Curricular Concept Maps as Structured Learning Diaries : Collecting Data on Self-Regulated Learning and Conceptual Thinking for Learning Analytics Applications

The collection and selection of the data used in learning analytics applications deserve more attention. Optimally, selection of data should be guided by pedagogical purposes instead of data availability. Using design science research methodology, we designed an artifact to collect time-series data on students’ self-regulated learning and conceptual thinking. Our artifact combines curriculum data, concept mapping, and structured learning diaries. We evaluated the artifact in a case study, verifying that it provides relevant data, requires a limited amount of effort from students, and works in different educational contexts. Combined with learning analytics applications and interventions, our artifact provides possibilities to add value for students, teachers, and academic leaders.The collection and selection of the data used in learning analytics applications deserve more attention. Optimally, selection of data should be guided by pedagogical purposes instead of data availability. Using design science research methodology, we designed an artifact to collect time-series data on students’ self-regulated learning and conceptual thinking. Our artifact combines curriculum data, concept mapping, and structured learning diaries. We evaluated the artifact in a case study, verifying that it provides relevant data, requires a limited amount of effort from students, and works in different educational contexts. Combined with learning analytics applications and interventions, our artifact provides possibilities to add value for students, teachers, and academic leaders.Peer reviewe

An automated building information modelling-based compliance checking system for Malaysian building by-laws fire regulations

The implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry has significantly amplified the responsibility of designers in creating reliable and accurate BIM models. Fundamentally, the BIM models must comply with the fire safety regulations to provide minimum protection for building occupants and property. Since fire safety regulations are known to be complex and rigid, the manual compliance checking process could lead to inaccuracies, especially in a BIM-based environment. Hence, this study developed an automated BIM-based fire regulations compliance checking system for Malaysian’s AEC industry. In order to establish the rules and BIM properties necessary for fire regulations compliance checking process, 256 clauses from Parts VII and VIII of Selangor Uniform Building (Amendment) (No. 2) By-Laws 2012 were selected to create a BIM model using Revit® based on two-dimensional drawings of a completed 17-storey institutional building. Three investigations were conducted to structure the representation of the rules and BIM properties. First, the fire safety clauses were formalised through a classification technique, semantic mark-up requirement, applicability, selection, exception (RASE) methodology, and interviewing two fire engineers and a representative from the Fire and Rescue Department Malaysia (JBPM). Secondly, the BIM properties consisting of 54 families and their respective parameters in Revit® were identified for the compliance checking process. Lastly, pseudocodes and architecture of the automated system were developed to establish the relationship between the formalised clauses and BIM properties. Dynamo® scripts were used to develop a prototype of an automated fire regulations compliance checking system which could automatically check for fire doors and staircases in Revit®. The representative from JBPM, three fire engineers and architect validated the proposed architecture while the prototype was validated by three architects, two structural engineers, one mechanical engineer, and two civil engineers. This study contributed to a semi-automated rule translation process which combined existing approaches in this field of study. The classification technique and semantic mark-up RASE methodology were refined in this research by developing flowcharts to provide specific guidelines in formalising the clauses. The semi-automated rule translation process encouraged the participation of relevant fire safety experts and provided more accessibility for designers compared to existing studies. This study also offered more practicality for designers to employ the system by utilising native BIM model data representation. High mean scores ranging from 4.00 to 4.96 were obtained for the validation process, which affirmed the feasibility of an automated BIM-based fire regulations compliance checking system to assist designers in the Malaysian AEC industry

Computer-aided detection (CAD) tool design for chest pattern recognition training of radiographers

Abstract : The technological advances in radiography, along with the increasing role played by radiographers, require a shift in the training of radiographers at undergraduate level. One of the major shifts has been in the use of technology for learning, teaching and assessment (LTA) which plays an important role in the development of both explicit and implicit knowledge. There has thus been increased interest in the use of technology-enhanced learning, teaching and assessment (TELTA) in radiography education. One of the approaches to the use of TELTA has been the implementation of various virtual tools, including computer-aided detection (CAD) tools. The aim of this exploratory design science research (DSR) study was to design a CAD tool for training student radiographers in chest pattern recognition, followed by the evaluation thereof and exploration of the students experience of the CAD tool. The study employed the DSR methodology which was implemented in five phases: a) awareness of the problem, b) suggestion, c) development, d) evaluation and e) conclusion. The CAD tool (artefact) was designed using Microsoft Visual Studio which operates on the Structured Query Language (SQL) server. The artefact was then evaluated using a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches. The designed artefact could not be tested for usability with the students as originally intended because of a few technical challenges. The System Usability Scale (SUS) was used to quantitatively evaluate the artefact and revealed that the artefact had an average score of 70.1, exceeding the score of 68 which is generally accepted to indicate that the artefact has good usability. The qualitative evaluation revealed that the artefact was designed adequately while identifying the limitations that prevented the version of the software to be implemented for wider usage. The study only addressed two out of the four objectives that were originally planned for the study. The objectives that were realised were the actual design of the artefact and the evaluation of its usability including its ability to allow timeous communication (and feedback) between the instructor and the students. The two objectives that were planned for exploring how the students experience the artefact and if it enhances their implicit skills, were not realised. In retrospect, the original study plan was over ambitious to have set four objectives to be achieved within a limited period of time.D.Tech. (Radiography

Innovative secured water quality monitoring system using remote sensors: case of pangani water basin

A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master’s in Information and Communication Science and Engineering of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyThe decline of water quality in rivers and water basins caused by toxic chemicals, domestic wastes and farm implements has become an ever-growing problem world wide. Population growth, industrial and agriculture activities are the leading factors in polluting water sources. At present, monitoring of water quality in rivers is so important due increase in waterborne diseases and scarcity of clean water. However, acquiring real-time, accurate, reliable and secured data is still a major challenge during monitoring of water quality in most river basins existing in developing countries like Tanzania. This study was conducted in upper Pangani river basin located in Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions, Tanzania. Therefore, this study presents an innovative secured water monitoring, control and management system using remote sensors, which has been developed to monitor physiochemical parameters including pH, turbidity, temperature and dissolved oxygen. In undertaking the study, a qualitative approach was used for gathering system requirements through interviews with Pangani water basin information and communications technology staffs ,water quality engineers and document reviews. From obtained qualitative information the system was developed using dynamic system development methodology. As a result, the innovative, low cost, reliable and secure system was successfully developed consisting of four basic operational modules. The proposed system demonstrated the following results: real-time measurements were taken from various water monitoring stations in the river basin at low-cost and accurate, secure data transmission and storage from remote sensors to a central office management system, measurements are visualized in a simple and clear manner by officials of different level of expertise, the system provided decisions support on the quality of water present in the rivers and water basins by evaluating the measurements and also provided short message services alerts once the standards are exceeded

Development and Evaluation of a Sustainable e-Learning Framework for Higher Education Institutions in Malaysia

This thesis focuses on developing and evaluating a sustainable e-learning framework (SeLF) for the higher education institutions in Malaysia. A mixed methods approach was used. Data was collected through surveys from Malaysian universities to assess the characteristics of SeLF. The framework was then evaluated through expert interviews. The thesis highlights SeLF elements and their contribution to the Triple Bottom Line, facilitating sustainable e-learning and its contribution to society, the environment, and the economy

Comparing Key Characteristics Of Design Science Research As An Approach And Paradigm

The development of scientifically grounded IT artefacts significantly increased in the last decades. As a consequence, design science research emerged in the scientific field as a new research direction to explore the development of such IT artefacts. Thereby, design science research ensures to solve a real-world problem and to develop a theoretical contribution. The current literature differs by sorting design science research into specific research paradigms. As a consequence, some literature equalizes design science research with a new and innovative paradigm (developmentalist paradigm). However, in this paper we conduct a systematic comparison of the most salient characteristics of design science research and especially how they differ related to design science research as an approach or as a paradigm. Thereby, we stimulate a scholarly debate what the differences as well as possible similarities between both perceptions are

Enterprise reference architectures for higher education institutions: Analysis, comparison and practical uses

Enterprise Architecture (EA) is currently accepted as one on the major instruments for enabling organisations in their transformation processes to achieve business-technology alignment. Despite that over the last years EA has been successfully adopted in many industries, Higher Education still represents one of the sectors with lower levels of adoption and maturity of EA practices. The present thesis puts the emphasis particularly on the study Enterprise Reference Architectures (ERAs), as a particular type of EA artefact, in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). After formally clarifying the concept of ERAs and giving a panoramic view of the current state-of-the-art of existing HEI-oriented ERAs, the thesis proposes an artefact framework build through a Design Science Research (DSR) approach aimed to facilitate practitioners their (re-)use or application in their own real practical settings. The purpose of the constructed artefact is to support practitioners when conducting the necessary adjustments to exiting HEI-oriented ERAs in order to be successfully applied for their specific needs.La Arquitectura Empresarial (AE) es actualmente reconocida como una disciplina que permite configurar procesos de trasformación organizativa a objeto de alinear el negocio con la tecnología. A pesar de que en los últimos años la AE se ha ido adoptando progresivamente de forma exitosa en diversas industrias, la educación superior representa todavía hoy en día uno de los sectores con menores niveles de adopción y de madurez en lo que se refiere a las prácticas de AE. La presente tesis hace especial hincapié en el estudio de las Arquitecturas de Referencia Empresariales (AREs), entendidas como un artefacto específico de AE, en Instituciones de Educación Superior (IES). Así, después de clarificar formalmente el concepto de ARE y de ofrecer una visión panorámica del estado del arte relativo a las AREs para IES existentes, la tesis propone un framework de trabajo construido a través de un enfoque de investigación basado en la Ciencia del diseño destinado a facilitar su (re-)utilización o aplicación práctica en dominios de trabajo reales. El objetivo del artefacto es proporcionar soporte práctico a los profesionales para realizar los ajustes necesarios a las AREs para IES existentes para que puedan aplicarlas con éxito a sus necesidades específicas.L'Arquitectura Empresarial (AE) és actualment reconeguda com una disciplina que permet configurar processos de transformació organitzatius a fi d'alinear el negoci amb la tecnologia. Tot i que en els darrers anys l'AE s'ha anat adoptant progressivament amb èxit en diverses indústries, l'educació superior representa encara avui dia un dels sectors amb menors nivells d'adopció i de maduresa pel que fa a pràctiques d'AE. Aquesta tesi posa especial èmfasi en l'estudi de les Arquitectures de Referència Empresarials (AREs), enteses com un artefacte concret d'AE, a Institucions d'Educació Superior (IES). Així, després d'aclarir formalment el concepte d'ARE i oferir una visió panoràmica de l'estat de l'art relatiu a les ARE per a IES existents, la tesi proposa un framework de treball construït a través d'un enfocament de recerca basat en la ciència del disseny destinat a facilitar-ne la seva (re-)utilització o aplicació pràctica en dominis de treball reals. L'objectiu de l'artefacte és proporcionar suport pràctic als professionals per realitzar els ajustaments necessaris a les AREs per a IES existents de forma que les puguin aplicar amb èxit a les seves necessitats específiques.Tecnologies de la informació i de xarxe

DMAIC 4.0 - innovating the Lean Six Sigma methodology with Industry 4.0 technologies

Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is a continuous improvement methodology that emerged around 2000 (George and George, 2002; Snee, 2010). It combines the strengths of two methodologies, Lean and Six Sigma, into an effective process and quality improvement framework. Although many organisations have successfully applied LSS over the past two decades, over 60% of Lean and Six Sigma implementations have failed (Albliwi et al., 2014; Sony et al., 2020c), and, accordingly, a significant number of improvement projects. Consequently, researchers have investigated the reasons behind these failures and revealed numerous failure factors, criticisms, impediments, and barriers that jeopardise the success of LSS initiatives. These reasons, also recognised as LSS limitations, represent the problem addressed in this research. On the other hand, the Industry 4.0 (I4.0) era, entailing machine connectivity, big data technologies and artificial intelligence, offers new opportunities for data-driven quality improvement strategies such as LSS. Therefore, this study explored how I4.0 technologies can enhance the traditional LSS methodology by following a Design Science Research (DSR) approach. The aim was to design a solution integrating I4.0 data-driven tools into the traditional DMAIC framework to enhance the success and effectiveness of LSS projects. DMAIC stands for Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, and Control, representing project phases executed in a prescribed order. The designed solution is a DMAIC 4.0 framework that should help organisations overcome the limitations of LSS by exploiting modern technologies and techniques. This study adopts the DSR process described by Peffers et al. (2007), combined with qualitative methods suggested by Offermann et al. (2009). There are three main phases: (1) Problem Identification, (2) Solution Design and (3) Evaluation. Expert interviews were conducted in phase 1 to confirm the problem and underpin its relevance. The design built in phase 2 is based on existing knowledge and field experience. In phase 3, the researcher successfully evaluated the framework’s utility and effectiveness within a German manufacturing organisation through action research. Additionally, a Delphi study demonstrated that the design presented is relevant and applicable to various industries. Upon Delphi panel feedback, a roadmap was created to guide organisations in implementing the new framework. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first DMAIC 4.0 framework presented in the academic literature thus far. Knowledge and novel contributions were generated through the design and evaluation process. The validated framework includes 42 LSS tasks enhanced by I4.0 technologies. It incorporates knowledge from extant research related to LSS, DMAIC and I4.0. Furthermore, it focuses on tools and tasks and is more detailed than previously presented frameworks integrating I4.0 with LSS. Unlike conceptual frameworks, it is empirically validated, which should motivate LSS practitioners to innovate their projects. Clearly, there is still room for expansion as there are many more tools in both areas, LSS and I4.0. Researchers and practitioners can customise and apply the framework in various contexts to establish a new standard for DMAIC

Mobile phone use for empowerment in the context of social exclusion: an ethnographic study of urban refugees in South Africa

Problem Statement: Calls have been made to find ways to address the problem of urban refugees who are now acknowledged as a universal, continuing, and recurring phenomenon. There is a dominant optimism about the contribution of mobile phones to the empowerment of refugees in the host countries. However, there is a dearth of knowledge on exactly how mobile phones contribute to empowerment, and also the use of mobile phones by urban refugees in developing countries has received only minimal attention. The purpose of the research: The main objective of this research was to empirically investigate whether the use of mobile phones by urban refugees in South Africa generates or fails to generate capabilities for empowerment. The specific aim was to critically explore the factors which shape the use of mobile phones by urban refugees in South Africa and their capabilities for empowerment. Design / methodology / approach: This research adopted a critical orientation to knowledge, used critical ethnographic methods and drew on a theoretical lens developed from the integration of Sen's Capability Approach and Bourdieu's Theory of Practice. The data were collected through observations and in-depth interviews with 22 urban refugees in South Africa. Documents and website corroborating evidence have provided secondary data. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: The findings suggest that mobile phone use affords valuable capabilities for empowerment in three main ways. First, the capabilities to negotiate ways to participate in the information society by: participating in economic and financial activities, improving access to services and to sources of information. Second, the capabilities to effectively engage with wider networks by: developing and maintaining relationships, being socially and culturally connected, and communicating effectively. Third, the capabilities to manage one's own situation and solve problems by: multi-tasking easily, and a guarantee of transparency and security. However, the generation of these capabilities is contingent on power relations in the social field - between social structures and individual's agency. In South Africa, the capabilities of empowerment that urban refugees can generate through mobile phone use are either enhanced or hindered by interrelated factors, namely the affordances of mobile phones, socio-environmental factors, and personal factors. The availability of capital is very crucial for personal factors, to which they confer more, or less, power to influence the power relations. Originality / contribution: This research contributes to the theory in the field of Information Systems by proposing a dynamic framework with precise constructs for theorising and explaining the mechanisms and social practices that shape mobile phone use and the capabilities for empowerment. This research suggests that to research mobile phone use for empowerment in the context of social exclusion and inequality in developing countries, researchers need to look beyond social agents' immediate behaviours to take into consideration the broader context of social exclusion, by focusing on conversion factors, human diversity, and capabilities. This research has exposed the explicitly or implicitly hidden interests, important beliefs, assumptions and social practices that facilitate or constrain capabilities for empowerment. It contributes to the empowerment of the ethnographic researcher who is himself an urban refugee in South Africa, but also to the empowerment of urban refugees in South Africa and perhaps of other individuals in a similar situation. That is because empowerment starts with the enlightenment and the realisation of one's own true interest and situation. The findings can also contribute to the policy-setting process of government or organisations seeking to assist urban refugees, by facilitating the formulation of their intervention strategies

A Strategy for good IT Governance in South African Municipalities

Information technology (IT) is widely used in South African municipalities as a tool for enabling business processes and therefore its design and implementation are critical to municipalities delivering on their core mandate of delivering services to their communities. The implementation of IT relies on the adoption of sound IT governance practices, whose outcome is to ensure that municipalities derive value from the use of IT and minimise the risk associated with it. However, the implementation of IT governance has proved to be challenging in most municipalities. This research sought to devise a strategic approach to the effective and viable implementation of IT governance in municipalities in South Africa. The research was carried out by adopting a design science research approach, which is increasingly being used for studies in the IT discipline as it assists in solving problems through the design of innovative artefacts, in this case a strategy for the implementation of IT governance. To address the objectives, the research was carried out through case studies of South African municipalities which enabled a detailed investigation of phenomena in its natural context. The data was collected by means of mixed methods consisting of a literature review, a survey and semi-structured interviews. A literature review connected to the research problem was done in order to identify the present state of the issues and how they have been confronted. A survey was sent out to municipalities, institutions and individuals with a mandate to support municipalities, while semi-structured interviews were conducted in five municipalities, government departments and regulatory bodies. A thematic analysis of the data collected was performed which led to a diagnosis of the issues. These include inadequate IT infrastructure; lack of coordinated external support; inadequate IT skills; lack of strong and committed IT leadership; poor IT controls; and fragmented planning. Guiding policies and a set of coherent actions for solving the issues were developed. This culminated in the devising of a strategy for the coordinated implementation of IT governance in municipalities. The primary contribution of this study is the formulation of a strategy for the sound implementation of IT governance in South African municipalities. The research contends that by identifying the strategic issues facing municipalities and implementing the proposed actions, most of which fall outside the municipalities, a new contribution to knowledge has been made. Accordingly, the strategy facilitates the development of plans that address the root causes of the poor implementation of IT in municipalities