When digital native meets analogue reality : a case study of ICT skills in first year university students

Recently claims have been made that all universities will in coming decades merge to become just a few mega-institutions offering online degrees to the world. This assumes a degree of literacy with ICT (information and communication technology) amongst potential students, who are often regarded as 'digital natives'. Far from being digital natives, many students have considerable trouble using ICT beyond the ubiquitous Facebook. While some students are computer literate, a substantial proportion lack the skills to prosper under their own devices in an online tertiary education environment. For these students a blended learning experience is needed to develop skills to effectively interact in the virtual environment. This paper presents a case study that specifically examined the ICT capabilities of first-year university students enrolled in the School of Civil Engineering and the Built Environment at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Empirical data are presented and curriculum strategies articulated to develop ICT skills in university undergraduates.

New media and the transformation of higher education

One set of public institutions that has seen growing discussion about the transformative impact of new media technologies has been universities. The higher education sector, historically one of the more venerable and stable areas of public life, is now the subject of almost continuous speculation about whether it can continue in its current form during the 21st century. Digital media technologies are often seen as being at the forefront of such changes. It has been widely noted that moves towards a knowledge economy generates ‘skills-biased technological change’, that places a premium upon higher education qualifications, and that this earnings gap remains despite the continuing increase in the number of university graduates. As the demand for higher education continues to grow worldwide, there are new discussions about whether technologically-mediated education through new forms such as Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are broadening access to quality learning, or severing the vital connection between teacher and student seen as integral to the learning process. This paper critically appraises such debates in the context of early 21st century higher education. It will discuss ten drivers of change in higher education, many of which are related to themes discussed elsewhere in this book, such as the impact of social media, globalization, and a knowledge economy. It will also consider the issues raised in navigating such developments from the perspective of the ‘Five P’s’: practical issues; personal issues; pedagogical issues; policy issues; and philosophical issues. It also includes a critical evaluation of MOOCs from the point of view of their educational qualities. It will conclude with the observation that while universities will continue to play a significant – and perhaps growing – role in the economy, society and culture, the issues raised about what Clayton Christensen and Henry Eyring term the ‘disruptive university’ (Christensen and Eyring 2011) are nonetheless pressing ones, and that cost and policy pressures in particular are likely to generate significant institutional transformations in higher education worldwide.

A Cyber-Physical System Simulator for risk-free transport studies

The article introduces a novel platform for conducting controlled and risk-free driving and traveling behavior studies, called Cyber-Physical System Simulator (CPSS). The key features of CPSS are: (1) simulation of multiuser immersive driving in a threedimensional (3D) virtual environment; (2) integration of traffic and communication simulators with human driving based on dedicated middleware; and (3) accessibility of multiuser driving simulator on popular software and hardware platforms. This combination of features allows us to easily collect large-scale data on interesting phenomena regarding the interaction between multiple user drivers, which is not possible with current single-user driving simulators. The core original contribution of this article is threefold: (1) we introduce a multiuser driving simulator based on DiVE, our original massively multiuser networked 3D virtual environment; (2) we introduce OpenV2X, a middleware for simulating vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle to infrastructure communication; and (3) we present two experiments based on our CPSS platform. The first experiment investigates the “rubbernecking” phenomenon, where a platoon of four user drivers experiences an accident in the oncoming direction of traffic. Second, we report on a pilot study about the effectiveness of a Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems advisory system.

A tessitura do conhecimento via mídias digitais e redes sociais: itinerâncias de uma pesquisa-formação multirreferencial

A cibercultura é a cultura contemporânea estruturada pelos usos sociotécnicos e culturais das mídias digitais em rede. Suas dimensões vêm afetando diretamente os cotidianos no ciberespaço e nas cidades. Neste contexto, esta dissertação buscou compreender como os professores vêm utilizando as mídias digitais em rede. Constamos a emergência e a interconexão de práticas, narrativas e aprendizagens mediadas na e pela cibercultura. Para tanto, dialogamos com as abordagens da pesquisa-formação multirreferencial (Ardoino, Macedo e Santos) e com as pesquisas nos/dos e com os cotidianos (Certeau, Alves, Oliveira). Utilizamos uma bricolagem de dispositivos baseada em conversas presenciais e online (ambiente Moodle, via metodologia WebQuest interativa) no contexto formativo da disciplina "Informática na Educação" do EDAI - Curso de Especialização em Educação com Aplicação da Informática - da Faculdade de Educação da UERJ. Além do ambiente Moodle dialogamos com os praticantes via imersão nas mídias e redes sociais da internet (Orkut, Twitter, YouTube, Blogger). Para enunciar tais práticas recorremos, além dos estudos das abordagens multirreferencial e dos cotidianos, aos estudos da cibercultura (Levy, Castells, Lemos , Santaella, Santos, Silva) e da educação online (Santos, Silva). Analisando os rastros das itinerâncias e narrativas dos praticantes, chegamos aos seguintes achados: a) o digital em rede potencializa e faz emergir outros espaçostempos de aprendizagem e formação, proporcionando fazeressaberesfazeres autorais e colaborativos; b) as redes educativas são tecidas dentrofora do ciberespaço, das escolas e de outros espaços multirreferenciais; c) precisamos repensar os currículos em tempo de cibercultura, articulando propostas de formação na escola, na universidade e no ciberespaço.

Wykorzystanie gier decyzyjnych/symulacyjnych w naukach społecznych. Wybrane problemy

Treścią publikacji jest przedstawienie wybranych problemów prognozowania w naukach społecznych. W artykule skoncentrowano się na metodzie gier decyzyjnych/symulacyjnych, które – zwłaszcza wraz z rozwojem teorii gier oraz komputerów – są coraz częściej wykorzystywane w wielu dziedzinach. Na wybranych przykładach gier decyzyjnych/symulacyjnych – Poznań International Model United Nations 2013/POZiMUN; S.E.N.S.E. a także gry sieciowej EVE Online – wskazano jak ważne są takie ćwiczenia, by móc precyzyjniej przewidywać przyszłość. Zwrócono także szczególną uwagę na kwestię przypadku oraz czynników zakłócających, które mogą destabilizować proces przewidywania. Poruszono ponadto problem podejmowania decyzji w aspekcie klasycznej oraz kwantowej logiki.

Les rapports entre les amateurs et les professionnels dans les sciences participatives basées sur Internet : une exploration de Foldit

Cette recherche explore les rapports entre les amateurs et les professionnels scientifiques dans Foldit, une expérience de science participative sur Internet. Foldit est un jeu vidéo en ligne qui permet aux participants de trouver la façon dont les protéines se plient. Amateurs et professionnels de la science ont traversé une longue route colorée de partenariats et de démarcations. À l'heure actuelle, cette démarche se voit complexifiée par un environnement numérique qui relève le phénomène de la participation et la montée de la figure de l'amateur, notamment dans la production de connaissance. Si cette participation sur la Toile est considérée, par certains courants de pensée, comme le germe d'une nouvelle économie voire d'une nouvelle société (Benkler, 2006 ; Bauwens, 2012b), elle est aussi dénoncée par l'approche critique du capitalisme informationnel, comme une sorte de travail immatériel non rémunéré soumis à des relations d'exploitation (Moulier Boutang, 2007 ; Pasquinelli, 2010). Dans ce contexte, ce mémoire propose une exploration des sciences participatives, afin d'examiner les rapports qui s'établissent entre les acteurs de ces expériences productrices de connaissance et de données immatérielles. Ces rapports s'expriment à travers les échanges qui se déroulent sur le site web Foldit. La méthodologie qualitative mise en oeuvre a été complétée par l'observation de terrain et les entretiens semi-structurés avec des participants-joueurs et des membres de l'équipe scientifique du jeu. Les rapports trouvés dans Foldit se révèlent contextualisés, performatifs et sont façonnés par les compétences mises en jeu par les acteurs. Des rapports d'asymétrie, de coopération et de négociation sont repérés dans Foldit. Cette recherche veut contribuer ainsi à une meilleure compréhension des collectifs présents sur Internet ainsi que des rapports établis entre eux.

The impact and reach of MOOCs:a developing countries’ perspective

Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are a recent but hugely popular phenomenon in the online learning world. They are hailed by many as a solution for the developing world’s lack of access to education because MOOCs can provide learning opportunities to a massive number of learners from anywhere in the world as long as they can access the course through Internet. However, a close consideration of the ability of learn- ers from most developing countries to make use of MOOCs seems to contradict this rhetoric. This paper discusses features of MOOCs and looks at them from a developing countries’ perspective to conclude that due to a complicated set of conditions (‘access’, language, computer literacy among others) prevailing in developing countries, MOOCs may not be a viable solution for education for a large proportion of people in these ar- eas of the world. The paper further shows the need for more data on the demograph- ics of MOOC participants from developing countries to form a better understanding of MOOCs role in educating people from developing countries.

Viral marketing and the new competitive advantage

The role played by viral marketing has received considerable academic and digital media attention recently. Key issues in viral marketing have been examined through the lens of the mode of marketing message transmission, including self-replicating on the basis of quality difference, individuals’ emotional needs, as well as how users are connected across various social networks. This paper presents a review and analysis of viral marketing studies from 2001 to the present day. It investigates how viral marketing facilitate the diffusion of social media products and the relationship between marketers and these product users by taking a look at the implementation of viral marketing in two European online game firms Jagex Games Studio and Rovio Entertainment. The results from this review and analysis indicate that viral marketing plays an important role in accelerating the interaction between marketers and users (as well as the user groups) in the field of digital media and high tech consumption. Therefore, it is evident that firms should understand the social contagion process and target well-connected users purposefully in order to create its competitive advantage.

Understanding digital literacies: a practical introduction

Understanding Digital Literacies provides an accessible and timely introduction to new media literacies. It supplies readers with the theoretical and analytical tools with which to explore the linguistic and social impact of a host of new digital literacy practices. Each chapter in the volume covers a different topic, presenting an overview of the major concepts, issues, problems and debates surrounding the topic, while also encouraging students to reflect on and critically evaluate their own language and communication practices. Features include: coverage of a diverse range of digital media texts, tools and practices including blogging, hypertextual organisation, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Wikipedia, websites and games an extensive range of examples and case studies to illustrate each topic, such as how blogs have affected our thinking about communication, how the creation and sharing of digital images and video can bring about shifts in social roles, and how the design of multiplayer online games for children can promote different ideologies a variety of discussion questions and mini-ethnographic research projects involving exploration of various patterns of media production and communication between peers, for example in the context of Wikinomics and peer production, social networking and civic participation, and digital literacies at work end of chapter suggestions for further reading and links to key web and video resources a companion website providing supplementary material for each chapter, including summaries of key issues, additional web-based exercises, and links to further resources such as useful websites, articles, videos and blogs.

Digital visualisation in Classics teaching and beyond

For the last few years, I have been working on an extensive digital model of ancient Rome as it appeared in the early 4th Century AD. This sort of visualisation lends itself to many applications in diverse fields: I am currently using it for research work into illumination and sightlines in the ancient city, have licensed it for broadcast in TV documentaries and publication in magazines, and am working with a computer games studio to turn it into an online game where players will be able to walk round the streets and buildings of the entire city (when not engaged in trading with or assassinating one another). Later this year I will be making a free online course, or MOOC, about the architecture of ancient Rome, which will largely be illustrated by this model.

From the comforts of print to the possibilities of digital media: leading the way in teaching political leadership in a faculty of arts

Since it inception, Deakin University has been committed to the delivery of innovative, high quality course materials to its off campus students. Until recently these packages were predominantly print based, although augmented with audio-visual materials delivered in cassette format. Ironically, with the advent of information and communications technologies (ICT), and some select computer assisted learning and multimedia packages, there was an overall decline in the use of audio and video as important means of enhancing learning. Like many other universities, Deakin has moved to a strong, centralised approach to the provision of its digital and online corporate technology environment. With investment in these technologies has come a renewed interest in the ways in which text and audio-visual materials in digital form can enhance students' learning experiences. Moreover, the ways in which a variety of digital media supported by online developments can create new models and approaches to teaching/learning has figured prominently. This paper presents a case study of how this challenge has been taken up in a unit, Political Leadership, in the Faculty of Arts. The academic teacher's intentions in moving to a completely digital approach are examined along with students' experiences of learning in the subject. Issues are considered from the experience.

Vox lumen: people into light

Vox Lumen; people into light explored the technological capacity and the aesthetic implications of live dance motion capture to Unity game engine environment in an all night public event. The work was augmented by an app that provided hourly panoramic views of the event using AR that enabled the event to be revisited either on or off site, after the performance evening.

As redes sociotécnicas da comunidade gamer : Habilidades cognitivas, capitalismo cognitivo e pirataria no orkut

In the perspective of the so called 'cognitive capitalism', this paper intends to analyze the sharing and customization strategies developed in Brazilian online game communities. Under Bruno Latour's Actor-Network Theory (ANT), this work describes these socio-technical networks electing the human and non human relevant actants for their role on what could also be depicted as an distributed cognitive process (HUTCHINS, 2000). This alternative way of participative consumption deals with the social and creative production of tutorials; in-game and out-game editing and all sorts of gathering, organization and distribution of virtual data. The communities studied are related to the game Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) in their multiple platforms

As redes sociotécnicas da comunidade gamer : Habilidades cognitivas, capitalismo cognitivo e pirataria no orkut

In the perspective of the so called 'cognitive capitalism', this paper intends to analyze the sharing and customization strategies developed in Brazilian online game communities. Under Bruno Latour's Actor-Network Theory (ANT), this work describes these socio-technical networks electing the human and non human relevant actants for their role on what could also be depicted as an distributed cognitive process (HUTCHINS, 2000). This alternative way of participative consumption deals with the social and creative production of tutorials; in-game and out-game editing and all sorts of gathering, organization and distribution of virtual data. The communities studied are related to the game Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) in their multiple platforms

As redes sociotécnicas da comunidade gamer : Habilidades cognitivas, capitalismo cognitivo e pirataria no orkut

In the perspective of the so called 'cognitive capitalism', this paper intends to analyze the sharing and customization strategies developed in Brazilian online game communities. Under Bruno Latour's Actor-Network Theory (ANT), this work describes these socio-technical networks electing the human and non human relevant actants for their role on what could also be depicted as an distributed cognitive process (HUTCHINS, 2000). This alternative way of participative consumption deals with the social and creative production of tutorials; in-game and out-game editing and all sorts of gathering, organization and distribution of virtual data. The communities studied are related to the game Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) in their multiple platforms