bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Perceived Importance of Information Security: An Exploratory Study of Middle School Children’s Information Security Behavior
Authors: Chai Sangmi , Bagchi-Sen Sharmistha , Morrell Claudia , Raghav Rao H. , Upadhyaya Shambhu
Published: October 2017

Information security and privacy on the Internet are critical issues in our society. Importantly, children and adolescents need to understand the potential risk of using the Internet. In this research, we examine factors that motivate students’ Information Security Behavior on the Internet. A pilot survey of middle and junior high school students is the source of the data. This study provides a model that explains students’ behavior pertaining to Information Security. A significant research finding is that students’ perceived importance of Information Security plays a critical role in influencing their Information Security Behavior.
A Formal Process for Programming Language Evaluation for Introductory Courses
Authors: Parker Kevin , Chao Joseph , Ottaway Thomas , Chang Jane
Published: October 2017

The selection of a programming language for introductory courses has long been an informal process involving faculty evaluation, discussion, and consensus. As the number of faculty, students, and language options grows, this process becomes increasingly unwieldy. As it stands, the process currently lacks structure and replicability. Establishing a structured approach to the selection of a programming language would enable a more thorough evaluation of the available options and a more easily supportable selection. Developing and documenting an instrument and a methodology for language selection will allow the process to be more easily repeated in the future. The objectives of this research are to: i) identify criteria for faculty use when selecting a computer programming language for an introductory course in computer programming; ii) develop an instrument that facilitates the assignment of weights to each of those selection criterion to determine their relative importance in the selection process, and; iii) allow various computer programming languages to be scored according to those selection criteria. A set of criteria for the selection of a programming language for introductory courses proposed in a previous paper is briefly reviewed here, with each criterion accompanied with a definition and justification. Readers are referred to the source paper for a complete discussion and literature review.
The Factors that Influence Adoption of ICTs by Recent Refugee Immigrants to New Zealand
Authors: Kabbar Eltahir , Crump Barbara
Published: October 2017

Research indicates that to effectively participate in today’s global digital information age, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) familiarity is essential for individuals and communities. There is concern, especially amongst developed nations that advances in, and the rapid growth of, ICTs has the possibility of creating a new form of inequality among individuals. The New Zealand government recognises the potential for some sections of society to be alienated from the new digital environment and has made a commitment to creating an inclusive society where all individuals have the opportunity to access and effectively use ICTs. This paper presents results from a qualitative study with the goal of identifying the factors that influence ICTs’ adoption by recently arrived immigrants from developing countries, the majority of whom are refugees, and who had settled in Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city.
M-Learning Management Tool Development in Campus-Wide Environment
Authors: Hudaya Muhamad Amin Anang , Kamil Mahmud Ahmad , Izuddin Zainal Abidin Ahmad , Abdul Rahman Miziana
Published: October 2017

Mobile learning (M-Leaming) integrates the current mobile and wireless computing technology with education primarily to enhance the effectiveness of the traditional learning process. One of the difficulties in implementing M-Learning is to deliver the content efficiently. This paper focuses on the development of M-Learning management tool in campus-wide environment using the Microsoft .NET infrastructure. User acceptance study was carried out to measure the feasibility of the M-learning management application development. The results of the study indicate a tendency towards the M-Learning acceptance in campus-wide environment. The main objective of the works that have been carried out is to develop a server-side M-Learning application using the Microsoft .NET infrastructure. The works that has been carried out act as preliminary work for future development of M-Learning application in campus-wide environment.
A Double Helix Relationship of Use and Redesign in IS
Authors: Nissen Hans-Erik , Bednar Peter , Welch Christine
Published: October 2017

In the past, Information Systems Research (ISR) mainly has focused on developing, designing, and implementing computerized parts of informing systems. Even studies from a "user" perspective relate to information and communication technology (ICT), often on an abstract level. Since the advent of the ICT industry there has been a tendency to describe professionals in their practice, or people in their daily lives as ‘users’ of ICT. It is not obvious why this label should be applied. The ICT industry offers products and services to professionals and to people in their daily lives. These products and services require critical assessment to see what helps whom in particular situations. There is also a need to appraise them with respect to unintended consequences. Such critical assessment furnishes challenges to the ICT industry. More ISR seems to be needed with the intention of learning both from earlier ICT projects and from research carried out in other fields. This could comprise studying uses of earlier ICT artifacts and studies of how to redesign them to make people better informed and more knowledgeable. Becoming better informed and more knowledgeable calls for a lot of learning and unlearning. These processes always have to start from the situations in which the learners live. Designers of new ICT artifacts have not always been fully aware of this fundamental prerequisite for learning. We believe one way of supporting this kind of ISR is to reflect on the question: ‘In which ways could studies of the use-side particularly benefit from a relationship to philosophical frameworks such as hermeneutics and phenomenology?’
Categorizing the IS research literature: A user oriented perspective
Authors: Jayatilaka Bandula , Klein Heinz , Lee Jinyoul
Published: October 2017

The predecessors of this research project were the efforts to classify the Information Systems (IS) research along paradigmatic lines. While the paradigmatic classifications are very useful philosophically, examination of an issue such as the use of Information Systems and the related socioorganizational issues require a classification that is centered around the social phenomenon of the use and effects of IS. Our approach to the categorization of the body of knowledge captured in the existing Information Systems literature can make the contributions to the use side of Information Systems more explicit. The new twist of this approach is that it provide an integrative perspectives on IS use by seeking to bridge the most prevalent divides currently fragmenting the IS literature. We call our proposal for a new approach to literature classification “substance oriented”, because it follows neither the latest paradigmatic classification nor earlier bottom up citation or key word based literature classification schemes. Instead it explicitly builds on social theory concepts directly relevant for the “user-domain” and is in this sense “substance-oriented”, at least at its highest level. In its current version, the paper identifies the core concepts of Gidden’s Structuration Theory (ST) as being relatively most suited for capturing user concerns in the existing archival body of IS research publications.
Co-evolution and Contradiction: A Diamond Model of Designer-User Interaction
Authors: Pahl Anja-Karina , Newnes Linda
Published: October 2017

This paper explores how the engineering design process might balance conflicting constraints of technical product design and the social demands of users. Some insights from Buddhism, cybernetics, phenomenology and neurophysiology set the scene to help illustrate how Designers and Users build or access their respective ‘experienced-' and ‘expected world’ and achieve their aims. A prototype 3D ‘diamond model’ is presented, which expands on previous work by the authors of this paper and is compared with Beer’s [1994] Team Syntegrity protocol, to structure conversations and activities between two groups with apparently opposing aims. This provides a necessary common purpose and worldview, through which conversations and activities can become innovative, mutually informing, co-evolving and emotionally satisfactory at both the individual and team levels.
Marketable Unique and Experiential IT-Skills Education for Business Students
Authors: Baloh Peter , Damij Talib , Vrecar Peter
Published: October 2017

Educational programme for lab-lectures of Business Information Systems module is presented. There, first year undergraduate business students of Faculty of Economics Ljubljana University Business School acquire important hands-on knowledge, which is expected from them by future employers in business practice and by lecturers during their studies. The programme evolved over a course of years of instructors performing both seminars and consulting in real-life businesses and performing lab lectures in afore mentioned institution. The content is strategically rooted in combination of market- and resource-based view of the programme, and nature of performing the lectures is based on experiential education. Content of the programme along with mode of delivery (experiential learning) are presented.
Adding a new Language to VB .NET Globalization - Making the Case for the Kurdish Languages
Authors: Ali Azad , Sulainman Seever
Published: October 2017

Starting with the introduction of Visual Studio .NET (VS .NET) application developers can write programs that may be used for different languages listed in VB .NET globalization. However, this globalization list is incomplete and is missing many languages. Among the languages that are missing from VB globalization is the Kurdish language. This paper makes a case for adding the Kurdish language to the list used in VB .NET globalization. The paper starts by explaining about VB .NET globalization, the Kurdish language and then makes a case for adding the Kurdish language. Making the case is based on factors considered in including languages and also on the features of the Kurdish language. A summary and suggested future work is included at the end.
Software Agents for Managing Learning Plans
Authors: Hawryszkiewycz Igor
Published: October 2017

Support for personalized learning requires further assistance than currently available with most learning management system. Software agents have been proposed as one way of providing such assistance. The paper identifies three kinds of software agents, pedagogical, function and process agents. The paper then concentrates on process agents, which guide learners to develop personalized preferred learning plans that match learner needs and then manage progress through such plans. Agent support will only be practical if widely applicable generic agents, which can be reused in many plans, can be identified. Such agents can then be adapted to particular learner needs without extensive programming. The paper identifies some generic agents for this purpose and concentrate on agents that manage progress through the learning plans.
Practical IT Education. Deepening of Technology
Authors: Fujio Yoshinori
Published: October 2017

A practical IT education is a combination of lectures and exercises, as well as learning and putting into practice the theory of a fundamental system technology. The following is presumed. It is important to execute such education by directing the accumulation of knowledge and the expansion of knowledge through the spiral model, making it more educationally effective. The present treatise considers the efficacy of education when supplemented with working examples of graduate research that direct the accumulation and expansion of knowledge through a spiral model, and lectures accompanied by graduate research. Further examples are shown of the development into headwaters and systematic effort through a spiral model as a plan for increasing the efficacy of the education. This effort relates to “practical IT education”, for which new directionality is suggested.
Reflecting on an Adventure-Based Data Communications Assignment: The ‘Cryptic Quest’
Authors: Banks David
Published: October 2017

This paper details the development and implementation of an adventure game based assignment exploring the use of ciphers as part of a final year undergraduate data communications course. Students were presented with a document that contained a narrative to help them along the journey to the solution, one section of which required decipherment of a key instruction. The author reflects on the (pre-internet) development, student reactions and the difficulties that may be faced in the use of this type of assignment and upon his perception of the potential impact of changes in educational environments upon the use of ‘non standard’ themes for assignment work. The paper also considers some of the opportunities afforded by the Web for the development of contemporary assignments based upon the approach outlined here.
Increasing Student Retention and Satisfaction in IT Introductory Programming Courses using Active Learning
Authors: Whittington Keith
Published: October 2017

The emerging field of Information Technology is one of several fields that require students to leam computer programming. A large proportion of the students were having difficulty getting through the programming sequence and ultimately changed majors or dropped out of college. To deal with this problem, curricular reforms were implemented and active learning techniques were added to the classroom. The outcome of which was increased student retention, grades, and overall satisfaction. As a result of these encouraging results, an NSF CCLI grant was awarded to formally compare teaching techniques and to create active learning activities specifically designed for introductory computer programming courses. This paper discusses the preliminary work and results that led to the grant award and also summarizes the work that is currently underway. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award No. DUE-0442987.
Concept and Rule Based Naming System
Authors: Snae Chakkrit , Brückner Michael
Published: October 2017

Names are important in many societies, even in technologically oriented ones which use e.g. ID systems to identify individual people. There are many elements of personal names which vary in different cultures. Names such as surnames are the most important as they are used in many processes, such as identifying of people and genealogical research. On the other hand variation of names can be a major problem for the identification and search for people, e.g. web search or security reasons. We show name variations for different cultures to guide the implementation of a rule based naming system, currently worked out for Thai names. We characterize the LIG (Levenshtein, Index of Similarity Group (called ISG), and Guth) algorithms which help to find reasonable variants of names and use an ontology of names to capture the meaning of the variants which are based on Thai naming methodologies and rules. A further benefit of this process is an optimized name searching.
A Measure of Risk Caused by Information Asymmetry in e-Commerce
Authors: Christozov Dimitar , Chukova Stefanka , Mateev Plamen
Published: October 2017

The problem of enhancing success in e-Commerce requires reducing or sharing the risk of misinforming. The objectives of this paper is to raise and discuss the difficulties in quantifying the risk of misunderstanding caused by information asymmetry in a communication process; and to propose a mathematical model, developed to measure the risk of misinforming. Usage of warranty, as the most popular tool of sharing risk, is discussed in the light of risks of misinforming. A data set collected in an experiment, was used to illustrate the major ideas proposed as well as to stress on the fact that in particular circumstances this kind of risk is not understood by clients, which often leads to wrong decisions.
Bias Misinformation and Disinformation: Mental Health Employment and Human Computer Interaction
Authors: Martin Jennifer , McKay Elspeth , Shankar Janki
Published: October 2017

This paper explores the design and application of information communication technologies and human computer interaction for people recovering from severe mental illness wishing to gain employment. It is argued bias, misinformation and disinformation limit opportunities for people recovering from mental illness who are seeking employment. Issues of bias are explored in relation to systems design as well as dominant socially constructed paradigms of ‘mental health’ and ‘mental illness’ and employment. Misinformation is discussed according to the contemporary dominant paradigm of ‘recovery’ as well as web resources, discrimination and employment. Disinformation is considered in terms of media myths and stereotypes and vocational rehabilitation. Multidisciplinary collaboration is required to meet the ICT needs of this diverse group.
Towards the Automatic Generation of Virtual Presenter Agents
Authors: Nijholt Anton
Published: October 2017

There are many ways to present information to visitors and users of 2D and 3D interface environments. In these virtual environments we can provide visitors with simulations of real environments, including simulations of presenters in such environments (a lecturer, a sales agent, a receptionist, a museum guide) and including audience participation in these environments. Our research aims at generating presentations from available multimedia information. In particular, we would like to see the generation of presentations by embodied conversational agents that employ verbal and nonverbal capabilities. In the past we have seen the introduction of embodied agents and robots that take the role of a museum guide, a news presenter, a teacher, a receptionist, or someone who is trying to sell insurance, houses or tickets. In all these cases the embodied agent needs to explain and to describe. The automatic generation of presentations and presentation agents from information sources is still too ambitious a task. Therefore we look at research from the perspective of the design of tools that can support presenters or can help to provide natural access to presentations and lectures. Can we use a given collection of sheets and maybe other accessible media sources to design, create and generate an embodied presenter? Among others we discuss manual annotation of available information and the way in which presenter agents can use it. Clearly, the development of tools for these purposes is a first step towards automating the generation of presentations and presentation agents.
Video Annotation - Improving Assessment of Transient Educational Events
Authors: Butler Matthew , Zapart Tim , Li Raymond
Published: October 2017

Annotation of video content has been commonplace in the entertainment industry for many years and is now becoming a valuable tool within the business world. Unfortunately its use in education has to date been limited. Although research and development is being undertaken to apply video annotation techniques to assessment and both software and hardware exists to facilitate this process, it must be acknowledged that these solutions are generally cost prohibitive for educational use. This paper will investigate simple video annotation methods for assessment of transient state events in the education context such as presentations. The authors will introduce a number of existing uses of video annotation, as well as discuss the educational context this can be placed within, highlighting fundamental concerns with some assessment practices. A framework for a solution involving video annotation techniques will be discussed, along with practical demonstration of a prototyped solution and discussion of further application.
Will It Work? An Initial Examination of the Processes and Outcomes of Converting Course Materials to CD-ROMs
Authors: Connoley Rob
Published: October 2017

The Faculty of Business and Law at Deakin University (Victoria, Australia) decided to dispense of all printed post-graduate learning materials and replace them with CD-ROMs from the commencement of the 2006 academic year. In addition, CD-ROMs were developed for a limited number of undergraduate units as part of a future delivery plan for this cohort of students. The following paper describes this project, the reasons underpinning it, and the processes the Faculty adopted to implement the project. The project is ongoing and part of a broader agenda for change that will see an even greater application of electronic technology to teaching and learning within the Faculty. Although only initial findings and observations are possible at this stage, the project provides a basis for longitudinal reporting and, potentially, a guide for other institutions who may be considering such a move. The paper reports on these observations and on those in the educational development arena and suggests that the Faculty will need to learn from these initial experiences and evaluate the project in greater depth to guarantee a smooth transition for all stakeholders.
Implications of Foreign Ownership on Journalistic Quality in a Post-Communist Society: The Case of Finance
Authors: Robinson Beachboard Martine , C. Beachboard John
Published: October 2017

When freedom from Communism largely eliminated overt government censorship of newspapers, other political and business pressures appeared. Consequently, Southeastern European newspaper publishers faced threats to financial viability and editorial integrity. The editor-in-chief of one newspaper in the former Yugoslavian republic of Slovenia claims to have found freedom from political and advertiser influence after a global media conglomerate invested in the publication. Notably, the business daily Finance is the only hard-news start-up to survive in the eleven years since Slovenia gained independence from the Republic of Yugoslavia. This research paper offers a provocative example where international investment appears to have contributed to the democratizing of media in a post-communist society. The paper is not intended to argue that foreign media investments are necessarily beneficial but to suggest some circumstances in which foreign media investment can be advantageous to the democratic aspirations of a society.
Open-Minded Electronic Learning: Towards Enabling Cost-effective Lifelong Learning
Authors: Ajayi Olutayo , Ajayi Ibironke
Published: October 2017

Over the past 20 years, computers and the sharing of information have penetrated nearly every aspect of educational life. Indeed, the reliance on Computer-aided Learning has impact on the economic structure and the cost per learner. The demand for electronic learning (e-learning) today is rapidly growing worldwide with the demand simply over stressing the limited infrastructures and resources available. The developing countries are no exception to the same and demand for elearning is relatively on the rise as well. In this paper, an attempt has been made to critically examine ideals of open source strategies for enabling such technologies and other resources available. The paper also provides key recommendations with regards to the steps that need to be taken to enhance the overall quality of the lifelong learning most especially for adults.
A Project of Link between University and Business
Authors: De Pablos Carmen , De Pablos Monica
Published: October 2017

The present project “Technological diagnosis for Firms” offers a practical experience for the transfer pf knowledge between the university and business firms. It implies an agreement between the University and a group of firms operating near the University locations. The main objective of this project is to develop business consultancy in a group of 15 firms established in the south of Madrid, next to the University Campus. The project has been implemented by researchers from the Business Administration Area in the Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid, Spain. There have been fifteen participant firms. 6 teams of researchers formed by 2, 3, or 4 different members have developed the work. A group of diagnosis and propositions of improvement have been realised in the mentioned group of firms. Different methodologies of strategic and organisational analysis have been used.
Multidisciplinarity in Education for Digital Librarianship
Authors: Weech Terry
Published: October 2017

As information resources of all types and disciplines are being stored and retrieved in digital form, libraries are responding to the demands for more effective retrieval of such documents and to provide even more digital access to scholarly and recreational library materials. This has led schools of library and information science to develop special programs, degrees, and certificates in digital librarianship. These programs vary from one school to another, but they all demonstrate the multidisciplinarity of education for librarians who will work specifically with digital librarianship. Library and Information Science education has always had a multidiscipline orientation, with traditional faculty consisting of those with degrees in the fields of sociology, communications, history, public administration, education, engineering, and computer science, as well as advanced degrees in library and information science. But with the advent of special programs in digital librarianship, the curriculum has begun to switch to a multidiscipline curriculum content which may be evolving into a sub-specialization in the field. These trends are examined in this paper and recommendations are made regarding future research needed to determine the advisability and sustainability of this trend.
Practical E-Learning for the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at the University of Ljubljana
Authors: Luksic Primoz , Horvat Boris , Bauer Andrej , Pisanski Tomaz
Published: October 2017

This paper presents the practical issues involved in introducing e-leaming for the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics (FMF) at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. It begins with a short history of e-learning at FMF and is followed by a discussion about the choice of the open source software (Moodle, svn, wiki platform) as the foundation for the web based learning; its advantages and disadvantages. The focus is on materials that enhance classroom learning, conform to learning standards, and at the same time address the needs of the end users - the students. In the end, the results of a survey about the students' attitudes towards e-learning are presented; in general and specific to the e-learning environment at FMF.
Is it fully On or partly Off? The Case of Fully-Online Provision of Transnational Education
Authors: Miliszewska Iwona
Published: October 2017

With rapid expansion of the transnational education market, more and more universities join the ranks of transnational education providers, or expand their transnational education offerings. Many of those providers regard online provision of their programs as an economic alternative to face-to-face teaching. Do the transnational students support this view? This paper discusses the prospects of fully-online provision of education programs in one of the most important transnational markets: Hong Kong. The paper also reports on a study of the perceptions of transnational students in Hong Kong on the importance of face-to-face interaction in their courses. The paper concludes by considering the future of fully-online education in the transnational context.
Blended Proposal of Orientation Scientific Works by Comparison Face-to-Face and Online Processes
Authors: Mustaro Pollyana
Published: October 2017

The execution of academic researches - such as Undergraduate work, Master’s or PhD Thesis - is often supervised by a research advisor. The development process of such works could be characterized as face-to-face, remote or blended orientation, which combines both of former ones. The construction of a proposal for blended academic orientation involves mapping and analysis of elements, as well as didactical and communication structures that would differs face-to-face meetings from virtual interactions. The paper presents some considerations about relevant characteristics related to digital generation and learning theories that value interaction in order to built knowledge, thus allowing the determination of a blended methodology that aims to enhance intrinsic motivation and investigative posture of students at any level.
Can Online Tutors Improve the Quality of E-Learning?
Authors: Sulcic Viktorija , Sulcic Alja
Published: October 2017

In the paper we tried to present online tutoring as a solution to quality issues of e-leaming that e-leaming providers from all over the world are facing. We also briefly presented different roles of online tutors and the skills needed to perform these roles successfully. The online tutoring system was introduced to support students of e-learning courses at our faculty. Through various researches we tried to ascertain the impact online tutors have on student activity and study success. Our researches showed that tutors can improve study outcomes (although not so much students’ grades) and that their activity is well accepted by students (especially part-time students). Finally, we tried to combine all of our findings in a model for online tutoring that tries to identify the key elements and skills tutors need for an efficient support of e-learning delivery.
SMS Banking Services: A 21st Century Innovation in Banking Technology
Authors: Rotimi Adagunodo Emmanuel , Awodele Oludele , Ajayi Olutayo
Published: October 2017

According to the Euronet mobile Banking Guide, there are currently close to 400 Mobile Operators in over 133 countries who are signing up 4 to 6 new customers every second. This implies that more people are going mobile like never before. The novel method presented in this paper is an Interactive SMS Banking Agent that is incrementally scalable for banking operations. Hence, a mobile banking solution called SMS Banking that allows people to bank with their mobile phones is presented in this paper.
The Lifelong Learning Iceberg of Information Systems Academics - A Study of On-Going Formal and Informal Learning by Academics
Authors: Davey Bill , Tatnall Arthur
Published: October 2017

This article describes a study that examined the lifelong learning of information systems academics in relation to their normal work. It begins by considering the concept of lifelong learning, its relationship to real-life learning and that lifelong learning should encompass the whole spectrum of formal, non-formal and informal learning. Most world governments had recognised the importance of support for lifelong learning. Borrowing ideas and techniques use by Livingstone in a large-scale 1998 survey of the informal learning activities of Canadian adults, the study reported in this article sought to uncover those aspects of information systems academics’ lifelong learning that might lead policy setters to understand the sources of learning valued by these academics. It could be argued that in the past the university sector was a leader in promoting the lifelong learning of its academic staff, but recent changes in the university environment around the world have moved away from this ideal and academics interviewed from many countries all report rapidly decreasing resources available for academic support. In this environment it is important to determine which learning sources are valued by information systems academic so that informed decisions can be made on support priorities.
An Engagement Model for Learning: Providing a Framework to Identify Technology Services
Authors: Hawryszkiewycz Igor
Published: October 2017

The paper introduces the concept of engagement as a way of modeling and implementing flexible learning processes. The paper particularly addresses new learning demands, such as personalized learning, and defines ways of defining learning processes to support such new demands. It then shows how engagements can be used to provide guidelines for selecting information technology services that meet such new demands.
Befriending Computer Programming: A Proposed Approach to Teaching Introductory Programming
Authors: Miliszewska Iwona , Tan Grace
Published: October 2017

The problems encountered by students in first year computer programming units are a common concern in many universities including Victoria University. A fundamental component of a computer science curriculum, computer programming is a mandatory unit in a computing course. It is also one of the most feared and hated units by many novice computing students who, having failed or performed poorly in a programming unit, often drop out from a course. This article discusses some of the difficulties experienced by first year programming students, and reviews some of the initiatives undertaken to counter the problems. The article also reports on the first stage of a current research project at Victoria University that aims to develop a balanced approach to teaching first year programming units; its goal is to ‘befriend’ computer programming to help promote success among new programming students.
Study of the Influence of Multiple Intelligences and the use of Soft Skills in Project Write-up among IT and Non-IT Students: A Research Paper
Authors: Motah Mahendrenath
Published: October 2017

The present work is a follow-up of the papers presented at the Northern Arizona University, USA - “Accommodating soft skills in Software project Management” and the one presented at Salford University, Manchester, UK - “ The ontogeny of memory of learning: Natural Intelligence versus Artificial Intelligence in Information Technology Education”. Several interrogations cropped up during and after the presentation of the second paper, particularly on the conclusions, if any, that could have been drawn on the effects of soft skills, intelligence and intelligences; and if the next step would be to further investigate the impact of these on Information Technology Education. The impression that there was an urgent need to delve deeper into these factors and to find out their importance from the point of view of information technology education and other non IT fields lingered on for an appreciable length of time. In order to reply to the various unavoidable questions that arose from an analysis of the hypothetical aspects introduced in the above mentioned papers, we have tried to look into the influence of the factors related to the concepts of soft skills and intelligence in educational endeavours. In order to have an in-depth appreciation of the importance of these factors, we have solicited the involvement of both IT and Non-IT students reading in the fields of Administration and Management and Information Technology. Finding out the importance and the influence of soft skills and intelligence or intelligences became an obsession which resulted in an interesting and passionate exercise with the involvement of nearly two hundred students. We believe that, sharing the results of our findings with other colleagues would arouse further interests and trigger other more interesting research in the field.
Roles of Variables in Teaching
Authors: Sorva Juha , Karavirta Ville , Korhonen Ari
Published: October 2017

Expert programmers possess schemas, abstractions of concrete experiences, which help them solve programming problems. Stereotypes of variable use in computer programs can be characterized using roles of variables, which can be taught to novices in order to support schema formation. This paper describes the ’lightweight’ adoption of roles of variables in our teaching of introductory programming. We discuss the changes made to our courses, our experiences with this process, and some preliminary results of how our students took to roles of variables. Roles provided us with a new way to improve our teaching materials and methods. They are easily linked to code and to pseudocode designs, and we found them easy to use both as a documentative tool and for the stepwise refinement of programs. Our results indicate that more than a very ’lightweight’ introduction of roles is needed in order for students to adopt them into active use.
How an “Imperative” IS Development was Saved from a Failing Course of Action - A Case Study
Authors: Fowler Jeremy , Horan Pat , Cope Chris
Published: October 2017

When an information systems (IS) development project exceeds time, budget and functional constraints a point is reached where the decision has to be made to abandon it or attempt to save it. Some systems are of such value that management is prepared to take extraordinary measures to save them. This paper examines a case study of one such system whose development was saved from likely failure by a combination of good project management, intervention of a business sponsor and a synergistic relationship between management and the system developers. Organizational culture’s role in the project’s development is also examined in order to present a more holistic view of how the project’s successful outcome was generated.
Exploring the Influence of Cultural Values on the Acceptance of Information Technology: An Application of the Technology Acceptance Model
Authors: Merchant Sylnovie
Published: October 2017

While there has been a great deal of research on the application and implementation of Information Technology (IT), there is less research on the variables which can contribute to the successful diffusion and implementation of IT within an organization. This paper looks at the relationship between the cultural/work values of the people involved and IT adoption. Three cultures and the correlation of their cultural/work orientations and the adoption of IT via the Technology Adoption Model (TAM). Findings suggest a correlation between some of the variables in the two models used.
Information Technology and the Work/Cultural Orientations of Americans, Mexicans and Germans
Authors: Merchant John , Merchant Sylnovie
Published: October 2017

From a business perspective, the political and economic effectiveness of the United States in the global market-place will depend on individual abilities to communicate with people from other cultures. Most multinational corporations have one individual from one culture managing employees from other cultures. This has led to conflict, law-suits, and reduced productivity. To date, US business people sent overseas have not fared well compared to their counterparts from Europe and Asia, primarily because of cultural conflicts. The future success of American business, therefore, is its ability to interact with other cultures and to understand the orientations of these individuals.
Integrated Information Systems - A Challenge For Long-Term Digital Preservation
Authors: Asproth Viveca
Published: October 2017

Information technology has led to the fact that much of the information that earlier was produced on paper is now being produced in electronic form. E-government services, where the whole idea is to exchange information electronically, will radically redirect paperbound information towards electronically generated and managed information and documents. Earlier on, long-term preservation was all about paper-bound documents containing content, context and format as well as the legal issues concerning the document, such as signatures and stamps. Although paper-bound documents still are of frequent use, the degree of digital information rapidly increases. Digital information is often compiled from different databases, where content, context, format and signatures can be separated and put together differently. The challenges associated with digital preservation are strategic, organizational and structural as well as technological. The aim of this paper is to present some challenges associated with digital preservation.
E-learning and Knowledge Management: Context Structuration
Authors: Pedroni Marco
Published: October 2017

Management of the cognitive context—understood as the reconstruction of the fabric of concepts and relations, representation in the form of a concept map and management of interactive functions that are inherent to or can be situated within the context itself—is a significant exigency both within the learning environment, and in particular for e-learning, as well as within the corporate environment as part of knowledge management processes. In order to take advantage of knowledge mapping and the functions connected with it, software tools capable of supporting and managing interaction in a network environment must be designed and created on the basis of guidelines aimed at pursuing not only the ergonomics, efficiency and efficacy of use, but also flexibility and completeness during the phases of construction, updating and analysis of the relational fabric.
Towards Network Perspective of Intra-Organizational Learning: Bridging the Gap between Acquisition and Participation Perspective
Authors: Skerlavaj Miha , Dimovski Vlado
Published: October 2017

Organizational learning is a scientific field of growing importance. It has developed from classic and foundational works to the two disparate perspectives today: the acquisition and the participation perspective. The first understands knowledge as a substance, mind as a container, and learning as a transfer of a substance from one mind to another. The second perspective focuses on communities of practice and observes no teaching but rather goal-directed practical learning. We argue that both are incomplete and that there is a need for overarching perspective that would build upon multiple-theoretical and multi-level framework of social network theories. Beside connecting acquisition and participation perspective it addresses organizational learning as a multiplex and dynamic process at individual, group, intra-organizational, as well as relational level of research. This contribution proposes network perspective to intra-organizational learning and develops seven descriptive claims to be tested using real-life case studies of social networks within organizations. Both exploratory and confirmatory social network techniques are to be applied.
Using the Information Orientation Maturity Model to Increase the Effectiveness of the Core MBA IS Course
Authors: Aytes Kregg , Beachboard John
Published: October 2017

This paper describes the use the Information Orientation (IO) Maturity Model as the basis of a MBA course-based project. The IO model explicitly draws the relationship between business performance and several information and technology management concepts. More importantly, the IO Model is accompanied by a specific method of gathering and analyzing data, and includes general recommendations on how to improve the “IO Maturity” of an organization. The concepts of the model, coupled with the structure present in the data collection and analysis process, allow students to experience the dynamic environment of a live organization in a manner beneficial to both them and the organization. Both the students and the cooperating organizations found the projects valuable. At the completion of the project, the students had a greater appreciation and understanding of the role of information and technology management in the success of an organization, and simultaneously benefited from observing the management issues in the organization.
Wiki as a Teaching Tool
Authors: Parker Kevin , Chao Joseph
Published: October 2017

Wikis are one of many Web 2.0 components that can be used to enhance the learning process. A wiki is a web communication and collaboration tool that can be used to engage students in learning with others within a collaborative environment. This paper explains wiki usage, investigates its contribution to various learning paradigms, examines the current literature on wiki use in education, and suggests additional uses in teaching software engineering.
Should K-12 Teachers Develop Learning Objects?
Authors: Akpinar Yavuz , Simsek Huseyin
Published: October 2017

The emergence of learning objects for teachers as a focus of educational concentration is relatively new and much of the discussion has not been based on the actual development of objects, but different definitions, learning theories, properties and standards or decorative packages of learning objects (LOs). Also, in many teacher education programs, prospective teachers take a computer literacy class separate from content methods classes and rarely engage in producing authentic teaching/learning experiences. This research goes somewhat to address prospective K-12 teachers’ development of learning objects. In this study, a group of prospective K-12 science teachers’ learning objects were examined, evaluated and compared with LOs developed by instructional designers (IDs). A total of forty learning objects were closely investigated and effectiveness of eight of them was tried out with 180 target students in classrooms. Detailed analysis of the LOs demonstrated that while both the preservicers and the IDs use similar number of instructional elements in their LOs, the IDs seem to represent concepts and procedures with screen objects other than the text and used the text for supporting graphical objects. Both groups developed LOs similar in quality measured with the LORI 1.5. Statistical tests on the data obtained from classroom usage of the LOs showed marked improvements in the students’ learning.
Creating Learning Objects
Authors: Lerma Carlos
Published: October 2017

The changes that computers have introduced to society include the way and speed in which humans acquire knowledge and process information. The use of computers has been driven by academic research, and it is within academic settings where the use of computers has been felt stronger by society. This paper identifies the different types of learning objects and determines the factors that should be taken into consideration in the creation of learning objects, along with the different tools needed to create them. Next, we will analyze the factors that should be taken into consideration in the creation of these modules, such as learning types, social and psychological factors of learning that guide the creation of learning objects; tools and recommendations proposed to facilitate the creation of learning objects and economic costs of developing these materials.
MILO - A Proposal of Multiple Intelligences Learning Objects
Authors: Matos Hamilton , Mustaro Pollyana , Silveira Ismar
Published: October 2017

Learning objects-driven approaches for the development of instructional content have been widely used to structure entire courses and repositories for distinct learning contexts. Nonetheless, their use is still done in a static, non-adaptive manner, since students are presented to prebuilt compilations of learning object having few or none relationship with its learning current conditions, history or personal learning style, which together compose the student momentum. This work presents an analysis of current instructional design and multiple intelligences theories in order to create learning objects that provide adaptive learning methods according to different students’ characteristics. Using technologies that allow such dynamic approaches, it was created -as a proof of concept - a learning object about the Pythagorean Theorem.