2821 research outputs found
Sort by
Students as co-creators of a mobile app to enhance learning and teaching in HE
No full textThis chapter considers how technology can enhance teaching and learning through technology within the higher education setting. The chapter considers findings and draws conclusions from a recent project conducted by the authors involved in this technologically innovative project. In particular this chapter aims to consider how mobile apps can be beneficial for learning and education purposes, consider the pedagogic value of technology use within higher education (HE), look at how students can be co-creators in their own learning, and provide an overview of the mobile app and the research findings that it was developed from. The chapter will also take into consideration the challenges associated with developing and implementing a technological intervention in HE
'Make ‘em laugh!’- The use of laughter in the language classroom – Affective Aspects on Teaching and Learning’.
No full textPresentation for NATESOL conference workshop
OFDM systems design using harmonic wavelets
Get PDFOrthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) is a popular multi-carrier technique used in many digital communication systems such as wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), long term evolution (LTE) and power line communication
systems. It can be designed using fast Fourier transform (FFT) or wavelet transform (WT). The major drawback in using
WT is that it is computationally inefficient. In this study, we introduce a simple and computationally efficient WT, harmonic wavelet transform, for OFDM signal processing. The new WT uses the orthogonal basis functions of conventional FFT-OFDM except that it involves translation and dilation of the input signal; the new wavelets is referred to as harmonic wavelets (HW). When compared with pilot-assisted OFDM system in terms of reduction in the peak-to-average power ratio, the results show that HW-OFDM outperforms FFT-OFDM by 3 dB at 10−4 CCDF (complementary cumulative distribution function). Over Rayleigh fading channel with additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN), the bit error ratio of both FFT-OFDM and HW-OFDM perfectly matched, showing that the proposed HW-OFDM is better in terms of peak-to-average power ratio reduction
Engagement through partnership: students as partners in teaching and learning in the context of digital literacy skills development
Get PDFStudents as Partners in Redesigning and Delivery of the Curriculum
Get PDFStudent-Staff Partnership (SSP) encapsulates the pedagogy of teaching and learning in various settings through student-staff reciprocal partnership practices in the Higher Education (HE)sector. The application of SSP for successful redesigning and delivery of the curriculum can be traced across various disciplines in a number of pedagogical contexts. This paper narrates a case
study of how educators can partner with first year undergraduate students to redesign and deliver
an existing module curriculum through co-creation of e-learning materials for teaching and
learning. It also exemplifies how readily accessible digital applications can be used in order to
develop students’ digital literacy skills and promote inquiry based learning in the process.
An action research project was undertaken to assess the benefits of including specific digital applications in the curriculum in order to promote learners’ digital literacy skills. The impact of SSP as an approach for curriculum redesign, delivery and as a facilitator of research and inquiry skills in undergraduate students was also evaluated in the process through the co-creation of e-learning materials. A focus group was conducted to capture participants’ responses and thematic content analysis was undertaken for data analysis. Findings suggests, using digital applications for co-creation of
e-learning materials improved learners’ confidence in embracing and using digital applications for learning, communication and dissemination of evidence based information through the process of inquiry and research based learning. Additionally, students found SSP effective as an approach for redesigning the curriculum since it provides a platform to capture students’
expectations of the use of relevant digital applications in the delivery of the curriculum to facilitate learners’ digital literacy skills development processes. Furthermore, through this project a large database of co-created e-learning materials were generated which were integrated into the module for blended learning and future re-purpose in the delivery of the curriculum
Energy peer-to-peer trading in virtual microgrids in smart grids: a game-theoretic approach
Get PDFTraditionally, energy consumers pay non-commodity charges (e.g. transmission, environmental and network costs) as a major component of their energy bills. With the distributed energy generation, enabling energy consumption close to producers can minimize such costs. The physically constrained energy prosumers in power networks can be logically grouped into virtual microgrids (VMGs) using communication systems. Prosumer benefits can be optimised by modelling the energy trading interactions among producers and consumers in a VMG as a Stackelberg game in which producers lead and consumers follow. Considering renewable (RES) and non-renewable energy (nRES) resources, and given that RES are unpredictable thus unschedulable, we also describe cost and utility models that include load uncertainty demands of producers. The results show that under Stackelberg equilibrium (SE), the costs incurred by a consumer for procuring either the RES or nRES are significantly reduced while the derived utility by producer is maximized. We further show that when the number of prosumers in the VMG increases, the CO2 emission cost and consequently the energy cost are minimized at the SE. Lastly, we evaluate the peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading scenario involving noncooperative energy prosumers with and without Stackelberg game. The results show that the P2P energy prosumers attain 47% higher benefits with Stackelberg game
BIM adoption and implementation: Focusing on SMEs
Get PDFPurpose - To reach its full potential, Building Information Modelling (BIM) should be implemented throughout the supply chain. This study explores BIM implementation and adoption among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the UK Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector. The paper addresses two key issues; the slow rate and lack of homogeneity of BIM adoption in the SME sector.
Design/methodology/approach - The study employs qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate BIM uptake and test for correlations between organisational features and BIM aspects. The sample includes data from SMEs, based in the South East of England, analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Findings - The results show that, although SMEs have some understanding of BIM related concepts, their familiarity with existing BIM software support systems is particularly low. Limited financial capacity is identified as the main barrier to BIM adoption while knowledge exchange initiatives as the most useful measure in facilitating further implementation. The variations of SMEs in the adoption and implementation of BIM are mostly affected by company size, professional discipline and offered services. The paper also demonstrates that a one-size-fits-all approach to BIM implementation in the AEC sector has limited potential.
Originality/value - The heterogeneity of SMEs in the AEC sector has been considered to a very limited extent. This paper considers the nature, characteristics and core business areas of SMEs as factors affecting BIM adoption and implementation
Design and characterisation of bicomponent polyamide 6 fibres with specific locations of each flame retardant component for enhanced flame retardancy
Get PDFBicomponent filaments of polyamide 6 (PA6) were produced with core/sheath geometries containing aluminium diethyl phosphinate (AlPi), and/or a montmorillonite nanoclay located individually or together in the sheath or core. A characterisation protocol based on thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) under both flowing air and nitrogen and pyrolysis combustion flow calorimetry (PCFC) enabled the effects of AlPi, clay and atmospheric oxygen to be assessed on PA6 thermal degradation. Knitted fabrics were assessed for flammability by vertical strip testing, which demonstrated that the relative location of the clay and flame retardant has a significant effect on burning behaviour. Correlation of the TGA/DTG, PCFC and burning sample results were discussed in terms of the effects of the roles of atmospheric oxygen and flame retardant components on the thermal degradation of PA6, especially when located in the sheath
An investigation of how healthcare organisations use Social Media as marketing tools in the UK-the case of private and social care Organisations.
Get PDFThe Researcher has been employed as a manager in a private healthcare firm for many years. The advancement of technologies and abundance of social media platforms have led to innovative marketing methods for businesses in an era of continuous pressure to cut cost for long term sustainability. However, healthcare organisations still rely heavily on traditional and costly marketing methods for their businesses. The research seeks to investigate how private Healthcare Organisations are using social media and its platforms as marketing tools in the UK.
The research objectives are:
• To critically evaluate how organisations are utilising SM as marketing tools. • To critically examine the use of SM platforms as potential marketing tools across healthcare organisations. • To evaluate the effective use of Social Media as marketing tools in healthcare organisations. • To explore the challenges and barriers of using SM and its platforms as a potential marketing tool across healthcare organisations in the UK. • To make recommendations for formulating a Social Media Marketing Strategy that managers and marketers could use to market their organisations in the healthcare industry effectively.
Through literature reviews and empirical methods; an extensive search was performed to establish and understand the main subject areas within healthcare marketing and social media. The research uncovered the gaps in the subject area to answer the research question and objectives. A conceptual framework was created using combined elements from the literature review: preferred SM platforms, effective use of SM and challenges and barriers need to be considered when using SM for Healthcare Organisations.
By identifying the philosophical positions for the research objectives, the research design was developed and decided to use a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to collect data. Having looked at the various methods to collect data, it was agreed that a case study strategy approach would be most suited to address the research objectives. The researcher uses a case study strategy and through Observation, and Semi-structured interviews to collect the research data.
As a result of the findings, the recommendations that have been made are:
1) Use Linked In, Twitter and Facebook for SM marketing in healthcare organisations.
2) Determine resource needs, focus on 2 or 3 platforms if new to SM marketing.
3) Know their audiences and target them accordingly.
4) Design SM activities for long term strategies to include content strategy and frequency of post.
5) Determine and agree on company policy for content clearance.
6) Participate in and listen to customers’ online conversation.
7) Encourage and use sponsor adverts to reach their target customers.
8) Encourage posts with a combination of texts and photographs.
The combined results from the research methods are: Linked In, Twitter and Facebook
are the most used and preferred platforms in Healthcare Organisations. The effective
use of SM and its platforms are: share and communicate healthcare-related
information, marketing, monitoring and creating brand awareness, recruitment
activities, Building trust, customer relationship, viability, creating good brand identity,
good images and communicate better with customers, interactive communication and
monitor their competitors. The challenges and barriers identified for using SM
marketing practices during this study were : Negative comments, Lack of knowledge
and understanding, Budget/cost, Lack of focus, lack of time and resource, Lack of
engagement, culture and age, personal preference, return on investment, Privacy,
confidentiality and ethical and target. Finally, a new conceptual framework was
developed to reflect the research findings.
The research contributed to the development of UK based research and literature
within the field of promoting the use of social media for marketing healthcare
organisations. It would allow the marketing strategies for healthcare Organisations to
be up-to-date, efficient and cost-effective; similar to the USA and other advanced
nations