DTheses (Athabasca University)
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Factors influencing technology adoption: A case study of foreign language instructors
Get PDFThis study investigated the factors that influence foreign language instructors to adopt the use of educational technology as a supplement to their on-campus face-to-face classes. In particular, this study explored the various educational technologies that the foreign language instructors in one public post-secondary institution used to meet their teaching and learning objectives and the factors that affected their technology selection decisions. Previous literature has shown that the field of language education has historically included educational technology but few studies have explored the role that conversations amongst instructors can have on their technology adoption decisions. This study, therefore, utilized social network theory to explore the effects of foreign language instructors’ conversations with one another on their technology adoption decisions. The findings revealed an emerging trend for instructors who had adopted a greater number of technologies to be in a central position in their departmental social network influencing the spread of information and subsequently helping promote technology to their peers. However, interview data concluded that the most influential factors for technology adoption are not the result of these social networks or conversations, but are consistent with Davis’ Technology Acceptance Model instead.2012-1
Design Guidelines for a Mobile-Enabled Language Learning System Supporting the Development of ESP Listening Skills
Get PDFThis dissertation presents, describes and discusses an interdisciplinary study which investigated the design and development of a language learning instructional solution to address the problem of inadequate aural skills acquisition for college ESP (English for Special Purposes) students. Specifically, it focused on the use of mobile technology to expand learning beyond the classroom.
The eighteen-month process of data collection and analysis resulted in a conceptual model and design principles for a Mobile-Enabled Language Learning (MELL) solution. Mobile-Enabled Language Learning Eco-System was thus designed, developed and trialled in the real-life learning context. Through the iterative process of the design, development and evaluation of the MELL system and its components, design principles were also generated. These design recommendations were refined and reformulated in a cyclical fashion with the help of more than 100 students and ten experts. The resulting MELLES design framework encompasses guidelines addressing the essential characteristics of the desired MELL intervention as well as procedures recommended to operationalize those features.
The study also resulted in a better understanding of the broader context of ESP learning using mobile devices and the role of elements of environment, ultimately contributing to real-life praxis of the Ecological Constructivist framework and the complementary approach of Design-Based Research (DBR) methodology.2012-0
Educational Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game for Teaching Youth Finance
Get PDFIt has been stated that people need to improve their knowledge of finances and make better choices with their money. Many programs have been created to teach basic finances. These programs target people of all ages from adults all the way down to kindergarten students. The vast majority of opinions on teaching finances state that education begins with children – the younger the better. The goal of this research project is to create a fun to play (massively) multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) capable of teaching younger students how to better manage their personal finances. The game will be designed as an educational title with an attempt to balance both the entertainment and educational components. It will be a combination of a game and a simulation. Students will live out a virtual life in a generated game world making financial decisions for their character in an attempt to develop enough wealth to allow that character to retire.2012-0
Story decorated context-awareness role playing learning activity generation
Get PDFIn this research, a context-aware mobile role playing game is developed to provide users with a series of story decorated quests and allows them to interact with specific real and virtual objects in the real world. The game is designed based on multi-agent architecture, which allows reusable and modular agents and makes the game much more flexible and scalable. The usefulness of the CAM-RPG is evaluated with a comprehensive experiment. The interesting findings are: (1) generated story in CAM-RPG positively influences users' attitude toward game use and increases users' perceived game usefulness; (2) users' game-playing confidence, degree of liking computer games, and attitude toward computer games significantly influence attitudes toward CAM-RPG; and (3) there is no gender difference for users' game acceptance, but users' computer game attitude, time spent playing computer games, and voluntariness of use do significantly influence users' acceptance.2012-0
Using Simulation-based Practice Labs to Promote Instructional Effectiveness and Community Cohesion in a Blended Distance Nursing Program
Get PDFAn on-site simulation-based practice lab was conducted with 42 students enrolled in a blended distance practical nursing diploma program at the end of their first year of study, prior to their clinical placements. The six-hour practice lab involved an orientation, small group activities involving three obstetric-related scenarios using the moderate fidelity simulator Noelle®, and a debriefing activity. An evening social activity was also provided. The study used a mixed method research design involving both quantitative and qualitative methods. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, a 20-item pre-test/post-test knowledge quiz, and three National League for Nursing (NLN) instruments — the Simulation Design Scale, the Educational Practices in Simulation Scale, and the Learner Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale — as well as a pre- and post-lab administration of Rovai’s (2002b) Classroom Community Scale. The qualitative component of the study involved semi-structured interviews with 25 students, three lab facilitators, and five clinical placement instructors. Analysis of data collected before and after the simulation-based lab revealed a significant increase in knowledge and sense of community in the group as a whole. Analysis of the results of the NLN instruments indicated that the simulation-based practice lab was instructionally effective. Students were highly positive in their ratings of the design elements and implementation of the simulation-based practice lab, satisfied with the simulation-based learning activities, and confident in their ability to provide patient care. The qualitative analysis added a rich, descriptive understanding of how the simulation-based practice lab promoted instructional effectiveness (i.e., skills and knowledge, confidence, and learner satisfaction), preparation for clinical placement, and community cohesion. Thematic analysis of the interview data identified the following major themes: benefits to distance learners, nurse-patient interaction, theory to practice, positive experience, sense of community, and supportive learning (student interviews); benefits of simulation experience, facilitator role, and technology (facilitator interviews); and theory to practice, positive experience, and sense of community (clinical instructor interviews). This research supports the use of on-site simulation-based practice labs as a means to provide greater readiness for clinical practice and strengthen the sense of community among distance learners.2012-0
Greater Access to Higher Education through Communication Technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa: E-Learning Readiness of Distance Education Students in Nigeria
Get PDFThis concurrent mixed methods study sought to determine e-learning readiness by distance education students in Nigeria based on their level of communication technology usage and perceptions of distance education delivery methods, and comparing learning experiences via the Internet and via study centre methods in Nigeria. This exploratory study using quantitative survey instrument measured the current levels of students’ technology usage, while qualitative interview instrument was used to examine students’ perceptions, attitudes and experiences of communication technology by distance education students in Nigeria. The results of this study reported high communication technology usage based on the high level of smart phone ownership and Internet browsing, high level of personal computer usage, high level of internet social networking, and high positive response for online learning, among other positive indicators. Consequently, the research findings seemed to indicate that distance education students surveyed are highly enthusiastic and are ready for e-learning in Nigeria.2012 - Jun
An exploratory study of cross-cultural engagement in the community of inquiry: instructor perspectives and challenges
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to explore how instructors of online courses accommodate and make provisions for culturally diverse learners in an online community of inquiry. Ten instructors from two Alberta higher education institutions participated in two phases of research. To explore this phenomenon in the CoI model, intercultural competency indicators were created to test how they could develop and expand teaching and social presence in a cross-cultural environment. In the first phase, analysis of the open-ended survey questionnaire (AMEQ) revealed that in the absence of any cross-cultural design, instructors use facilitation and open communication strategies to foster learning and prevent conflict. The second phase, informed by the first phase, involved augmenting the original 34-item CoI survey instrument. Additional roles that relate to instructor cross-cultural efficacy were incorporated into both teaching presence and social presence elements in the CoI survey instrument. The revised 37-item CoI survey instrument was then administered to the same respondents for face validity. Findings revealed that the incorporated cultural indicators correlated highly with the teaching and social indicators, indicating their usefulness to measure multicultural efficacy in the CoI model.2012-Apri
Medical students' experiences studying medicine in a distributed medical education network
No full textVideo-conferencing (VC) is a well established educational tool. Using a grounded theory approach, this study explored the experience of medical students studying remotely by VC. A convenience sample of 11 students participated in semi-structured interviews. Constant comparative analysis identified three emerging themes which were refined and verified by a focus group. The key themes were: the effect of VC on the students’ classroom experience, the development of a strong social cohesion between the students, and the impact on student learning. The participants adapted well to VC lectures but expressed reluctance to ask or answer questions in class. Participants felt they became more self-directed and better collaborative learners. Moore’s theory of transactional distance provides a possible explanation for these observations. High transactional distance was evident with less instructor-student interaction, more student-student interaction, and greater student autonomy. Understanding the transactional dynamics in the VC classroom will inform future research and faculty development.2011 Ma
Exploring the use of distance education technology for lifestyle change
No full textObesity affects over 100 million men, women, and children in North America alone and has reached what health professionals deem to be epidemic proportions. Being overweight can contribute to or cause chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Left unabated, it will lead to the premature death of millions. Clinical practice relies primarily on individual interventions to bring about lifestyle change. However, this may not be sufficient to reverse the trend on a population scale. Distance education is one area that is seen by some as one of the tools that is capable of reaching such a large audience. This mixed methods case study examined the perceived utility of a number of distance education tools and technologies and the likelihood of overweight and obese individuals adopting and using them. A number of distance education tools and technologies were found to be very useful, some that could be promising but will require further study, and still others that don't offer value and won't for the foreseeable future.August 201
Enterprise Integration with Messaging
Get PDFIntegration architects and developers are faced with many challenges when integrating disparate enterprise applications. First off, it is necessary to come up with the integration solution that meets organization’s business needs. At the same time, they need to make sure that the solution requires minimum or no changes to the existing applications, so that cost of integration is minimal to the organization. This means the integration solution has to be technology neutral so that applications and systems built using different platforms and languages can be easily integrated. In addition, the systems integrated need to be loosely coupled so that changes to one system can be handled easily without impacting others. In order to tackle integration challenges like these, knowing and applying the appropriate integration styles and patterns is necessary. In addition, architects and developers need to be able to map different architectural design to appropriate technology and products. This thesis essay conducts a review on many of the integration architectures and patterns and how they help solve some of these challenges. It also reviews some of the technologies and products that are used to implement enterprise integration. More specifically, the essay takes an in-depth look into enterprise integration with respect to messaging by reviewing various messaging architectures, patterns, and technology. So, there are three main objectives for this thesis. The first objective is to research and evaluate some of the common integration architectures. The second objective is to review and analyze various integration patterns, specifically messaging and interaction patterns, and discuss how they help solve many common integration problems. The third objective is to discuss current technologies and products that are being used to implement enterprise integration based on proven architectures and patterns.2011-0