Should there be a future for Tablet PCs in schools?

Tablet PCs are a relatively new format of computer, which seem to offer features which may be beneficial to schools. The uptake of Tablet PCs by schools has been somewhat limited, not least due to their greater cost than laptops of a 'similar' specification. This paper explores the key question of the extent to which schools should be investing in Tablet PCs, if at all, in preference to other formats of fully functional PCs, drawing on evidence from a Becta funded evaluation of the use of Tablet PCs in schools in England conducted in 2004-2005. The Computer Practice Framework was used to develop a set of questions which helped structure a meta-analysis of the data from 12 case studies that formed part of this evaluation. The methodology used and some limitations of the evaluation are outlined, and the key findings are described. The paper concludes that Tablet PCs do appear to offer significant potential to schools, though this potential was not being fully realised in most of the case study schools. A number of specific circumstances in which Tablet PCs do appear to be the most cost effective option are also identified

Satellite-enabled educational services specification and requirements analysis based on user feedback

Advanced tele-education services provision in remote geographically dispersed user communities (such as agriculture and maritime), based on the specific needs and requirements of such communities, implies significant infrastructural and broadband connectivity requirements for rich media, timely and quality-assured content delivery and interactivity. The solution to broadband access anywhere is provided by satellite-enabled communication infrastructures. This paper aims to present such satellite-based infrastructures that are capable of addressing the core requirements of rich media educational services in remote areas. The paper proceeds to examine a set of services that will realise such satellite-based distance learning systems and to assess the targeted users’ interest in such services. The presented work is undertaken within the framework of the EU-funded Broadband Access Satellite Enabled Education (BASE2) project. Furthermore, requirements analysis, based on the Volere template (Robertson) and on user feedback, is undertaken

Evaluating the use of a collaborative content curation tool to support online assessments

The University of the South Pacific (USP) is one of three regional education institutions in the world. The History Department which is based in Fiji represents one of the few disciplines at USP which delivers its undergraduate programme fully online. Together with the Centre for Flexible Learning (CFL), the History staff have been evaluating the effectiveness of online teaching and experimenting with technologies and tools to overcome teaching and learning challenges. This paper discusses an experimental mobile app which was created by third year History students at USP in 2018 to document local historical sites in the Suva area. It considers the challenges and opportunities created by online learning in the uniquely regional environment of the South Pacific. It further explores how technology can enable more practical and relevant applications and assessments of History content curation to better prepare students for future careers

Strategic Analysis of How to Maximize the Earning Potential of Widgets

This paper presents an analysis and recommendations for maximizing the earning potential of CBC widgets. Theoretical concepts, such as the Customer Value Model, Roger\u27s Model of Adoption and viral marketing are used to identify ways to grow widget adoption and encourage viral distribution as a means to increase impressions available for sale to advertisers. The paper explores trends in Internet usage and advertising, with a focus on defining best practices that can be applied broadly to all widgets

State of News Media 2016

Eight years after the Great Recession sent the U.S. newspaper industry into a tailspin, the pressures facing America's newsrooms have intensified to nothing less than a reorganization of the industry itself, one that impacts the experiences of even those news consumers unaware of the tectonic shifts taking place.In 2015, the newspaper sector had perhaps the worst year since the recession and its immediate aftermath. Average weekday newspaper circulation, print and digital combined, fell another 7% in 2015, the greatest decline since 2010. While digital circulation crept up slightly (2% for weekday), it accounts for only 22% of total circulation. And any digital subscription gains or traffic increases have still not translated into game-changing revenue solutions. In 2015, total advertising revenue among publicly traded companies declined nearly 8%, including losses not just in print, but digital as well.This is the Pew Research Center's annual analysis of the state of the organizations that produce the news and make news available to the public day in and day out. Understanding the industry in turn allows researchers to ask and answer important questions about the relationship between information and democracy. Within this report we provide data on 13 separate segments of the news industry, each with its own data-filled fact sheet. Each individual fact sheet contains embeddable graphics that also link to a full database of roughly 80 charts and tables that pull from roughly 20 different sources. This overview highlights and weaves together audience, economic, newsroom investment and ownership trends across the industry

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

Overview of modern teaching equipment that supports distant learning

Laboratory is a key element of engineering and applied sciences educational systems. With the development of Internet and connecting IT technologies, the appearance of remote laboratories was inevitable. Virtual laboratories are also available; they place the experiment in a simulated environment. However, this writing focuses on remote experiments not virtual ones. From the students’ point of view, it is a great help not only for those enrolling in distant or online courses but also for those studying in a more traditional way. With the spread of smart, portable devices capable of connection to the internet, students can expand or restructure time spent on studying. This is a huge help to them and also allows them to individually divide their time up, to learn how to self-study. This independent approach can prepare them for working environments. It offers flexibility and convenience to the students. From the universities’ point of view, it helps reduce maintenance costs and universities can share experiments which also helps the not so well-resourced educational facilities