Technologies of Democracy: Participation and Access in the University Environment

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Hall ◽  
Naida Caidi
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Canadian Government ◽  
University Environment ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Statistics Canada ◽  
The University ◽  
Physical Access

Although Canada globally ranks among the top ten countries for per capita Internet use (ITU, 2001; Statistics Canada, 2002), roughly one half of the population is till not online. The Canadian government has supported numerous initiatives aimed at bridging the 'digital divide' between technological haves and have-nots, recognizing, at the same time, that simple physical access to information. . .

"Risk literacy" and social cleavages: Vulnerability in three acts

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Hashimoto ◽  
◽  
Aras Zirgulis ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Analytical Tool ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Social Cleavages ◽  
Contemporary World ◽  
The Third ◽  
The World ◽  
Risk Literacy ◽  
Physical Access

Although recent studies show widening socio-economic divisions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many such divisions were already identified as social cleavages. Scholars and observers tend to view the world in a dichotomous manner, overgeneralising their analyses along known cleavages. Therefore, the relevance of our work as scholars is at risk and we, the scholars of the contemporary world, are “vulnerable” to the temptation of ignoring the details, nuances, and complexities. The uneven impact of and recovery from the pandemic is not necessarily binary – for example, a refusal to follow the medical consensus (e.g. social distancing, vaccination) can be observed on both sides of many cleavages. Against such a background, this paper first characterises the pandemic as a medical, socio-economic, and information crisis. With the former two “pillars” resembling the known cleavages, the third pillar goes beyond the physical access to information and deals with the people’s perception of various risks. Such a behavioural angle to the vulnerability – labelled “risk literacy” – highlights the phenomenon of “digital divide” and shows a promising feature as an additional analytical tool. By familiarising ourselves with the people’s varying risk perceptions, we increase our own literacy against the risk of overgeneralisation.

scholarly journals Determinants of the Digital Divide among French Higher Education Teachers

2021 ◽  
pp. 10-28
Author(s):  
Mounir Dahmani
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
University Environment ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Digital Divides ◽  
Determining Factors ◽  
The University ◽  
First Time

The widespread use of technology in daily life, and particularly in education in higher education institutions has devoted growing attention to the nature of ICT usages by Higher Education Teachers which has seen as an increasingly important factor for the successful integration of these technologies. This study aims to analyze the determining factors of the various uses of ICT by teachers in the university environment and to characterize their variety and intensity. For this end, we conducted a survey of a sample of 2,079 teachers from public universities in France. Our approach consisted in measuring the intensity of use of ICT in academia in order to appreciate the resulting digital divides between different groups of teachers. Multinomial logistic regression shows that the differences in the use of ICT are linked to the differences in initial digital skills between teachers. Furthermore, the training in ICT, age, gender and social context appear to have a manifold influence on ICT use. Our results clearly confirm the existence of digital  divides, it prompts us to analyze more precisely the role of innovative users and that   of first-time adopters when they appear to be actors involved in the diffusion of ICT within universities.

Connection Disparities

2010 ◽  
pp. 346-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth L. Davison ◽  
Shelia R. Cotton
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Third World ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Lower Income ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Physical Access ◽  
Computer Resources

In assessing the integration of the Internet into society, scholars have documented that certain sectors of the population are disadvantaged by their lack of physical access to computer resources. The disadvantaged have traditionally included the less educated, nonwhites, females, the elderly, lower income people and third world citizens. Scholars are now beginning to go beyond basic issues of access to address differences in Internet experiences among Internet users. However, few digital divide researchers focus on the importance and impacts of the various types of connections people use to log onto the Internet. Among U.S. Internet users, we examine which is more important in determining Internet use, the traditional digital divide factors or type of connection. This study examines a wide range of online activities that provide vital information and services for Internet users. We find that connection disparities explain more variance in time spent online engaged in essential tasks, than most other long-established digital divide measures.

University of Zululand Library and Inclusive Education: Responding to the Needs of Students with Disabilities

Mousaion ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothy Eneya ◽  
Dennis N. Ocholla ◽  
Bertha Janneke Mostert
Keyword(s):  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Assistive Technologies ◽  
Equal Access ◽  
Disability Policy ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Education Agenda ◽  
The University

This paper investigates the University of Zululand Library’s response to the university’s inclusive education agenda with respect to the accessibility of library services to students with disabilities. This was a qualitative study within the interpretive paradigm that used Michael Oliver’s social model of disability as an underpinning theory. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from students with disabilities and library staff. In addition, physical inspection of the library building was also conducted. Data analysis was done by thematic analysis. The study reveals that the University of Zululand Library services are not inclusive. Students with disabilities struggle to access library services. They faced such challenges as inaccessibility of library services, unavailability of resources in alternative formats and assistive technologies, and the lack of a disability policy. The study also found that the library faced the following challenges in providing services for students with disabilities: limited funding, a lack of staff awareness and training, the lack of a disability policy and a lack of collaboration. Formulating regulations to enforce the implementation of disability policy and legislation, developing institutional disability policies, and providing assistive technologies are critical in ensuring the accessibility of library services to students with disabilities at the University of Zululand. Unless students with disabilities have equal access to information, the university’s inclusive education agenda will remain a distant dream. Access to academic library services is critical to the full participation of students with disabilities in education. Likewise, inclusive university education can only be realised when students with disabilities have equal access to information. This aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities, which promote equal access to services and facilities to persons with disabilities. This paper raises awareness for both library staff and university management about the current status of library facilities and services with respect to accessibility for students with disabilities and how to address inclusiveness in library service provision.

PROFESSORS' PERCEPTION OF SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY IN THE FACULTY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GUAYAQUIL

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 70-76
Author(s):  
Jorge Daher Nader ◽  
Amelia Patricia Panunzio ◽  
Marlene Hernández Navarro
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Research ◽  
Scientific Activity ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
University Environment ◽  
Empirical Level ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Scientific Nature ◽  
The University

Research is considered a function aimed at obtaining new knowledge and its application for the solution to problems or questions of a scientific nature, The universities framed in the fulfillment of their social function have a complex task given by training a competent professional who assumes research as part of their training and who learns to ask questions that they are able to solve through scientific research.  Scientific research is an indicator of the quality of processes in the university environment, so it must be increased by virtue of the results of the work carried out by research teachers and students the objective of this work is to know the perception of the teachers of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Guayaquil about the scientific activity. Objective: to know the perception of the teachers of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Guayaquil about the scientific activity. Methods: theoretical and empirical level were used, a questionnaire with closed questions aimed at knowing the opinions on the research activity in this institution was applied. Result: that of the sample analyzed 309 (39.3%) said they agreed with the training for the writing of scientific articles. 38.6% said they agree with the training on research projects. Conclusion: that teacher’s research should be enhanced to ensure the formation and development of research skills in students.

Cooperative learning: a methodological answer to instructional design based on competences in the university environment

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Maria Pons Parra ◽  
Jose Manuel Serrano Gonzalez Tejero ◽  
Clotilde Lomeli Agruel ◽  
Victor Manuel Alcantar Enriquez ◽  
Dolores Graciela Cordero Arroyo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Instructional Design ◽  
Cooperative Learning ◽  
University Environment ◽  
The University
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