An Empirical Study on Faculty Perceptions and Teaching Practices of Wikipedia

Some faculty members from different universities around the world have begun to use Wikipedia as a teaching tool in recent years. These experiences show, in most cases, very satisfactory results and a substantial improvement in various basic skills, as well as a positive influence on the students' motivation. Nevertheless and despite the growing importance of e-learning methodologies based on the use of the Internet for higher education, the use of Wikipedia as a teaching resource remains scarce among university faculty.Our investigation tries to identify which are the main factors that determine acceptance or resistance to that use. We approach the decision to use Wikipedia as a teaching tool by analyzing both the individual attributes of faculty members and the characteristics of the environment where they develop their teaching activity. From a specific survey sent to all faculty of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), pioneer and leader in online education in Spain, we have tried to infer the influence of these internal and external elements. The questionnaire was designed to measure different constructs: perceived quality of Wikipedia, teaching practices involving Wikipedia, use experience, perceived usefulness and use of 2.0 tools. Control items were also included for gathering information on gender, age, teaching experience, academic rank, and area of expertise.Our results reveal that academic rank, teaching experience, age or gender, are not decisive factors in explaining the educational use of Wikipedia. Instead, the decision to use it is closely linked to the perception of Wikipedia's quality, the use of other collaborative learning tools, an active attitude towards web 2.0 applications, and connections with the professional non-academic world. Situational context is also very important, since the use is higher when faculty members have got reference models in their close environment and when they perceive it is positively valued by their colleagues. As far as these attitudes, practices and cultural norms diverge in different scientific disciplines, we have also detected clear differences in the use of Wikipedia among areas of academic expertise. As a consequence, a greater application of Wikipedia both as a teaching resource and as a driver for teaching innovation would require much more active institutional policies and some changes in the dominant academic culture among faculty members.

Data management for the ocean sciences - perspectives for the next decade

There is remarkable agreement in expectations today for vastly improved ocean data management a decade from now -- capabilities that will help to bring significant benefits to ocean research and to society. Advancing data management to such a degree, however, will require cultural and policy changes that are slow to effect. The technological foundations upon which data management systems are built are certain to continue advancing rapidly in parallel. These considerations argue for adopting attitudes of pragmatism and realism when planning data management strategies. In this paper we adopt those attitudes as we outline opportunities for progress in ocean data management. We begin with a synopsis of expectations for integrated ocean data management a decade from now. We discuss factors that should be considered by those evaluating candidate “standards”. We highlight challenges and opportunities in a number of technical areas, including “Web 2.0” applications, data modeling, data discovery and metadata, real-time operational data, archival of data, biological data management and satellite data management. We discuss the importance of investments in the development of software toolkits to accelerate progress. We conclude the paper by recommending a few specific, short term targets for implementation, that we believe to be both significant and achievable, and calling for action by community leadership to effect these advancements.

Ontologia para moelos de negócios de redes sociais na internet: um ensaio teórico-exploratório

Atualmente, uma profusão de soluções chamadas de Web 2.0 e redes sociais está causando um grande impacto no desenvolvimento da Internet, comparando-se à era “ponto-com” em termos de crescimento, investimentos e empolgação. Estas iniciativas possuem em comum um elevado grau de formação de comunidades, e de criação e compartilhamento de conteúdo por parte do usuário, dentre outras características. Acredita-se que as redes sociais possuam um grande potencial inovador e disruptivo tanto para a sociedade quanto para o mundo empresarial. Entretanto, como transformar as redes sociais e aplicações Web 2.0 em modelos de negócios auto-sustentáveis ainda é um desafio para o mercado. Esta dissertação objetiva auxiliar a compreensão e abordagem deste tema propondo uma ontologia específica para modelos de negócios de redes sociais na internet. Isto se realiza por meio do desenvolvimento de um ensaio teórico de viés exploratório, baseado em extensa, porém não exaustiva, revisão de literatura abordando modelos de negócios, redes sociais e demais temas relacionados. A ontologia criada é então aplicada na representação de modelos de negócio de redes sociais na internet. Este trabalho também fornece uma visão geral do fenômeno Web 2.0, abordando algumas de suas principais características tecnológicas e socioeconômicas.

A Method for Developing Ontologies from User-Generated Classication Systems

Abstract Web 2.0 applications enabled users to classify information resources using their own vocabularies. The bottom-up nature of these user-generated classification systems have turned them into interesting knowledge sources, since they provide a rich terminology generated by potentially large user communities. Previous research has shown that it is possible to elicit some emergent semantics from the aggregation of individual classifications in these systems. However the generation of ontologies from them is still an open research problem. In this thesis we address the problem of how to tap into user-generated classification systems for building domain ontologies. Our objective is to design a method to develop domain ontologies from user-generated classifications systems. To do so, we rely on ontologies in the Web of Data to formalize the semantics of the knowledge collected from the classification system. Current ontology development methodologies have recognized the importance of reusing knowledge from existing resources. Thus, our work is framed within the NeOn methodology scenario for building ontologies by reusing and reengineering non-ontological resources. The main contributions of this work are: An integrated method to develop ontologies from user-generated classification systems. With this method we extract a domain terminology from the classification system and then we formalize the semantics of this terminology by reusing ontologies in the Web of Data. Identification and adaptation of existing techniques for implementing the activities in the method so that they can fulfill the requirements of each activity. A novel study about emerging semantics in user-generated lists. Resumen La web 2.0 permitió a los usuarios clasificar recursos de información usando su propio vocabulario. Estos sistemas de clasificación generados por usuarios son recursos interesantes para la extracción de conocimiento debido principalmente a que proveen una extensa terminología generada por grandes comunidades de usuarios. Se ha demostrado en investigaciones previas que es posible obtener una semántica emergente de estos sistemas. Sin embargo la generación de ontologías a partir de ellos es todavía un problema de investigación abierto. Esta tesis trata el problema de cómo aprovechar los sistemas de clasificación generados por usuarios en la construcción de ontologías de dominio. Así el objetivo de la tesis es diseñar un método para desarrollar ontologías de dominio a partir de sistemas de clasificación generados por usuarios. El método propuesto reutiliza conceptualizaciones existentes en ontologías publicadas en la Web de Datos para formalizar la semántica del conocimiento que se extrae del sistema de clasificación. Por tanto, este trabajo está enmarcado dentro del escenario para desarrollar ontologías mediante la reutilización y reingeniería de recursos no ontológicos que se ha definido en la Metodología NeOn. Las principales contribuciones de este trabajo son: Un método integrado para desarrollar una ontología de dominio a partir de sistemas de clasificación generados por usuarios. En este método se extrae una terminología de dominio del sistema de clasificación y posteriormente se formaliza su semántica reutilizando ontologías en la Web de Datos. La identificación y adaptación de un conjunto de técnicas para implementar las actividades propuestas en el método de tal manera que puedan cumplir automáticamente los requerimientos de cada actividad. Un novedoso estudio acerca de la semántica emergente en las listas generadas por usuarios en la Web.

A Balanced Memory-Based Collaborative Filtering Similarity Measure.

Collaborative filtering recommender systems contribute to alleviating the problem of information overload that exists on the Internet as a result of the mass use of Web 2.0 applications. The use of an adequate similarity measure becomes a determining factor in the quality of the prediction and recommendation results of the recommender system, as well as in its performance. In this paper, we present a memory-based collaborative filtering similarity measure that provides extremely high-quality and balanced results; these results are complemented with a low processing time (high performance), similar to the one required to execute traditional similarity metrics. The experiments have been carried out on the MovieLens and Netflix databases, using a representative set of information retrieval quality measures.

Teaching and learning with social software in higher education: content management systems integrated with Web-based applications as a key factor for success

The change of paradigm imposed by the Bologna process, in which the student will be responsible for their own learning, and the presence of a new generation of students with higher technological skills, represent a huge challenge for higher education institutions. The use of new Web Social concepts in teaching process, supported by applications commonly called Web 2.0, with which these new students feel at ease, can bring benefits in terms of motivation and the frequency and quality of students' involvement in academic activities. An e-learning platform with web-based applications as a complement can significantly contribute to the development of different skills in higher education students, covering areas which are usually in deficit.

Accessibilitat web : cas d'anàlisi a partir de les WCAG 1.0 i WCAG 2.0

El document analitza, de forma manual i detallada, l'accessibilitat de 10 pàgines web del portal de la UOC en base a les 14 pautes i 65 punts de validació de les WCAG 1.0 i en base als quatre principis de les WCAG 2.0 que a la vegada s'organitzen en 12 directius i 61 criteris de conformitat.

InnovaCampus 2.0 redisseny d'una aplicació web d'ajut a l'autoavaluació formativa

InnovaCampus 2.0 és el redisseny de l'aplicació de programari lliure InnovaCampus utilitzant els frameworks Spring i JPA. InnovaCampus és una aplicació que permet l'autoavaluació d'estudiants universitaris a travé d'Internet. Posteriorment, un professor pot analitzar-ne els resultats i obtenir conclusions sobre el nivell general o d'un estudiant concret. El projecte consisteix en dissenyar i implementar novament totes les funcionalitats existents fins ara i usant una arquitectura que afovoreixi les ampliacions futures. El disseny d'InnovaCampus 2.0 s'ha fet usant tecnologies més actuals (Spring, JPA) i s'hi han afegit algunes funcionalitats.

Web content accessibility guidelines: from 1.0 to 2.0

This poster explains the changes introduced in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 from WCAG 1.0 and proposes a checklist for adapting existing websites. Finally, it describes the most common criticisms of the WCAG and places them in the context of its origin and initial aims.

MapFish. A WebGIS 2.0 Framework: toolkit to build rich client WebGIS

MapFish is an open-source development framework for building webmapping applications. MapFish is based on the OpenLayers API and the Geo extension of Ext library, and extends the Pylons general-purpose web development framework with geo-specific functionnalities. This presentation first describes what the MapFish development framework provides and how it can help developers implement rich web-mapping applications. It then demonstrates through real web-mapping realizations what can be achieved using MapFish : Geo Business Intelligence applications, 2D/3D data visualization, on/off line data edition, advanced vectorial print functionnalities, advanced administration suite to build WebGIS applications from scratch, etc. In particular, the web-mapping application for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and a Regional Spatial Data Infrastructure will be demonstrated

A self-healing architecture for Web service-based applications

Web service-based application is an architectural style, where a collection of Web services communicates to each other to execute processes. With the popularity increase of developing Web service-based application and once Web services may change, in terms of functional and non-functional Quality of Service (QoS), we need mechanisms to monitor, diagnose, and repair Web services into a Web Application. This work presents a description of self-healing architecture that deals with these mechanisms. Other contributions of this paper are using the proxy server to measure Web service QoS values and to employ some strategies to recovery the effects from misbehaved Web services. © 2008 IEEE.

Towards e-learning 2.0: case study of an e-learning environment

In these days the learning experience is no longer confined within the four walls of a classroom. Computers and primarily the internet have broadened this horizon by creating a way of delivering education that is known as e-learning. In the meantime, the internet, or more precisely, the Web is heading towards a new paradigm where the user is no longer just a consumer of information and becomes an active part in the communication. This two-way channel where the user takes the role of the producer of content triggered the appearance of new types of services such as Social Networks, Blogs and Wikis. To seize this second generation of communities and services, educational vendors are willing to develop e-learning systems focused on the new and emergent users needs. This paper describes the analysis and specification of an e-learning environment at our School (ESEIG) towards this new Web generation, called PEACE – Project for ESEIG Academic Environment. This new model relies on the integration of several services controlled by teachers and students such as social networks, repositories libraries, e-portfolios and e-conference sytems, intelligent tutors, recommendation systems, automatic evaluators, virtual classrooms and 3D avatars.

Farm 2.0 Using Wordpress to Manage Geocontent and Promote Regional Food Products

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies.

WebServer 2.0 : motor de integración

En la empresa Unit4 se dispone de un Web Server codificado en Visual Basic que ha quedado desfasado y obsoleto de forma que lo que se desea es migrarlo a un lenguaje de programación actual y potente y eliminar restricciones de software que tiene ahora, además de mejorar el rendimiento. Este proyecto se refiere al desarrollo de este nuevo servidor.