scholarly journals Towards a Curriculum for Biodiversity Informatics

Author(s):  
Fatima Parker-Allie ◽  
Francisco Pando ◽  
Jean Ganglo ◽  
Anders Telenius ◽  
Danny Vélez ◽  
...  

Biodiversity informatics has been characterized as a rapidly growing interdisciplinary field, which aims to bring together the areas of biodiversity and informatics. A study was conducted looking at the current level of activity within the GBIF Participant countries and its associated network in relation to work-based training and/or academic teaching at universities, in the field of biodiversity informatics. It was intended to get an overview of GBIF Node Managers, (hence, member countries), already engaged in developing course curricula, or in providing training, and whether they would be willing to share resources or enter into collaborations, to further elaborate this field of science. This investigation followed a survey approach, conducted globally across the GBIF community to identify the existing capacities and resources within the network. The results indicated that the vast majority of GBIF Nodes survey respondents, are engaged in onsite training activities in biodiversity informatics areas, with a focus on professionals, mostly researchers, policy makers and students. Training includes data digitization, management, publishing, analysis and use, to enable the accessibility of analogue and digital biological data which currently resides as scattered databases/datasets. A list containing the associated URL's for training and dissemination activities in GBIF Nodes has been developed, based on survey results, and will be presented. An initial assessment of the academic teaching activities indicated that many countries across most regions were already engaged in the conceptualisation, development and/or implementation of formal academic programs in biodiversity informatics including Benin, Colombia, Costa Rica, Finland, France, India, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan and Togo. This study also identified that digital e-learning platforms were a very important tool to help build capacity in a number of countries. To assess the level of potential in the network to support academic teaching and work-based training, sixty percent indicated that they would be willing to be recruited or commissioned to support teaching activities, demonstrating the value of the Nodes network to support the development of biodiversity informatics globally. The contributions and activities of various nodes across the network will be highlighted and a working high-level curriculum framework will be discussed.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatima Parker-Allie ◽  
Francisco Pando ◽  
Anders Telenius ◽  
Jean Ganglo ◽  
Danny Vélez ◽  
...  

Biodiversity informatics is a new and evolving field, requiring efforts to develop capacity and a curriculum for this field of science. The main objective was to summarise the level of activity and the efforts towards developing biodiversity informatics curricula, for work-based training and/or academic teaching at universities, taking place within the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) countries and its associated network. A survey approach was used to identify existing capacities and resources within the network. Most of GBIF Nodes survey respondents (80%) are engaged in onsite training activities, with a focus on work-based professionals, mostly researchers, policy-makers and students. Training topics include data mobilisation, digitisation, management, publishing, analysis and use, to enable the accessibility of analogue and digital biological data that currently reside as scattered datasets. An initial assessment of academic teaching activities highlighted that countries in most regions, to varying degrees, were already engaged in the conceptualisation, development and/or implementation of formal academic programmes in biodiversity informatics, including programmes in Benin, Colombia, Costa Rica, Finland, France, India, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan and Togo. Digital e-learning platforms were an important tool to help build capacity in many countries. In terms of the potential in the Nodes network, 60% expressed willingness to be recruited or commissioned for capacity enhancement purposes. Contributions and activities of various country nodes across the network have been highlighted and a working curriculum framework has been defined.


Author(s):  
Danuta Morańska

Development of network technologies creates more and more friendly conditions contributing to the development of e-learning platforms. Thanks to simpler and more intuitive operation, e-learning platforms are applicable in the implementation of educational objectives among adult learners. E-platforms contribute to the integration and creation of cooperation networks among environments implementing common objectives, although they function in remote localizations. In the paper the opportunities of innovative applications of the e-learning Moodle platform was characterized. This platform was used to implement objectives connected with intercultural and intergenerational education in the process of Long Life Learning among Polish people living abroad. The aim of the implemented project was common development of innovative methodology of adult learners’ education in order to provide the high level of teaching with the application of e-learning solutions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 637-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Titus Ebenezer Kwofie ◽  
Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa ◽  
Johannes Siabatho Mpambela

Purpose A high level of low compliance with continuing professional development (CPD) among construction professionals in developing countries is well acknowledged in existing literature. In spite of several interventions in CPD implementation, reforms and approaches in recent times, there does not seem to be an immediate improvement. This development calls for a re-think among stakeholders to adopt strategies that can yield the best results in uptake. Though several strategies have been proposed to potentially result in CPD uptake and compliance among construction professionals, these possible strategies have not been considered in an integrated manner. This study aims at identifying CPD delivery and implementation strategies that can significantly contribute to compliance and uptake among construction professionals in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach Using a quantitative research design and a questionnaire survey, this study sought to identify effective CPD implementation strategies for construction professionals from a plethora of suggested ones that can engender increased uptake and compliance. Findings By using multiple regression analysis, the results revealed “flexible e-learning platforms”, “standardisation of CPD model and formats by professional institutions”, “inclusion of CPD in tertiary curriculum to easily understand its importance” and “encouraging practices to have frequent in-house training sessions sharing experiences” as the most significant strategies that are likely to improve CPD uptake and compliance. Originality/value Against the backdrop of the need to increase CPD uptake and compliance among professionals through flexible integrated approach comes to the fore the understanding and knowledge of the strategies that can engender CPD uptake and compliance among construction professionals in the construction industry in South Africa.


2018 ◽  
pp. 49-57
Author(s):  
N. A. Gluzman

In the modern educational space regarding the realities of the information society special importance is attached to issues related to the provision of a high level of informatization of education, which implies teachers’ mastering the necessary competencies and the ability to introduce e-learning resources into educational and training practice. Adobe Flash as one of the platforms for creating web applications and multimedia presentations enjoys greatest popularity with users including teachers. However, in connection with the announcement of discontinuing Adobe Flash support in 2020, the issue of choosing an analog to create web applications and presentations for use in teaching purposes is becoming particularly relevant. The article provides a comprehensive analysis of developing electronic educational resources by teachers using Adobe Flash and HTML5 for teaching math in primary school.


Author(s):  
A. S. Christochevskaya ◽  
S. A. Christochevsky

Informatization of education has been going on for 30 years. During this time, a good material and technical base appeared in schools, there are repositories of e-learning resources to which teachers have access. However, it is difficult to use these e-learning resources due to their too large number and not always high level. It is advisable to introduce a system of reviews and recommendations, to conduct a comparative analysis, as well as to make reviews of resources on a particular subject/topic. In addition, the demand for e-learning resources is affected by the fact that education authorities encourage not so much the use of e-learning resources as their development by the teacher himself. In general, the load on teachers has increased instead of the promised saving of time and effort when using the e-learning resources. At the same time, many e-learning resources are not very effective, since they do not meet the requirements of cognitiveness (they contribute not to learning, but to simple memorization of the material). It is necessary to explore the process of learning new material: this will allow you to create cognitive e-learning resources and other resources that would help you with equal probability to successfully acquire new knowledge for students belonging to different psycho-types. At the initial stage of the study of any subject, it is more expedient to use the usual “paper” method, that is, a textbook and not overload the student’s brain with excessive information. Only when he has mastered the basic provisions, we can turn to e-learning resources, bearing in mind that they must be cognitive, that is, they are aimed at logical perception and rapid intuitive learning, only in this case e-learning resources can be considered effective. The conclusion is formulated that cognitiveness is the next stage of informatization of education after the stage of electronization.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Chen ◽  
Fons. J. Verbeek ◽  
Katherine Wolstencroft

Abstract Background The hallmarks of cancer provide a highly cited and well-used conceptual framework for describing the processes involved in cancer cell development and tumourigenesis. However, methods for translating these high-level concepts into data-level associations between hallmarks and genes (for high throughput analysis), vary widely between studies. The examination of different strategies to associate and map cancer hallmarks reveals significant differences, but also consensus. Results Here we present the results of a comparative analysis of cancer hallmark mapping strategies, based on Gene Ontology and biological pathway annotation, from different studies. By analysing the semantic similarity between annotations, and the resulting gene set overlap, we identify emerging consensus knowledge. In addition, we analyse the differences between hallmark and gene set associations using Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis and enrichment analysis. Conclusions Reaching a community-wide consensus on how to identify cancer hallmark activity from research data would enable more systematic data integration and comparison between studies. These results highlight the current state of the consensus and offer a starting point for further convergence. In addition, we show how a lack of consensus can lead to large differences in the biological interpretation of downstream analyses and discuss the challenges of annotating changing and accumulating biological data, using intermediate knowledge resources that are also changing over time.


Author(s):  
Stefan Piasecki

Gamification as a tool or procedure to add entertaining and motivating elements to usually non-entertaining environments such as schools or workplaces is becoming more and more popular. E-learning platforms like Moodle provide tools and sets of functions to add elements of gamification. An important factor, especially for education, is technology: individual achievements and progress can be recorded, measured, tracked and visualized and, therefore, identified and honored through bonus points, awards or rankings. This is where gamification can add some challenge and excitement to learning.


IEEE Access ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Ryosuke Kawamura ◽  
Shizuka Shirai ◽  
Noriko Takemura ◽  
Mehrasa Alizadeh ◽  
Mutlu Cukurova ◽  
...  

Data ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Rana Saeed Al-Maroof ◽  
Khadija Alhumaid ◽  
Iman Akour ◽  
Said Salloum

The fear of vaccines has led to population rejection due to various reasons. Students have had their own inquiries towards the effectiveness of the vaccination, which leads to vaccination hesitancy. Vaccination hesitancy can affect students’ perception, hence, acceptance of e-learning platforms. Therefore, this research attempts to explore the post-acceptance of e-learning platforms based on a conceptual model that has various variables. Each variable contributes differently to the post-acceptance of the e-learning platform. The research investigates the moderating role of vaccination fear on the post-acceptance of e-learning platforms among students. Thus, the study aims at exploring students’ perceptions about their post-acceptance of e-learning platforms where vaccination fear functions as a moderator. The current study depends on an online questionnaire that is composed of 29 items. The total number of respondents is 630. The collected data was implemented to test the study model and the proposed constructs and hypotheses depending on the Smart PLS Software. Fear of vaccination has a significant impact on the acceptance of e-learning platforms, and it is a strong mediator in the conceptual model. The findings indicate a positive effect of the fear of vaccination as a mediator in the variables: perceived ease of use and usefulness, perceived daily routine, perceived critical mass and perceived self-efficiency. The implication gives a deep insight to take effective steps in reducing the level of fear of vaccination, supporting the vaccination confidence among educators, teachers and students who will, in turn, affect the society as a whole.


Author(s):  
Peng Lu ◽  
Xiao Cong ◽  
Dongdai Zhou

Nowadays, E-learning system has been widely applied to practical teaching. It was favored by people for its characterized course arrangement and flexible learning schedule. However, the system does have some problems in the process of application such as the functions of single software are not diversified enough to satisfy the requirements in teaching completely. In order to cater more applications in the teaching process, it is necessary to integrate functions from different systems. But the difference in developing techniques and the inflexibility in design makes it difficult to implement. The major reason of these problems is the lack of fine software architecture. In this article, we build domain model and component model of E-learning system and components integration method on the basis of WebService. And we proposed an abstract framework of E-learning which could express the semantic relationship among components and realize high level reusable on the basis of informationized teaching mode. On this foundation, we form an E-learning oriented layering software architecture contain component library layer, application framework layer and application layer. Moreover, the system contains layer division multiplexing and was not built upon developing language and tools. Under the help of the software architecture, we could build characterized E-learning system flexibly like building blocks through framework selection, component assembling and replacement. In addition, we exemplify how to build concrete E-learning system on the basis of this software architecture.


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