Can openness to ICT and scientific research predict the ICT skills and ICT use of bachelor's students?

In this article, we focus on the question of why some bachelor's students have more proficiency in ICT skills and use computers and the Internet more frequently than other students do. To answer this question, we rely on the core variables of the TAM (Technology Acceptance Model), on the orientation of students toward scientific research, and on contextual factors. TAM has been applied successfully in research before, but in this article, the model is expanded with variables regarding the orientation of students toward scientific research, and is geared towards the relationship to basic ICT skills and the sustained use of these skills. In order to attain a more reliable instrument to measure proficiency in ICT skills and the frequency of ICT use, several new instruments are constructed. The results show that this model, a combination of four basic TAM variables, together with the identity commitment of students focused on the appreciation of scientific research and some context variables, can explain a substantial proportion of the variance in different ICT skills, but considerably less of the frequency of ICT use.     

User study on older adults’ use of the Web and search engines

Ten older adults were interviewed about the motivational factors behind learning to use computers and the negative and positive aspects related to it. They were then given search tasks and were observed as they used search engines for finding information from the Web. All of the participants completed several search tasks during the search session. Although their performance in the search tasks was adequate, they faced several problems in the interaction. For example, text editing was difficult and understanding the structure of the Web and terminology used caused problems. Based on the observations, an elderly friendly search user interface is proposed.     

A handheld classroom dashboard: Teachers’ perspectives on the use of real-time collaborative learning analytics

International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning - In Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) classrooms it may be challenging for teachers to keep awareness of certain...     

A study on the use of tactile instructions for developing robot’s motions

Developing motions for humanoid robots is time consuming. However, sport and dance instructors can easily adjust their students?? postures by simple touches. This suggests the possibility of exploiting touch for motion development, and allows us to propose a methodology based on this concept. To realize such a system, it is required to define how the robot should interpret touches. We propose a supervised learning approach to cope with this issue, and verify its feasibility experimentally. We then study the data collected by the algorithm, and show that the system is practical both for motion development and for studying human-robot tactile communication. In particular, we present considerations on the sparsity that characterize the whole process and suggest how sparsity can be exploited for efficient interpretation of tactile instructions.     

Accuracy and bias of ICT self-efficacy: An empirical study into students’ over- and underestimation of their ICT competences

Most studies on the assessment of ICT competences use measures of ICT self-efficacy. These studies are often accused that they suffer from self-reported bias, i.e. students can over- and/or underestimate their ICT competences. As such, taking bias and accuracy of ICT self-efficacy into account, would improve the validity of these studies and the predictive power of the ICT self-efficacy measures used. Consequently, the general aim of this study is twofold. First, to explore the degree to which primary school students are under- and/or overestimating their ability in digital information processing and communication. Second, to identify student characteristics that are possibly related to the accuracy of ICT self-efficacy. Information on accuracy and bias of ICT self-efficacy was gathered by comparing students’ results on an ICT self-efficacy scale and a performance based ICT competence test. Both instruments were administered to 378 sixth grade students from 58 primary schools in Flanders (the Dutch speaking part of Belgium). Information on the explanatory student characteristics was gathered through a questionnaire that was administered to the same students. The results indicate that primary school students make relatively accurate and positively biased judgments about their ability in digital information processing and communication. Further, the results indicate that primary school students’ actual ICT competences and previous ICT experience are related to their accuracy of ICT self-efficacy. As this study is one of the first to investigate primary school students’ accuracy and bias of ICT self-efficacy and to identify potential explanatory variables, it provides new insights into the nature of ICT self-efficacy.     

Enablers and barriers to the use of ICT in primary schools in Turkey: A comparative study of 2005–2011

The purpose of this study was to reveal barriers encountered by Turkish primary school teachers in the integration of ICT, to propose potential enablers to overcome those barriers, and to compare the current status of ICT integration (in 2011) with the status of ICT integration in 2005. Part of the data for this comparison was gathered in 2005 as part of a doctoral study by Goktas (2006). A survey design was used to investigate the barriers and enablers. Data were collected from 1373 teachers from 52 schools in 39 provinces. The results indicate that ‘lack of hardware’, ‘lack of appropriate software materials’, ‘limitations of hardware’, ‘lack of in-service training’, and ‘lack of technical support’ were the most important barriers. The highest ranked enablers were ‘allocation of more budget’, ‘allocation of specific units for peer support’, ‘allocation of support offices and personnel for teachers’, and ‘offering higher quality pre-service training for ICT’. Other leading enablers were ‘supporting teachers to enable effective ICT use’, ‘having technology plans’, ‘offering higher quality and more quantity of in-service training’, and ‘designing appropriate course content/instructional programs’. Analysis of an independent t-test revealed that most barriers showed significant differences and most enablers showed moderate or low differences between teachers' perceptions of their situation in 2005 and in 2011.     

Investigation of the reliability and longevity of parallel systems with defects using Daniels’ sequences

The Reliability and longevity of parallel systems is studied using the example of a fibrous composite material using Daniels sequences’ and the Markov chain theory. The connection between the strength distribution function of the separate longitudinal elements forming the parallel system and the longevity distribution function of this system under cyclic loads is analyzed. The obtained models do not give direct coincidence with the experimental data but can be used for their nonlinear regressive analysis. Numerical experimental data processing examples are given.     

Environmental monitoring and crop forecasting in the Sahel through the use of NOAA NDVI data. A case study: Niger 1986–89

Abstract

Several investigations have shown that NOAA NDVI data accumulated during a rainy season can be related to total rainfall or final primary productivity in the Sahel. However, serious problems can arise when looking for quantitative relations to monitor and forecast crop yield from NDVI values. Geographical variability can affect such relations, while the use of data taken from a whole season is impractical for forecasting. The present paper proposes a complete methodology of NDVI data processing which only utilizes NOAA AVHRR scenes from the first part of successive rainy seasons. A series of basic corrections are first applied to the original data to obtain reliable NDVI maximum value composites at the middle of the rainy seasons considered. Next, the variability in land resources is accounted for by means of a standardization process which normalizes the mean NDVI levels of some areas on the relevant multi-temporal averages and standard deviations. In this way, good estimates of the actual condition of vegetation can be obtained in relation to the local seasonal trend

The methodology was applied to the Sahelian sub-departments of Niger with data from four years (1986–1989). The most interesting result achieved concerns the estimation of final grain (millet and sorghum) yield for the sub-departments by the end of July with a mean error of about 0·08 T ha ^?1. This timely evaluation could be of great utility in the context of an efficient drought early warning system.     

Performance-based testing for ICT skills assessing: a case study of students and teachers’ ICT skills in Finnish schools

Universal Access in the Information Society - Skills enabling and ensuring universal access to information have been investigated intensively during the past few years. The research results provide...     

ICT intervention in the ‘Chandanbari’ Village of Bangladesh: Results from a field study

The United Nations, the World Bank and the International Telecommunication Union purport that information and communication technology (ICT) interventions improve development in third world countries. Hence, developing countries are rushing to implement various ICT interventions in urban-rural areas aiming to engender local or national development. Through an interpretive case study of an ICT intervention in the Chandanbari village area of Bangladesh, this research describes some challenges surrounding ICT interventions. From background literature concerning bridging the digital-divide we emphasise users’ capability, local context and local content during the planning and implementation of ICT interventions. We apply Heeks’ (eDevelopment Briefing, 3(1), 1–2, 2005) information chain model to improve understanding of ICT-led development at the community/individual level. Our findings uncover considerable interest in ICT interventions from the community/individuals; however, there are challenges to the long-term acceptance of ICT interventions, such as the socio-cultural issues of gender discrimination and cultural barriers.

A study on the relationships between different presentation modes of graphical icons and users’ attention

With the vigorous development of applications (App), graphical user interfaces (GUI) have been widely found in computers and handheld devices. This study aimed to explore the relationships between different presentation modes of graphical icons and users’ attention. An eye tracker was employed to measure each participant’s experimental data; in addition, subjective evaluation of attention was conducted. Thus, the optimum presentation mode attracting the most attention might be determined. The experiment was designed to investigate two variables: icon composition and background. Through permutation and combination, six presentation modes were obtained as follows: line + positive background (M1), plane + positive background (M2), line + negative background (M3), plane + negative background (M4), line + no background (M5), and plane + no background (M6). Thirty-six participants were requested to view thirty stimuli, or the contour drawings of graphical icons, presented simultaneously in six modes mentioned above. The participants’ fixation duration, fixation frequency, and subjective evaluation of attention were analyzed through two-way ANOVA. The analytical results showed that in terms of the three performance indicators above, M4 performed the best among the six presentation modes. Moreover, regarding icon composition, planes performed better than lines in terms of the three performance indicators. As for background, negative background performed the best in terms of the three performance indicators, positive background ranked second, and no background performed the worst. The findings can serve as a reference when icons are researched or designed in the future.     

Work capacity and anticipation in A.A. Ukhtomsky’s concept of dominance

This paper presents the results of theoretical and experimental investigations of human activity and anticipation based on A.A. Ukhtomsky’s concept of brain dominance – a non-equilibrium system-forming factor in living systems. Facts on the stages of dominance formation are presented in relation to the creative abilities of the human brain and the role of fatigue as a “lever” for increasing systems’ work capacity on the basis of “trace exaltation”. Individually, specific features of dominantogenesis are compared with variations in behavioural types. On the basis of chronotopic EEG analysis, we delineate cortical dominants that underlie individual specifics of cognitive processes. The relation is shown between anticipation and the “expansion of dominants” – the broadening of “distal perception” in time and space, as framed by A.A. Ukhtomsky.     

Longitudinal test of ePortfolio continuous use: an empirical study on the change of students’ beliefs

The electronic portfolio (ePortfolio) is learner-centred, and its effectiveness depends on the learners’ long-term use. Thus, it is proper to conduct the study from the learners’ perspectives. Currently, most research on the use of the ePortfolio is in the form of cross-sectional studies, and it is difficult to find the reasons for the changes in students’ beliefs with regard to the long-term use of the ePortfolio. Based on the longitudinal test, this study explained the students’ continuous use of ePortfolio and the changes in their beliefs. With 122 samplers in the adoption–continuous stage (t ₁–t ₂) and 117 samplers in the continuous stage (t ₂–t ₃), this study demonstrates that in continuous use stage (t ₂–t ₃), perceived ease of use still influences the users’ perceived usefulness (PU) and attitude towards the ePortfolio. Attribution significantly moderates the users’ beliefs from the adoption stage (t ₁) to the continuous use stage (t ₂). However, the moderating effect of attribution in the continuous use stage (t ₂–t ₃) is insignificant; satisfaction and attribution are the key factors driving the users’ continuous intention towards the ePortfolio rather than PU and attitude. Meanwhile, satisfaction and attribution will change because of the users’ expectation disconfirmation, and it will influence the users to continue using ePortfolio.     

Validity and reliability of the Spineangel® lumbo-pelvic postural monitor

Objective: to determine the reliability and the concurrent validity of the Spineangel^® lumbo-pelvic postural monitoring device. Methods: the dynamic lumbo-pelvic posture of 25 participants was simultaneously monitored by the Spineangel^® and Fastrak^TM devices. Participants performed six different functional tasks in random order. Within-task, within-session and between-day intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC(3,1), ICC(3,5), ICC(2,5), respectively) reliability were calculated for Spineangel^® measurements. Concurrent validity of the Spineangel^® was assessed by means of a Bland and Altman plot and by means of Pearson's correlation coefficient and paired t-test. Results: within-task, within-session and between-day ICC for the Spineangel^® were found to be excellent (>0.93). The Spineangel^® and Fastrak^TM pelvic measurements were found to have a good correlation (R = 0.77). Conclusion: the Spineangel^® is a reliable and valid device for monitoring general lumbo-pelvic movements when clipped on the belt or waistband of workers' clothing during various occupational activities.

Practitioner summary: The Spineangel^® can be used for assessing lumbo-pelvic posture during work or daily-life activities. This device was found to provide reliable and valid measurements for lumbo-pelvic movements. Further research is required to determine whether the use of this device is clinically relevant for patients presenting with low back pain.     

The use of prompt nuclear reactions and resonant alpha scattering in the study of α and β brass oxidation

The prompt nuclear reaction ¹⁶O(d,p₁)¹⁷O and the resonant alpha backscattering ¹⁶O(α,α) ¹⁶O spectroscopies are used for the measurement of the oxide layer thickness on brass; these methods are subjected to a critical comparison. The study of α and β phase brass oxidation between 293 and 673 K shows clearly the phase and sample treatments dependence. An inversion of the oxidation reactivity between the α and β phase is observed at about 523 K.     

On the reliability of large-scale distributed systems – A topological view

In large-scale, self-organized distributed systems, such as peer-to-peer (P2P) overlays and wireless sensor networks (WSN), a small proportion of the nodes are likely to be more critical to the system’s reliability than others. This paper focuses on detecting cut vertices so that we can either neutralize or protect these critical nodes. Detection of cut vertices is trivial if the global knowledge of the whole system is known but it is very challenging when the global knowledge is not available. In this paper, we propose a completely distributed scheme where every single node can determine whether it is a cut vertex or not. In addition, our design can also confine the detection overhead to a constant instead of being proportional to the size of a network. The correctness of this algorithm is theoretically proved and the key performance gains are measured and verified through trace-driven simulations.     

On the variation and specialisation of workload—A case study of the Gnome ecosystem community

Most empirical studies of open source software repositories focus on the analysis of isolated projects, or restrict themselves to the study of the relationships between technical artifacts. In contrast, we have carried out a case study that focuses on the actual contributors to software ecosystems, being collections of software projects that are maintained by the same community. To this aim, we defined a new series of workload and involvement metrics, as well as a novel approach— $\widetilde{\mathbf{T}}$ -graphs—for reporting the results of comparing multiple distributions. We used these techniques to statistically study how workload and involvement of ecosystem contributors varies across projects and across activity types, and we explored to which extent projects and contributors specialise in particular activity types. Using Gnome as a case study we observed that, next to coding, the activities of localization, development documentation and building are prevalent throughout the ecosystem. We also observed notable differences between frequent and occasional contributors in terms of the activity types they are involved in and the number of projects they contribute to. Occasional contributors and contributors that are involved in many different projects tend to be more involved in the localization activity, while frequent contributors tend to be more involved in the coding activity in a limited number of projects.     

Mathematical Challenge in the Eyes of the Beholder: Mathematics Teachers’ Views

Abstract

This study is based on our belief that mathematics should be challenging in any classroom and that mathematical challenge is among the central factors that determine the quality of mathematics lessons. Choosing challenging mathematical problem for the students is central in teachers’ work while their conception of mathematical challenge can determine the quality of a mathematics lesson. At the same time, little is known about teachers’ views on mathematical challenge. Thus, we explored conceptions of mathematical challenge in two groups of experienced mathematics teachers. The first group (N₁ = 9) was asked to define the notion of mathematical challenge and give examples of challenging mathematical tasks. Later the members of the group discussed these examples and definitions. A written response questionnaire was administered to a second group of teachers (N₂ = 41) based on answers given by teachers in the first group. We found that the teachers have a broad conception of mathematical challenge and appreciate the relativity of mathematical challenge but are not always convinced that it is possible to incorporate challenging mathematics in everyday teaching in the classroom.     

What Constitutes Effective Mathematics Instruction: A Comparison of Chinese Expert and Novice Teachers’ Views

Abstract

In this study, we examined the views of 10 experts and 10 novices on effective mathematics instruction in China. We found that all the participants valued students’ mastering of mathematical knowledge and skills and their development in mathematical thinking methods and abilities. Compared with novice teachers, expert teachers emphasized the development of students’ mathematical thinking and higher order thinking abilities and properly dealing with important and difficult content points. In contrast, novice teachers were particularly concerned about the effectiveness of teachers' guidance.     

A strategic path to study IT use through users’ IT culture and IT needs: A mixed-method grounded theory

We consider recent research in IS, as well as recent advances in the fields of psychology and sociology. As an alternative to existing models, we propose a new strategic path to study IT use through users’ IT culture and IT needs. Our contributions are (1) theoretical: we investigate the predictive value for IT usage of several new constructs and show that both expectancy-based and needs-based theories of motivation should be taken into account in acceptance models, (2) methodological: we adopt an exploratory, mixed-method, grounded theory approach and use both quantitative and qualitative data and methods, an unusual approach in IS research that allows new perspectives, and (3) practical: our results highlight the fact that highly IT-acculturated users may hinder (rather than facilitate) new-IT acceptance if their situational IT needs are ignored. Therefore, when the strategic decision of implementing new IT is made, managerial attention must be focused on these users in order to drive toward the alignment of their IT needs and managerially-perceived organizational IT needs.Our work opens the way to numerous avenues for future research.