bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolving Solutions for Multiobjective Problems and Hierarchical AI
Authors: Charles Darryl , Fyfe Colin , Livingstone Daniel , McGlinchey Stephen
Published: May 2011

Multi-Objective Problems, MOP, are a class of problems for which different, competing, objectives are to be satisfied and for which there is generally no single best solution – but rather for which a set of solutions may exist which are all equally as good. In commercial real-time strategy, RTS, games, designers put a lot of effort into trying to create games where a variety of strategies and tactics can be employed and where (ideally) no single simple optimal strategy exists. Indeed, a great deal of effort may be spent in ‘balancing’ the game to ensure that the main strategies and units all have effective counters (Rollings and Morris, 1999). It may be the case, then, that RTS games may be considered as MOP. If not in terms of the overall goal of winning the game, which is clearly a single overriding objective, then in terms of the many different objectives that must be met in order to achieve victory. There may be a number of strong, potentially winning strategies, each of which is formed from the combination of a large number of tactical and strategic decisions – and where improvement in one area will lead to increasing a weakness elsewhere.
Optimization of Individual and Regulatory Market Strategies with Genetic Algorithms
Authors: Pichl Lukáš , Watanabe Ayako
Published: May 2011

An optimal policy problem is formulated for evolutionary market settings and analyzed in two applications at the micro- and macrolevels. First, individual portfolio policy is studied in case of a fully computerized, multiagent market system. We clarify the conditions under which static approaches—such as constraint optimization with stochastic rates or stochastic programming—apply in coevolutionary markets with strictly maximal players under scaled genetic algorithms. Convergence to global optimum is discussed for (a) coevolution of buying and selling strategies and for (b) coevolution of portfolio strategies and asset distributions over market players. Because only a finite population size in our setting suffices for the asymptotic convergence, the design criteria for genetic algorithm given (explicit cooling scheme for mutation and crossover, exponentiation schedule for fitness-selection) are of practical importance. Second, system optimization policy is studied for a model economy of Kareken and Wallace (1982) type. The income redistribution, monetary and market regulation policies are subjected to a supergenetic algorithm with various objective functions. In particular, the fitness function of a policy (i.e., a supercreature) is computed by means of a conventional genetic algorithm which is applied to the market players (creatures) in a fixed evaluation period. Here, the underlying genetic algorithm drives the infinite market dynamics and the supergenetic algorithm solves the optimal policy problem. Coevolution of consumption and foreign currency saving policies is discussed. Finally, a Java model of a stationary market was developed and made available for use and download.
Fuzzy-Neural Cost Estimation for Engine Tests
Authors: Kaminsky Edit J. , Danker-McDermot Holly , Douglas Freddie
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses artificial computational intelligence methods as applied to cost prediction. We present the development of a suite of hybrid fuzzy-neural systems for predicting the cost of performing engine tests at NASA’s Stennis Space Center testing facilities. The system is composed of several adaptive network-based fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS), with or without neural subsystems. The output produced by each system in the suite is a rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost estimate for performing the engine test. Basic systems predict cost based solely on raw test data, whereas others use preprocessing of these data, such as principal components and locally linear embedding (LLE), before entering the fuzzy engines. Backpropagation neural networks and radial basis functions networks (RBFNs) are also used to aid in the cost prediction by merging the costs estimated by several ANFIS into a final cost estimate.
Reliability and Evaluation of Health Information Online
Authors: Bernstam Elmer V. , Meric-Bernstam Funda
Published: May 2011

This chapter discusses the problem of how to evaluate online health information. The quality and accuracy of online health information is an area of increasing concern for healthcare professionals and the general public. We define relevant concepts including quality, accuracy, utility, and popularity. Most users access online health information via general-purpose search engines, therefore we briefly review Web search-engine fundamentals. We discuss desirable characteristics for quality-assessment tools and the available evidence regarding their effectiveness and usability. We conclude with advice for healthcare consumers as they search for health information online.
Integrating Mobile-Based Systems with Healthcare Databases
Authors: Jiao Yu , Hurson Ali R. , Potok Thomas E. , Beckerman Barbara G.
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, we discuss issues related to e-health and focus on two major challenges in distributed healthcare database management: database heterogeneity and user mobility. We designed and prototyped a mobile-agent-based mobile data-access system framework that can address these challenges. It applies a thesaurus-based hierarchical database federation to cope with database heterogeneity and utilizes the mobile-agent technology to respond to the complications introduced by user mobility and wireless networks. The functions provided by this system are described in detail and a performance evaluation is also provided.
The Foundations of XML and WSDL
Authors: Polgar Jana , Braum Robert Mark , Polgar Tony
Published: May 2011

XML stands for Extensible Markup Language (http://www.w3.org/XML/), and it has been adopted by industry for exchanging data in a platform, language, and protocol independent fashion. While XML has many benefits during the development stage, it has some performance disadvantages. This chapter provides a quick look at the following topics: 1. Overview of the standard and basic concepts; 2. Basic XML document structure; 3. Information about usage of Document Type Definition (DTD); 4. Structure and usage of XML Schema; and 5. Discussion about the design and performance issues when using XML documents with Web service.
Writing Portlets
Authors: Polgar Jana , Braum Robert Mark , Polgar Tony
Published: May 2011

This section is intended for IT managers who need to understand the basics of developing portlets. We will take you briefly through the development cycle of a portlet: from writing the code, to compiling, up to deployment. You must start with environment set up and continue with writing, compiling, and testing the portlets.
Consumer Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Mobile Marketing
Authors: Carroll Amy , Barnes Stuart J. , Scornavacca Eusebio
Published: May 2011

Mobile marketing is an area of m-commerce expected to experience tremendous growth in the next 5 years. This chapter explores consumers’ perceptions and attitudes towards mobile marketing via SMS through a sequential, mixed-methods investigation. Four factors were identified and proven as all having a significant impact on mobile marketing acceptance—permission, content, wireless service provider (WSP) control, and the delivery of the message, which guided the development of a revised and empirically tested model of m-marketing consumer acceptance. The findings also suggest that marketers should be optimistic about choosing to deploy mobile marketing, but exercise caution around the factors that will determine consumer acceptance. The chapter concludes with a discussion about directions for future research.
M-Health
Authors: Wickramasinghe Nilmini , Goldberg Steve
Published: May 2011

Medical science has made revolutionary changes in the past decades. Contemporaneously, however, healthcare has made incremental changes at best. The growing discrepancy between the revolutionary changes in medicine and the minimal changes in healthcare processes is leading to inefficient and ineffective healthcare delivery and one if not the significant contributor to the exponentially increasing costs plaguing healthcare globally. Healthcare organizations can respond to these challenges by focusing on three key solution strategies, namely, (1) access – caring for anyone, anytime, anywhere; (2) quality – offering world-class care and establishing integrated information repositories; and (3) value – providing effective and efficient healthcare delivery. These three components are interconnected such that they continually impact the other and all are necessary to meet the key challenges facing healthcare organizations today. The application of mobile commerce to healthcare, namely, m-health, appears to offer a way for healthcare delivery to revolutionize itself. This chapter serves to outline an example of adopting mobile commerce within the healthcare industry, namely, in the area of a wireless medical record. In particular, itdiscusses an appropriate, feasible mobile solution to enable hospitals operate effectively and efficiently in today’s competitive and costly healthcare environment as well as meet all the necessary regulatory requirements. The lessons learnt from these case study data should be of interest to both practitioners and researchers since they will outline realistic and feasible solutions to enable hospitals to incorporate a wireless/m-commerce solution as well as highlighting key areas for further research in this important area of high-quality, effective, and efficient healthcare management.
Outcomes of Introducing a Mobile Computing Application in a Healthcare Setting
Authors: Burley Liz , Scheepers Helana , Haddon Barbara
Published: May 2011

Interest in mobile computing applications has been increasing over the past few years. The healthcare sector has begun recognizing the potential for providing at point-of-care access to applications through mobile devices. However, there are challenges for the successful implementation of mobile computing applications. This chapter explores the implementation of a mobile computing solution in two Australian residential aged care facilities. The chapter compares the results of the implementation with previous studies and outlines a hierarchy of three levels of impact within the two organisations. The chapter furthermore describes the challenges, impacts, and outcomes. Finally it lists some strategies for alleviating some of the difficulties with mobile computing solutions.
Simultaneous Evolution of Network Architectures and Connection Weights in Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Sarker Ruhul A. , Abbass Hussein A.
Published: May 2011

Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have become popular among researchers and practitioners for modeling complex real-world problems. One of the latest research areas in this field is evolving ANNs. In this chapter, we investigate the simultaneous evolution of network architectures and connection weights in ANNs. In simultaneous evolution, we use the well-known concept of multiobjective optimization and subsequently evolutionary multiobjective algorithms to evolve ANNs. The results are promising when compared with the traditional ANN algorithms. It is expected that this methodology would provide better solutions to many applications of ANNs.
Hierarchical Neural Networks for Modelling Adaptive Financial Systems
Authors: Mohammadian Masoud , Kingham Mark
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, an intelligent hierarchical neural network system for prediction and modelling of interest rates in Australia is developed. A hierarchical neural network system is developed to model and predict 3 months’ (quarterly) interest-rate fluctuations. The system is further trained to model and predict interest rates for 6-month and 1-year periods. The proposed system is developed with first four and then five hierarchical neural networks to model and predict interest rates. Conclusions on the accuracy of prediction using hierarchical neural networks are also reported.
Modeling and Prediction of Foreign Currency Exchange Markets
Authors: Kamruzzaman Joarder , Sarker Ruhul A. , Begg Rezaul K.
Published: May 2011

In today’s global market economy, currency exchange rates play a vital role in national economy of the trading nations. In this chapter, we present an overview of neural network-based forecasting models for foreign currency exchange (forex) rates. To demonstrate the suitability of neural network in forex forecasting, a case study on the forex rates of six different currencies against the Australian dollar is presented. We used three different learning algorithms in this case study, and a comparison based on several performance metrics and trading profitability is provided. Future research direction for enhancement of neural network models is also discussed.
Automotive Industry Information Systems
Authors: Howard Mickey , Powell Philip , Vidgen Richard
Published: May 2011

Building cars to customer order has been the goal of volume vehicle manufacturers since the birth of mass production. Eliminating the vast stocks of unsold vehicles held in distribution parks around the world represents potential savings worth billions, yet the current supply chain resembles islands of control, driven by production push. Despite recent advances in information technology offering total visibility and real-time information flow, transforming an” old world” industry to adopt customer responsiveness and build-to-order represents a significant step change. This requires overcoming barriers both within and between supply partners and at all levels of the supply chain. Yet, what are these barriers really like and how can the industry overcome them?
Power Conflict, Commitment & the Development of Sales & Marketing IS/IT Infrastructures at Digital Devices, Inc.
Authors: Butler Tom
Published: May 2011

This article explores the political relationships, power asymmetries, and conflicts surrounding the development, deployment, and governance of IT-enabled sales and marketing information systems (IS) at Digital Devices, Inc. The study reports on the web of individual, group and institutional commitments and influences on the IS development and implementation processes in an organizational culture that promoted and supported user-led development. In particular, the article highlights the problems the company’s IS function encountered in implementing its ad-hoc strategies and governance policies. It will be seen that the majority of these problems occurred because of the high levels of autonomy and budgetary independence of the IT-literate, engineering-oriented business ‘communities-of-practice’ that constituted Digital Devices. The case therefore provides rare insights into the reality of IS development and IT infrastructure deployment in organizations through its in-depth description of the positive and negative influences on these processes and their outcomes.
Development of an Information Kiosk for a Large Transport Company
Authors: Blignaut Pieter , Cruywagen Iann
Published: May 2011

An information kiosk system is a computer-based information system in a publicly accessible place. Such a system was developed for a large public transport company to provide African commuters with limited educational background with up-to-date information on schedules and ticket prices while also presenting general company information in a graphically attractive way. The challenges regarding liaison with passengers are highlighted and the use of a touch screen kiosk to supplement current liaison media is justified. System architecture is motivated and special services offered by the system are discussed. Several lessons were learned regarding the implementation of such a system in general, as well as in this environment specifically. An online survey indicated that the system fulfils its role of providing useful information in an accessible medium to commuters in a reasonable time.
Experiences from Using the CORAS Methodology to Analyze a Web Application
Authors: den Braber Folker , Mildal Arne Bjørn , Nes Jone , Stølen Ketil , Vraalsen Fredrik
Published: May 2011

During a field trial performed at the Norwegian telecom company NetCom from May 2003 to July 2003, a methodology for model-based risk analysis was assessed. The chosen methodology was the CORAS methodology (CORAS, 2000), which has been developed in a European research project carried out by 11 European companies and research institutes partly funded by the European Union. The risk analysis and assessment were carried out by the Norwegian research institute SINTEF in cooperation with NetCom. NetCom (www.netcom.no) is one of the main mobile phone network providers in Norway. Their ‘MinSide’ application offers their customers access to their personal account information via the Internet, enabling them to view and change the properties of their mobile phone subscription. ‘MinSide’ deals with a lot of sensitive customer information that needs to be secure, while at the same time being easily available tithe customer in order for the service to remain usable and competitive. The goal of the analysis was to identify risks in relation to the use of the ‘MinSide’ application and, where possible, suggest treatments for these risks. This was achieved through two model-driven brainstorming sessions based on system documentation in the form of UML sequence diagrams and data flow diagrams.
Database Design Based on B
Authors: Locuratolo Elvira
Published: May 2011

This chapter is devoted to the integration of the ASSO features in B. ASSO is a database design methodology defined for achieving conceptual schema consistency, logical schema correctness, flexibility in reflecting the real-life changes on the schema and efficiency in accessing and storing information. B is an industrial formal method for specifying, designing, and coding software systems. Starting from a B specification of the data structures and of the transactions allowed on a database, two model transformations are designed: The resulting model, called Structured Database Schema, integrates static and dynamics exploiting the novel concepts of Class-Machine and Specialized Class-Machine. Formal details which must be specified if the conceptual model of ASSO is directly constructed in B are avoided; the costs of the consistency obligations are minimized. Class-Machines supported by semantic data models can be correctly linked with Class-Machines supported by object Models.
Web Service Integration and Management Strategies for Large-Scale Datasets
Authors: Panagis Yannis , Sakkopoulos Evangelos , Sioutas Spyros , Tsakalidis Athanasios
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents the Web Service architecture and proposes Web Service integration and management strategies for large-scale datasets. The main part of this chapter presents the elements of Web Service architecture, the challenges in implementing Web Services whenever large-scale data are involved and the design decisions and businessprocess re-engineering steps to integrate Web Services in an enterprise information system. The latter are presented in the context of a case study involving the largest private-sector telephony provider in Greece, where the provider’s billing system datasets are utilized. Moreover, scientific work on Web Service discovery is presented along with experiments on implementing an elaborate discovery strategy over real-world, large-scale data. Thereby, this chapter aims to illustrate the necessary actions to implement Web Services in a corporate environment, stress the associated benefits, to present the necessary business process re-engineering procedures and to highlight the need for more efficient Web Service discovery.
Stakeholder Management
Authors: Brandon Daniel M.
Published: May 2011

The identification and management of a project’s stakeholders is vital to the complete success of a project. Well-planned and properly-executed projects often can still fail due to a lack of or inappropriate relationships between the project manager and various stakeholders. This chapter discusses matters related to the human side of project management, including stakeholder relations, communications, and project team management.
Performance Reporting and Earned Value Analysis
Authors: Brandon Daniel M.
Published: May 2011

A PM must report on the project’s performance to the upper management of the performing organization and perhaps also to the benefiting organization. Upper management usually realizes the complexity and rapid dynamics of IT projects, however, it still needs accurate projections of project completion time and cost so that interdependent business activities, including product release/migration can be planned. Traditional methods of progress-performance reporting are often inaccurate and misleading. Earned value analysis (EVA) has proven to be an extremely effective tool for project time and cost management providing good estimates of actual project completion cost and date. EVA is also is a good early indicator of project problem areas, so that appropriate corrective action can be initiated. The effective use of earned value in IT projects, however, is still low, particularly outside of the U.S. government and its contractors. The application of EVA in IT projects is neither trivial nor straightforward because earned value requires careful planning and reporting in regard to work-packet specification, progress measurements, and actual cost determination. In addition, mechanisms to obtain all this information must be integrated into the organization’s project management, software engineering methodology, and financial reporting systems. This chapter discusses and illustrates effective ways to integrate EVA into an organization’s methodology and financial systems, and also presents specific techniques to deal with associated EVA complexities.
Empowerment of Marginal Communities Through Information-Driven Learning
Authors: Rahman Hakikur
Published: May 2011

Effective use of information technology can play an important role in learning processes among constricted-bandwidth-inflicted countries with bare minimum information infrastructure. The Internet can act as the learning tool for providing appropriate content with easier access at lesser effort. When communities interact through any effective means of communication to gain access to relevant information, raise their knowledge, develop their capacities, mobilize resources, establish knowledge network, and empower themselves, penetration of the Internet must be ensured at acceptable state. However, the information-driven learning system requires more than these, so that information becomes truly a value-added product for the marginal community.
Sustaining Internet Accessibility
Authors: Jordan Robert , Buranapunsri Worachat , Berge Zane
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, accessibility is defined as providing barrier-free Internet applications for those with physical and other disabilities. In some nations, accessibility to government Web sites and Web-based applications is the law. In the private sector, providing accessible Web sites makes good business sense. It increases productivity of employees who use it, expands the markets of businesses that provide it, and enhances the reputation of organizations that employ it. Although there are cost and time challenges for Web designers who incorporate accessibility, these may be overcome through careful planning and a through understanding of accessible design principles. Accessible design means simple design, which benefits all users.
Web Mining System for Mobile-Phone Marketing
Authors: Wang Miao-Ling , Wang Hsiao-Fan
Published: May 2011

With the ever-increasing and ever-changing flow of information available on the Web, information analysis has never been more important. Web text mining, which includes text categorization, text clustering, association analysis and prediction of trends, can assist us in discovering useful information in an effective and efficient manner. In this chapter, we have proposed a Web mining system that incorporates both online efficiency and off-line effectiveness to provide the “right” information based on users’ preferences. A Bi-Objective Fuzzy c-Means algorithm and information retrieval technique, for text categorization, clustering and integration, was employed for analysis. The proposed system is illustrated via a case involving the Web site marketing of mobile phones. A variety of Web sites exist on the Internet and a common type involves the trading of goods. In this type of Web site, the question to ask is: If we want to establish a Web site that provides information about products, how can we respond quickly and accurately to queries? This is equivalent to asking: How can we design a flexible search engine according to users’ preferences? In this study, we have applied data mining techniques to cope with such problems, by proposing, as an example, a Web site providing information on mobile phones in Taiwan. In order to efficiently provide useful information, two tasks were considered during the Web design phase. One related to off-line analysis: this was done by first carrying out a survey of frequent Web users, students between 15 and 40 years of age, regarding their preferences, so that Web customers’ behavior could be characterized. Then the survey data, as well as the products offered, were classified into different demand and preference groups. The other task was related to online query: this was done through the application of an information retrieval technique that responded to users’ queries. Based on the ideas above the remainder of the chapter is organized as follows: first, we present a literature review, introduce some concepts and review existing methods relevant to our study, then, the proposed Web mining system is presented, a case study of a mobile-phone marketing Web site is illustrated and finally, a summary and conclusions are offered.
The Analytic Network Process – Dependence and Feedback in Decision-Making
Authors: Saaty Thomas L.
Published: May 2011

Simple multi-criteria decisions are made by deriving priorities of importance for the criteria in terms of a goal and of the alternatives in terms of the criteria. Often one also considers benefits, opportunities, costs and risks and their synthesis in an overall outcome. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with its independence assumptions, and its generalization to dependence among and within the clusters of a decision — the Analytic Network Process (ANP), are theories of prioritization and decision-making. Here we show how to derive priorities from pair-wise comparison judgments, give the fundamental scale for representing the judgments numerically and by way of validation illustrate its use with examples and then apply it to make a simple hierarchic decision in two ways: pair-wise comparisons of the alternatives and rating the alternatives with respect to an ideal. Network decisions are discussed and illustrated with market share examples. A mathematical appendix is also included.
Online Methods for Portfolio Selection
Authors: Levina Tatsiana
Published: May 2011

This chapter overviews recent online portfolio selection strategies for financial markets. These investment strategies achieve asymptotically the same exponential rate of growth as the portfolio that turns out to be best ex post in the long run and do not require any underlying statistical assumptions on the nature of the stock market. The experimental results, which compare the performance of these strategies with respect to a standard sequence of historical data, demonstrate a high future potential of online portfolio selection algorithms.
Learning Style Flexibility for Effective Virtual Teams
Authors: Toit Pieter H.D. , Petegem Peter V.
Published: May 2011

Changes currently taking place globally in education, training and all areas of human potential development where learning forms the crux, have implications for e-learning. Interactive participation in virtual teams has become an evident means of promoting the principles of deep and constructive learning, and the life-skill of working in teams. Team members working in virtual teams are interdependent of each other and learning to become independent learners as an end result. Value is added to learning in virtual teams when the principles of learning style flexibility (LSF) are integrated with the principles of effective collaborative e-learning. The idea of learning style flexibility proposed in this chapter underpins the notion of developing learners’ full potential and facilitating the process of becoming flexible in problem solving. The Ned Herrmann whole brain theory is used as the basis of the theoretical framework and adapted for learning style flexibility in virtual teams. In this chapter we discuss awareness of one’s own learning style preferences, flexibility in terms of learning with the aim of developing one’s full potential, formation of diverse e-learning groups according to learning style preferences for optimizing virtual group performance, and using collaborative action learning to promote constructive learning.
Computer Mediated Technology as Tools for Social Interaction and Educational Processes
Authors: Stout Karen R.
Published: May 2011

Computer mediated technologies (or CMTs) enhance educational processes and are tools that have particular implications for learning and interacting in virtual teams. To better understand how educational tools may be implemented to enhance student learning in virtual teams, the author addresses Wartofsky’s (1979) explication of tools as cultural artifacts. Distinctions about primary, secondary, and tertiary tools provide a framework to analyze implementations of educational CMT research. Implications of these tools on virtual team’s cognitive skills and collaborative learning are explored. Tertiary tools are explored in particular, as they may provide virtual teams with shared interaction space and alternative representations of the social world. The author provides examples of CMT implementation and suggestions for technological and pedagogical advancements.
21st Century Technologies
Authors: George Susan Ella
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, we introduce and outline four different 21st century technologies. The most important 21st century technology is ICT–information and communication technology. In many ways, it has come to be the backbone of society, and provides the infrastructure upon which other technologies can sit. It is extremely pervasive, rapidly increasing, and undoubtedly important. The future of ICT will see ever-increasing speed, reliability, interconnectivity and sophistication approaching that of the capabilities cyberspace offer.
Church and the Internet
Authors: George Susan Ella
Published: May 2011

his chapter considers the topic church and the Internet. We start with outlining some directories for “virtual religion,” defined earlier as that religion which finds electronic expression in the virtual world. We note that there are directories both for real-world churches with a Web presence, and those that are truly a stand-alone online initiative. The two types of “church” are often confused. We continue by looking at specific examples of entities that are solely based on the Internet. They call themselves :Internet church,” or might be called “Internet church.” The examples mentioned range from Internet ventures sponsored byofficial mainline churches (e.g., I-Church), providing paid staff for pastoral oversight, to those set up by self-help organisations for the blind (e.g., EChurch-UK), to satirical efforts at making religion humorous (e.g., Church of Fools), and sites that appear “scam-like,” designed for collecting funds, offering schemes to “get rich,” and giving ordination qualifications, and so forth.
Christian Community
Authors: George Susan Ella
Published: May 2011

This chapter focuses on Christian community. We start with a consideration of real Christian community, finding that it is unique because of the relationship that is expected to exist between members: this relationship is one of “love,” in a “fellowship” dictated by the common status of “believer in Christ.” Secular communities are broader in type, and do not necessarily have this bond underpinning. There is evidence that both secular and religious communities have largely broken down in Western cultures. Many have found that the computer and virtual communities that are emerging are actually assisting people to find community once again. Some of the helpful factors in kindling virtual communities are the “levelling” and organisational structuresthat virtual communities make possible. Increasingly, it appears that virtual communities are providing an alternative to conventional religious communities. Debbie Gaunt provides a useful comparison between six models of Christian community and virtual community. And while the possibilities of virtual Christian communities are exciting, they are limited in (1) the lack of physical presence within which to express the most primitive aspects of community and (2) lack of guarantee that the type of relationship is that “love” that flows from the mutual status in Christ.
Legal Implications of Online Assessment
Authors: Hunt Robert R.
Published: May 2011

At a time when information, including purloined test and assessment content, moves at “Internet speed,” test and assessment owners are usually comforted to know that the law provides meaningful protection if threshold test security measures are observed. This chapter explores the question of whether that protection extends to the use of online assessment which promise greater access, convenience and savings. Applying threshold security requirements derived from copyright and trade secret laws, this analysis indicates that in its widely practiced and current form, online assessment would fail to qualify for protections by which disclosure of text content could be swiftly condemned. Online test and assessment owners are cautioned to explore threshold security alternatives and to carefully weigh the importance of their tests, as well as investments in the creation and distribution of a test instrument, against the potential loss of test content.
Academic Online Resources and Global Implications
Authors: Inoue Yukiko , Bell Suzanne
Published: May 2011

The question of finding the right information is perhaps even more important, and it requires a new organizing principle of information for the digital age…. The problem that people are running into with digitized information is that the amount of information is growing exponentially. The number of Web sites has grown from 5,000 to 50 million over the last 10 years or so, and the information they contain is very dynamic. At the same time, search engines are becoming more powerful and people are creating more sophisticated, semantically based retrieval mechanisms. All of that will, in fact, improve the quality of search and finding information. However, there is a different dimension, that of video and audio information, which cannot be routinely indexed and searched at present. (Goodman, 2001, pp. 13-14)
An E-Learning Journey
Authors: Inoue Yukiko , Bell Suzanne
Published: May 2011

A day in the life of a student in the year 2010: A student enters a learning center building and goes directly to her personal information panel. After checking in, the student is prompted to attach her electronic notebooks to upload homework from the prior day and transmit any communications from her parents. This information is sent to her is age-appropriate and is processed based on the type/assessment criteria. The assessed work is uploaded to her file, which she can access when she attends the class that deals with the information. This information is used as a personal baseline for the day’s individually designed learning activities. She also may upload her work electronically via the Internet to receive constructive feedback in a timely manner to make decisions on the process and progress of her work. (Smith & Shelley, 2002, p. 21)
Introduction
Authors: Levy Yair
Published: May 2011

Many universities and private corporations are investing significant capital in e-learning systems. Full understanding of the factors contributing to learners’ perceived effectiveness of e-learning systems will help institutions channel funding to effective factors and redesign or eliminate non-effective factors. However, learners’ perceived effectiveness of such systems has not been fully explored in prior studies. Piccoli, Ahmad, and Ives (2001) argue that interest in e-learning environments is growing rapidly; however, “a broad framework identifying the theoretical constructs and relationships in this domain has yet to be developed” (p. 403). Alavi and Leidner (2001b) concluded that “research that helps uncover the important attributes of VLS [virtual learning systems]…will be critical to our understanding of VLS effectiveness” (p. 30). In prior study, Alavi and Leidner (2001a) also concluded that: “most of the recent attempts at studying TML [technology mediated learning] in IS [information systems] research tended to adopt an overly simplistic view of this phenomenon” (p. 9).
Discussion and Conclusion
Authors: Levy Yair
Published: May 2011

This chapter provides a discussion of findings and a summary of the results of the case study conducted. The discussion also includes a section on the limitations of the case study followed by two sections highlighting the contributions of the theoretical model, the effectiveness benchmarking tools proposed, and the results of the case study. The first study contributions section includes implications for business and practice, while the second contributions section includes implications for research, scholars, and recommendations for future studies. The chapter concludes with a summary.
Adaptive Support for Inductive Reasoning Ability
Authors: Kinshuk  , Kinshuk  , Lin Taiyu , McNab Paul
Published: May 2011

Inductive reasoning ability is one of most important mental abilities that give rise to human intelligence and is regarded as the best predictor for academic performance. However, most adaptive virtual learning environments tailor the learning material adaptively according to the learner’s domain performance only, thus leaving the learner’s cognitive capacity, such as inductive reasoning ability, unsupported. This chapter presents a framework of adaptive support for inductive reasoning ability in a virtual learning environment based on researches in cognitive science. The use of the adaptive theory, Exploration Space Control, and adaptive techniques to achieve the adaptivity required is discussed in detail. A summarising discussion points out future research possibilities and concludes the chapter.
A Conceptual Architecture for the Development of Interactive Educational Media
Authors: Pahl Claus
Published: May 2011

Learning is more than knowledge acquisition; it often involves the active participation of the learner in a variety of knowledge- and skills-based learning and training activities. Interactive multimedia technology can support the variety of interaction channels and languages required to facilitate interactive learning and teaching. A conceptual architecture for interactive educational multimedia can support the development of such multimedia systems. Such an architecture needs to embed multimedia technology into a coherent educational context. A framework based on an integrated interaction model is needed to capture learning and training activities in an online setting from an educational perspective, to describe them in the human-computer context, and to integrate them with mechanisms and principles of multimedia interaction.
Defining Personalized Learning Views of Relevant Learning Objects in a Collaborative Bookmark Management System
Authors: Carbonaro Antonella
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, we introduce how to use a Web-based hybrid recommender system developed with a collaborative bookmark management system approach. The system combines content analysis and the development of virtual clusters of students and educational sources. It provides facilitation in the use of a huge amount of digital information stored in a distributed learning environment on the basis of the student’s personal requirements and interests. By adopting a hybrid approach, the system is able to effectively filter relevant resources from a wide heterogeneous environment like the Web, taking advantage of the common interests of the users and also maintaining the benefits provided by content analysis. The basic idea is to appropriately help students classifying domain-specific information found on the Web and saved as bookmarks, to recommend these documents to other students with similar interests, and to notify users periodically about new, potentially interesting documents. Documents are represented using metadata model.
Qualitative Case Method and Web-Based Learning
Authors: Hansmann Sandra
Published: May 2011

This chapter proposes a methodological framework for the use of qualitative research techniques in the evaluation of learning outcomes in Web-based courses. Topics include the use of alternative evaluation measures in Web-based courses and the appropriateness of a qualitative approach using WebCT course tools. The advantages of qualitative inquiry as an evaluative tool are considered and data collection methods are also discussed. The chapter also includes commentary on the unique role of the instructor as a qualitative researcher in Web-based interactions. Suggestions for the analysis , interpretation, and generalization of data are provided along with open, axial, and selective coding options. The chapter also includes consideration of critical limitations of the qualitative approach, including evaluator bias and transferability.
Online Assessment in Programming Courses
Authors: Woit Denise M. , Mason David V.
Published: May 2011

We present an instrumental, multiple-case study exploring issues relating to student efficacy and practical skills acquisition. Specifically, we explore the relationship between efficacy, as measured by a final online assessment, and the number and type of pre-final assessments. Online final assessment remains a constant throughout the cases of our multiple-case study, while number and type of pre-final assessments vary. Our cross-case synthesis indicates a positive relationship between programming efficacy, as measured by performance on a final online assessment, and the number of pre-final online assessments, consistent with results predicted for theoretical pedagogical work, and suggested by other empirical reports.
Conducting Formative Evaluations of Online Instructional Materials
Authors: Mann Bruce L.
Published: May 2011

Although most online instructional material probably will never see a formative evaluator, most online get some vetting by an expert in a quality review (a Stage 1). This chapter includes a discussion of two of the best-known 3-stage models of formative evaluation of instructional material, namely: the Dick and Carey model and the Alessi and Trollip model. These models help to make formative evaluation tried and true. Other ingredients for a tried and true formative evaluation are “learning domains” and “events of instruction.” These are still crucial and must always be part of a formative evaluation of online instructional materials. Also important however, is knowing the main emphasis of the instructional material in the distributed environment, and sufficient evidence of acknowledgment of multimedia learning principles.
Critical Virtual Ethnography
Authors: Grenfell Mike
Published: May 2011

Critical virtual ethnography considers the use of ethnography in researching virtual communities operating in cyberspace. The chapter begins with an examination of critical theory following the postmodernist turn and considers the difficulties faced by ethnographers as a result. It then looks at the way that critical ethnography can be undertaken through an examination of research into knowledge construction online with particular reference to the criteria adopted for analyzing the interactions. The chapter concludes with an examination of the possibilities that this style of research affords researchers.
Using Structural Equations to Validate a New, Integrated Model of Web-Based Learning
Authors: Ahmad Arshad
Published: May 2011

This chapter introduces a descriptive model of Web-based learning called The Integrated Learning Model (ILM). The ILM is a data-driven idea, conceptualized from three principle components “knowledge acquisition,” “practice effects,” and “assessment,” and refined with exploratory factor analysis. The Integrated Learning Model (ILM) has at its heart three powerful theoretical concepts that currently enjoy widespread recognition in the educational literature. Structural Equation Modeling was then applied to determine the model fit, and parameter loadings to explain the learning construct.
WebLan-Designer
Authors: Sarkar Nurul I. , Petrova Krassie
Published: May 2011

It is somewhat difficult to motivate students to learn both wired and wireless local area network design because students find the subject technical, dry when delivered in class, and rather boring. This chapter introduces the case of a Web-based tool for class demonstration as well as modelling LAN design. The background of the case is presented and is followed by a review of some existing tools for network simulation and modelling. After introducing the learning theories and concepts (e.g., experiential learning and constructivism) relevant to the tools’ pedagogical value, the chapter describes the architecture and components of WebLan-Designer. The main benefits of using WebLan-Designer are discussed in the light of educational theories, and their validation is supported by a summary of comments received. The chapter concludes with remarks on the strengths and weaknesses of WebLan-Designer and its future development.
Enhancing Student Understanding of Packet-Forwarding Theories and Concepts with Low-Cost Laboratory Activities
Authors: Kadi Anthony P.
Published: May 2011

Teaching packet-forwarding theories and concepts in a practical way to undergraduate students requires both a teaching and learning framework and a laboratory infrastructure. Creating a teaching and learning framework in which students can develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of abstract concepts is not a simple task. In addition to teaching materials, the teacher requires a clear idea about learning theories and issues: (1) what is learning; (2) what is knowledge; and (3) how do students go about learning. This chapter describes a low-cost laboratory infrastructure for teaching and learning packet-forwarding theories and concepts. The framework is learner-centred and is focused on learning experiences in both classroom and laboratory. The laboratory-based activities form a critical component of the overall framework.
Instructional Design Factors and Requirements for Online Courses and Modules
Authors: Schnitz James E. , Azbell Janet W.
Published: May 2011

The nature of digital content and tools, coupled with the communications capabilities available through online instruction, can, if leveraged properly, provide opportunities for quality instructional delivery. This chapter proposes that — even in an environment of remote, asynchronous, web-based instruction — approaches and the best of effective classroom practices may not be sufficient to address the full range of capabilities the technology provides. Through work done by IBM and the Florida Virtual School (FLVS), principles and models for leveraging the advantages offered by the technology environment and overcoming the difficulties inherent have been worked out in ways that offer significant promise to all providers of virtual schooling.