Technology Enhanced Education
The Internet as a Learning Support Tool
Darko Dukić, Goran Kozina
Abstract
Information and communication technologies have a pivotal role in modern society. The pace of technology breakthroughs is increasing, yet younger generations find it easy to accept and integrate those changes into all aspects of life. The aim of this research was to establish to what extent Croatian polytechnic students use the Internet as a learning support. The survey encompassed 818 students, and the data were processed by methods of descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicate that there are differences between particular groups as regards the frequency of Internet usage for an academic purpose. The research also tried to establish how well prepared Croatian polytechnic students are for participation in knowledge management activities.
Keywords
Internet, learning, polytechnic students, knowledge management
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
Knowledge Management in Higher Education: ICT Equipment, Skills and Attitudes of Croatian Polytechnic Students
Gordana Dukić, Goran Kozina
Abstract
Knowledge management has become an important competitive tool in organisations as it enables them to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Although lagging behind the business sector in its implementation, higher education is by its very nature directed towards knowledge management. Through their research work higher education institutions participate in the creation of knowledge, whereas knowledge dissemination is carried out through publications and student education. Information and communication technologies (ICT) play a key role in knowledge management. To be able to participate in a knowledge management project, students need to have adequate equipment at their disposal and be ICT literate. Starting with these premises, our research was designed to assess ICT equipment and skills among Croatian polytechnic students and to determine how they perceive certain aspects of knowledge management project. In the research, principal components and factor analysis were applied.
Keywords
Knowledge management, higher education, students, ICT, principal components analysis, factor analysis
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
Preconditions for the Implementation of E-learning in Primary Schools in the Republic of Croatia – Pupils’ Perspective
Valentina Đurek, Nina Begičević Ređep, Blaženka Divjak
Abstract
The main objective of the paper is to present results of a research on pupils’ perspectives on fulfillment of preconditions for implementation of e-learning in primary schools in Croatia. Survey was completed by 1302 pupils from five urban and five rural primary schools in five geographical regions in Croatia. Prerequisites, which are investigated in the research, were obtained as a result of a qualitative analysis of sources on the introduction of e-learning in primary schools. These results can serve as an input into the process of strategic planning and decision making on implementation of e-learning in primary education in Croatia.
Keywords
e-learning, primary school, strategic planning, decision making
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
Expert Based Learning (EXBL) Methodology and Performance Measurement Quiz (PMQ) to Evaluate Learning and Develop Performance Measures
Bekim Fetaji, Mirlinda Ebibi, Majlinda Fetaji
Abstract
The focus of this research is applying knowledge management into mobile learning and combine it with current research on personalization and adaptive learning and develop a methodology oriented in learning from experts and not academics. In order to test the developed methodology a mobile software solution is created for iOS platform and tested the efficiency of the developed solution. The contribution of the research study is the proposed Expert Based Learning (EXBL) methodology to be used for developing m-learning applications. Also contribution of the study is the PMQ (Performance Measurement Quiz) that is used for evaluating not only learning but also for developing performance measures.
Keywords
expert based learning, knowledge management, m-learning, mobile devices
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
Analysis of On-line Survey About Need for Presence of Higher Education Institutions on Social Networks:
a Step Towards Creation of Communication Strategy
Kruno Golubić, Jadranka Lasić-Lazić
Abstract
The use of social networks among higher education institutions in Croatia is not widespread. An anonymous on-line survey about the importance of institutional presence on social networks was conducted during a ten-day period in May 2011 and included a questionnaire which was distributed to students and employees of two Zagreb based institutions. The results of the survey are interpreted and presented in this paper. These results can be used as a general guideline toward the creation of communication strategy for the presence of higher education institutions on web based social networks.
Keywords
Survey, Presence on social networks, Higher education institutions, Communication strategy
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
Cardinality of Simplexes in a Delaunay Tessellation
Leonard B. Hearne
Abstract
Given a set of n linearly independent points in a Euclidean space E^d, P = {p1, . . . , pn} with n > d, a Delaunay tessellation with at lease one d−dimensional simplex can be constructed. This tessellation is unique up to degenerate linearity conditions. The cardinality of the set of unique k−dimensional simplexes, k ≤ d, in the tessellation is bounded and the bound can be computed, given the dimension of the space, d, and the number of points in the tessellation generating set, n. These bounds can be refined if the number of points on the convex hull of P, m, is known. The bounds on cardinality are developed using constructive geometric arguments presented in the sequence necessary to construct the tessellation. The cardinality of simplexes in the Voronoi diagram is then related to the Delaunay tessellation by geometric duality. An example is given.
Keywords
Cardinality, Duality, Delaunay Tessellation, Voronoi Diagram
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
Educational Data Mining for Grouping Students in E-learning System
Divna Krpan, Slavomir Stankov
Abstract
The popularity and the use of elearning systems increased through last decades. Students produce a lot of data through their interactions with the system, which is often not exploited. Since there is a vast amount of such data, data mining techniques were used as the appropriate solution. In this paper we show practical experience with specific e-learning system and applied data mining technique for the analysis which served as a tool for grouping students with similar characteristics.
Keywords
educational data mining, learning management system, group modeling
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
Enablers of Online Training (OT) In Australia's Recreation and Other Services Industry
Joze Kuzic, Josip Mesaric
Abstract
The research presented in this paper shows a study into the training online in large organizations in Australia. In particular, this research is focused on comparing the enablers of online training in Australia’s large corporation as a whole and Recreation and other services industry in Australia. It was accomplished through a survey of 500 large organizations.
On-line training is gaining momentum in many countries and is used by many types of businesses [4]. The research reported in this paper is looking at the enablers of online training in very diverse organizations ranging from Communications industry to wholesale/retail trade in Australia.
This research has found that many of the enablers identified in the literature are also identified in large organizations in Australia. These include: top management support, skilled work force [14]; financial support, crossfunctional team, alignment of the software and organizational standards [6]; just in time training[4]; usability and transferability [18] etc.
Keywords
Online training, Enablers, Australia
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
Adaptive Learning: a New Approach in Student Modeling
Agostino Marengo, Alessandro Pagano, Alessio Barbone
Abstract
Here is described the implementation of adaptivity in Moodle: a specific but very common Learning Management System. After a preliminary study about the adaptive built-in features in moodle learning management system, and the capabilities ready to perform a suitable student modeling, the research team extended Moodle capabilities with a specific data model, student model and tutoring engine to perform automatic monitoring and sequencing of learning objects for each particular learner. The future implementation of this project is related to testing activities in order to prove the efficiency method in content and course delivery.
Keywords
Adaptive Learning, Intelligent Systems, learning management, moodle, student modelling, activity locking
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
Acceptance of Verificator by Information Science Students
Tihomir Orehovacki, Danijel Radosevic, Mladen Konecki
Abstract
Verificator is an educational tool for teaching introductory programming at the university level. This study integrates programming anxiety and computer self-efficacy into the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with an aim to examine the factors that affect the acceptance of Verificator by information science students. Data were collected using an online survey questionnaire while the hypothesized relationships in the research model were tested employing the variance-based Partial Least Squares (PLS) technique. Theoretical and practical implications as well as future research directions are presented and discussed.
Keywords
Verificator, Educational Tool, Teaching Programming, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Partial Least Squares (PLS)
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
E-learning Participation in Higher Education: A Study of Scottish and Croatian Students
Kay I Penny, Darko Dukic
Abstract
E-learning is becoming increasingly important in higher education. Information was gathered on students’ usage of e-learning activities in Scotland and in Croatia. An exploratory factor analysis reveals four underlying factors which may be used to classify the different types of e-learning activities, and logistic regression modelling was used to identify which student characteristics were associated with each of the different classifications of elearning. These findings provide an insight into the different usages of e-learning activities, each of which should be considered individually in terms of design and management of e-learning systems, and in the provision of training for staff and students.
Keywords
E-learning Participation, Information and Communication Technologies, Higher Education
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
Using a Virtual Laboratory to Better Understand Chemistry – an Experimental Study on Acquiring Knowledge
Nataša Rizman Herga, Dejan Dinevski
Abstract
Understanding chemistry includes the ability to think on three levels: the macroscopic level, the symbolic level and the level of particles, where an effective tool can be the use of virtual laboratories. We carried out a didactic experiment to test the effectiveness of virtual laboratory from pupils’ perspective. We asked ourselves the question whether the learning outcomes of pupils are better when they do experiments in a virtual laboratory in comparison to science classes without visualization elements. The results showed, that in terms of knowledge acquisition, using the virtual laboratory is better than science classes without visualization elements.
Keywords
virtual laboratory, science, chemical visual literacy, skills
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
Peculiarities of Applying the Design Method of Active Learning Object
Asta Slotkiene
Abstract
This paper presents an active learning object design method, which enables the design of educational content, prediction of learning process and creation of problematic learning situations. It presents an algorithm of generation of an active learning object specification by using the proposed method. This paper also analyzes the peculiarities of proposed method by comparing two active learning objects (one of them is implemented in accordance with the specification of this method, and the other one - on the basis of the lecturer’s experience only).
Keywords
active learning object, active learning, design methods of active learning object
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
Applied Bachelor Degree Programs as Technology Enhanced Education in the Innovative Russia
(Implementation Experience in Krasnoyarsk Region)
Olga G. Smolyaninova
Abstract
The article presents the analysis of the problem, risks and prospects of launching an Applied Bachelor degree program within the process of training professionals in the secondary and higher educational institutions of the Krasnoyarsk region. The team defined the basic principles, the invariable part of the Applied Bachelor program with makes the model universal: it may be transferred to any other training program in any other subject area.
Keywords
Applied Bachelor degree, constructive learning paradigm, innovative technology, effectiveness indicator, program assessment
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
Quantitative Indicators of Academic Libraries’ Involvement in Educational Process
Jadranka Stojanovski, Anita Papić
Abstract
The biggest wriggle in developments of libraries is happening in field of libraries’ services where existing services are enhanced with new functionalities and completely new services are introduced. In recent years there is a great boom of educational services empowered with new technology. The average user is overloaded with great amount of information and librarians must constantly and systematically transfer different skills to their users. In this paper quantitative results of presence of educational services on academic library web sites are presented indicating their involvement in educational processes.
Keywords
Academic libraries, content analysis, data mining, educational services
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
A Learning System for Matrix Operations by Interactive Drilling
Chisato Tada, Naoya Wada, Keiichi Kaneko
Abstract
In this study, we have designed and implemented a Web-based learning system for matrix operations to fill in the gap between the curricula of high schools and scientific or engineering universities in Japan. The system is based on drilling and it provides remedial education so that freshmen in scientific or engineering universities in Japan are able to acquire knowledge required for university education. The system consists of two sub parts, textbook and drilling. The former is for teaching the definitions related to matrices and operations defined on matrices to students while the latter is for teaching rules of the operations to the students. We have carried out a small evaluation experiment with ten participants who are all students in arts faculties of universities and have not learned matrices in high schools nor in universities. From the result of the experiment, we observed that the system has equivalent learning effect to the paper-based learning. Furthermore, from the answers of a questionnaire, the participants who learned by our system are affirmative for using the system to learn matrix operations.
Keywords
Remedial Education, Inverse Matrices, System of Linear Equations, Mathematical Education, e-Learning
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.