Analysis of teachers training for ICT Higher Education

Aquest document pretén recollir aportacions teòriques i pràctiques sobre les pràctiques pedagògiques que incorporen i promouen l'ús de les TIC per tal d'aclarir, facilitar i fer coherent el disseny de la formació dels professors d'educació superior en les TIC. El seu propòsit és trobar alternatives de formació que compleixin amb les necessitats educatives del professor, així com per superar o atenuar les dificultats i/o la manca de voluntat a les quals s'enfronta en la pràctica educativa en introduir aplicacions de les TIC.

Transnational study of roles/functions and associated ICT competencies for Higher Education teachers

Aquest estudi forma part del projecte eLene-TLC1 Virtual Campus (2007-2008) recolzat pel programa eLearning de la Comissió Europea. L'objectiu d'aquest projecte és que els professors i els estudiants facin el millor ús possible de les TIC en l'educació superior, preparant als professors per als estudiants de la generació xarxa, permetent als estudiants a la transferència de coneixements i pràctiques de la vida quotidiana per al seu aprenentatge i estimular tant la integració plena de pràctiques innovadores d'ensenyament i d'aprenentatge possibilitades per un entorn tecnològic en constant evolució. Per tal de cobrir part d'aquest objectiu general, es va concebre un estudi per examinar les competències en TIC professors d'Educació Superior en entorns d'aprenentatge en línia.

Report on a review of selected general and application controls over the Iowa State University of Science and Technology (Iowa State University) Purchase Order/Requisition System for the period of March 20 through April 28, 2009

Report on a review of selected general and application controls over the Iowa State University of Science and Technology (Iowa State University) Purchase Order/Requisition System for the period of March 20 through April 28, 2009

Open licensing's impact on higher education resources colombian and catalan approaches

A new initiative has sprung on the path created by the Open Access (OA) movement: Open Education (OE). The initiative's aim is to open up all educational resources at all learning levels. In order to achieve this goal, several international institutions, like UNESCO and the OECD, have published reports, surveys and documents to help educational institutions in this endeavor. This global initiative needs a legal framework; as a result, efforts thus far have usually resorted to Open Licensing (OL), especially Creative Commons (CC) licensing. In fact, as a response to this new movement, Creative Commons launched a new program, ccLearn , which recognizes open licensing's impact on education and directly supports the idea of open educational resources (OER). However, there still remain a good amount of open questions: What is happening locally with OL in higher education? How are educational institutions receiving the initiative? How is it that the OL initiative relates to educational resources? Are there local examples of open educational resources (OER)? How do these local instances incorporate CC into their educational frameworks?. To this effect, this analysis aims to focus on the legal approach and specifically on the way the educational sector is using open licenses outside the English speaking world. It will do so by looking at the current situation in two specific scenarios, the Colombian and the Catalan experiences with open educational projects at the higher education level.

Optimization Of Promoter Sequences In Order To Mimic Physiological Pde6b Expression

Purpose: Many retinal degenerations result from defective retina-specific gene expressions. Thus, it is important to understand how the expression of a photoreceptor-specific gene is regulated in vivo in order to achieve successful gene therapy. The present study aims to design an AAV2/8 vector that can regulate the transcript level in a physiological manner to replace missing PDE6b in Rd1 and Rd10 mice. In previous studies (Ogieta, et al., 2000), the short 5' flanking sequence of the human PDE6b gene (350 bp) was shown to be photoreceptor-specific in transgenic mice. However, the efficiency and specificity of the 5' flanking region of the human PDE6b was not investigated in the context of gene therapy during retinal degeneration. In this study, two different sequences of the 5' flanking region of the human PDE6b gene were studied as promoter elements and their expression will be tested in wild type and diseased retinas (Rd 10 mice).Methods: Two 5' flanking fragments of the human PDE6b gene: (-93 to +53 (150 bp) and -297 to +53 (350 bp)) were cloned in different plasmids in order to check their expression in vitro and in vivo by constructing an AAV2/8 vector. These elements drove the activity of either luciferase (pGL3 plasmids) or EGFP. jetPEI transfection in Y 79 cells was used to evaluate gene expression through luciferase activity. Constructs encoding EGFP under the control of the two promoters were performed in AAV2.1-93 (or 297)-EGFP plasmids to produce AAV2/8 vectors.Results: When pGL3-93 (150 bp) or pGL3-297 (350 bp) were transfected in the Y-79 cells, the smaller fragment (150 bp) showed higher gene expression compared to the 350 bp element and to the SV40 control, as previously reported. The 350 bp drove similar levels of expression when compared to the SV40 promoter. In view of these results, the fragments (150 bp or 350 bp) were integrated into the AAV2.1-EGFP plasmid to produce AAV2/8 vector, and we are currently evaluating the efficiency and specificity of the produced constructs in vivo in normal and diseased retinas.Conclusions: Comparisons of these vectors with vectors bearing ubiquitous promoters should reveal which construct is the most suitable to drive efficient and specific gene expression in diseased retinas in order to restore a normal function on the long term.

A methodological approach to identify teacher's ICT competencies in online learning environments in Higher Education

Aquest article pretén descriure el procés metodològic d'identificació i mesurament de les competències TIC dels professors i com a formadors en les TIC en un entorn d'aprenentatge en línia en l'Educació Superior portat a terme en el marc del Projecte Europeu Elene-TLC.La revisió de la recerca en les competències en línia del professor demostra que, en primer lloc, el mètode més utilitzat per a identificar aquestes competències és el focus group. En segon lloc, la tècnica Delphi és la tècnica més utilitzada per reunir el consens d'experts sobre quines són les competències principals per al professor en línia entre els que s'indiquen.La proposta metodològica descrita en aquest document consisteix en la creació de 7 grups de discussió en línia, l'objectiu dels quals era identificar les competències formatives dels professors en línia i les dels professos en línia. La llista de competències obtingudes posteriorment es va oferir als experts europeus que participaven en l'aplicació de la tècnica Delphi. A aquests experts se'ls va demanar que ordenessin les competències d'acord amb el seu grau d'importància.Els resultats mostren que els grups de discussió en línia i el mètode Delphi són les metodologies apropiades per a identificar les competències TIC dels professors universitaris en els entorns d'aprenentatge en línia.

Ethnic identity construction in Chiapas: examining the role of higher intercultural education model = La construcción de la identidad étnica en Chiapas : examinando el rol de un modelo de educación superior intercultural

This study explored ethnic identity among 410 mestizo students who were attending one of three universities, which varied in their ethnic composition and their educative model. One of these universities was private and had mostly mestizo students such as the public one did. The third educative context, also public, had an intercultural model of education and the students were mixed among mestizo and indigenous. The Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) was administered to high school students in order to compare their scores on ethnic identity and its components: affi rmation, belonging or commitment and exploration. Principle components factor analysis with varimax rotation and tests of mean group differences are performed. The results showed signifi cant differences between the studied groups. Scores on ethnic identity and its components were signifi cantly higher among mestizos group from University with intercultural model of education than mestizos from public and private universities of the same region. Implications of these fi ndings for education are considered, as they are the strengths as well as the limitations of this research

Metadata for describing learning scenarios under European Higher Education Area paradigm

In this paper we identify the requirements for creating formal descriptions of learning scenarios designed under the European HigherEducation Area paradigm, using competences and learning activities as the basic pieces of the learning process, instead of contents and learning resources, pursuing personalization. Classical arrangements of content based courses are no longer enough to describe all the richness of this new learning process, where user profiles, competences and complex hierarchical itineraries need to be properly combined. We study the intersection with the current IMS Learning Design specification and theadditional metadata required for describing such learning scenarios. This new approach involves the use of case based learning and collaborativelearning in order to acquire and develop competences, following adaptive learning paths in two structured levels.

eWOM communication in social media: A study of its antecedents in higher education context

The aim of this master’s thesis was to examine antecedents of eWOM communication in social media in the higher education context. In order to achieve this goal, eWOM communications of the students’ of international master’s programmes at Lappeenranta University of Technology were studied. The main research question was formulated as follows: What kind of effect do service-, brand-related antecedents, contextual antecedents and moderating factors have on LUT’s international master’s degree students’ eWOM communication in social media regarding their studies? The theory part of the master’s thesis was focused on the discussion of service- and brand related eWOM antecedents, contextual antecedents, as well as moderating relationships between them. The empirical part of the master’s thesis was based on quantitative research method. A web-based survey was carried out among current students of international master’s degree programmes at LUT. Out of 712 e-mail invitations sent, 159 responses were received in total. Thus, response rate was 22%. The results of the study showed that satisfaction, commitment, virtual brand community commitment, need for an advice, positive altruistic concerns, negative altruistic concerns, and attitude towards eWOM communications have an effect on eWOM in higher education context. Several moderating effects on eWOM were determined in the present study as well. On the other hand, it was found that dissatisfaction, loyalty, brand identification, desire to help the organization, need for positive self-enhancement, and social risk perception do not have an effect on eWOM in higher education context.

Spectral dependence of third order nonlinear optical susceptibility of zinc phthalocyanine

Wavelength dependence of saturable absorption (SA) and reverse saturable absorption (RSA) of zinc phthalocyanine was studied using 10 Hz, 8 ns pulses from a tunable laser, in the wavelength range of 520–686 nm, which includes the rising edge of the Q band in the electronic absorption spectrum. The nonlinear response is wavelength dependent and switching from RSA to SA has been observed as the excitation wavelength changes from the low absorption window region to higher absorption regime near the Q band. The SA again changes back to RSA when we further move over to the infrared region. Values of the imaginary part of third order susceptibility are calculated for various wavelengths in this range. This study is important in identifying the spectral range over which the nonlinear material acts as RSA based optical limiter.

Spectral dependence of third order nonlinear optical susceptibility of zinc phthalocyanine

Wavelength dependence of saturable absorption (SA) and reverse saturable absorption (RSA) of zinc phthalocyanine was studied using 10 Hz, 8 ns pulses from a tunable laser, in the wavelength range of 520–686 nm, which includes the rising edge of the Q band in the electronic absorption spectrum. The nonlinear response is wavelength dependent and switching from RSA to SA has been observed as the excitation wavelength changes from the low absorption window region to higher absorption regime near the Q band. The SA again changes back to RSA when we further move over to the infrared region. Values of the imaginary part of third order susceptibility are calculated for various wavelengths in this range. This study is important in identifying the spectral range over which the nonlinear material acts as RSA based optical limiter.

Human Resources Development in Higher Education in Kerala

The study is entitled “HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN KERALA”. The concept “Human Resource Development” is of high value in business and industry and has been used and applied since years. In industry and business the 'human' element is considred as a resource and hence its development and protection is very essential and inevitable. Of all the factors of production, human resource is the only factor having rational faculty and therefore, it must be handled with utmost care. Right recruitment, right training and right induction followed by faultless monitoring and welfare measures are but decisive factors in business and industry. Altogether there is a constant attention up on human factor there. But this is not a practice at all in education. So far there has not been any such measure of care and close watch and performance analysis of human resource on education front. This may be the main reason for lack of accountability in the sphere of education. The present study reveals the importance of introducing HRD practices in higher educational institutions in Kerala. In order to promise human capital formation through education, it is basic requirement. The higher educational institutions must follow the method of industry and commerce because education can be treated as an industry in service sector. There also we can follow the methods of right recruitment, right training and promotion, delegation, performance analysis and accountability checking of human resource. HRD is a powerful idea of transformation of human being into highly productive and contributing factor The HRD of students is the sum total of HRD of teachers. Reminding the primordial usage 'Yatha Raja Thadha Praja’ the quality of faculty resembles in students. The quality of administrative staff in colleges also affects the quality of higher education. Hence, it is high time to introduce the managerial method of HRD with all its paraphernalia in higher educational institutions so as to assure proper human capital formation in higher education in India.

Human Resources Development in Higher Education in Kerala

The study is entitled “HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN KERALA”. The concept “Human Resource Development” is of high value in business and industry and has been used and applied since years. In industry and business the ‘human’ element is considred as a resource and hence its development and protection is very essential and inevitable. Of all the factors of production, human resource is the only factor having rational faculty and therefore, it must be handled with utmost care. Right recruitment, right training and right induction followed by faultless monitoring and welfare measures are but decisive factors in business and industiy. Altogether there is a constant attention up on human factor there. But this is not a practice at all in education. So far there has not been any such measure of care and close watch and performance analysis of human resource on education front. This may be the main reason for lack of accountability in the sphere of education. The present study reveals the importance of introducing HRD practices in higher educational institutions in Kerala. In order to promise human capital formation through education, it is basic requirement. The higher educational institutions must follow the method of industry and commerce because education can be treated as an industry in service sector. There also we can follow the methods of right recruitment, right training and promotion, delegation, performance analysis and accountability checking of human resource. HRD is a powerful idea of transformation of human being into highly productive and contributing factor The HRD of students is the sum total of HRD of teachers. Reminding the primordial usage ‘Yatha Raja Thadha Praja’ the quality of faculty resembles in students. The quality of administrative staff in colleges also affects the quality of higher education. Hence, it is high time to introduce the managerial method of HRD with all its paraphernalia in higher educational institutions so as to assure proper human capital formation in higher education in India.

Studies on improved practices of prawn farming for higher production in central Kerala

The thesis entitled "Studies on improved practices of prawn farming for higher production in central Kerala" prepared by the author describes various practices prevailing in the study area in order to elucidate their relative merits. The study on semi-intensive farming at Mundapuram, Kannur was also carried out and included in the thesis for comparison.The author felt it important to make a critical study of the existing culture practices in the central Kerala, a region where it has been existing since time immemorial.Careful analysis of data accrued by the author has helped him to identify strength, weakness, opportunities and threats confronting the shrimp farming. As a result it was possible to evolve an appropriate management technology taking into consideration the various ecological (location specific), social and economical conditions prevalent in the vast study area.

Management of Higher Educational Institutions in Kerala

Economists consider education as an investment in man. Education develops human resources necessary for the economic and political growth of any nation. Adam Smith stressed the importance of education and included the acquired and useful activities of all the inhabitants or members of society in his concept of fixed capital.‘ Karl Marx shared with Smith's view when he laid down that the function of education in a socialist society will be to overcome the alienation of the worker from the means of production; while developing the technical skill it will make him a complete man as well as a producer.2 Education is also considered as a powerful instrument for social change. By inculcating moral and spiritual values, it brings changes both in the individual and in the society. It aims at creating a social order founded on the values of freedom, social justice and equal opportunity.3 The objective of this exploratory study is to enquire into the existing system of managing higher educational institutions in Kerala, compare it with the accepted principles of management believed to be applicable to all organisations, and develop a model capable of introducing more effective management practices