Blended Learning: Features of Application in the Modern Educational System

The article analyzes the potential and possibilities of the method of blended learning as a didactic means of implementing the transition from the traditional model of learning to the integrated one with involving electronic environments and resources. The existing models of blended learning are considered, the ways of their adaptation to the conditions of studying at institutions of higher education are discussed. It will help to improve the quality of education as well as to provide opportunities for the implementing various educational models, forms and means of education. It is pointed out the problems which hinder the effective and rapid integration of e-learning environments. Some strategic initiatives to solve them are proposed. It is proved that blended learning technology involves the transformation of the student's position from the object to the active subject of teaching, and the teacher - from the main source of knowledge to the organizer of the students` learning process. Blended learning is justified as an educational model which bases on the integration of traditional face-to-face and electronic education systems and provides personalization of the learning process by means of providing the learners with the opportunity to choose conditions and control over the process of mastering the set of necessary competencies.

Article 5—Use of Works and Other Subject Matter in Digital and Cross-Border Teaching Activities

This chapter analyzes Article 5 of Directive 2019/790, copyright directive of the Digital Single Market in Europe. It discusses the use of works and other subject matter for the sole purpose of illustration for teaching through secure electronic environments that occur solely in the Member State where the educational establishment is founded. It also mentions the task of Member States to provide fair compensation for rightholders for the use of their works or other subject matter. The chapter explores the exceptions and limitations outlined in Directive 2019/790, which seek to achieve a fair balance between the rights and interests of authors, other rightholders, and users. It cites the protection of technological measures established in Directive 2001/29/EC that remains essential to ensure the protection and the effective exercise of the rights granted to authors and to other rightholders under the Union law.

Blurring the boundary between homogenous and heterogeneous catalysis using palladium nanoclusters with dynamic surfaces

Using a magnetron sputtering approach that allows size-controlled formation of nanoclusters, we have created palladium nanoclusters that combine the features of both heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts. Here we report the atomic structures and electronic environments of a series of metal nanoclusters in ionic liquids at different stages of formation, leading to the discovery of Pd nanoclusters with a core of ca. 2 nm surrounded by a diffuse dynamic shell of atoms in [C4C1Im][NTf2]. Comparison of the catalytic activity of Pd nanoclusters in alkene cyclopropanation reveals that the atomically dynamic surface is critically important, increasing the activity by a factor of ca. 2 when compared to compact nanoclusters of similar size. Catalyst poisoning tests using mercury and dibenzo[a,e]cyclooctene show that dynamic Pd nanoclusters maintain their catalytic activity, which demonstrate their combined features of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts within the same material. Additionally, kinetic studies of cyclopropanation of alkenes mediated by the dynamic Pd nanoclusters reveal an observed catalyst order of 1, underpinning the pseudo-homogeneous character of the dynamic Pd nanoclusters.

School Librarians Coping with Electronic Environments

This paper focuses on abilities of librarians to adapt and respond to the constantly emerging changes influenced by the advancement of ICT. The authors emphasize the necessity of defining and promoting new concept and understanding of the school library in electronic environment. Traditional school library roles need to adapt and change to respond to the needs of new users growing up in the interactive and information overloaded environment. Many of the aspects of current school library tasks and roles originate from a print-based culture which is incongruent with the transient and hybrid nature of digital environments. These radically changing environments are posing different tasks on school librarians leading them to balance carefully between the traditional school environments, infrastructure, institutions hierarchy and with the various new needs of “Google generation” users. Taking into account all the changes in the information environment authors emphasise the necessary improvements in education of school librarians.

The Conceptualization of the E-Service Quality

Several research studies have focused on the conceptualization, measurement, and management of service quality and their effects in electronic environments. Most of them are based on a classic paradigm, which consists in relating the quality of e-service to customer satisfaction and loyalty. The prescribing intent of the e-service as a plausible consequence of the quality of the e-service has not received enough interest from the researchers. Along these lines, this chapter examined the direct effect of the quality of the e-service on the prescribing intention of the e-service by the consumer as well as the indirect effect through a mediating variable, which is the perceived online value of the consumer.

Cost-Effective Production of TiO2 with 90-Fold Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity Via Facile Sequential Calcination and Ball Milling Post-Treatment Strategy

Titanium dioxide (TiO2), the golden standard among the photocatalysts, exhibits a varying level of photocatalytic activities (PCA) amongst the synthetically prepared and commercially available products. For commercial applications, superior photoactivity and cost-effectiveness are the two main factors to be reckoned with. This study presents the development of simple, cost-effective post-treatment processes for a less costly TiO2 to significantly enhance the PCA to the level of expensive commercial TiO2 having demonstrated superior photoactivities. We have utilized sequential calcination and ball milling (BM) post-treatment processes on a less-costlier KA100 TiO2 and demonstrated multi-fold (nearly 90 times) enhancement in PCA. The post-treated KA100 samples along with reference commercial samples (P25, NP400, and ST01) were well-characterized by appropriate instrumentation and evaluated for the PCA considering acetaldehyde photodegradation as the model reaction. Lattice parameters, phase composition, crystallite size, surface functionalities, titanium, and oxygen electronic environments were evaluated. Among post-treated KA100, the sample that is subjected to sequential 700 °C calcination and BM (KA7-BM) processes exhibited 90-fold PCA enhancement over pristine KA100 and the PCA-like commercial NP400 (pure anatase-based TiO2). Based on our results, we attribute the superior PCA for KA7-BM due to the smaller crystallite size, the co-existence of mixed anatase-srilankite-rutile phases, and the consequent multiphase heterojunction formation, higher surface area, lattice disorder/strain generation, and surface oxygen environment. The present work demonstrates a feasible potential for the developed post-treatment strategy towards commercial prospects.