CLFP intrinsic constraints-based group management of blended learning situations

When applying a Collaborative Learning Flow Pattern (CLFP) to structure sequences of activities in real contexts, one of the tasks is to organize groups of students according to the constraints imposed by the pattern. Sometimes,unexpected events occurring at runtime force this pre-defined distribution to be changed. In such situations, an adjustment of the group structures to be adapted to the new context is needed. If the collaborative pattern is complex, this group redefinitionmight be difficult and time consuming to be carried out in real time. In this context, technology can help on notifying the teacher which incompatibilitiesbetween the actual context and the constraints imposed by the pattern. This chapter presents a flexible solution for supporting teachers in the group organization profiting from the intrinsic constraints defined by a CLFPs codified in IMS Learning Design. A prototype of a web-based tool for the TAPPS and Jigsaw CLFPs and the preliminary results of a controlled user study are alsopresented as a first step towards flexible technological systems to support grouping tasks in this context.

A clinical pattern-based etiological diagnostic strategy for sensory neuronopathies: a French collaborative study.

Sensory neuronopathies (SNNs) encompass paraneoplastic, infectious, dysimmune, toxic, inherited, and idiopathic disorders. Recently described diagnostic criteria allow SNN to be differentiated from other forms of sensory neuropathy, but there is no validated strategy based on routine clinical investigations for the etiological diagnosis of SNN. In a multicenter study, the clinical, biological, and electrophysiological characteristics of 148 patients with SNN were analyzed. Multiple correspondence analysis and logistic regression were used to identify patterns differentiating between forms of SNNs with different etiologies. Models were constructed using a study population of 88 patients and checked using a test population of 60 cases. Four patterns were identified. Pattern A, with an acute or subacute onset in the four limbs or arms, early pain, and frequently affecting males over 60 years of age, identified mainly paraneoplastic, toxic, and infectious SNN. Pattern B identified patients with progressive SNN and was divided into patterns C and D, the former corresponding to patients with inherited or slowly progressive idiopathic SNN with severe ataxia and electrophysiological abnormalities and the latter to patients with idiopathic, dysimmune, and sometimes paraneoplastic SNN with a more rapid course than in pattern C. The diagnostic strategy based on these patterns correctly identified 84/88 and 58/60 patients in the study and test populations, respectively.

Remote collaborative multi-user informal learning experiences: design and evaluation

This paper presents a customizable system used to develop a collaborative multi-user problem solving game. It addresses the increasing demand for appealing informal learning experiences in museum-like settings. The system facilitates remote collaboration by allowing groups of learners tocommunicate through a videoconferencing system and by allowing them to simultaneously interact through a shared multi-touch interactive surface. A user study with 20 user groups indicates that the game facilitates collaboration between local and remote groups of learners. The videoconference and multitouch surface acted as communication channels, attracted students’ interest, facilitated engagement, and promoted inter- and intra-group collaboration—favoring intra-group collaboration. Our findings suggest that augmentingvideoconferencing systems with a shared multitouch space offers newpossibilities and scenarios for remote collaborative environments and collaborative learning.

A new poly(ortho ester)-based drug delivery system as an adjunct treatment in filtering surgery.

PURPOSE: Pharmacologic modulation of wound healing after glaucoma filtering surgery remains a major clinical challenge in ophthalmology. Poly(ortho ester) (POE) is a bioerodible and biocompatible viscous polymer potentially useful as a sustained drug delivery system that allows the frequency of intraocular injections to be reduced. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of POE containing a precise amount of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in an experimental model of filtering surgery in the rabbit. METHODS: Trabeculectomy was performed in pigmented rabbit eyes. An ointmentlike formulation of POE containing 1% wt/wt 5-FU was injected subconjunctivally at the site of surgery, during the procedure. Intraocular pressure (IOP), bleb persistence, and ocular inflammatory reaction were monitored until postoperative day 30. Quantitative analysis of 5-FU was performed in the anterior chamber. Histologic analysis was used to assess the appearance of the filtering fistula and the polymer's biocompatibility. RESULTS: The decrease in IOP from baseline and the persistence of the filtering bleb were significantly more marked in the 5-FU-treated eyes during postoperative days 9 through 28. Corneal toxicity triggered by 5-FU was significantly lower in the group that received 5-FU in POE compared with a 5-FU tamponade. Histopathologic evaluation showed that POE was well tolerated, and no fibrosis occurred in eyes treated with POE containing 5-FU. CONCLUSIONS: In this rabbit model of trabeculectomy, the formulation based on POE and containing a precise amount of 5-FU reduced IOP and prolonged bleb persistence in a way similar to the conventional method of a 5-FU tamponade, while significantly reducing 5-FU toxicity.

Web user interface architecture for advanced planning and scheduling systems Case: Nokia Demand / Supply Planning Applications

In modem hitec industry Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) systems provide the basis for e-business solutions towards the suppliers and the customers. One objective of this thesis was to clarify the modem supply chain management with the APS systems and especially concentrate on the area of Collaborative Planning. In order Advanced Planning and Scheduling systems to be complete and usable, user interfaces are needed. Current Visual Basic user interfaces have faced many complaints and arguments from the users as well as from the development team. This thesis is trying to analyze the reasons and causes for the encountered problems and also provide ways to overcome them. The decision has been made to build the new user interfaces to be Web-enabled. Therefore another objective of this thesis was to research and find suitable technologies for building the Web-based user interfaces for Advanced Planning and Scheduling Systems in Nokia Demand/Supply Planning business area. Comparison between the most suitable technologies is made. Usability issues of Web-enabled user interfaces are also covered. The empirical part of the thesis includes design and implementation of a Web-based user interface with the chosen technology for a particular APS module that enables Collaborative Planning with suppliers.

Evaluation of an eLearning pilot course based on user experiences: corporate case study

Diplomityön tavoitteena oli arvioida sähköisen oppimisen soveltuvuutta kohdeyrityksessä ja selvittää, voidaanko luokkahuonekoulutusta korvata sähköisen oppimisen kursseilla. Tietojärjestelmän raportoinnista tehtiin sähköisen oppimisen kurssi, joka oli koekäytössä. Koekäytön jälkeen tehtiin käyttäjäkysely, kerättiin käyttötietoja kurssista ja tehtiin haastatteluja. Koekäyttäjien kokemuksista tehdyn arvioinnin perusteella sähköinen oppiminen soveltuu käytettäväksi selkeiden asioiden koulutukseen kohdeyrityksessä, mutta se ei voi kokonaan korvata luokkahuonekoulutusta. Luokkahuonekoulutuksessa tulisi keskittyä monimutkaisempiin asioihin ja ongelmanratkaisuun. Positiivisten tulosten perusteella sähköisen oppimisen kehittämistä päätettiin jatkaa yrityksessä. Sähköisen oppimisen kurssin avulla saadaan kustannussäästöjä kohdeyrityksessä, kun käyttäjämäärä on suurempi kuin 66. Jos koko koekäytössä olleen kurssin kohdeyleisö suorittaa kurssin sähköisesti, ovat kustannukset vain noin 15% vastaavista kustannuksista luokkahuoneessa järjestettynä. Lisäksi sähköisen oppimisen tehokkuutta tutkittiin ja koekäytössä olleen kurssin arvioitiin olevan positiivinen työssä kehitetyn Consensus-mallin mukaan.

User-driven community-based service development

This final thesis project was carried out in the Industrial Management department of University of Applied Sciences Stadia for Forum Virium Helsinki. The purpose of this study was to answer to the question of how companies can use online customer community of co-creation in service development and what is the value gained from it. The paper combines a range of recently published theoretical works and ongoing customer community case development. The study aims to provide new information and action approaches to new service developers that may increase the success of the community building process. The paper also outlines the benefits of the use of online customer community and offers practical suggestions for maximizing the value gained from the community in service development projects. The concepts and suggestions introduced in the study appear to have notable new possibilities to the service development process but they have to be further tested empirically. This paper describes the online consumer community of co-creation to an important organizational process of innovation management suggesting that it possesses a great value to business. Online customer communities offer a potential of improving the success of new services or products enabling early, penetrable market entry and creating sustainable competitive advantage.

Development of Collaborative Product Structure Management

The purpose of this thesis is to develop an environment or network that enables effective collaborative product structure management among stakeholders in each unit, throughout the entire product lifecycle and product data management. This thesis uses framework models as an approach to the problem. Framework model methods for development of collaborative product structure management are proposed in this study, there are three unique models depicted to support collaborative product structure management: organization model, process model and product model. In the organization model, the formation of product data management system (eDSTAT) key user network is specified. In the process model, development is based on the case company’s product development matrix. In the product model framework, product model management, product knowledge management and design knowledge management are defined as development tools and collaboration is based on web-based product structure management. Collaborative management is executed using all these approaches. A case study from an actual project at the case company is presented as an implementation; this is to verify the models’ applicability. A computer assisted design tool and the web-based product structure manager, have been used as tools of this collaboration with the support of the key user. The current PDM system, eDSTAT, is used as a piloting case for key user role. The result of this development is that the role of key user as a collaboration channel is defined and established. The key user is able to provide one on one support for the elevator projects. Also the management activities are improved through the application of process workflow by following criteria for each project milestone. The development shows effectiveness of product structure management in product lifecycle, improved production process by eliminating barriers (e.g. improvement of two-way communication) during design phase and production phase. The key user role is applicable on a global scale in the company.

The nature of communication structures of university students in an international web-based computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) course

Communication, the flow of ideas and information between individuals in a social context, is the heart of educational experience. Constructivism and constructivist theories form the foundation for the collaborative learning processes of creating and sharing meaning in online educational contexts. The Learning and Collaboration in Technology-enhanced Contexts (LeCoTec) course comprised of 66 participants drawn from four European universities (Oulu, Turku, Ghent and Ramon Llull). These participants were split into 15 groups with the express aim of learning about computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL). The Community of Inquiry model (social, cognitive and teaching presences) provided the content and tools for learning and researching the collaborative interactions in this environment. The sampled comments from the collaborative phase were collected and analyzed at chain-level and group-level, with the aim of identifying the various message types that sustained high learning outcomes. Furthermore, the Social Network Analysis helped to view the density of whole group interactions, as well as the popular and active members within the highly collaborating groups. It was observed that long chains occur in groups having high quality outcomes. These chains were also characterized by Social, Interactivity, Administrative and Content comment-types. In addition, high outcomes were realized from the high interactive cases and high-density groups. In low interactive groups, commenting patterned around the one or two central group members. In conclusion, future online environments should support high-order learning and develop greater metacognition and self-regulation. Moreover, such an environment, with a wide variety of problem solving tools, would enhance interactivity.

A SOA-based Framework for Multi-Devices and Multi-Platform User Interfaces

This thesis reports investigations on applying the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) approach in the engineering of multi-platform and multi-devices user interfaces. This study has three goals: (1) analyze the present frameworks for developing multi-platform and multi-devices applications, (2) extend the principles of SOA for implementing a multi-platform and multi-devices architectural framework (SOA-MDUI), (3) applying and validating the proposed framework in the context of a specific application. One of the problems addressed in this ongoing research is the large amount of combinations for possible implementations of applications on different types of devices. Usually it is necessary to take into account the operating system (OS), user interface (UI) including the appearance, programming language (PL) and architectural style (AS). Our proposed approach extended the principles of SOA using patterns-oriented design and model-driven engineering approaches. Synthesizing the present work done in these domains, this research built and tested an engineering framework linking Model-driven Architecture (MDA) and SOA approaches to developing of UI. This study advances general understanding of engineering, deploying and managing multi-platform and multi-devices user interfaces as a service.

Enterprise Modelling Approach based on Maturity and Business Scope perspectives

This paper introduces a framework that supports users to implement enterprise modelling within collaborative companies. These enterprise models are the basis for a holistic interoperability measurement and management methodology which will be presented in the second part of the paper. The discipline of enterprise modelling aims at capturing all dimensions of an enterprise in a simplified model. Thus enterprise models are the appropriate basis for managing collaborative enterprise as they reduce the complexity of interoperability problems. Therefore, a first objective of this paper is to present an approach that enables companies to get the most effect out of enterprise modelling in a collaborative environment based on the maturity of their organisation relative to modelling. Within this first step, the user will get recommendations e.g. for the correct modelling language as well as the right level of detail.

A new competence-based approach for personalizing MOOCs in a mobile collaborative and networked environment

Resumen basado en el de la publicaci??n