International Journal of Education and Information Technologies
E-ISSN: 2074-1316
Volume 6, 2012
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Issue 1, Volume 6, 2012
Title of the Paper: The Effect of Integrating Technology in Teaching as Part of Teachers' PCK on Students’ Attitude, Misconceptions, and Mathematical Problem Solving Performance
Authors: Farhad Kazemi, Sahar Bayat
Pages: 1-8
Abstract: The results of the researches have indicated that pedagogical content is an essential and critical element in determining a teacher’s success in handling the teaching and learning process and further produces effective teaching. This paper is going to investigate the relationship between integrating of technology as part of teachers’ PCK on attitude toward fractions, misconceptions and mathematical problem solving performance of the fifth grade students in the elementary school. 24 teachers and 476 students were employed as participants in this study. A check list consist of 12 items which using technology was one of the items was implemented to measure PCK of the teachers. The checklist was made according to classification of teachers’ PCK Jang et al (2009). Based on the research result, a significant relationship between using technology and with PCK’ teachers was found (r= 0.810, P<0.01). In addition, the results indicated a significant relationship between using technology in classroom by teachers with student’s attitude(r= r=0.549, p<0.05), misconceptions and their mathematical problem solving performance.
Title of the Paper: Lifelong Learners in Engineering Education – Students’ Perspectives
Authors: Emlyn Witt, Irene Lill
Pages: 9-16
Abstract: Lifelong learning has been at the centre of many national education reforms in the past decade and higher education policy has been considerably shaped by it. At a policy level, a simple, elegant vision of integration and mutual dependence between learners, industry and higher education institutions (HEIs) is prescribed. In terms of this prescription, study programmes at HEIs are aligned to industry’s skills and knowledge requirements and learners actively select and pursue educational opportunities in order to make and keep themselves employable. This paper describes a study of learner perspectives on lifelong learning and construction industry skills requirements in Estonia. The findings suggest considerable diversity in learner perceptions of what constitute current and future industrial requirements, a dissatisfaction among learners regarding the adequacy of HEI responses to industry needs and a reluctance to conform to the prescribed role of lifelong learner, all of which challenge the prescribed model.
Title of the Paper: Students Perspective on Improving Programming Courses
Authors: Michal Blaho, Martin Foltin, Peter Fodrek, Ján Murgaš
Pages: 17-24
Abstract: Improvement and modernization of the universities courses should be every year’s task. This task is especially needed for computer programming courses where new technologies are coming very often. In the first classes of study at the university many students have hard time in programming courses. It is because they comes from different secondary schools and they have different experience of computer programming which is often not enough for university courses or they hadn’t programming at secondary schools at all. We did small questionnaire at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology of Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava to know how student evaluate our programming courses and what they want to improve.
Title of the Paper: Designing for the Environment: an Undergraduate Case Study Supported by Global Collaborative Design
Authors: Iván Esparragoza, J. Alejandro Betancur, Carlos Rodríguez
Pages: 25-32
Abstract: Global collaborative design is a common practice nowadays due to the international nature and business scope of many corporations. Therefore, it is critical to educate future engineers with the knowledge and skills to succeed in the now common multinational settings. This paper describes an international collaborative learning experience among students from different institutions in the Americas through a multinational design project at an undergraduate level. The case study presented here refers to the conceptual design of an automatic machine to sort plastic bottles and aluminum cans to be used in different locations including malls, shopping centers, office buildings, and academic institutions among others. Global collaborative design imposes problems in terms of communication and information management; this project presents from an undergraduate case study, a methodological synthesis from which these problems were satisfactorily resolved, illustrating how a typical design methodology can be implemented in multinational projects, and how the participation of students in this kind of practice can contribute to gain knowledge in the global design process and in the development of professional skills such as teamwork, leadership, communication, and global awareness. The collaborative concepts involved in the development of this project were specially adapted from several cases of international cooperation set out in the automobile industry, where the mutual aid generated between the companies involved, enables the development and expansion of new technologies; therefore, the collaborative structure of this project has a special potential for implementation not only in academia, but also in enterprises with international projection and implicated in the management of collaborative-based projects.
Title of the Paper: Collaborative Learning: A Means to Creative Thinking in Design
Authors: Siu-Kay Pun
Pages: 33-43
Abstract: Employers are increasingly looking for graduates who can think creatively and collaborate effectively to come up with innovative solutions to complex problems. This paper presents a study on applying a pedagogical approach based on collaborative learning to a course for students from different majors. The objective of the course is to develop in students creative thinking skills in solving design problems. The results show the effectiveness of this approach in making team-learning fun for the students who are from different majors. The team projects completed were highly creative and effective and also showed the influence of their own disciplines in the solutions they came up with.
Title of the Paper: Methods of Protection Population by Sheltering from the Perspective of Municipalities with Extended Powers
Authors: Jakub Rak, Lucie Jurikova
Pages: 44-51
Abstract: The article introduces a proposal for the information system for the support and management of the population protection in the area of the municipality with extended powers and its subordinate bodies. The proposal results from the legislation of the Czech Republic as well as the requirements of the municipality bodies and other users of the information system. Furthermore, the article is devoted to a description of ―a shelter module‖ which is one of the nine basic elements of the information system. Presently, the shelter module is being employed within the framework of the municipality with extended powers in Zlín and it fulfils the majority of the requirements of its practical utilisation.
Title of the Paper: Building and Reusing Medical Ontology for Tropical Diseases Management
Authors: Haikal Satria, Radha S. Priya, Lukman H. Ismail, Eko Supriyanto
Pages: 52-61
Abstract: Currently, the use of ontologies in medicine is mainly focused on the representation and re-organization of medical terminologies. Moreover, there are only a small number of ontologies available in the domain of tropical diseases. Therefore, it is important to build and reuse medical ontology for tropical diseases management, which behaves as an information support system to represent the information related to tropical diseases in a uniform and organized manner. The building process of ontology in tropical diseases domain is fully described in this paper and has been implemented online using Protégé 4.1 and OWL DL syntaxes. In order to provide easy access to user, ontology browser was used as visualization tool. Functional testing of ontology has been done with involving medical data collected from faculty of tropical medicine, Mahidol University. Test result shows that the developed ontology is able to provide structured information about tropical diseases that are very useful for healthcare professionals. Since it is an online system, it can be accessed by the user anytime, anywhere and offer support for a better medical decision and indirectly helping in the management of tropical diseases.
Title of the Paper: A Demand for More Personalized Accessible Medical Informatics in an Aging World
Authors: M. Ianculescu, E. Lupeanu, A. Alexandru, E. Tudora, O. A. Coman, L. Coman
Pages: 62-70
Abstract: Products and services based on new technology, such as ICT, are developing rapidly, and are used by large parts of the population – also by elderly people. Technology has potentials of raising the quality of elderly care and to make the services more adapted to individual needs and preferences. Medical Informatics is developing rapidly and has an increasingly possibility to play a role in health and care-services. It can, when implemented and used with care, be a key resource in enabling elderly people to live long lives. We want sustainable health and disability support services that can meet the needs of current and future generations of older people and support them to age positively. Ideas about aging have changed over time. Aging people are increasingly becoming computer literate and more willing to be empowered about their own state of health and way of living. This paper presents the most important features of promoting a positive aging with the help of medical informatics. AGECVD, a health informatics system, proposes a complex integrative approach of physiological aging and atherosclerosis processes which can determine a multitude of cardiovascular events. The „Multidisciplinary Complex System for the Efficient Management of the Anti-Aging information (AgingNice)” allows the sharing of the knowledge concerning the specific research and the promotion of the theoretical and practical information, both among the stakeholders from the medical area and at the citizen’s level.
Title of the Paper: A Software Testing Tool with the Function to Restore the State at Program Execution of a Program under Test
Authors: Yuhei Otani, Hiroaki Hashiura, Seiichi Komiya
Pages: 71-78
Abstract: In a software development project, conducting a unit test is an important task but not an easy process. In particular, preparing a unit test procedure for a program that uses external resources such as files and databases as its input tends to be a difficult task since it requires the developer to set up various conditions. This paper proposes a unit test technique that can automatically reproduce runtime conditions of a java program by tracing the execution history of the program for the object generation method and the flow of changes, and also proposes a development support tool. Our technique and support tool allow the developer to automatically generate a unit test procedure for a program for which it is difficult in the past to create a unit test procedure since it uses external resources.
Title of the Paper: Use of Online Portal for Advanced Learning (OPAL) to enhance Medical Education
Authors: Sat Sharma, Charles Conway, Keith McConnell, Ira Ripstein, Bruce Martin, Aarti Paul, Ilana Simon, Jocelyn Advent, Carol Ann Northcott, Chuck Loewen, Dean Sandham
Pages: 79-86
Abstract: Web based Curriculum Management Systems (CMS) are increasingly utilized to deliver medical education across Canadian and other Universities. CMS can facilitate the delivery of learning resources, broadens the capacity for tracking and reporting of teaching & learning across an institution, simplify and automate administrative and supervisory tasks, and serve a useful function for institutional accreditation. Some of these systems are equipped with business intelligence tools to analyze data and create reports to facilitate curriculum governance and education delivery. These intelligence reports can improve curriculum governance and are expected to be immensely advantageous while preparing for medical school accreditation visits. At University of Manitoba, we have been using Online Portal for Advanced Learning (OPAL) to generate reports to find missing sessions, learning objectives, resource uploading and instructor assignment during the pre clerkship year. In this paper, we demonstrate approaches to creation of necessary reports for curriculum governance and accreditation standards. We used OPAL for the following quality improvement projects: 1) reports of missing learning resources for the MED 1 year (Class of 2014); 2) reports of missing clinical encounters for the clerkship rotations for the Class of 2012. To determine if there was an impact on educational quality, we followed the trends of missing clinical encounters for four periods. We also used OPAL for accreditation reporting and curriculum mapping utilizing analytics dashboards to examine areas of potential gaps and overlaps. These intelligence reports can improve curriculum governance and are expected to be immensely advantageous while preparing for medical school accreditation visits.
Title of the Paper: The Effectiveness of Facebook Groups on Teaching and Improving Writing: Students’ Perceptions
Authors: Melor Md. Yunus, Hadi Salehi
Pages: 87-96
Abstract: Language learning has grown beyond the boundaries of the four walls of the classroom; in fact, most language learning occurs outside and informally. Informal learning, through a medium like ICT therefore, is a significant alternative environment for language practice and use. This study attempts to investigate the students’ perceptions on the effectiveness of Facebook (FB) groups for teaching and improving writing. The authors see a need to carry out this study as it provides a platform to discover pedagogical implications that would benefit the Y-generation in terms of improving their writing skills in a Malaysian ESL context. The respondents of this research comprise 43 third year students completing their bachelor’s degree in TESL, in the Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). The students’ perceptions were measured through a questionnaire comprising 10 close-ended items and 3 open-ended ones. Respondents were required to participate in a Facebook group created by the researchers. The Facebook group, called ‘Write Out Loud’ was hosted by Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_193133474042344&ap=1. The findings showed that ‘Facebook groups’ is an effective tool in improving the students’ writing skills, especially in the brainstorming of ideas before the actual writing. The results of this study may be beneficial to ESL educators in incorporating ICT into their teaching repertoire. It is suggested that future research should focus on the challenges of integrating Facebook groups for teaching and improving writing, and look into the perceptions of the teachers as well. In addition, experimental research could also be done to see how FB and FB groups help in improving writing skills.
Title of the Paper: Mobile Devices and Corporate Data Security
Authors: Blaž Markelj, Igor Bernik
Pages: 97-104
Abstract: Ensuring protection of corporate data has only recently become a main concern in the information and communication technology industry. In the past two years or so the use of mobile devices to access data has become a lot more frequent, therefore data security is now a new challenge for users and managers of information and computer systems alike – they all have to be aware of cyber threats, and the measures, which must necessarily be undertaken to maintain an adequate level of information security. Software for mobile devices, combined with the Internet, now provides easy and fast access to data and information; this relatively new technology facilitates rapid decision-making. Sophisticated software enables users to manage data and carry out various tasks on-line. The security of corporate data, in incidences when mobile devices are used to access information systems, can only be upheld, if users comply with certain safety measures.
Title of the Paper: Identifying a General Structure of Teachers’ In-service Learning
Authors: Lung-Hsing Kuo, Hsieh-Hua Yang, Hung-Jen Yang, Chin-Hsi Chen
Pages: 105-113
Abstract: Teachers are professionals should change with the environment, enhance their professional abilities and to give students a better quality of education. In-service teacher advancement education is help teachers to enhance teachers’ professionalism and specialized knowledge of courses so that the overall quality of education is elevated. This study aims to find relationships between course type and age group, course type and first registered specialty, and to find structure base on profile (age group, first registered specialty, school level, and course type) of in-service teachers studied in-service teacher advancement education in Taiwan. We found there is a real relationship between course type and first registered specialty, course type and school level, and course type and age group for teachers who participated in in-service teacher advancement education. The result shows teachers who study course type of teaching or administration category can be divided into two groups.
Title of the Paper: Determine ICT Learning Groups among Teachers In-service Education Participants
Authors: Lung-Hsing Kuo, Jui-Chen Yu, Hung-Jen Yang, Lydia Lin
Pages: 114-122
Abstract: Today, students no longer rely on teachers as the main source of knowledge because of the rapid development and advancement in ICT, particularly the Internet and Web. Information is abundant and can now be accessed from anyplace and at anytime. Teachers are professionals should change with the environment, enhance their professional abilities and to give students a better quality of education. This study aims to find structure base on profile (age group, first registered specialty, school level, and course type) of in-service teachers studied ICT related courses of in-service teacher advancement education in Taiwan. We found there is a real relationship between course type and school level for teachers participated ICT related courses of in-service teacher advancement education. The result shows teachers who study course type of teaching or administration category can be divided into two groups.
Title of the Paper: Interactive Whiteboard in the Primary School Environment
Authors: Martin Skutil, Martina Maněnová
Pages: 123-130
Abstract: This paper focuses on one of the most advanced teaching facilities currently used on all types of schools, on the interactive whiteboard. Specifically, the contribution deals with the use of interactive whiteboards in primary school. Based on surveys that were carried out on the subject, defines the basic concepts on which the text is based. The empirical part of the contribution is based on a questionnaire survey aimed to find out how teachers work with the interactive whiteboard in primary school. A secondary objective was to identify what are the opinions of teachers on the use of interactive whiteboards in primary school.
Title of the Paper: Globalization and the Trend in Demand for Higher Education in Malaysia
Authors: Norasmah Othman, Harinder Kaur T. Singh, Poo Bee Tin, Noorasiah Sulaiman
Pages: 131-140
Abstract: Malaysia has always given an emphasis on the transformation of institutions of higher education to fulfill the demand for competitive and creative human capital. T his is to enable Malaysia to endure the challenges of globalization whereby some of this challenges can be damaging for the development of the nation. Education plays an important role in enabling Malaysia to withstand challenges brought by globalization. Therefore, it is crucial to identify what are the trend in demand for higher education in the era of globalization. This study has been conducted with the aim of identifying changes in demand for higher education after globalization. The trend in demand for pre-university education, higher education, technical and vocational education was compared between before and after globalization, whereby before and after 1995. Data were obtained from 288 samples using questionnaires as instrument. Respondents of this study were randomly selected from the population of administrators in institutions of higher education in Malaysia. Data obtained were analyzed using inferential statistics method to answer the research questions. It was found that trend in demand for pre-university education, higher education, technical and vocational education showed positive trend overall, with the trend for private HEIs and technical and vocational education showing the most significant changes. This gives the implication that globalization has impacted most on the demand for private HEIs as well as technical and vocational education to fulfill the demands for more skilled labours.
Title of the Paper: Hospitality and Tourism Education in Romania – Main Features and Patterns
Authors: Andreea Diana Păşcuţ, Mihaela Sofia Dinu
Pages: 141-149
Abstract: The present study undertakes a detailed analysis of the characteristics of the current supply of tourism studies in the Romanian secondary education system. The purpose of the research is to identify the main features and patterns of the hospitality and tourism education in Romania assuming that training represents an essential factor in tourism development and in providing tourists with high quality services. Research has centred on detailed documentation regarding the entire Romanian tourism employment sector, and also the education system of tourism degrees, followed by a quantitative research based on intense online research and on processing in graphical representation the official statistics data available.
Title of the Paper: Designing M-Learning Applications for Collaborative Virtual Environments
Authors: Cristian Ciurea, Paul Pocatilu
Pages: 150-156
Abstract: In this paper are presented specific quality characteristics of m-learning applications designed for assisting the collaborative learning process inside virtual environments. There are analyzed the features of virtual organizations and their collaborative character is presented. The advantages of virtual organizations are revealed compared with the classical organizations. Specific features of m-learning applications that run on smart-phones are described and also the advantages of integration with social network platforms are presented. The paper describes the m-learning applications and the mobile learning processes inside a virtual campus. Also the paper presents an existing mobile learning application, still under development. Metrics are built in order to evaluate the performance of mobile learning processes in collaborative virtual organizations.
Title of the Paper: Application of Remote Communication System For Nursing Education and Research
Authors: Takuri Takahashi, Hidetoshi Wakamatsu, Mitsue Maru, Rumi Maeda
Pages: 157-164
Abstract: Authors have ever developed multilateral communication system not only for remote lecture but also for the conferences. The developed system was supposed to apply in the actual nursing conference and the lectures, which mean the systems should work under the situation which is often limited by equipment, qualities of communication line and human resources. Therefore, developed system was designed as web-based platform to perform which had wider application range and was able to reduce construction and introduction costs. The survey to more than 150 attendances of the remote lecture and conference by developed system showed that the most participants satisfied with its performances. From the result, authors discuss conditions of application of remote communication system for not only the lectures but also the nursing services. The developed system may available for nursing research, so application field of nursing was discussed. For further research, next generation system which enables to use by current mobile devices was discussed.
Title of the Paper: Practice Firms, e-Learning and Web 2.0 Technologies as a Bases of SELPRAF Training Programme for Unemployed
Authors: Tanja Arh, Andrej Jerman Blažič, Marija Mojca Peternel
Pages: 165-173
Abstract: Within the lifelong learning strategy implementation a set of documents such as The Bruges Communiqué on enhanced European Cooperation in VET, A New Impetus for European cooperation in VET to support the Europe 2020 strategy and Key competences for lifelong learning are being launched by European Commission. All the documents have been prepared with the intention to additionally support and enhance Europe to become smarter, more sustainable and inclusive. It stimulates innovations adapted to individual learners, which consequently support the process of self-employment. As a concrete response to the deficiencies identified above, the general aim of the SELPRAF project is to encourage people’s interest for entrepreneurship through an innovative SELPRAF Training Programme for the acquisition of the four key competences: communication in the mother tongue, communication in foreign languages, digital competence, and sense of initiative and entrepreneurship. In the paper special attention is given to the presentation of the concept of practice firms, e-learning and web 2.0 technologies as a bases of SELPRAF Training Programme for unemployed. Furthermore, some ideas and existing initiatives are presented and the expected impact on the Vocational Education and Training System in Slovenia and Croatia is introduced.
Title of the Paper: A Monastery Website Model Used for Entrepreneurial Purposes
Authors: Mirela-Catrinel Voicu
Pages: 174-183
Abstract: In this paper we present a website model on the presentation of Romanian monasteries. Religion, arts, history, culture and tourism are some of the reference points which constitute the attraction of this monastery study. Our website model can be used for tourists or also when we want to develop some kind of business. For example, if someone is interested on business development, including activities on school of painting on glass, painting of icons, religious music, etc., then our website model can be used as a helping tool.
Issue 2, Volume 6, 2012
Title of the Paper: Learner Needs Analysis for Mobile Learning Comic Application among Dyslexic Children
Authors: Ronaldi Saleh, Nor Aziah Alias
Pages: 185-192
Abstract: This research was reported as a partial process of the development on mobile learning comic application. Design and Developmental Research (DDR) six phase model was used in the development which involved (1) Identify the problem, (2) Describe the objectives, (3) Design & develop the artifact, (4) Test the artifact, (5) Evaluate testing result, and (6) Communicate the testing results. The focus of this research was only on phase one; identify the problem, where the researchers conducted Learner Need Analysis. Content Needs Analysis needs to be done later to complete the phase one. To get the data, a qualitative approach was used encompassing a triangulation of techniques and participant data. Dyslexic children were interviewed to find out their motivation in using mobile comic application, teacher was interviewed to obtain opinions about dyslexic children’s acceptance in using mobile learning comic application, and drawing test was performed among the dyslexic children to find out the dyslexic children’s preferences in certain comic style. The findings generated some guidelines to consider for the next phase of the development. These guidelines can be very useful for reference of any other similar developmental research for dyslexic children.
Title of the Paper: Multimedia Elements as Instructions for Dyslexic Children
Authors: Fadilahwati Abdul Rahman, Fattawi Mokhtar, Nor Aziah Alias, Ronaldi Saleh
Pages: 193-200
Abstract: This paper focuses on the implementation of multimedia elements used for instructions on IMLO. IMLO (Interactive Multimedia Learning Object) is a multimedia software prototype about ‘multiplication of two’ topic which is developed for dyslexic children in Malaysia. The aim of this research is to describe the functions of multimedia elements in IMLO’s learning and exercise activities. The approach for this research is qualitative, where the multimedia elements are interpreted using ARCS model and the outcomes are validated by experts. This finding is very important to develop IMLO prototype as well as other researchers who want to get useful guidelines for similar multimedia instruction development for dyslexic children.
Title of the Paper: Use the General Log-linear Analysis Procedure to Study Taiwanese Aboriginal Teachers in Junior High School
Authors: Lung-Hsing Kuo, Huei-Mei Wei, Hung-Jen Yang
Pages: 201-208
Abstract: Aboriginal people have special culture and historical background so we need aboriginal teachers to give aboriginal students a better quality of education and improving their learning. This study aims to find aboriginal teacher education gaps and the relationship between age group and gender of Taiwanese aboriginal teacher in junior high school. In this study, the SPSS statistical software is used in this study, Chi-square test to test for the significance of relationships between variables cross-classified in a bivariate table. The research data would base on project report of teacher education statistics supported by Ministry of Education, Taiwan. The research population is nationwide in-service aboriginal teachers in junior high schools to obtain 378 subjects. We found there is a real relationship between age group and sex. The result shows we have strong evidence that the female Taiwanese aboriginal teachers are more than male Taiwanese aboriginal teachers in junior high school with age group of 22-29 to 35-39. We suggest there is a need to make a long term planning on junior high school aboriginal teacher education sufficient to support junior high school aboriginal education.
Title of the Paper: Use the Poisson Regression Model to Study Primary school Aboriginal Teachers in Taiwan
Authors: Lung-Hsing Kuo, Hsieh-Hua Yang, Hung-Jen Yang, Shang-Ping Ko, Hsung-Chih Huang
Pages: 209-216
Abstract: This study aims to find aboriginal teacher education gaps and the relationship between age group and gender of Taiwanese aboriginal teacher in primary school. In this study, the SPSS statistical software is used in this study, Chi-square test to test for the significance of relationships between variables cross-classified in a bivariate table. The research data would base on project report of teacher education statistics supported by Ministry of Education, Taiwan. The research population is nationwide in-service aboriginal teachers in junior high schools to obtain 1531 subjects. We found there is a real relationship between age group and sex. The result shows we have strong evidence that the female Taiwanese aboriginal teachers are more than male Taiwanese aboriginal teachers in primary school with age group 22-29 to 45-49. We suggest there is a need to make a long term planning on primary school aboriginal teacher education sufficient to support primary school aboriginal education.
Title of the Paper: Deciphering Corporate Culture Values under Different Environmental Conditions
Authors: Ivana Nacinovic, Lovorka Galetic, Nevenka Cavlek
Pages: 217-224
Abstract: Corporate culture values define many aspects of an organization’s functioning. Since organizations are not isolated from their environments, changes in external environment have an impact on internal environments, including corporate values. This paper seeks to decipher corporate culture values under different environmental conditions. It is based on a research performed among 144 Croatian firms. Factor analysis is applied to recognize corporate culture values under specific environmental conditions. Environmental conditions indicate that Croatian firms operate in highly complex and heterogenous environment, with environmental factors changing at a significant rate. Corporate culture values adoption and appreciation differ among groups segmented according to environmental conditions.
Title of the Paper: Examine the Short-Term Effects on Child Development in Early Childhood Education and Care Centres: Social, Emotional, Physical, Language and Self-management Development
Authors: Yeo Kee Jiar, Lu Xi
Pages: 225-232
Abstract: A national early childhood education and care programme known as Permata Negara (literally translated as ‘National Gems’) was carried out under the patronage of Malaysian First Lady, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor since 2007. This study was carried out in Johor state, one of the 13 states in Malaysia, involving 45 centres to assess the development of children within age 1 to 4 years old in five developmental aspects, namely social, emotional, physical, language, and self-management. Observation based on check list of Monitoring and Evaluation Program National PERMATA 2010 developed by the evaluation committee headed by Prof. Dato’ Dr. Aminah Ayob was used to obtain the quantitative data in two assessments within a three-month period in early October and at the end of December 2010. All age groups showed encouraging development in the aspects studied. Five results provide a better understanding on the performance and assessment of children in the PERMATA nursery in Malaysia thus implying the positive results of this noble project in moulding children to be smart and emotionally mature citizens in future. It is suggested that more research needs to be carried out especially in longitudinal perspectives to provide a better measurement of the success of this project.
Title of the Paper: Strength and Weaknesses of Children with Down Syndrome (0-60 Months) and Comparison with Typically Developing Children
Authors: Yeo Kee Jiar, Lu Xi, Haikal Satria, Sharifah Zainiyah Syed Yahya
Pages: 233-240
Abstract: This research selected a total of 31 children with Down syndrome in the age of 20-60 months from the database of Down syndrome research center, and 22 typically developing children choosing from the nursery and kindergarten, which matched the cognitive ability with the Down syndrome group. Both groups of samples were measured six aspects of child development (gross motor, fine motor, language, socioemotional, and self-help ability) by the scales adapted from Hawaii Early Learning Profile (HELP) (Corporation, 2004) and Behavioral Characteristics Progression Instructional Activities (BCP). The result showed that children with Down syndrome experienced significant language delay compared with their typically developing peers matched with cognitive ability. Socioemotional and gross motor skill ability were found as the strengths for children with Down syndrome, while their self-help and language ability were relatively weak compared to other developmental aspects. Bigger sample size was suggested for the future study.
Issue 3, Volume 6, 2012
Title of the Paper: Business Park Success Factors in Finland: A Case Study
Authors: Pasi Ojala
Pages: 241-249
Abstract: There are several different kinds of business, scienceand technology parks around the world. These parks differsignificantly from each other in ownership and service structures aswell as in technological focus areas. Commonly they offer significanthelp for entrepreneurs and tenants in forming up their own businesses,running them and finding growth possibilities. They also help to createjobs which satisfy public sector authorities and politicians.Therefore, it is rather surprising that there is not a common successmodel which would guarantee a successful future for the businesspark concept and their existence. This is perhaps due to the severalreasons including continuing changes in different kinds of businesscultures, markets, customers and products features as well asgovernment involvement.For helping all Business Parks to be able to have successfulbusinesses this paper constructs constructively a theoretical newreality by using research results which have in part been presentedbefore and sees that typically the developed new utilities are sooner orlater evaluated. Keeping this in mind, firstly, this paper discussesabout the concept of the business and Business Park. The purpose ofthis discussion is to find a theoretical meaning and background for thenature of business and especially for the business of Business Parks.Secondly, this paper sees it necessary to collect understanding of thepurpose of business planning as successful planning has seen to becrucially important for any businesses.After defining business, Business Parks and factors of successfulplanning this paper develops a value assessment method which can beused for assessing and evaluating different kinds of business parksand their services from value point of view. Using this ideology abusiness park which is able to create value for its customers issuccessful in its business planning and has a solid basis forcontinuing. On the other hand, if the Business Park is not creatingvalue for its customers, it has not been successful in its businessplanning either and is therefore probably going to endanger its ownexistence as well.Practically this paper presents a case study which illustrates howthe proposed value assessment method can be used to find outdifferences in Business Park services and their value creation. Thepresented results and proposed method are potentially helping allBusiness Park owners to be able to use value assessment as onepossible tool for successful business planning.
Title of the Paper: An Evaluation Model of Integrating Emerging Technology into Formal Curriculum
Authors: Lung-Hsing Kuo, Huei-Mei Wei, Li-Min Chen, Ming-Chen Wang, Miao-Kuei Ho, Hung-Jen Yang
Pages: 250-259
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify a formal evaluation model for effects of integrating emerging technology into standard based curriculum. For coping with new contents brought by fast advancing technology, education system should provide ways to integrating those new information of emerging technology into our curriculum for preparing students with up-to-date knowledge. There is a need to find out how to establish an evaluation system for effects of integrating emerging technology into formal curriculum. Several evaluation models were reviewed and compared. Upon the evaluation characteristics, a systematic approach was applied for designing evaluating standards for the context, input, process, and output. A model with fourteen stages was proposed and conducted for research purpose. The experience of creating evaluation system for high scope curriculum innovation was described for supporting the proposed model. The evaluation target was first identified based on the evaluation project, high scope curriculum development. Evaluating items of each category were also identified.
Title of the Paper: Image Processing Tools Package in MedicalImaging in MATLAB
Authors: Ching Yee Yong, Kim Mey Chew, Nasrul Humaimi Mahmood, Ismail Ariffin
Pages: 260-268
Abstract: This paper is about a survey of image processingalgorithms that have been developed for detection of masses andsegmentation techniques. 35 students from university campusparticipated in the Development of Biomedical Image ProcessingSoftware Package for New Learners Survey to investigate the use ofsoftware package in processing and editing image. Composed of 19questions, the survey built a comprehensive picture of the softwarepackage, programming language, workflow of the tool and capturedthe attitudes of the respondents. The result of this study shows thatMATLAB is among the famous software package; more than 60% ofthe respondents prefer to use MATLAB for their image processingwork. The Microsoft Photo Editor is the second popular software forimages editing process. More than 30% of respondents are very likelyto use a ready-to-use package for processing image rather than givensource code. The result is expected to be beneficial and able to assistusers on effective image processing and analysis in a newly developsoftware package. A preliminary image processing tool prototype wasdeveloped as shown in this paper.
Title of the Paper: Globalization and the Factors Influencing Households’ Demand for Higher Education in Malaysia
Authors: Poo Bee Tin, Rahmah Ismail, Norasmah Othman, Noorasiah Sulaiman
Pages: 269-278
Abstract: In the era of globalization, competitive pressure has forced the higher education sector to look for more competitive marketing strategies. Therefore, it is essential that higher learning institutions understand the needs and expectations of parents because they are the decision influencers for their children education. The purpose of the research was to examine the expectations on higher education institutions among households, and to identify the important criteria’s influencing their preferences in selecting higher education institutions. It is based on personal interview with 4000 households from Peninsular Malaysia. The results shown that five factors have a strong influence on households’ decision making process, namely, financial aid, safety of the campus, academic reputation, university image and accommodation. Further, through principal component factor analysis, three dimensions were revealed in explaining the decision criteria’s of Malaysian households, i.e., (1) personal factors, (2) socialization and (3) campus, program and cost.
Title of the Paper: Developing a Software Business Plan using a Constructive Discussion
Authors: Pasi Ojala
Pages: 279-288
Abstract: Business plan is an important part of managingany business. This is due to the fact that it forms up a basis forthe business as well as discusses how important challengesshould be solved. To be successful it needs to take into accountseveral different business factors and finally all these factorsneed to be presented in written format and in synchrony. Ratheroften also third parties like financing institutions are interestedin of the business plans as they form a solid basis for makingfunding decisions.This paper discusses about the software business as conceptand outlines the importance of a software business plan for ansoftware entrepreneur. After motivating software entrepreneursfor making a business plan, this paper discusses about thecontent of it and links it into the daily management of asoftware company. Especial emphasis in the discussion is ingiving writing instructions for software entrepreneurs havingan interest for writing a software business plan.As all business plans need to be usable in practice, this paperdiscusses also about the characteristics of software businesswhere the proposed plan is tested in practice. Industrialexperiences from the software entrepreneur seminar show thatproposed software business plan is seen usable among softwareentrepreneurs and different stakeholders. They also show thatdesigned writing instructions given step by step are helping inthe writing work. As a whole proposed software business planserves software entrepreneurs and for example financinginstitutions as an action plan, road map and sales tool and alsoinforms customers about the software company’s ways ofworking.The theoretical discussion in this paper has been writtenusing a constructive research method. Therefore the theoreticalpart of this paper constructs a new reality by using resultswhich in part have been presented before and have proven to beusable.The industrial experience part of this paper is a case study.The case study method has been seen usable as it gives richqualitative understanding to the phenomena examined. As wellwhen presented in chronologically proceeding style gives alogical outlook to the seminar kept in real life.
Title of the Paper: A Computer Model for Auditor Performance Evaluation
Authors: Igor Karnet, Eva Jereb, Tanja Rajkovič
Pages: 289-300
Abstract: A multi-attribute hierarchical evaluation model was developed to evaluate auditors’ performance. We have achieved assessment transparency. The model is intended for self-assessment of individual auditors, and especially for managing auditing departments to support frequent assessment of auditors’ effectiveness and performance. It offers an explanation of both strengths and weaknesses of individual auditors, which is a good starting point for improving auditors’ status and for continuing their development. By using this auditor performance evaluation model, we achieved new quality in terms of a comprehensive implementation of the auditing procedure because, over the long term, appropriate assessment of auditors has a positive impact on the success d effectiveness of the performance of both individuals and auditing departments as a whole.
Issue 4, Volume 6, 2012
Title of the Paper: Evaluation of Greek Public Hospitals’ Allocation in Central Macedonia
Authors: Paul Nikolaidis, Dimitrios Xanthidis
Pages: 301-309
Abstract: In order to contribute to the deeper under-standing of health domain and assist the community to prepare to meet possible health related risks, health monitoring and exploring procedures using Geographical Information Science are considered of critical importance. This study aimed at depthening of the understanding of the health environment in Central Macedonia, Northern Greece through the utilization of a socio-spatial dialectic. Arc-GIS software was the instrument of choice to organize and analyze the data in an effort to investigate the satisfaction level and the accessibility status of Chronic Disease Patients towards public hospitals of Central Macedonia in Greece. The final outcome revealed that there is no significant need to make adjustments in the distribution of public hospitals.
Title of the Paper: Effect of Cultural Factors on Students of Pakistan
Authors: Nazia Hameed, Maqbool Ud Din Shaikh, Fozia Hameed
Pages: 310-318
Abstract: Pakistan as culturally diverse country possesses wide range of cultural factors. These cultural factors affect the living style, traditions, values and norms as well as the education. As e-learning is global mode of education so learners from different backgrounds enrolled in learning management system. Diversity of culture and learning styles should keep under considerations while designing e-learning environment. In this research work e-learning cultural factors highlighted by bently et. al are incorporated to find the learner level. After assignment of level, learner respective Learning Management System(LMS) is allocated to learner. The focus is to concentrate on cultural factor in e-learning system. Furthermore; a prototype of the proposed system is implemented for the validation of proposed architecture.
Title of the Paper: Students’ Learning Preferences in a Multimedia Online Course
Authors: S. Kisicek, T. Lauc, K. Golubic
Pages: 319-326
Abstract: This paper presents the results of a research on theusage of multimedia resources with respect to learning styles. Theresearch was conducted within an online course supportingmultimedia resources. The course is s fully online elective course inthe field of Information Sciences, offered to all students at theFaculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University ofZagreb, Croatia. The content of the course is offered in the form ofinteractive Moodle lessons containing three different types ofmultimedia resources: textual, pictorial resources accompanied bytext and video resources. By analyzing the results of a VARKquestionnaire, which label the students’ learning styles as visual,aural, read/write and kinesthetic, and matching them with the resultsof students’ feedback responses indicating what type of resources thestudents have been using, we determine on the relationship betweenlearning styles and preferences. Students with stressed visual learningstyle show lesser preferences towards the usage of textual resources.Students with stressed read/write learning style show lesserpreferences towards the usage of video resources. Understanding thelearners’ preferences leads to more effective instructional design inan online learning environment.
Title of the Paper: Service e-Learning in Elementary School: Opportunities for Learning, Teaching and Communicating in Social Space
Authors: Nives Mikelic Preradovic, Tomislava Lauc, Damir Boras
Pages: 327-335
Abstract: The service e-learning project described in this paper presents the development of the educational corner for the institution of primary education. We aimed to motivate the students of information sciences in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences to develop the educational corner that would provide the elementary school teachers and pupils with greater teaching and learning opportunities through interesting educational activities. Our goal was also to motivate the elementary school teachers to realize the importance of communication with their pupils in the social space and to encourage them to use the multimedia educational materials in order to establish better communication and interaction with their pupils. We also aimed to make our students to practically use knowledge and skills acquired through their studies while meeting the demands of global and diverse educational marketplace. Such a project could be attractive to all elementary school teachers searching for ways to incorporate the e-learning into classrooms on both a short-term and long-term basis, to address individual learning traits and spark teaching and learning excitement.
Title of the Paper: Study Abroad and Service Learning Assisting Students in Learning Croatian Language
Authors: Nives Mikelic Preradovic, Kristina Posavec, Damir Boras
Pages: 336-344
Abstract: The goal of this paper is to connect the framework of the interactive multimedia project AFILC (Assisting Foreigners in Learning Croatian) with the study abroad and service learning experience of exchange students in the University of Zagreb. The purpose of the AFILC is to develop language learning materials that will motivate foreign students to learn the Croatian language at their own pace and help them cope with its grammatical richness. The purpose of the international service learning course is to motivate exchange students to deeply experience Croatian language and culture and to get insight into the relevance of their service experiences to their personal, career, educational and civic goals.
Title of the Paper: A Composition of Web Services for Pedagogical Scripting
Authors: Imane Ryane, Moncef Bentaleb, Mohammed Khalidi Idrissi, Samir Bennani
Pages: 345-353
Abstract: Teachers need to be supported during the creation of digital contents. Existing authoring tools do not offer the adapted support to teachers. This is why we create an authoring tool with two support mechanisms for the design task: the base of scenario models and the pedagogical validation. We implement this tool using the graphical modeling framework (GMF). In this paper, we present an adaptation for the web of our system. It is a composite application formed with five web services, and developed using the rich Ajax platform (RAP).
Title of the Paper: Research of Deployment of Designer Tools from Industrial Practice in Project Oriented Education
Authors: K. Dvorak
Pages: 354-362
Abstract: Use of computer tools for design, simulations, technical preparation of production and data management is the essential part of development and production processes of current industrial practice. A high efficiency of the application deployment, along with technical factors depends on a good preparation of the technical staff at schools and also during their professional experience. The text presents research results of the deployment of designer tools in project-oriented education. Research is focused on the comparison of students' and graduates' skills achieved at the concept of teaching with the demands of industrial practice on the competencies of the technical staff. A mixed approach, based on combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, is applied in the research. Results and conclusions of the research can be applied not only for planning and optimization of educational process at schools, but also for ongoing training of technical staff in practice.
Title of the Paper: Say Again
Authors: Mira Zokic, Damir Boras, Nikolaj Lazic
Pages: 363-370
Abstract: One of the prerequisites of a safe and efficient flight is correct and timely communication. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) strongly emphases the need for improving communication in Air Traffic control and has introduced, in the Document 9835, a set of prescribed rules governing aeronautical communication. According to a survey carried out by the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System, incorrect or incomplete pilot/controller communication is a causal or circumstantial factor in 80% of accidents and incidents. This paper gives an outline of a language technology system that should detect deviations from the prescribed usage of radiotelephony phraseology by detecting at least 80% of the types of miscommunication related to language-based problems and problems with numbers, and in that way enable the communication between air traffic controllers and pilots to be more reliable and efficient, and contribute to the improvement of aviation safety.
Title of the Paper: Improving Greek Medical Facilities in Central Macedonia
Authors: Paul Nikolaidis, Dimitrios Xanthidis
Pages: 371-379
Abstract: The monitoring and exploring competencies of GIS health mapping can enhance health knowledge communicability in health society and thus provide a grater consensus among all health stakeholders. The persistence to investigate further the need for reallocation of the public hospitals in the Central Macedonia region of Greece gave birth to the illustration of a density map produced by the involvement of Arc-GIS software as a health monitoring and exploring paradigm. The resulting suggestion was the progression of Giannitsa’s General Hospital equipment and staff because of its strategic position concerning the homelands of the patients involved in this research.
