scholarly journals Evaluating the web presence of voluntary sector organizations: an assessment of Canadian web sites

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Cukier ◽  
Catherine A. Middleton
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
English Language ◽  
Voluntary Sector ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Voluntary Organizations ◽  
Web Presence ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Organizational Objectives

In recent years, considerable attention in Canada has been focused on strengthening relationships between the voluntary sector, government and industry. Information technology is an important tool for the sector, but systems are often difficult and costly to purchase and maintain—particularly for small- and medium- sized groups. Unlike e-business and the private sector, little attention has been paid to how the Internet can be used in the voluntary sector. This article addresses three specific research questions: 1) How are national Canadian voluntary sector organizations using Web sites? 2) How well-designed are these Web sites in terms of usability and aesthetics and 3) How can Canadian voluntary organizations improve their Web sites to meet organizational objectives? Some 184 English language, national Canadian voluntary organizations' Web sites were rated, using a standardized tool to assess organizational objectives and to evaluate functionality, navigation and aesthetics. These sites currently offer limited functionality, and many are not well-designed. The article draws lessons from information technology theory and practice to demonstrate how the functionality and design of voluntary sector Web sites (in Canada and elsewhere) can be improved, to better support organizational objectives and to reduce the “digital divide” between the profit and nonprofit sectors.

scholarly journals Evaluating the web presence of voluntary sector organizations: an assessment of Canadian web sites

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Cukier ◽  
Catherine A. Middleton
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
English Language ◽  
Voluntary Sector ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Voluntary Organizations ◽  
Web Presence ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Organizational Objectives

In recent years, considerable attention in Canada has been focused on strengthening relationships between the voluntary sector, government and industry. Information technology is an important tool for the sector, but systems are often difficult and costly to purchase and maintain—particularly for small- and medium- sized groups. Unlike e-business and the private sector, little attention has been paid to how the Internet can be used in the voluntary sector. This article addresses three specific research questions: 1) How are national Canadian voluntary sector organizations using Web sites? 2) How well-designed are these Web sites in terms of usability and aesthetics and 3) How can Canadian voluntary organizations improve their Web sites to meet organizational objectives? Some 184 English language, national Canadian voluntary organizations' Web sites were rated, using a standardized tool to assess organizational objectives and to evaluate functionality, navigation and aesthetics. These sites currently offer limited functionality, and many are not well-designed. The article draws lessons from information technology theory and practice to demonstrate how the functionality and design of voluntary sector Web sites (in Canada and elsewhere) can be improved, to better support organizational objectives and to reduce the “digital divide” between the profit and nonprofit sectors.

scholarly journals The Less-Known History of the Voluntary Sector in an East Asian Welfare Regime: A South Korean Case

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suyoung Kim
Keyword(s):  
East Asian ◽  
Voluntary Sector ◽  
Welfare States ◽  
Voluntary Organizations ◽  
Welfare Regime ◽  
Family Interactions ◽  
Welfare Regimes ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Welfare Mix

AbstractAlthough the voluntary sector is internationally valued as an integral component of the welfare mix, studies on East Asian welfare regimes have primarily focused on state-market-family interactions, paying scant attention to the long-standing and pivotal role of voluntary agencies in their construction. This case study illuminates this less-known aspect of modern welfare history in the context of South Korea, with a particular focus on the activities of voluntary organizations. The study categorizes South Korean voluntary associations into four types and examines their different contributions in shaping South Korea’s welfare regime, by applying Young’s framework on government–voluntary organizations relations. This historical exploration on the South Korean voluntary sector aims to deepen understanding of an East Asian welfare state regime. It further suggests that current welfare mix debates, focusing on the service delivery role of voluntary organizations within Western European welfare states, should be broadened.

Return to relevance

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-6
Author(s):  
Robert Fox
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
Web Site ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Library Science ◽  
User Needs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Web Presence ◽  
Design Philosophy ◽  
Information Professionals

Purpose – In order to continue to respond to patron needs in a relevant way, it is necessary to continuously reevaluate the central message that the library website is intended to convey. It ' s necessary to question assumptions, listen to user needs, and shift our paradigm to make the library web presence as effective as possible. Design/methodology/approach – This is a regular viewpoint column. A basic literature review was done prior to the column being written. Findings – The library Web site remains, in many respects, the “first face” of the library for patrons. To remain relevant, traditional methodologies used in library science may need to be set aside or catered to the needs of the patron. Originality/value – Various methods regarding design philosophy are explored which may be of use to information professionals responsible for the design and content of the library Web sites.

Bridging the digital divide through ICT

2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 358-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adboulaye Kaba ◽  
Raed Said
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Information Technology ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Gulf Cooperation Council ◽  
Arab Countries ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Global Information ◽  
Gcc Countries ◽  
Ict Infrastructure

Bridging the gap of the digital divide can play an important role in education, employment and economic growth of any country. The present study attempts to examine and analyze the digital divide status of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries compared with countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other Arab countries. It uses 19 indicators of four factors adapted from The Global Information Technology Report 2009–2010 to measure the digital divide. Findings of the study indicated that GCC countries have a better ICT infrastructure than the ASEAN and other Arab countries. Similarly, the results of the study revealed that GCC nations have more ICT users than the ASEAN and other Arab countries. However, the study found no significant differences among these groups of countries in regard to government support and usage of ICT. Findings of the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) show that, across the three groups of countries, the influence of ICT infrastructure is consistently significant in narrowing the digital divide. The regression results also prove a significant relationship between government support for ICT and government usage of ICT.

The Global Digital Divide

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederico Cruz-Jesus ◽  
Tiago Oliveira ◽  
Fernando Bacao
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
English Language ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Digital Development ◽  
Global Digital Divide ◽  
Using Data ◽  
India And China

This article presents an analysis of the global digital divide, based on data collected from 45 countries, including the ones belonging to the European Union, OECD, Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC). The analysis shows that one factor can explain a large part of the variation in the seven ICT variables used to measure the digital development of countries. This measure is then used with additional variables, which are hypothesised as drivers of the divide for a regression analysis using data from 2015, 2013, and 2011, which reveals economic and educational imbalances between countries, along with some aspects of geography, as drivers of the digital divide. Contrary to the authors' expectations, the English language is not a driver.

scholarly journals REFLECTIONS ON PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Madkur ◽  
Abdullah Farih ◽  
Ahmad Ridho Rojab ◽  
Andini Linarsih ◽  
Beny Hamdani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Educational Theory ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Pedagogical Practices ◽  
Great Effort ◽  
English Language Education ◽  
Face To Face

This is a great effort to summarize bright ideas about educational theory and practice, especially English language education and teaching, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This anthology book will be very useful for teachers, lecturers, students, and education practitioners, especially language education, to gain experience that can be directly practiced in online, face-to-face classes, or a combination of online and faceto-face. Hopefully, this small effort that has great benefits can be continued by IELA (Indonesian English Lecturer Association) in particular and seminar organizers in general to produce important writings containing theoretical and practical ideas that are useful for the advancement of education, especially language education in Indonesia. By sharing this knowledge and experience, we can transfer these smart ideas to fellow teachers and lecturers, researchers, and practitioners to be able to solve some teaching problems with this solution.

scholarly journals E-education between Pedagogical and Didactic Theory and Practice

Organizacija ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanda Rebolj
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Learning Technology ◽  
Education Systems ◽  
Education Production ◽  
Technology Learning ◽  
Web Environment ◽  
Professional Opinion ◽  
Electronic Education

E-education between Pedagogical and Didactic Theory and PracticeEducation systems confront new requirements to become more efficient and contribute more to the economic success of society. At the same time there are new challenges for the education systems to perform their tasks using advanced technology. In capacity, information technology considerably surpasses the current learning technology. Supported by Internet it creates an electronic parallel to the standard school and learning. Unfortunately there is only sporadic evidence that supported by information technology, learning and education system as a whole can be considerably improved. In spite of that, we believe there is no way back and e-education is not just a temporary whim. Even though we do not know exactly who should perform what and to which scope. The passiveness of pedagogues, the lack of empirical research and the occurring expansion of the market for e-education products without their quality assessment is not of advantage to this progress. The spread of e-education production without considering the professional opinion of pedagogues, who beside their practical work must also engage in developing their own pedagogical theory, might not benefit the existing education achievements. On the other hand, didactics can by analogy be applied also in the web environment, consequently creating the related assessment mechanisms of the electronic education elements.

scholarly journals Preparing Teachers of English Language Learners: Empirical Evidence and Policy Implications

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca López ◽  
Martin Scanlan ◽  
Becky Gundrum
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Current Theory ◽  
English Language Development ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Teacher Education Programs ◽  
Reading Outcomes ◽  
Level Of Training

In this study, we examined the degree to which the requirements in each state’s teacher education programs reflect current theory and practice for teachers of ELLs in their coursework, and how these requirements in turn are related to 4th grade Hispanic ELL’s reading outcomes on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. We found that required coursework on English language development and assessment were positively related to Hispanic ELLs' reading outcomes. Moreover, states that require both specialist certification, and all teachers to have some level of training to meet the needs of ELLs, also tend to have higher levels of achievement than states that do not have these requirements.

scholarly journals Bridging the digital divide : effort towards establishing the real impact of information technology to the rural community

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Roshidi Hassan ◽  
Megat Zuhairy Megat Tajuddin
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Literacy Programs ◽  
Technology Literacy ◽  
Power Utilities ◽  
Internet Connections ◽  
Basic Infrastructure ◽  
Impact Of Technology

The Bridging Digital Divide (BDD) Program initiated by the Malaysian government in 1999 has successfully introduced the Information Technology (IT) to the rural communities particularly in Malaysia. The computers and internet connections are available almost at every part ofMalaysia including those in the remote areas. However; to have a real impact of technology on people slives, the effort has to go beyond the infrastructures and technology literacy programs and awareness. Having information available suit to the needs of the local community will bring greater impact ofthe technology to them. Nevertheless, the new approaches need to be introduced to make the effort less costly. Some of the Digital Divide programs require proper coordination with other projects. Coordination with the responsible agencies in providing power utilities and road infrastructures is essential to make such expensive digital divide program more cost effective·and give greater impact to the community. Thus, this paper will provide numerous suggestions on the improvement in providing greater benefits; both the users and the project implementers. Besides, this paper will also discuss on the need of local content in local language with self-sustained nature. lt further highlights the importanceof having basic infrastructure such as electricity and road accessibility that may have influence over the success of BDD program.

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