , Labajo Victoria , Jiménez-Zarco Ana Isabel , Martínez-Ruiz María Pilar
Published: June 2017

The growing importance of online channels, social media, and mobile commerce (m-commerce) has given rise to new retail formats, that use only channel used and which have enabled many new consumers to access certain establishments despite geographical barriers. The fashion sector may be one of the most heavily affected by these developments, due to the highly seasonal nature of the products, keen competitive rivalry, widespread reliance on outsourcing, high brand power variety of pricing policies, and strong emotional implications for consumers, who identify with specific brands. This chapter aims at analyzing the main strategies that retail operators are currently following in the industry in order to differentiate from other retailers. A special interest will be placed on the role of the brand, examining how retailers in the industry use private labels as a differentiation resource. The authors also review the case of ASOS, a global retailer which has proven able to adapt to every market, with a view to determining how it has dealt with the myriad challenges involved
Luxury via E-Commerce
Authors: Maheshkar Chandan
Published: June 2017

Internet has presented a new outlook of a commercial phenomenon and customer preferences. Regularly increasing customer traffic on the web and increased turnovers of web-shops impel the companies dealing in luxuries to think about their endeavors. Internet adoption and continuous increasing e-shops motivates customers to move towards purchasing of luxury products from web-shops; but, it is still facing some structural difficulties such as security, originality of products, genuineness of a web-shop and others. In case of luxury products, most of customers prefer purchasing from physical stores after assuring the self. They don't want to buy every luxury product from e-shops even they have previous experience of buying luxuries online. Prices offered by e-shops are also put forward a cause for online purchase of luxury products. Therefore, this study has attempted to enlighten the factors associated with luxury, issues faced by luxury customers, and perceptions they have for e-commerce.
Customer Journey Maps for Demographic Online Customer Profiles
Authors: Tholath Deepa Ittimani , S.J. Fr. Casimirraj
Published: June 2017

In the digital landscape where the customer is defining and reveling in his choices each marketer should look at how best to cater to a specific customer so that both sides walks away smiling. In order to do this most product and service companies are currently drawing up their typical customer profiles and takes it to a higher level by giving the customer profile indicative of a particular segment a specific persona. Personas help marketers to think like the character and draw out the reactions of that person to the changes brought by the company. Companies also plot the typical journey of these indicative personas to identify the touch points so as to improve the total experience by information available at these points. The objective of this study is to draw up different personas who engage in online purchasing methods. Further segmentation is targeted using the demographic variables to arrive at different personas depicting the typical generation of online consumers. It also aims at defining the particular features of these outlined personas. In continuation of this process a consumer journey map for each of these personas would be drawn highlighting the touch points or the points of influence which influences their final decision making.
Investigating the Associated Factors of Trust on Online Transactions
Authors: Lim Andriew
Published: June 2017

Although e-commerce is growing rapidly, it has not achieved its potential. A survey shows that more than fifty percent of online carts are abandoned. This paper investigates the associated factors of trust that influence customers in conducting online transactions. Through relevant literature study and questionnaire, this paper shows that privacy and security significantly affect customers' interpersonal trust on online transactions. The lower the customer perception of risk, the more they are inclined to conduct online transactions. The quality of the website also affects the customers' trust on online transactions. These aspects are strongly correlated to the reputation of the online merchants, which implicates the success of e-commerce itself.
Present and Future of Mobile Commerce
Authors: Narang Barkha , Arora Jyoti Batra
Published: June 2017

Mobile Commerce is a term to describe any commercial activity on a mobile device, such as a mobile phone (iPhone, Android, Blackberry) or a tablet (iPad, Galaxy Tab, Surface). This includes all steps of the customer journey; reach, attract, choose, convert and retain. Hence mobile commerce is probably best described as shopping that takes advantage of unique properties of mobile devices. It is also called as m-commerce. Pervasive computing aims at availability and invisibility. On the one hand, pervasive computing can be defined as availability of software applications and information anywhere and anytime. On the other hand, pervasive computing also means that computers are hidden in numerous so-called information appliances that we use in our day-to-day lives Characteristics of pervasive computing applications have been identified as interaction transparency, context awareness, and automated capture of experiences.
Strengthening IT Governance With COBIT 5
Authors: Chaudhari Gaurav , Mulgund Pavankumar
Published: June 2017

This paper aims to explore the importance of COBIT 5 as a framework, in ensuring the effective “Governance of Enterprise Information Technology (GEIT)”, and to promote the understanding of the five COBIT 5 principles. A comprehensive literature review has also been performed taking into account a total of 56 research papers published in the last decade on COBIT. The data collected from these research papers was analyzed in order to identify various trends- commonalities, differences, themes, and the nature of study. The research papers have been categorized first on basis of their scope and secondly on their nature (empirical, conceptual or descriptive). Towards the end of the paper, we have provided an overview of our findings on the strengths and weaknesses of the research papers studied, and have made suggestions for future research.
Cartographic Information Off-Line and First Nations
Authors: Cipolla-Ficarra Francisco V.
Published: June 2017

We present the importance of analogical and digital cartography in the reconstruction of the cultural heritage of the first nations. Besides, through the cartographic information and the interactive multimedia systems, we examine the metamorphose of ancient pre-Columbus constructions, whose physical sites were based in the advanced knowledge of those civilizations in astronomy issues. We also present the main stages in the digital cartographic generation for their later use in the multimedia systems. Finally, we sum up the difficulties in the diffusion of certain historic contents compiled in the off-line multimedia supports, in the Internet and in the current social networks.
A Multi-Agent Model for Personalizing Learning Material for Collaborative Groups
Authors: Santana-Mansilla Pablo , Costaguta Rosanna , Schiaffino Silvia
Published: June 2017

The use of computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environments in teaching and learning processes has increased during the last decade. These environments have various collaboration, communication and coordination tools that students and teachers can use without depending on the time and place where they are. However, having software tools that support group learning does not guarantee successful collaboration because factors such as insufficient knowledge of study contents can impair learning. The analysis of group interactions should allow teachers to recognize obstacles in the learning process, but when there are a lot of interactions the manual analysis is unfeasible owing to time and effort required. This chapter presents a multi-agent model that personalizes the delivery of learning material when groups of collaborative students manifest lack of knowledge. In addition, this chapter describes results of experiments conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using Lucene for retrieving learning material written in English and Spanish.