scholarly journals Challenges with social software for collaboration: Two case studies from teacher training

Seminar.net ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Teemu Valtonen ◽  
Sari Havu-Nuutinen ◽  
Patrick Dillon ◽  
Sini Kontkanen ◽  
Mikko Vesisenaho ◽  
...  

This paper provides an insight into challenges with collaborative learning using social software. It reports two case studies conducted in a teacher training department in a Finnish university. Although the case studies were concerned with providing teacher students with inspiring and motivating experiences of using ICT in pedagogically meaningful ways, the research design was set up so that challenges could be identified and investigated. Results reveal several factors that are related to challenges of learning collaboratively with social software. The main challenge concerns students’ understanding of what it means to learn collaboratively. It would seem that the added value of interaction and collaboration is poorly recognised. Furthermore, implications for teacher training are discussed.

Seminar.net ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yngve Nordkvelle

MOOC is one of the new terms that occupy many higher learning institutions these days. Rectors, Presidents or Vice-Chancellors, leaders of higher education in general, are all of a sudden all set for the target: we also want to provide courses for the “MOOC”. The conservative Norwegian newspaper “Aftenposten” claimed recently that the MOOCs will revolutionize higher education, and will alter “the ways we learn” in fundamental ways. The Norwegian Ministry of Education has established an expert group to monitor the development of MOOCs and the consequences for national higher education systems. The reactions sway between exhilaration and “moral panic”. Many positive reactions reflect what Thomas Alva Edison hoped for a century ago, by predicting that learning was now liberated from the institutions and offered entirely via film and radio. The moral panic is a sentiment held by those who think that higher education institutions also have an obligation to maintain national cultures of science and humanities. Leaving teaching to MIT, Open University or whoever wants to claim the turf of teaching a topic, is a challenge to the established higher education policies. The global market of science, communication, publishing and library service is already vastly dominated by the English speaking academia.The MOOCs are so far predominantly a phenomenon from this cultural area, and will add to the cultural dominance that is already so strong. In this respect I subscribe to a moral panic. On the other hand one might ask, what is truly new to the “MOOC”? Not much, in my view, except a different way of organizing, financing and marketing content and processes which are as old as correspondence schools. The technological wrapping is redesigned and offered in an importantly different context: “open access”. This tantalizing concept clouds the fact that teaching in higher education is situated in local cultural contexts, and is, as always, problematic to recontextualize.The first article in this issue is titled “From Classroom to Digital Arena in Seeking Higher-level Learning: Student Experience” and is written by dr. Mark Brown of The Department of Communication, Culture and Languages, BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo. In the article he acknowledges the vast influences distance-learning has had on the area of introducing digital technologies in higher education. The article reports some results from a teaching project in which they moved a mid-level learning process out of the classroom and into a digital learning environment in order to free up teaching time for higher-level learning. The findings demonstrate that students respond very positively to such reflective learning opportunities.In the paper “Challenges with social software for collaboration: Two case studies from teacher training” a collective of authors from the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Eastern Finland, Teemu Valtonen, Sari Havo-Nuutinen, Patrick Dillon, Sini Kontkanen, Mikko Vesisenaho and Susanne Pöntinen offer us insights into which challenges with collaborative learning  one meets when using social software. It reports two case studies conducted in a teacher training department. Although the case studies were concerned with providing teacher students with inspiring and motivating experiences of using ICT in pedagogically meaningful ways, the research design was set up so that challenges could be identified and investigated. It turned out that the presumed added value of interaction and collaboration was poorly recognised.In the last article, Ragnhild Nilsen and Line Lundvoll Nilsen, of The University of Tromsø, write about their project on “Interdisciplinary professional education (IPE)”. The title, “Interprofessional Participation and Reflection in a Digital Network” introduces us to how teaching with digital tools allows collaborative learning to take place. Their methods supported collective reflection and increased professional understanding. The digital network allowed students from different health science programmes to draw on each other’s knowledge and expertise. The authors suggest that their findings are relevant for the development of reflection and professional understanding among health science students, as they show how students discuss and seek solutions to complex challenges in the practice.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-26
Author(s):  
S.V. Tsymbal ◽  

The digital revolution has transformed the way people access information, communicate and learn. It is teachers' responsibility to set up environments and opportunities for deep learning experiences that can uncover and boost learners’ capacities. Twentyfirst century competences can be seen as necessary to navigate contemporary and future life, shaped by technology that changes workplaces and lifestyles. This study explores the concept of digital competence and provide insight into the European Framework for the Digital Competence of Educators.


Author(s):  
Erica L. Tucker

This chapter describes and discusses the major qualitative research methods used to study museums. These methods include analyses of visual displays and reconstructions; interviews with museum visitors, professionals, and stakeholders; as well as ethnographic fieldwork in museum settings. The chapter explores how these methods can be adapted to the study of exhibits, galleries, programs, and museums as knowledge-generating institutions from a range of case studies conducted by museum practitioners, anthropologists, historians, and other museum studies scholars at a variety of museums. Case studies are drawn from works that examine ethnographic, natural history, art and community museums as well as historic sites. Approaches to research design, data analyses, and writing up are also examined.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
Andreas Tsatsaris ◽  
Kleomenis Kalogeropoulos ◽  
Nikolaos Stathopoulos ◽  
Panagiota Louka ◽  
Konstantinos Tsanakas ◽  
...  

Human activities and climate change constitute the contemporary catalyst for natural processes and their impacts, i.e., geo-environmental hazards. Globally, natural catastrophic phenomena and hazards, such as drought, soil erosion, quantitative and qualitative degradation of groundwater, frost, flooding, sea level rise, etc., are intensified by anthropogenic factors. Thus, they present rapid increase in intensity, frequency of occurrence, spatial density, and significant spread of the areas of occurrence. The impact of these phenomena is devastating to human life and to global economies, private holdings, infrastructure, etc., while in a wider context it has a very negative effect on the social, environmental, and economic status of the affected region. Geospatial technologies including Geographic Information Systems, Remote Sensing—Earth Observation as well as related spatial data analysis tools, models, databases, contribute nowadays significantly in predicting, preventing, researching, addressing, rehabilitating, and managing these phenomena and their effects. This review attempts to mark the most devastating geo-hazards from the view of environmental monitoring, covering the state of the art in the use of geospatial technologies in that respect. It also defines the main challenge of this new era which is nothing more than the fictitious exploitation of the information produced by the environmental monitoring so that the necessary policies are taken in the direction of a sustainable future. The review highlights the potential and increasing added value of geographic information as a means to support environmental monitoring in the face of climate change. The growth in geographic information seems to be rapidly accelerated due to the technological and scientific developments that will continue with exponential progress in the years to come. Nonetheless, as it is also highlighted in this review continuous monitoring of the environment is subject to an interdisciplinary approach and contains an amount of actions that cover both the development of natural phenomena and their catastrophic effects mostly due to climate change.


2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 570-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irit Gazit ◽  
Joseph Terkel

The blind mole-rat (Spalax ehrenbergi) is a fossorial mammal that is solitary and highly aggressive in nature. The consequent difficulties of maintaining this species in captivity have hindered attempts to gain insight into its behavior and reproductive biology. This article describes an innovative artificial tunnel system and management protocol that facilitated our study of the reproductive behavior of the blind mole-rat in captivity. The study employed a naturalistic approach that allowed the animals to establish separate territories in a seminatural tunnel system and to become familiar with each other over a period of months. This approach contrasts with previous unsuccessful attempts in which mole-rats were introduced without a period of acclimation to each other or to the experimental set-up. The results reveal that both the length of acquaintance between a pair of mole-rats and their own control of the timing of encounters are the most significant factors in reducing aggression and stress. Courtship in blind mole-rats is a lengthy process during which the animals gradually become accustomed to one another, which leads to a reduction of aggression and the initiation of positive "contact movements," eventually enabling copulation to occur. Minimal disturbance by the researcher and initiation of encounters by the mole-rats themselves appear to be the factors that led to a successful mating, pregnancy, and, 34 days later, to the female giving birth and rearing the pups in captivity.


2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Greasley ◽  
Yucan Wang

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of a hybrid enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, combining an ERP system with enterprise social software (ESS). The study will provide a critical assessment of the implementation of this process technology. Design/methodology/approach Multiple case studies of organisations based in China were conducted to understand the use of ERP systems in different contexts. Following an evaluation of the context of each ERP implementation (within-case analysis) the research draws a cross-case conclusion that defines the nature of a hybrid ERP system and then synthesises the propositions related to the benefits and challenges of implementation. Findings The authors find that a hybrid ERP system is able to support efficiency in business process management and also provide a flexible response to changes in business requirements. It does this by allowing for the continued use of informal processes that cannot be incorporated into the ERP system. Practical implications This research indicates how ERP systems in conjunction with ESS can provide a flexible response to changing business requirements and increase collaboration within the organisation. Key lessons include the need to perform informal activities under the guidance of managers and provide clear boundaries for the implementation of informal activities. Originality/value This study has found that the use of case studies can provide a valuable insight into the use of a hybrid ERP system from the perspective of its use within the organisation as a work system that requires an assessment of the context within which organisational members perform their work.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Emma Davidson ◽  
Briege Nugent ◽  
Sarah Johnsen

This article reflects on the contribution of qualitative longitudinal research (QLR) to understandings of homeless peoples’ experiences of support service interventions in an era of austerity in the UK. It brings into ‘analytic conversation’ data from qualitative longitudinal evaluations of homeless support projects operated by voluntary sector organisations in Scotland. With fieldwork spanning 2014-2019, the analysis expands the analytical potential of pooling small-scale studies through an interrogation of individuals’ ‘journeys’ through homelessness services and their rough path to ‘home’. By reflecting on our substantive findings, the article explores the added value and challenges of a longitudinal approach. It concludes that while QLR can deliver deep insight into lives lived by vulnerable populations and potentially reduce the distance between policy makers and those affected, its benefits must be balanced against pragmatism and the ethical responsibilities associated with the method.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Imrie ◽  
Maciej Kozlowski ◽  
Omar Torky ◽  
Aditya Arie Wijaya

AbstractMonitoring pipe corrosion is one of the critical aspects in the well intervention. Such analysis is used to evaluate and justify any remedial actions, to prolong the longevity of the well. Typical corrosion evaluation methods of tubulars consist of multifinger caliper tools that provide high-resolution measurements of the internal condition of the pipe. Routinely, this data is then analyzed and interpreted with respect to the manufacture's nominal specification for each tubular. However, this requires assumptions on the outer diameter of the tubular may add uncertainty, and incorrectly calculate the true metal thicknesses. This paper will highlight cases where the integration of such tool and electromagnetic (EM) thickness data adds value in discovering the true condition of both the first tubular and outer casings.These case studies demonstrate the use of a multireceiver, multitransmitter electromagnetic (EM) metal thickness tool operating at multiple simultaneous frequencies. It is used to measure the individual wall thickness across multiple strings (up to five) and operates continuously, making measurements in the frequency domain. This tool was combined with a multifinger caliper to provide a complete and efficient single-trip diagnosis of the tubing and casing integrity. The combination of multifinger caliper and EM metal thickness tool results gives both internal and external corrosion as well as metal thickness of first and outer tubular strings.The paper highlights multiple case studies including; i) successfully detecting several areas of metal loss (up to greater than 32%) on the outer string, which correlated to areas of the mobile salt formation, ii) overlapping defects in two tubulars and, iii) cases where a multifinger caliper alone doesn't provide an accurate indication of the true wall thickness. The final case highlights the advantages of integrating multiple tubular integrity tools when determining the condition of the casing wall.Metal thickness tools operating on EM principles benefit from a slim outer diameter design that allows the tools to pass through restrictions which typically would prevent ultrasonic scanning thickness tools. Additionally, EM tools are unaffected by the type of fluid in the wellbore and not affected by any non-ferrous scale buildup that may present in the inside of the tubular wall. Combinability between complementary multifinger caliper technology and EM thickness results in two independent sensors to provide a complete assessment of the well architecture.


2015 ◽  

The Cambridge Guide to Blended Learning for Language Teaching makes the case that it is pedagogy, rather than technology, that should underpin the design of blended learning programmes. The book is organised into five sections: Connecting Theories and Blended Learning; Implications for Teaching; Rethinking Learner Interaction; Case Studies; The Future of Blended Learning. With its research-informed and practitioner-focused approach, this book is ideal for language teachers and language centre managers looking to broaden their understanding of pedagogy and blended learning. It will also be of interest to anyone working on blended learning course design or delivering teacher training courses.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document