Non-millennial teachers’ strategies in coping with the online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic

This article discusses the strategies used by five non-millennial teachers (aged 54-59 years old) of a junior high school in coping with the online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, in Ngawi, East Java, Indonesia. The teachers were interviewed, and the data were transcribed and analyzed by creating a data repository, expanding the codes, describing the coded data, and drawing conclusions. The results revealed that the teachers had several strategies used, which were to increase students’ interest in learning, provide students with knowledge and attention, create efficient learning resources, and use SIMPEL (Sistem Informasi Manajemen Pembelajaran or Learning Management Information System), which is specifically available only in Ngawi. SIMPEL was specially developed by the Ngawi district education office, to ensure that the learning processes in Ngawi Regency continue to run optimally during the COVID-19 outbreak. SIMPEL substituted the use of online YouTube videos and materials because the materials were already provided by the system, decreasing the need for the teachers to depend on other resources. Despite these teachers also using other online platforms, hence issues such as the slow internet connection, running out of quotas and blackouts, hindered their efforts to use these platforms at times. Hence, WAG was the most used media to conduct their online learning due to its simplicity and availability. These teachers continued to strive to learn digital technologies ever since they changed from their previous face-to-face teaching strategies.

Improving Classification Efficiency of Fake News using Semi-Supervised Method

Online News media which is more accessible, cheaper, and faster to consume, is also of questionable quality as there is less moderation. Anybody with a computing device and internet connection can take part in creating, contributing, and spreading news in online portals. Social media has intensified the problem further. Due to the high volume, velocity, and veracity, online news content is beyond traditional moderation, also known as moderation through human experts. So different machine learning method is being tested and used to spot fake news. One of the main challenges for fake-news classification is getting labeled instances for this high volume of real-time data. In this study, we examined how semi-supervised machine learning can help to decrease the need for labeled instances with an acceptable drop of accuracy. The accuracy difference between the supervised classifier and the semi-supervised classifier is around 0.05 while using only five percent of label instances of the supervised classifier. We tested with logistic regression, SVM, and random forest classifier to prove our hypothesis.

Benchmarking of mobile apps on heart failure

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the mobile apps on heart failure available in the main operating systems and their usability. Methods: benchmarking of mobile applications, systematic research, comprising 38 mobile applications for analysis of general information, functionalities and usability. Usability was assessed using System Usability Scale and Smartphone Usability Questionnaire, followed by the calculation of the agreement index and the exact binomial distribution test, with a significance level of p> 0.05 and a proportion of 0.90. Results: mobile applications had English as the predominant language (73.7%), were directed to patients (71.1%) and the predominant theme was disease knowledge (34.2%). Functionalities ranged from general features to the need for an internet connection. In assessing usability, heart failure was shown to be 92.1% -94.7% and p <0.05. Final considerations: the mobile apps on heart failure have varied content and adequate usability. However, there is a need to develop more comprehensive mobile applications.

Online Communities. Benefits and Risks

This article reviews empirical studies from 2008 to 2017 on the effects of participating in online communities. The review uses three databases: PubMed, Scopus and ScienceDirect. The criteria are: (1) online community aimed to provide support by and for people with a common problem; (2) the content of the sessions was determined by users; (3) members met via the Internet; (4) online community was available 24/7; (5) online community access was free and open to everyone with an Internet connection. Of the articles, 13 of 105 met the inclusion criteria. Seven studies reported positive changes: informational and emotional support, increased sense of belonging, less isolation, better medical understanding. Six articles also considered risks: the rise of the level of stress because of successes or failures of other users, the addiction to the forum and the consequent isolation from real relationships.

Cultural Tourism, Internet of Things, and Smart Technologies in Museums

In this chapter, the author explores the application of the internet of things (IoT) in museums. IoT technology typically combines physical objects with hardware and software. For museums, the simplest example is 3D virtual tours, which need a computer and an internet connection. Today, however, museums have become more complicated with virtual and augmented technologies. Virtual and augmented reality devices, such as virtual reality (VR) glasses, and related applications, such as Google Arts and Culture, provide interactive museum tour experiences for visitors. For all these experiences, they only need to connect to the internet with their devices. Virtual museum tours range from history to space technologies. This chapter explores the nature of using IoT technologies in cultural tourism, especially in museums.

Residential security through the Home Assistant Platform

The etymology of the word safety means: lack of danger; feeling of peace and confidence; shelter from any danger; feeling of security. A security system of goods, values and protection of people can be implemented through an automated platform, under the name of Home Assistant. This server software application can communicate with an easy control system for fast and two-way access, which can be mounted to a restricted main entrance. The automatic opening of the access door is controlled both by stand-alone RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) modules, which act on an electric closing mechanism, and by an automation system configured in the Home Assistant application. The ultimate goal is the security of the premises through a system that can operate both locally and online via internet connection. The research methodology was based on the study of intelligent applications for residential access, described in the literature, aiming at integration into the open-source HA platform, by developing new code sequences. I come with this paper in support of those who want to bring an improvement in the existing automation system, respectively to encourage those who want an automated residence at a higher level.

Virtual OSCE: Experience and challenges with a large cohort of pharmacy students

In response to the inability to conduct conventional face-to-face objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) due to the COVID-19 lockdown, this study explored options to design virtual OSCE (vOSCE) that meets the objectives and standards of effective competency-based assessment for a large cohort of pharmacy students. The vOSCE required advanced planning of the actual assessment and technical conduct. The development of a master plan consisting of the types of competencies to test, topics and number of cases, and assessment rubrics, guided the team members to develop an adequate OSCE assessment module. Technical aspects included recruitment of examiners, simulated patients (SP), technical support, and a platform for vOSCE. The main challenges were to ensure well-ordered vOSCE and a stable internet connection for examiners, SP, and students. Google Meet was utilised due to its functionality, familiarity, and low internet consumption to all parties involved. Feedback was obtained from stakeholders to improve future OSCE conduct.

Alarm System and Emergency Message from Wheelchair User Emergency Condition

When someone uses a wheelchair, there is still the possibility of an accident to the user, such as when the user suddenly falls down from the wheelchair or the user falls down along with the wheelchair. For notification of emergency conditions for wheelchair users, an alarm system is designed that can send messages to the intended mobile number. The system is designed using Wemos D1 mini, Ultrasonic, MPU-6050 and Proximity E18-D80NK sensors. The conclusion from the measurement and test results are: the value read by the MPU-6050 sensor is taken one axis for each direction when the wheelchair was falling down, Y≤180o for left falling down, X≤50o for right falling down, Z≤65o for forward falling and Z≥140o for backwards falling down. The Ultrasonic sensor works well for detecting the presence of user’s legs and the E18-D80NK proximity sensor works well for detecting the position of the user who is sitting in a wheelchair. Receiving notifications through the BLYNK server works well, not affected by distance provided there is an internet connection connected to the device.

Evaluating the ‘Texting, Sharing and Mentoring’ Method Applied in Community Empowerment Program Based On Trigona Laeviceps Stingless Beekeeping Adoption in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the texting, sharing, and mentoring (TSM) method as an innovative method of community empowerment applied in 'Go-Honey' program. This method is mixed offline and online with the use of Whatsapp groups connecting program participants, resource persons, and local mentors. Using the Bloom's Taxonomy approach, this study compares the knowledge level of the 'Go-Honey' program participants implementing TSM with other sitngless beekeeping program participants who use the single-face-to-face (TTM) method as a control. The total participants involved in this study were 20 people, half of whom were female members of 'Go-honey', while the other half were not. Participants were asked questions related to cognitive, affective and psychomotor aspects by direct interviews. Observations were also done on the results of the work performance. The results show that the 'Go-Honey' participants have a higher level of knowledge about stingless beekeeping compared to the control model in these three aspects of knowledge. The results of the Mann Whitney test shows that the cognitive, affective and psychomotor scores are significantly different at 1 % alpha. This method has the potential to be applied after the pandemic ends with the principle of distance learning as long as there is the internet connection and the presence of local mentors.

Project-Based Learning for Mechanical Engineering Students in the Emergency Remote Teaching

Covid-19 has changed a lot of life sectors, including education. The government’s policy to carry out emergency remote teaching (ERT) immediately switches the teachers’ and lecturers’ plans on successful classroom activities. One of the classroom’s activities is project-based learning (PBL). With several limitations, challenges should be taken on so that designing simple but meaningful projects can facilitate project-based learning. Thus, some adaptations should be made since some students are economically impacted. Online learning modes, either synchronous or asynchronous were held to communicate the project. A descriptive qualitative research method was employed by involving two classes of mechanical engineering students. Data were collected from learning platforms observations, interviews with students’ representatives, and questionnaires administered to all students. The project was conducted in four stages; beginning the infographic project, developing the project, closing the project, and evaluating the project. The research indicated that the students completed and engaged in the project successfully through some problems that came up, mainly when the students had to have group work and communicate using internet media since most students were back home with various internet connection access. However, some assessable applications were employed so that the project was well accomplished. In conclusion, conducting a PBL in emergency remote teaching was successfully conducted with some simple available and accessable applications since the students’ conditions varied significantly.