bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AVU's Experience in Increasing Access to Quality Higher Education through e-Learning in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Diallo Bakary , Traoré Sidiki , Fernandes Therrezinha
Published: May 2011

Universities and other tertiary institutions in developing nations around the world are facing major challenges in meeting the demand for increasing access to higher education (HE): limitations imposed by inadequate funding, poor infrastructure and sometimes lack of political vision, added to the demographic explosion, make it almost impossible for some of these developing nations to ensure access to all to higher education solely through the conventional face-to-face mode. In this context, the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are providing an alternative to face-to-face education. Moreover, they have the potential to significantly increase access to quality higher education, improve management of tertiary institutions, increase access to educational resources through digital libraries and open education resources, foster collaboration and networking between universities, foster collaboration between the private sector and tertiary institutions, enhance sub-regional and regional integration and facilitate the mobility of teachers and graduates. In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the African Virtual University (AVU), a Pan African Inter-Governmental Organization initially launched in Washington in 1997 as a World Bank project, works with a number of countries toward reaching the goal of increasing access to quality higher education and training programmes through the use of ICTs. The AVU has been the first-of-itskind in this regard to serve the Sub-Saharan African countries. In this chapter, the AVU’s twelve years experience in delivering and improving access to quality higher distance education throughout Africa will be discussed. The AVU has trained more than 40,000 students since its inception; this is the proof that it is possible to achieve democratization of tertiary education in Africa despite many challenges.
The Networked Pupil and the Vanishing Paper Trail
Authors: Marks Andrew
Published: May 2011

This chapter offers a theoretical discussion of the impact upon the processes of teaching and learning by the increasing predominance of ICT in the school scenario, and posits other future scenarios where the social realm of the classroom could disappear altogether. Questions are raised as to what the consequences of this could be, both for teachers and learners (as agents), but also for the notion of school science as an entity (and indeed the socio-structuralism of the school itself).
Learning, Old Age and Email
Authors: Murnane John S.
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes a small research project to place Internet-linked computers in a retirement complex in Melbourne, Australia (Murnane 2007, 2008). The aim was to research the existing computer skills of the residents, provide lessons in the use of email and general Internet and computer use, investigate the most appropriate type of lessons, document the problems encountered by very senior people encountering computing and the Internet for the first time, collect research on how they used the computers, the attitudes of financial management, nursing and occupational staff towards the activity, and the involvement of peers, family and friends.
Using ‘TRIRACE©' in the Classroom –
Authors: Aremu Ayotola
Published: May 2011

Teachers are a critical factor in the educational system; they are vital to the success or otherwise of any innovation (such as computer games) in the school system. Their perceptions are critical to the success or failure of integrating computer games (Can & Cagiltay 2006). If teachers’ attitudes are negative and they do not have a say in how to use the innovation, then no matter how well a game has been packaged, it would not be effective (Aremu, 2004). One way to ensure positive teachers’ attitudes is to involve them, right from the teacher training period, in design, validation and implementation. This is the rationale behind the study which would be presented in this chapter. The goals of this chapter are therefore to firstly, provide support for the effectiveness of the use of computer games in the classroom and secondly, present teacher perceptions on how to use a computer game in the classroom.
XML Data Management in Object Relational Database Systems
Authors: Liu Zhen Hua , Novoselsky Anguel , Arora Vikas
Published: May 2011

Since the advent of XML, there has been significant research into integrating XML data management with Relational DBMS and Object Relational DBMS (ORDBMS). This chapter describes the XML data management capabilities in ORDBMS, various design approaches and implementation techniques to support these capabilities, as well as the pros and cons of each design and implementation approach. Key topics such as XML storage, XML Indexing, XQuery and SQL/XML processing, are discussed in depth presenting both academic and industrial research work in these areas.
Learning Contracts as Part of Instructional Design and Evaluation
Authors: Ware Mary C.
Published: May 2011

The author, an instructional development specialist and faculty member with 35+ years experience, has been attempting, throughout her career, to encourage students to be more self-directing about their learning and to move away from the phenomenon she calls “whadyaget” in which students are only concerned about the grade they receive on an assignment, rather than the accomplishment the assignment represents. One solution to this problem is the use of contracts, specifically with mature adult learners. In a contract learning setting, students choose a contract which includes the “body of work” for which they will be responsible. Once completed, students will receive the grade for which they contracted. The author will report anecdotal evidence collected from at least ten years of using this method and also will discuss pros and cons of contract learning/grading, suggestions for improved implementation of the contract process and future trends in contract learning as they relate to adult education and, most recently, distance learning.
Assessing Adult Learning and Learning Styles
Authors: Isaac E. Paulette
Published: May 2011

Adults have different learning styles which can either enhance or deter their learning. In the conversation that follows, I discuss the utility of assessing adult learning and the diversity of learning styles. Adult education literature is replete with discussions on characteristics of adult learners and adult learning and development. But how do we actually know if adults gained the knowledge they set out to learn? We know that there are several factors that should be taken into consideration when facilitating adult learning, but as adult educators and practitioners of the field, it is equally important that we learn and/or know how to deploy various approaches in assessing adult learning. In this chapter are brief discussions on adult learning, learning styles, and learning assessments.
Assessing Adult Learning and Learning Styles
Authors: Petty Gregory C.
Published: May 2011

Adults have different learning styles which can either enhance or deter their learning. In the conversation that follows, I discuss the utility of assessing adult learning and the diversity of learning styles. Adult education literature is replete with discussions on characteristics of adult learners and adult learning and development. But how do we actually know if adults gained the knowledge they set out to learn? We know that there are several factors that should be taken into consideration when facilitating adult learning, but as adult educators and practitioners of the field, it is equally important that we learn and/or know how to deploy various approaches in assessing adult learning. In this chapter are brief discussions on adult learning, learning styles, and learning assessments.
Software Parallel Processing in Pervasive Computing
Authors: Dundas Jitesh
Published: May 2011

This chapter proposes the application of periodic wave concepts in management of software Parallel processing projects or processes. This chapter lays special emphasis on Runaway project, which create a lot of problems in Project Management for the stakeholders. This chapter proposes a new and dynamic way to control the software project estimation activity of Runaway project/processes, thereby reducing their future occurrences. This chapter also explains how the equations of unidirectional periodic Waves can be applied in software Parallel processing to measure quality and project execution in a dynamic way at any point in time. The concepts proposed here are dynamic unlike PERT/CPM and other metrics, which fail in worst-case scenarios. The Propagation Speed ‘C’ at any point in time of a stage or part of a software system executing in Parallel can be given by: C = H/ k (1). Where, H = length of the Wave (i.e. highest point), k = time taken in completing the stage.
A Progressive Exposure Approach for Secure Service discovery in Pervasive Computing Environments
Authors: Durga S.
Published: May 2011

The dynamic property of pervasive computing hinders users to have complete knowledge of the relationship among services, service providers, and credentials. The involvement of only the necessary users and service providers for service discovery in pervasive computing environments is challenging. Without prudence, users’ and service providers’ requests or service information, their identities, and their presence information may be sacrificed. The problem may be as difficult as a chicken-and-egg problem, in which both users and service providers want the other parties to expose sensitive information first. In this chapter, the authors propose a progressive approach to solve the problem. Users and service providers expose partial information in turn and avoid unnecessary exposure if there is any mismatch. Although 1 or 2 bits of information are exchanged in each message, the theoretical analysis and experiments show that our approach protects sensitive information with little overhead.
Tele-Immersive Psychotherapy
Authors: Singh Anubhav Kumar , Singh Ramesh
Published: May 2011

As our world progresses into ever more competitive stressful environments and life styles, various mental and psychological disorders have come to manifest themselves increasingly among the general human population. As our knowledge has advanced various methods and techniques have been developed to combat these disorders. One such method is the use of immersive technologies for controlled exposure to certain environments as part of the treatment process. Tele-Immersion is a technology which enables such immersive cooperative environments over long distances. Thus it has an immediate application in psychotherapy where psychologists can control and monitor their patients and their immersive treatments over long distances. This chapter shows one such application model based in a tele-immersive environment and is based on the ongoing research on Tele-immersive systems and their applications at National Informatics Centre, New Delhi, India.
Reengineering Higher Education
Authors: Murthy K.V Bhanu
Published: May 2011

The University System is confronted with a changed environment which necessitates re-engineering of higher education. The new framework is that of a new Pedagogic System that is to be embedded in the Knowledge Management System, in seamless manner, through pervasive computing. This paper argues that the University system is under great pressure from industry (society) to deliver such finished products (graduates) from its system so as to be directly absorbed into industry and that too at a mass scale and in a short period of time. The objective is to propose a complete change in the philosophy and methods and outline the re-engineering by which this can be done, in a seamless manner, through these strand of re-engineering: 1. e-learning and blended learning; 2. pervasive computing; 3. distance and open learning; as well as 4. an outcomes approach to pedagogy.
An Appraisal of a Computer-Based Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Course for Nigerian English Teachers and Teacher-trainers
Authors: Ayoola Kehinde A.
Published: May 2011

This chapter is a presentation of a continuing professional development (CPD) programme for English teachers and teacher-trainers in Nigeria using one of the states in Nigeria as a case study. It evaluates the effectiveness of the computer assisted programme, which was part sponsored by the British Council, and concludes that it did not achieve its desired objectives due to a number of reasons. For instance, it was observed that the course content was too loaded for a part-time course. Other reasons for the failure of the programme include absence of internet connectivity, low level of computer literacy, poor power supply and lack of commitment on the parts of both the trainees and the institutions they worked for. The chapter ends with suggestions on how the anomalies observed could be corrected so that computer resources could be used more effectively in the design and implementation of continuing professional development (CPD) programmes for English Language teachers and teacher-trainers in developing countries.
Personal Health Records Status-Quo and Future Perspectives
Authors: Liu, Simon Y.
Published: May 2011

Consumers, industry, and government have recently focused attention on the potential of personal health records to empower patients in the health care process, improve patient-provider relationships, facilitate patient access to health information, and improve the quality of health care. A Personal Health Record (PHR) is a private and secure digital record that is created, managed, and owned by an individual, and contains the owner’s relevant health information. The benefits of PHRs have not yet been widely realized due to several significant challenges in their adoption, including the need for privacy, security, and interoperability, and the lack of accepted standards. Although many players in the healthcare arena are beginning to offer partial solutions, none have adequately addressed the full range of challenges. The adoption of PHRs can be significantly accelerated by the development of Open Source software that enables an individual to collect, create, organize, and manage his or her own private and secure PHR, using a standardized format and controlled vocabulary.
Balancing Security and Performance Properties During System Architectural Design
Authors: Houmb Siv , Georg Geri , Petriu Dorina , Bordbar Behzad , Ray Indrakshi , Anastasakis Kyriakos , France Robert
Published: May 2011

Developers of critical systems need to address several quality properties, such as security and performance, in the early stages of the development cycle to ensure that the system under construction meets its requirements. Sometimes quality properties conflict with each other and/or with the system’s functionalities, so the developers need to make trade-off decisions. Unreasonable costs, added developer resources and tight project schedules may be other reasons for having to trade-off between alternative solutions. In the context of Model-Driven Development, the analysis of quality properties is done by transforming software design models into different analysis models based on various formalisms, which are then analyzed with existing tools. A major challenge is to integrate different models, transformations and tools into a consistent and coherent process. In this chapter the authors present a methodology called Aspect-Oriented Risk Driven Development (AORDD), which integrates the analysis of two quality properties, namely security and performance, into the development process of critical systems. Each quality property is analyzed separately, and then all results are input to a trade-off analysis that identifies conflicts between the properties. Trade-off analysis aims at supporting designers and developers in choosing the security and performance solutions that best fit their needs, without introducing unacceptable development delays or costs. The security analysis consists of identifying the assets (critical components, such as sensitive information) of an application and the attacks that can compromise these assets, and formally analyzing whether these attacks are actually possible using the tools UML2Alloy and Alloy Analyzer. If the system is vulnerable to the attack, some security solution, modeled as an aspect according to Aspect Oriented Modeling (AOM), is added to the system. The analysis must be repeated to ensure that the resulting system is secure. Performance analysis is accomplished using Layered Queuing Network (LQN) models. Annotated system models are transformed into LQN models and performance experiments are executed on them. If the performance results are unacceptable, the system design has to be changed and the analysis repeated. Finally, the results of the security and performance analysis are input to the system quality property trade-off analysis, which is implemented as a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) topology, and which also takes as input external parameters, such as time to market and budget constraints. The results of the trade-off analysis help identify how well a particular design meets performance, security and other project goals, which, in turn, can guide the developer in making informed design decisions. The approach is illustrated using a transactional web e-commerce benchmark (TPC-W) originally developed by the Transaction Processing Performance Council.
Development of a 4D Visualization Tool for Construction Planning
Authors: Terashma Takanori , Makanae Koji , Dawood Nashwan
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents the implementation of a system that visualizes the construction process using 3D modeling data and schedule data to analyze construction planning. Previous papers have emphasized the benefits of visual 4D planning that combines 3D modeling data and process schedule data for work progress control. The proposed methodology offers rapid visualization of work performance with scheduled activity and facilitates construction planning and schedule inspection. Consequently, it should increase productivity and reduce rework. However, even major construction companies will not adopt such a work style, because the existing, well-organized way of working would not be readily changed unless the new style is proven to afford benefits that outweigh the effort and cost required to adapt to the style. The advanced CAD system, for example, is able to simulate the assembly process, and the advanced 3D graphic designer is able to animate the arrangement of objects. Even though each software provides multiple functionalities, the applications in practical use are all independent and specific, such as CAD for designing 3D models, and a project manager for scheduling and analyzing. Therefore, a system that integrates all outputs from each application is required to move from the conventional work style to the new one. This chapter, thus, aims to develop a system that integrates several types of data and enables the simulation of the construction progress by gradually showing 3D models according to the activity schedule. It is also possible to attach material data to each object and to display related information like cost and object properties. The system assumes the following requirements: (1) to import and display the 3D modeling data, (2) to import the project schedule, (3) to link each model and activity, (4) to give the material data on each object to enhance reality, and (5) to show cost accumulation. These functions are supposed to be realized such that the system utilizes the resources previously reserved. Therefore, the system should be able to import a DXF format file for 3D modeling data and access the MDB format database for the project schedule, including costs. The MDB file is originally a database that Microsoft Access creates. Microsoft Project, which is probably the most widely used software for project management, is also able to export the project data in this format. These functions are implemented with Microsoft Visual C++ and DirectX SDK. Although the system displays inaccurate models partially because of the misinterpretation of the DXF file, all of the demands listed above are satisfied currently. The authors of this chapter are now at the stage of implementation of further functions, that is, to display not only structures but also other elements such as the temporal space on the site, the route of delivery vehicles, and the work area of the temporally used heavy machinery, all for the sake of the visualization and analysis of the entire construction site.
Parallel Computing for Mining Association Rules in Distributed P2P Networks
Authors: Guan Huiwei
Published: May 2011

Distributed computing and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) systems have emerged as an active research field that combines techniques which cover networks, distributed computing, distributed database, and the various distributed applications. Distributed Computing and P2P systems realize information systems that scale to voluminous information on very large numbers of participating nodes. Data mining on large distributed databases is a very important research area. Recently, most work for mining association rules focused on a single machine or client-server network model. However, this traditional approach does not satisfy the requirements from the large distributed databases and applications in a P2P computing system. Two important challenges are raised, one is how to implement data mining for large distributed databases in P2P computing systems, and the other is how to develop parallel data mining algorithms and tools for the distributed P2P computing systems to improve the efficiency. In this chapter, a parallel association rule mining approach in a P2P computing system is designed and implemented, which satisfies the distribution of the P2P computing system well and makes parallel computing become true. The performance and comparison of the parallel algorithm with the sequential algorithm is analyzed and evaluated, which presents the parallel algorithm features consistent implementation, higher performance, and fine scalable ability.
Benefits and Challenges of E-Learning
Authors: Wang Su-Chen
Published: May 2011

E-learning has altered, and will continue to affect teaching and learning contexts in universities and tertiary education worldwide, including in Taiwan. Many universities in Taiwan have moved to offer courses that include both face-to-face and e-learning but very little research has been undertaken on student perspectives. The issue about whether e-learning can bring benefits to improve student learning or students will face more challenges is a concern of many researchers and educators. This chapter explores the benefits and challenges of e-learning support from student perspectives in a national research-oriented university in Taiwan. An interpretive paradigm with quantitative and qualitative methods was adopted as the basis for the research methodology. This chapter outlines the findings from a survey of nearly 400 different college students and focus group discussions with over thirty students about their perceptions and experiences of e-learning in blended learning courses. SPSS were used to analyze the data of the questionnaires and interviews. The findings suggest that students experience benefits and challenges relating to their personal perception of e-learning, learning attitude, personal expertise with ICT, use and access to the requisite technology. Students perceived the benefits of e-learning as arising from being able to preview and follow up on face-to-face lectures and to discuss ideas and issues with peers and instructors given that class sizes are large, typically over a hundred students. Respondent students indicated e-learning might help them change their learning attitudes to become more active and diligent learners and also improve their personal time management and organizational ability. However, the findings from questionnaires and interviews also identified students face personal and technological challenges. The researcher expects the findings can contribute to enhancing the university e-learning practice and improving instructor teaching and student learning in e-learning. The university and instructors need to identify the perceived benefits and challenges of e-learning and provide practical support for student learning. Students also need to change their perceptions and learning attitude to e-learning.
What Does Knowledge Have to do with Ethics?
Authors: Huff Chuck
Published: May 2011

In the same way that useful theory in knowledge management systems leads us to rethink the nature of knowledge (Spender & Scherer, 2007) a theory of ethics that is informed by current research in moral psychology will lead us to rethink the nature of ethical action. This chapter introduces a research program that has tracked ethical action among computer professionals and uses the insights from that research to make suggestions about how purposive moral action is undertaken and how it might be supported by knowledge management systems.
Management of Moral Knowledge and Ethical Processes in Organizations
Authors: Kostrzewa Agata , Laaksoharju Mikael , Kavathatzopoulos Iordanis
Published: May 2011

Moral knowledge is necessary for organizational functioning in order to get legitimacy and increase profits. Given Blackler’s assumptions about organizations, the authors discuss managing moral knowledge in organizations as a set of organizational processes with a time point and in a certain environment. They argue that to become ethically competent, organizations have to combine individuals and organizational ethical skills. Instead of on what is supposed to be done, the authors focus on what is done: interactions within the organization and with its environment, structured by practical routines, bearing main responsibility for transferring moral knowledge. The means facilitating this are organizational roles and structures, trainings, formal and informal support systems along with rules and guidelines. Further, the authors suggest two tools to assist managing moral knowledge: Ethical Index ETHIX (questionnaire to describe how ethical issues are handled in the organization) and the IT system ETHXPERT (supports and structures the process o ethical decision making).
Online Identities in Virtual Worlds
Authors: Power Andrew , Kirwan Gráinne
Published: May 2011

Online identities need not reflect the true identity of the user. Relatively little is known about the use of online identities during e-learning and blended learning programmes, and if these reflect the students’ true self. Online identities may impact on student achievement and satisfaction and as such are an important consideration for educators. Following an overview of the relevant literature regarding online identities, this paper describes findings from a survey of students currently engaged in a programme delivered using these techniques and where an awareness of online identities is to the fore. Several strengths and weaknesses of online identities in education are identified, and while students generally felt that they were portraying their own true identity online, many felt that others in the group were not. Implications for practice are described.
Educational Technology, Innovation and Habitus
Authors: McNutt Larry
Published: May 2011

Information and communications technology has radically transformed many aspects of modern life. However, this is in marked contrast to its impact on education. The purpose of this chapter is to explore why educational technology has done little to transform our higher education system. This is in spite of the emergence of the formal role of educational technologist, the improved ICT infrastructure and the evolving recognition of the importance of teaching and learning within the sector. Yet it is also apparent that within a given academic community there are many individually motivated innovators, i.e. those characterised by their willingness to experiment with new approaches and embrace change. Whilst there are also many who resist and avoid any possible alterations (or interference) in how they teach their subject matter.This chapter will argue that Bourdieu’s concepts of habitus and field could provide a suitable lens to investigate why this apparent dichotomy has developed. This will involve a review of what we mean by educational technology; a broad look at the characteristics of innovators in other domains and to consider how applicable their experiences are to education. Finally, I will propose that rather than identifying and classifying shared characteristics of innovators it would be more valuable to examine and capture the innovative educator’s habitus.
Anti-plagiarism Software in an Irish University
Authors: Risquez Angelica
Published: May 2011

A variety of anti-plagiarism software applications have appeared in recent years, but the pedagogical and institutional practices underpinning their use remains largely unexplored. It is essential to increase the amount of evidence-based literature that investigates the use of anti-plagiarism software in higher education. In the light of this, this chapter explores the integration of anti-plagiarism software in an Irish university since early 2006 and the progress made to date. We use data gathered from our own context to show how instructors are using this software to date, what trends emerge and what can be deduced about the adoption of the system to guide future research questions. Best practices are suggested for educators in order to help them to use anti-plagiarism software in proactive, positive, and pedagogically sound ways.
Sustainability through Staff Engagement
Authors: Gormley Paul , Bruen Catherine , Concannon Fiona
Published: May 2011

In many third-level institutions the innovative potential of technology has not been fully recognised or exploited at a strategic organisational level or embedded in mainstream educational work processes at a micro level. The sustainable integration of effective e-learning practices into higher education establishments remains a major challenge. This chapter discusses the challenges of designing staff development programmes which support the integration of e-learning into higher education by (1) leveraging the affordances presented by Web 2.0 technologies, coupled with (2) utilising a community of practice model to provide a sustainable peer-driven framework to share, support and embed technology-mediated teaching and learning practices. The chapter presents a practical example how a model of staff engagement was implemented within an Irish university, and concludes with suggestions on how others may benefit in considering a similar approach.
The Role of Decision Support Systems (DSS) in Planning For Improved Water Quality in Coastal Lakes
Authors: Kelly R. A. , Merritt W. S.
Published: May 2011

Coastal lakes are ecosystems which provide significant environmental, social and economic values. They are a key habitat for many aquatic species, particularly for juvenile fish and aquatic invertebrates. They are a focus for human activity, including recreation, tourism, and many forms of industry and production such as oyster and commercial fisheries. More and more the foreshore areas of lakes are seen as a desirable place to live, with urban development a key pressure on lake systems. However current development, use and management of these systems mean that these values are already under threat. Environmental managers, urban planners and other decision makers need to make complex decisions about patterns of current and future use of these systems which allow for the trade-offs associated with various activities to be effectively taken into account. Decision support systems (DSS) are seen to have a role to play in supporting these activities.When developed properly, DSS can support decision making processes by providing users with a tool that shows the relationships between drivers of a system and outcomes. Environmental outcomes (e.g. estuary health) are controlled by often complex biophysical, ecological, economic and/or social drivers and processes. In this context a DSS should address uncertainty in data, knowledge and predictions, and allow users to explore the sensitivity of outcomes to controllable drivers (e.g. management actions), uncontrollable drivers (e.g. climate variability) and uncertainty. The DSS development and adoption process also needs to be flexible to a changing decision making environment. Ultimately the success of any DSS will depend not only on its technical capacity, including the robustness of any science underlying it, or the ease of use of any interface but also on the circumstances into which it arrives: the time and money allowed for training, capacity building, incorporation of stakeholder comments and development of trust between DSS developers, scientists and the community; the way in which the DSS is embedded in the decision making process; and the ‘politics’ and constantly changing face of the decision making environment.This chapter will discuss issues regarding the development of a DSS under typical planning timeframes where there are limited resources (time and budgetary) and where current and future management issues may not be certain and/or may change over the planning timeframe. The chapter largely draws on experiences gained during the development and application of the CAPER DSS in the Great Lakes, NSW Australia.
Assessing the Efficiency and Distribution of Agricultural Activities Using DSS
Authors: Pereira Helga , Dias Luis C. , Alves Maria João
Published: May 2011

This work describes the sequential use of different Information Systems and Decision Support Systems (DSS) to measure the efficiency of a set of agricultural activities, and subsequently to propose alternative reallocations of these activities within a geographical region. The region selected as a case study was Ribatejo e Oeste (RO), an important agrarian region in mainland Portugal. The DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) methodology was used to assess the efficiency of the most important agricultural activities in RO, using the Frontier Analyst DSS to study alternative modelling options. In a second phase, plans for redistributing the evaluated activities were studied, aiming at promoting the most efficient activities (according to DEA) but without creating at the same time drastic changes in current land uses. Several plans constituting different compromises between these two objectives were found using a multiobjective linear programming DSS. A Geographical Information System was used to constrain the areas that were adequate for each type of crop and to graphically illustrate some proposed plans.
MicroLEIS DSS
Authors: de la Rosa D. , Anaya-Romero M.
Published: May 2011

The main focus of this chapter is that using soil type information in decision making is at the heart for sustainable use and management of agricultural land. The MicroLEIS decision support system (DSS) is based on the multifunctional evaluation of biophysical soil quality, using basically input data collected in standard soil inventories, and with particular reference to the peculiarities of the Mediterranean region. Its design philosophy is a toolkit approach, integrating many software instruments: databases, statistic models, expert systems, neural networks, Web and GIS applications, and other information technologies. As a case study applying MicroLEIS DSS to Cordoba Province (Spain), soil specific strategies to maximize land productivity and to prevent land degradation are predicted within two major topics: i) strategies related to land use planning at a regional scale, and ii) strategies related to soil management planning at a farm level. This DSS has proved to be an appropriate methodology for converting knowledge on land use and management systems, as estimated by research scientists, into information that is readily comprehensible to policy makers and farmers.
Environmental Sensor Networks and Continuous Data Quality Assurance to Manage Salinity within a Highly Regulated River Basin.
Authors: Quinn Nigel W.T. , Ortega Ricardo , Holm Lisa M.
Published: May 2011

Environmental sensor networks enjoy widespread deployment as monitoring systems have become easier to design and implement in the field and installation costs have fallen. Unfortunately software systems for data quality assurance have not kept pace with the development of these sensor network technologies and risk compromising the potential of these innovative systems by making it difficult to assess the accuracy and consistency of the data. Lingering uncertainty can constrain the willingness of stakeholders to make operational decisions on the basis of the real-time sensor data: a few negative experiences can do irreparable damage to a project which is attempting to change stakeholder behavior. Management of river salt loads in complex and highly regulated river basins such as the Murray Darling Basin in south-east Australia and the San Joaquin Basin in California, USA present significant challenges to Information Technology infrastructure within resource agencies that often have a poor history of coordination and data sharing. In the San Joaquin Basin, web-based environmental data dissemination initiatives to address salinity issues need to overcome a fear of loss of autonomy as well as data quality assurance and data reliability issues. These environmental decision support issues are contrasted with those facing resource managers in the Murray Darling Basin. This paper describes a new approach to environmental decision support for salinity management in the San Joaquin Basin of California that focuses on web-based data sharing using YSI Econet technology and continuous data quality management using a novel software tool, Aquarius. Commercial turn-key monitoring systems such as YSI EcoNet provide real-time web-access to sensor data as well as providing the owner full control over the way the data is visualized. The same web-sites use GIS to superimpose the monitoring site locations on maps and local hydrography and allow point and click access to the data collected at each environmental monitoring site. This Information Technology suite of software and hardware work together to provide timely, reliable and high quality data in a manner that can used by stakeholder decision makers to better manage salt export to the San Joaquin River and ensure compliance with State water quality objectives. The technologies developed for this application can be extended to improve compliance with TMDL water quality objectives over entire river basins and should have applicability in any watershed where environmental decision support systems are being developed to assist for stakeholders as part of a coordinated strategy for non-point pollutant load reduction.
Interprofessional Care and Health Care Complexity
Authors: Johnson Kerry , Tashiro Jay Shiro
Published: May 2011

Health care systems are complex and often approach a deterministic chaos in the number and types of interactions that occur among health care providers and patients, as well as among the providers themselves. Such complexity may be an important barrier as North American health care systems are evolving into care-giving settings in which providers work to improve patient outcomes though interprofessional collaborative patient-centred care. The research on evidence-based learning and how to build new models of professional development opportunities for health information management (HIM) professionals is explored. Additionally, creating new and more effective undergraduate training programs in HIM is examined. From the perspective of interprofessional care, the authors provide a core set of interprofessional competencies and discuss how these competencies may be sensibly integrated into, and evaluated within, undergraduate curricular structures as well as professional development programs. A special emphasis of the chapter is an analysis of two case studies that highlight the barriers inherent within complex health care systems. Such barriers inhibit evidence-based education and professional development designed to improve interprofessional care.
Hu Resources Replaces Human Resources in Health Care
Authors: Davis Emmett
Published: May 2011

Intelligent technologies are exponentially approaching the stage where healthcare professionals must begin to plan for the management of “hu” (human, software, and robotic) resources, replacing management of human resources alone in isolation from other intelligences. The healthcare industry in multiple levels and ways must begin to plan for human resources in health care to extend existing and to develop new conceptual and behavioral skills in order for humans, intelligent software, and robots to optimally partner with each other. The interaction among hu resources will be active and carried out in multiple modes and intellectual and emotional intensities. Healthcare professionals, who shape the social and cultural institutions around intelligence and active knowledge, can optimize the impact and performance of this intelligence partnership.
Soft Computing Techniques in Civil Engineering
Authors: Pérez Juan L. , Rabuñal Juan R. , Abella Fernando Martínez
Published: May 2011

Soft computing techniques are applied to a huge quantity of problems spread in several areas of science. In this case, Evolutionary Computation (EC) techniques are applied, in concrete Genetic Programming (GP), to a temporary problem associated to the field of Civil Engineering. The case of study of this technique has been centered in the prediction, over time, of the behavior of the structural concrete in controlled conditions. Given the temporary nature of the case of study, it has been necessary to make several changes to the classical algorithm of GP, among whom it can be emphasized the incorporation of a new operator that gives the GP the ability to be able to solve problems with temporary behavior. The obtained results shown that the proposed method has succeeded in improving the adjustment to the current regulations about creep in the structural concrete.
Application of Machine Learning Techniques in the Study of the Relevance of Environmental Factors in Prediction of Tropospheric Ozone
Authors: Gómez-Sanchis Juan , Soria-Olivas Emilio , Martinez-Sober Marcelino , Blasco Jose , Guerrero Juan , del Valle-Tascón Secundino
Published: May 2011

This work presents a new approach for one of the main problems in the analysis of atmospheric phenomena, the prediction of atmospheric concentrations of different elements. The proposed methodology is more efficient than other classical approaches and is used in this work to predict tropospheric ozone concentration. The relevance of this problem stems from the fact that excessive ozone concentrations may cause several problems related to public health. Previous research by the authors of this work has shown that the classical approach to this problem (linear models) does not achieve satisfactory results in tropospheric ozone concentration prediction. The authors’ approach is based on Machine Learning (ML) techniques, which include algorithms related to neural networks, fuzzy systems and advanced statistical techniques for data processing. In this work, the authors focus on one of the main ML techniques, namely, neural networks. These models demonstrate their suitability for this problem both in terms of prediction accuracy and information extraction.
A Comparative Analysis of Local Agenda 21 Websites in Turkey in Terms of E-Participation
Authors: Parlak Bekir , Sobaci Zahid
Published: May 2011

Local Agenda 21 (LA 21) is a democracy project aiming to enhance the public’s participation in the processes of political and administrative decision-making. E-government, in its own right as a facilitator of participation, is a functional instrument for LA 21s in terms of ensuring the public participation and implementing governance model. In this context, this study aims to examine whether the LA 21s benefit from the e-participation opportunities over the websites in Turkey. According to the findings of empirical research, the LA 21s in Turkey do not offer a wide of number of e-participation services on their websites. LA 21s do not provide real e-participation practices allowing an interaction among the citizens, partners and the officials, elevating the citizens to the position of partners, enhancing their participation and improving the notion of democracy in Turkey.
Instructional Strategies for Teaching in Synchronous Online Learning Environments (SOLE)
Authors: Jones Marshall G. , Harmon Stephen W.
Published: May 2011

This chapter deals centrally with one emerging aspect of Web 2.0 for education, that of the increasing demand forreal time and near real-time interaction among users. Whereas most online learning has, to date, taken place in an asynchronous format, there is a growing need for an ability to provide learning opportunities in a synchronoussetting. This chapter discusses synchronous online learningenvironments (SOLEs) and the affordances they present forteaching and learning. Particularly it focuses on a capability of these environments known as ancillary communications. It discusses ancillary communications as an intentionalinstructional strategy and presents guidelines for its implementation. And, in the spirit of Web 2.0, this chapter was written using the Web 2.0 application Google Docs.
Spiraling into Transformative Learning
Authors: Cranton Patricia
Published: May 2011

This article explores how technical and vocational learningmay spiral into transformative learning. Transformativelearning theory is reviewed and the learning tasks of critical theory are used to integrate various approaches totransformative learning. With this as a foundation, the article explores how transformative learning can be fostered in adult vocational education.
A Description of Online Instructors Use of Design Theory
Authors: Cicciarelli MarySue
Published: May 2011

In a recent dissertation study, research was conducted to evaluate online instructors’ characteristics and preferences concerning the use of a telementor, or online instructor’s assistant, as a part on an online course. Those who participated in the anonymous survey came from a sample of two thousand online instructors from colleges and universities located across the United States. Of those contacted, 323 online instructors responded to the survey. Results presented in this article were produced using data from nine of the questions included in the survey. These Likert Scale questions specifically asked the instructorsabout their use of theory of multiple representation, Gagne’s conditions of learning, instructional transactiontheory, cognitive flexibility theory, three form theory, dual-coding theory, elaboration theory, theory of transactional distance, and theory of immediacy and social presence. Outcomes showed that a larger number of onlineinstructors applied design theory when creating a course compared to the instructors who indicated that they did not apply design theory. Descriptive results presented illustrate how often the participants said that they utilized each of the different theories.
Supporting Group and Individual Processes in Web-Based Collaborative Learning Environments
Authors: Pozzi F.
Published: May 2011

This chapter tackles the issue of how it is possible to integrate individual differences in the learning design ofWeb-based collaborative learning experiences. In particular, in online collaborative learning environments, it is quite common to adopt techniques to support collaboration and interactions among peers. This contribution proposes to monitor the enactment of thecollaborative techniques to make individual and groupdifferences emerge, thus allowing the consequent customization of the learning experience. To this aim, a monitoring model is proposed, whose flexibility allows the tutor to bring different aspects and different levels of the ongoing learning process under control.