Remotely hosted services and 'cloud computing'

Emerging technologies for learning report - Article exploring potential of cloud computing to address educational issue

Multifaceted Faculty Network Design and Management: Practice and Experience Report

We report on our experience on multidimensional aspects of our faculty's network design and management, including some unique aspects such as campus-wide VLANs and ghosting, security and monitoring, switching and routing, and others. We outline a historical perspective on certain research, design, and development decisions and discuss the network topology, its scalability, and management in detail; the services our network provides, and its evolution. We overview the security aspects of the management as well as data management and automation and the use of the data by other members of the IT group in the faculty.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures, TOC and index; a short version presented at C3S2E'11; v6: more proofreading, index, TOC, reference

A Survey of ICT Use by Registry Staff Identifies Personal and Organisational Barriers

The study investigated issues relating to the availability, accessibility, extent of use, and major factors inhibiting the use of ICT tools among the registry staff of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State. Survey design was adopted. The population comprised 520 members of staff across the various sections of the Registry, out of which 260 (50%) respondents were sampled. A structured questionnaire and an interview schedule were used for data collection. Quantitative data were subjected to frequency distribution, while interview responses were transcribed and thematically analysed. Findings showed that a good number of basic ICT tools such as desktop computers, printers, e-mail services, word processors, spreadsheets and presentation software are available to the registry staff for official work in the University, although some of them require upgrade. The available ICT tools are easily accessible to the registry staff for official work, and a high use of the ICT tools was revealed. The major challenges facing the registry staff in their use of ICT tools include inadequacy of ICT tools and consumables, obsolescence of ICT tools, lack of regular maintenance of ICT tools, unreliable internet access, unstable power supply, lack of technical assistance with ICT use, inadequate training, among others. Based on the findings, recommendations are made

Digital Devices and Digital Literacy Skills Among Library and Information Science Students in Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

The study focused on Digital Devices and Digital Literacy Skills Among Library and Information Science Undergraduate Students in Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Survey design was used. The population of the study covered the 200 and 300-level students of the Department of Library and Information Science, Niger Delta University. The sample size of the study was 165. The total enumeration sampling technique was used to determine the sample size of the study. The instrument used for data collection was a self-constructed questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis. The findings revealed that students of LIS, Niger Delta University, use their own smartphones, laptops, and other types of digital devices. Poor information search skills, epileptic power supply, inability to provide internet connectivity with free access, inability to manage myriads of information sources, were some of the major challenges of the respondents. Arising from the findings, recommendations were made to include the provision of internet services within the school premises for easy access by students of LIS at all times so as to reduce the cost of data subscriptions for daily academic activities in order to keep pace with information creation use and knowledge sharing. Secondly, the issue of epileptic power supply should be tackled and alternatives provided

Online Learning and Experimentation via Interactive Learning Resources

Recent trends in online learning like Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and Open Educational Resources (OERs) are changing the landscape in the education sector by allowing learners to self-regulate their learning and providing them with an abundant amount of free learning materials. This paper presents FORGE, a new European initiative for online learning and experimentation via interactive learning resources. FORGE provides learners and educators with access to world- class facilities and high quality learning materials, thus enabling them to carry out experiments on e.g. new Internet protocols. In turn, this supports constructivist and self-regulated learning approaches, through the use of interactive learning resources, such as eBooks

Strategic alignment of information technology and business

Dissertation Submitted in Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Engineering (Industrial Engineering) University of the Witwatersrand 2016The importance of information technology (IT) strategic alignment with organisational goals is considered and discussed. Internal and external factors that affect this alignment are identified. A method to strategically align business and IT is developed. A case study methodology was used, which relied on both quantitative and qualitative methods. The focus of the case study is the School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. The research identified current IT alignment barriers and the special requirements of this domain by conducting interviews, using questionnaires and focusing on relevant strategic documentation. Data from the case-study environment was used to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The researcher identified a lack of commitment on the part of management both within the School and in the broader University to the University’s strategic objectives as the main obstacle to IT and business strategic alignment. A revised IT strategic plan is developed for the School.MT 201

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECURITY CONCERNS FOR UNIVERSITY WORKFORCE AND SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE DURING A PANDEMIC

Faculty and staff working from home during the COVID pandemic were presented with new challenges in adapting to emergency remote teaching, as well as new and expanded cyber security threats. Changes to course delivery, remote access from public locations, and the potential of faculty and staff storing confidential educational records on university-issued devices, and potentially personally owned devices, made faculty and staff prime targets of malicious attackers. Information technology departments were challenged to support and secure the remote workforce from new cyber threats to protect their faculty, staff, and students from cyber-attacks. The focus of this study was to identify faculty and staff perceptions of cyber security, assess their understanding of cybersecurity policies and procedures, and to also identify concerns they viewed that needed to be addressed to be prepared for the future. Using descriptive research methodology, an online survey containing 37 items was created and sent to faculty and staff at a midwestern university to answer three research questions. The study identified that the faculty and staff at the institution surveyed understood the role they and others have at the university to protect the university from cyber threats. It was also identified that they understood the policies and procedures of the university regarding cyber security. Faculty and staff also identified various forms of technology and accessibility issues they feel need to be addressed if they are required to perform emergency remote teaching and support to maintain university operations

Factors that Facilitate or Impede the Effective Implementation of Open Source Software to Support Learning and Teaching in a New Zealand Senior High School

This study’s main focus was on critical success factors in the implementation of open source software to support learning and teaching in a senior high school. Research questions involved the nature of open source software, rationales for its use in the school, its advantages and disadvantages in education, and the pedagogy used in classrooms by teachers in relation to open source software. This study contributes to knowledge about the use of OSS in education

Technology-enhanced education for Millennials: how the Information Society is changing the way of learning

The Information Society has provided the context for the development of a new generation, known as the Millennials, who are characterized by their intensive use of technologies in everyday life. These features are changing the way of learning, prompting educational institutions to attempt to better adapt to young needs by incorporating technologies into education. Based on this premise, we have reviewed the prominent reports of the integration of ICT into education at different levels with the aim of evidencing how education is changing, and will change, to meet the needs of Millennials with ICT support. The results show that most of the investments have simply resulted in an increase of computers and access to the Internet, with teachers reproducing traditional approaches to education and e-learning being seen as complementary to face-to-face education. While it would seem that the use of ICT is not revolutionizing learning, it is facilitating the personalization, collaboration and ubiquity of learning

The Technology Students Prefer for Their Learning

The purpose of this action research project was to find out if students want to use technology in their learning and what that looks like. The research question guiding this study was “How do students think technology should be used in their learning?” Technology is in all aspects of our lives, including education. Technology promotes powerful learning experiences for students and teachers. There is an abundant amount of technology options for students to use for their learning. In many instances, the teacher will determine the technology tool or resource that will be used by the students. Students are seldom given an opportunity to choose the technology. By asking students what technology they want to use in their learning, we can better meet their needs and wants regarding technology