Usability of the G7 Open Government Data Portals and Lessons Learned

Recent advances in technology have made truly open and accessible government significantly more realisable. One of the ways in which governments are using this technology is in the implementation of online portals that allow open (i.e., public and unrestricted) access to data and use of data. Such portals can be used by citizens and professionals to facilitate improved decision-making across a wide range of areas, from car-parking to promoting entrepreneurialism. However, the existence of portals per se is not enough. To maximise their potential, users must also feel that they are both accessible and usable. To gain insights into the current state of usability of OGD portals for professionals working in data-related areas, a comparative study of the portals of the G7 group was carried out, using a mixed methodology. This is the first specific comparison of these portals for such users, as well as the first study to add a user-centred qualitative dimension to the research. The study’s findings showed that the G7 countries are not maximising the potential of their portals or collaborating effectively. Addressing these issues, and building better cross-national consistency, would help to improve the value delivered by investment in OGD portals. The study also further supported an existing user-centred, heuristic evaluation framework for application to a more specific user group, as well as more generally.

Investigation of Faculty Members’ Emotional Intelligence

<p style="text-align: justify;">The main aim of the present study is to investigate the emotional intelligence of faculty members based on their career stage and gender. In the study, a mixed method was employed to determine the emotional intelligence of faculty members and to reach generalizable findings. The convenience sampling method was used in the quantitative study, while the quota sampling method was used in the qualitative section. The quantitative section sample included faculty members in various stages in their careers. In the qualitative dimension, the sample included faculty members who participated in the quantitative application. The quantitative study findings demonstrated that there were significant differences between the emotional intelligence competencies of female and male faculty members in the workplace based on the empathy and self-awareness dimensions. The qualitative study findings revealed that there were differences between the emotional intelligence dimensions, especially based on the career stage and gender. Recommendations are presented based on the study findings.</p>

Georgian-Austrian Unknown Preludes of the Treaty of Georgievsk

Studying the external policy of the king Erekle II is a topical issue for the modern historiography. The information maintained in the archives of various European cities, namely of Vienna, Vatican and Venice, convey to us the fact that while exercising pragmatic attitude toward relations with the European countries the King of Kartli and Kakheti considered the interests of both his own country and of those European countries as well. Over the years 1781-82 Erekle II sends his ambassadors to Europe twice: first he sends a Capuchin monk Domenique who dies in Constantinople in uncertain circumstances not having reached the destination; after him Erekle II sends another Capuchin Mauro the Veronese who also dies for unknown reasons while still on his way. It is a very important fact that the letters sent by the King Erekle, unlike the ambassadors, reach their destination which is the Emperor’s Court in Austria.The present article shows the international political background that the king Erekle II had at that time and that he attempted to use for the interests of his country.The plan of dividing Europe anew, officially developed by the relevant imperial authorities of Saint Petersburg and Vienna, aimed at neutralizing the Ottoman Empire and dividing its territories. According to the Greek Project, it was supposed to resurrect the Byzantine Empire that would be formally independent from Russia but factually acting as a marionette with the Romanov dynasty ruling in it and build Dacia Kingdom as a buffer between the Ottoman and the Austrian Empires.This project was topical for Erekle II who was trying to get involved in the international political processes to the maximum level as the king of a sovereign and independent country, as in the result of implementation of the Greek Project Georgia would obtain an environment of Christian countries instead of the previous encirclement by Muslim countries. Thus, Georgia would find herself in an absolutely different qualitative dimension that had been a sacred dream of the Georgian Kings at all times. This was why the Greek Plan held such a great importance for Erekle II. This international project was made secret by the empress Catherine the Great and Joseph II, therefore, the official pragmatic reason that Erekle II referred to when sending ambassadors to Austria which was obtaining financial support for two regiments was merely a mask behind which in reality the ambassadorial mission served the purpose of active involvement and participation in the implementation of the Greek Project. The Austrian Emperor’s Court, on its part, was going to use this intension of the Georgian king for its own pragmatic goals which implied strengthening of the Holy Roman Empire that had been actually made fictitious by that time. The widely acknowledged and reputed international level diplomats of the Austrian Empire Kaunitz and Kobenzl were involved in the process.

The effect of paternalist leadership style of principals on the professional burnout of special education teachers

This study was applied to determine whether the paternalist leadership of school principals affected the burnout levels of special education teachers. The research was carried out with mixed method. 192 teachers participated in the quantitative dimension and 25 teachers and 25 principals participated in the qualitative dimension. Paternalist Leadership Scale, Maslach Burnout Scale and Semi-Structured Question Set were used. In the research, it was determined that teachers' perception of paternalist leadership is high and their burnout levels are low. It was determined that variables of gender, age and working year did not make a significant difference on teachers' paternalist leadership perception. However, these variables cause a significant difference on teachers' professional burnout. It was determined that there was a moderately negative relationship between teachers' paternalist leadership perceptions and their burnout. As the paternalist leadership levels of the principals’ increase, the burnout of the teachers decreases. It was revealed in qualitative findings that teachers define their principals just like a paternalist leader using father and boss metaphors, and the benevolent attitudes of the principals reduce teachers' burnout. A supportive result in qualitative findings is this; it was determined that the paternalist leadership style of principals prevented insensitivity from burnout dimensions in teachers.

Smartphone Perception and Experiences of Teacher Candidates During Covid 19 Process: What is My Smartphone for Me?

The purpose of this study is to reveal the experiences of the teacher candidates about their personal phones, their phone usage situations and their perceptions about their smartphones during the Covid-19 process. The mixed method procedure was followed in the study. In the quantitative dimension, the survey model was used in order to reveal the smartphone usage status of the teacher candidates, while in the qualitative dimension, the phenomenology model was used to determine their perceptions about the smartphone. The sample of the study consisted of 45 teacher candidates studying in the faculty of education at a state university located in Turkey's Aegean region during the 2020-2021 fall semester. The data of the study were collected by the researcher with a questionnaire form created by taking the literature review and expert opinion. The quantitative data collected within the scope of the research were subjected to statistical analysis. The metaphors collected in qualitative dimension were analyzed with content analysis. Research findings indicated that the teacher candidates were generally aware of the technical features of their personal phones. On the other hand, it has been determined that they are indecisive in controlling themselves about their phone usage, being dependent on their phones and being aware of their phone time. It has been observed that the teacher candidates produced metaphors for their smart phones that point to the themes of “addiction, functionality, correct use, having a happy time, socialization/communication and other.” It can be said that the research is important in terms of providing researchers and decision makers with new perspectives on the smartphone perception and experiences of teacher candidates in the Covid-19 process.

The Effect of Museum Education Practices Integrated with Virtual Teaching Environments on Achievement Levels of Preschool Teacher Candidates during the Pandemic

In this study, the effectiveness of museum education practices integrated with virtual teaching environments during the pandemic on the achievement levels of pre-school teacher candidates was evaluated. The research was carried out using a mixed method. In the quantitative dimension, the success levels of teacher candidates for museum education practices were evaluated with the achievement test, and the data related to the qualitative dimension were evaluated with content analysis. Preschool teacher candidates (n = 30) participated in the study. In the research, for 5 weeks, museum education activities were carried out using virtual tour and second life museum applications in Vordun, Louvre and Art Nouveau virtual museums with the teacher candidates. The results obtained revealed that these activities increased the success level of teacher candidates regarding the practices. In addition, the results showed that the teacher candidates found the museum education practices integrated with virtual teaching environments highly effective. In addition, teacher candidates stated that an active teaching process can be created with virtual museum applications in museum education practices, and that learning can be embodied more easily.

Smartphone Perception and Experiences of Teacher Candidates During Covid 19 Process: What is My Smartphone for Me?

The purpose of this study is to reveal the experiences of the teacher candidates about their personal phones, their phone usage situations and their perceptions about their smartphones during the Covid-19 process. The mixed method procedure was followed in the study. In the quantitative dimension, the survey model was used in order to reveal the smartphone usage status of the teacher candidates, while in the qualitative dimension, the phenomenology model was used to determine their perceptions about the smartphone. The sample of the study consisted of 45 teacher candidates studying in the faculty of education at a state university located in Turkey's Aegean region during the 2020-2021 fall semester. The data of the study were collected by the researcher with a questionnaire form created by taking the literature review and expert opinion. The quantitative data collected within the scope of the research were subjected to statistical analysis. The metaphors collected in qualitative dimension were analyzed with content analysis. Research findings indicated that the teacher candidates were generally aware of the technical features of their personal phones. On the other hand, it has been determined that they are indecisive in controlling themselves about their phone usage, being dependent on their phones and being aware of their phone time. It has been observed that the teacher candidates produced metaphors for their smart phones that point to the themes of “addiction, functionality, correct use, having a happy time, socialization/communication and other.” It can be said that the research is important in terms of providing researchers and decision makers with new perspectives on the smartphone perception and experiences of teacher candidates in the Covid-19 process.

The effect of using augmented reality based teaching material on students' academic success and opinions

The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of course material developed with augmented reality (AR) technology in teaching subjects related to coding on students' academic achievement, their level of permanence in learning and their opinions on the process. The mixed method was used in the study. In the quantitative dimension of the research, semi-experimental design with pretest-posttest control group, and in qualitative dimension phenomenology pattern were preferred. The quantitative data of the research were collected with the achievement test and the qualitative data were collected with a semi-structured interview form. The study group consists of 64 students attending a university in Computer Programming department in Turkey. There are 34 students in the experimental group and 30 students in the control group. The prepared achievement test was applied to the students as pretest, posttest and permanence test. After the application, interviews were made with 15 students selected from the experimental group. As a result of the research, it is seen that the academic achievement and permanence levels of students in the experimental group using AR course material for teaching coding education are higher than the students in the control group. According to the results obtained from the qualitative dimension of the research, it has been determined that AR technology provides many advantages such as efficiency, permanence, comprehensibility and convenience on learning; accordingly, it has been suggested that it should be expanded in different courses and fields.

Usage of Digital Comics in Distance Learning During COVID-19

The aim of the study is to reveal the effect of digital comics material on students' academic success, their views on distance education, course and digital comics. In the study conducted during the 2019-2020 academic year and the pandemic, digital comics material was created in the Pixton design program for the aim of the acquisition of “different management styles in terms of basic principles of democracy," in the learning area of active citizenship in the 6th grade Social Studies curriculum. It is known that the comic book, which has no time and place limits, provides easy and fast access to information, prepared within the framework of distance education, provides motivation to individuals and increases interest in the course in accordance with psycho-social development. The study was designed as a mixed method. The quantitative dimension of the research was designed as a single group experimental study and the prepared academic achievement test was applied before and after the study. In the qualitative dimension, phenomenology was applied and the data were collected through audio-recorded interviewing. The quantitative study group of the research consists of 10 students, and the qualitative phase consists of 5 students. The obtained data were analyzed through the statistical program in the quantitative phase and content analysis in the qualitative dimension. As a result of the research, it was concluded that the use of digital comics in distance education increases the success and helps to develop positive behaviors towards the course.

Pozycja polityki rozwojowej w pracach Parlamentu Europejskiego

The aim of the research, the results of which are presented in the article, was to determine the importance of development policy for the European Parliament. The analysis is focused on the last two terms of the EP (VII and VIII). The research uses the method of source analysis and statistical method, as well as elements of participatory observation. The research on the importance of development policy in the work of the Parliament took into account the quantitative dimension – the number of members of the Development Committee; the number of adopted reports as well as the qualitative dimension – the internal prestige of the Parliament’s bodies, the attractiveness of chairing these bodies, the degree of autonomy of development policy. The hypothesis of great importance of development policy in the work of the Parliament was not confirmed. Development policy does not occupy an important place – neither quantitatively or informally. It is less important to the majority of MPs than foreign and security policy, even though Parliament has less power in these areas than in development policy