ATTITUDE OF STUDENTS TOWARDS BLENDED LEARNING

Abstract Blended learning is a learning system that combines both online and face to face learning. It has come with its advantages as well as its disadvantages thus resulting in either positive or negative attitudes of users. The study sets out to understand the attitude of postgraduate students towards blended learning and the factors that influences their attitude. The study adopted a survey method, it makes use of questionnaire for data gathering. Data was gathered from a population of 130 post graduate students in department of Information Management, Lead City University sampling a number of 97 using Krejce and Morgan table. 95 of the questionnaire which was I Google form was filled and analyzed using simple statistical table while the hypothesis was tested using multiple regression analysis via SPSS statistical software package. The study revealed positive attitude of postgraduates towards blended learning with 94.7% accepting that BL is beneficial and that it should be encouraged. Moreover, nearly nine in ten 89.5% concurred that BL is intriguing and engaging. 94.8% of the respondents agreed that the major challenge is network or internet connectivity issues. 84.2% of the respondents agreed that some topics are better treated in physical classes while 89.5% of the respondents making majority agreed that blended learning reduces the touch of human. The Null hypothesis that there is no joint significant influence of subjective norm, behavioural control and external factors on the attitude of post graduate students towards blended learning was rejected with at a significant level of (Adj.R2 =0.517, F(3,91) =34.595, p =0.000). The researcher recommends that Higher institution of learning should embrace Blended Learning as the two (face to face and online learning) can create a balanced learning experience. Keywords: Blended Learning, Attitudes, Postgraduates, Online learning, E-learning, Learning Management System. Number of words: 28

Propelling the Potential of Enterprise Linked Data in Austria. Roadmap and Report

In times of digital transformation and considering the potential of the data-driven economy, it is crucial that data is not only made available, data sources can be trusted, but also data integrity can be guaranteed, necessary privacy and security mechanisms are in place, and data and access comply with policies and legislation. In many cases, complex and interdisciplinary questions cannot be answered by a single dataset and thus it is necessary to combine data from multiple disparate sources. However, because most data today is locked up in isolated silos, data cannot be used to its fullest potential. The core challenge for most organisations and enterprises in regards to data exchange and integration is to be able to combine data from internal and external data sources in a manner that supports both day to day operations and innovation. Linked Data is a promising data publishing and integration paradigm that builds upon standard web technologies. It supports the publishing of structured data in a semantically explicit and interlinked manner such that it can be easily connected, and consequently becomes more interoperable and useful. The PROPEL project - Propelling the Potential of Enterprise Linked Data in Austria - surveyed technological challenges, entrepreneurial opportunities, and open research questions on the use of Linked Data in a business context and developed a roadmap and a set of recommendations for policy makers, industry, and the research community. Shifting away from a predominantly academic perspective and an exclusive focus on open data, the project looked at Linked Data as an emerging disruptive technology that enables efficient enterprise data management in the rising data economy. Current market forces provide many opportunities, but also present several data and information management challenges. Given that Linked Data enables advanced analytics and decision-making, it is particularly suitable for addressing today's data and information management challenges. In our research, we identified a variety of highly promising use cases for Linked Data in an enterprise context. Examples of promising application domains include "customization and customer relationship management", "automatic and dynamic content production, adaption and display", "data search, information retrieval and knowledge discovery", as well as "data and information exchange and integration". The analysis also revealed broad potential across a large spectrum of industries whose structural and technological characteristics align well with Linked Data characteristics and principles: energy, retail, finance and insurance, government, health, transport and logistics, telecommunications, media, tourism, engineering, and research and development rank among the most promising industries for the adoption of Linked Data principles. In addition to approaching the subject from an industry perspective, we also examined the topics and trends emerging from the research community in the field of Linked Data and the Semantic Web. Although our analysis revolved around a vibrant and active community composed of academia and leading companies involved in semantic technologies, we found that industry needs and research discussions are somewhat misaligned. Whereas some foundation technologies such as knowledge representation and data creation/publishing/sharing, data management and system engineering are highly represented in scientific papers, specific topics such as recommendations, or cross-topics such as machine learning or privacy and security are marginally present. Topics such as big/large data and the internet of things are (still) on an upward trajectory in terms of attention. In contrast, topics that are very relevant for industry such as application oriented topics or those that relate to security, privacy and robustness are not attracting much attention. When it comes to standardisation efforts, we identified a clear need for a more in-depth analysis into the effectiveness of existing standards, the degree of coverage they provide with respect the foundations they belong to, and the suitability of alternative standards that do not fall under the core Semantic Web umbrella. Taking into consideration market forces, sector analysis of Linked Data potential, demand side analysis and the current technological status it is clear that Linked Data has a lot of potential for enterprises and can act as a key driver of technological, organizational, and economic change. However, in order to ensure a solid foundation for Enterprise Linked Data include there is a need for: greater awareness surrounding the potential of Linked Data in enterprises, lowering of entrance barriers via education and training, better alignment between industry demands and research activities, greater support for technology transfer from universities to companies. The PROPEL roadmap recommends concrete measures in order to propel the adoption of Linked Data in Austrian enterprises. These measures are structured around five fields of activities: "awareness and education", "technological innovation, research gaps, standardisation", "policy and legal", and "funding". Key short-term recommendations include the clustering of existing activities in order to raise visibility on an international level, the funding of key topics that are under represented by the community, and the setup of joint projects. In the medium term, we recommend the strengthening of existing academic and private education efforts via certification and to establish flagship projects that are based on national use cases that can serve as blueprints for transnational initiatives. This requires not only financial support, but also infrastructure support, such as data and services to build solutions on top. In the long term, we recommend cooperation with international funding schemes to establish and foster a European level agenda, and the setup of centres of excellence

Progress in information technology and tourism management: 20 years on and 10 years after the Internet—The state of eTourism research

This paper reviews the published articles on eTourism in the past 20 years. Using a wide variety of sources, mainly in the tourism literature, this paper comprehensively reviews and analyzes prior studies in the context of Internet applications to Tourism. The paper also projects future developments in eTourism and demonstrates critical changes that will influence the tourism industry structure. A major contribution of this paper is its overview of the research and development efforts that have been endeavoured in the field, and the challenges that tourism researchers are, and will be, facing

Students’ Readiness in Implementing Mobile Learning for English Language Learning Purposes

Background: The application of mobile learning (m-learning), especially in the area of language learning, has gained interest in the last several years due to the benefits offered by mobile devices. However, to maximize the effectiveness of m-learning, students are required to be ready. Thus, it is crucial to assess students’ readiness before implementing m-learning. By focusing on rural schools, this quantitative study aims to examine students’ readiness in implementing m-learning in their English language learning. Methodology: This study employed a survey design to measure m-learning readiness of senior high school students by investigating three factors, namely mobile self-efficacy, optimism, and self-directed learning. Through an online questionnaire, 140 responses were successfully collected from students in two public senior high schools (one high school and one vocational high school) located in a rural area in Soppeng, Indonesia. The data collected were subsequently analyzed using SPSS Statistics ver. 25. Findings: The results revealed that senior high school students from a rural area in Soppeng, Indonesia, had a high level of self-efficacy and optimism in implementing m-learning in their English language learning. However, their self-directed learning was still at a moderate level. Moreover, further analysis showed that type of school significantly affected students’ mobile self-efficacy and optimism, while self-directed learning was not affected. Conclusion: Students from rural senior high schools in Soppeng, Indonesia, showed readiness in implementing m-learning for English language learning purposes

Talent management in the UK higher education institutions - setting a research agenda

As the changing landscape of UK higher education sector is propelling a transition towards greater competition among higher education institutions (HEIs), talent management is increasingly recognised as one of the most important human resource management issues in many of these higher education institutions. Yet, the nature of talent management in the UK HEIs has rarely been investigated. This paper evaluates the prospects of implementing talent management in the HE sector, with the aim of setting an agenda for an empirical research project on ‘Talent Management in the UK HEIs

DIGITALIZAÇÃO DO ENSINO SUPERIOR: IMPACTOS NAS PRÁTICAS DE GESTÃO E DESENVOLVIMENTO INSTITUCIONAL. UMA REVISÃO DE LITERATURA

For an extended period, the higher education community has been diligently endeavoring to implement technologically advanced and more efficacious methodologies. The aim is to enhance effectiveness and cultivate a generation of graduates equipped to navigate the evolving labor market dynamics and adapt to the influences of globalization. The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic significantly catalyzed the adoption of digital education, often referred to as "E-Learning," as a predominant mode of instruction across a majority of countries. This shift was necessitated by the imperative to adhere to social distancing measures and prevent the potential collapse of the educational infrastructure. In the wake of this transformative paradigm, educational institutions were compelled to engineer inventive management approaches to effectively traverse this altered landscape, marking the dawn of a new era. This era is characterized by a profound dependence on advanced technology and unfettered information accessibility as pivotal factors for sustaining and optimizing performance.This paper aims to explain the basic ideas behind managing higher education while exploring the existing research that supports these ideas. By breaking down the various aspects and tools involved, the goal is to shed light on the complex nature of managing higher education. This exploration eventually leads to an examination of how the digitalization of education impacts different functional areas of education management. Through this in-depth analysis, a clear connection emerges between the need for digitalization and the necessity to update management systems. This connection is crucial for not only achieving but also sustaining effective operation in this new era that combines technology and education.Durante um longo período, a comunidade do ensino superior tem-se esforçado diligentemente por implementar metodologias tecnologicamente avançadas e mais eficazes. O objetivo é aumentar a eficácia e cultivar uma geração de licenciados equipados para navegar na dinâmica do mercado de trabalho em evolução e adaptar-se às influências da globalização. O surto da pandemia de Covid-19 catalisou significativamente a adoção da educação digital, muitas vezes referida como "E-Learning", como um modo predominante de ensino na maioria dos países. Esta mudança foi necessária devido ao imperativo de aderir a medidas de distanciamento social e evitar o potencial colapso da infraestrutura educativa. Na sequência deste paradigma transformador, as instituições de ensino foram obrigadas a conceber abordagens de gestão inventivas para atravessar eficazmente esta paisagem alterada, marcando o início de uma nova era. Esta era caracteriza-se por uma profunda dependência da tecnologia avançada e da acessibilidade ilimitada à informação como factores essenciais para sustentar e otimizar o desempenho. Este documento tem por objetivo explicar as ideias básicas subjacentes à gestão do ensino superior, explorando simultaneamente a investigação existente que apoia estas ideias. Ao decompor os vários aspectos e instrumentos envolvidos, o objetivo é esclarecer a natureza complexa da gestão do ensino superior. Esta exploração acaba por conduzir a um exame da forma como a digitalização do ensino afecta as diferentes áreas funcionais da gestão do ensino. Através desta análise aprofundada, surge uma ligação clara entre a necessidade de digitalização e a necessidade de atualizar os sistemas de gestão. Esta ligação é crucial não só para alcançar, mas também para manter um funcionamento eficaz nesta nova era que combina tecnologia e educação

Rebranding Originality for the Age of AI

Originality has been a longstanding focal point within the college classroom, with students being encouraged to embrace creativity and boldness. The traditional view of originality, relying solely on one\u27s wit and imagination, has lost its effectiveness in the present era. The concept of learning has undergone a significant transformation, no longer resembling the isolated ivory tower of the past where individuals would immerse themselves in books, hoping to be inspired. Instead, modern learning has become more social and collaborative. Students compare and contrast class material with online resources, engaging in conversations, both in person and virtually, to solidify their understanding. The author of the presentation contends that the future of higher education lies in collaborative originality. Collaboration goes beyond the mere sharing of ideas; it serves as a means of generating innovative concepts, thriving in the dissolution of traditional boundaries. The delineation between humans and machines, disciplines, and formal and informal learning has become increasingly blurred. In this context, modern originality emerges as a collaborative and interdisciplinary process. The advent of AI, notably exemplified by technologies like ChatGPT and Hyperwrite, has further accelerated this trend. Utilizing prompt engineering, individuals can seamlessly collaborate with virtual assistants to foster new ideas, revolutionizing the conventional notion of originality

TURKISH ADAPTATION OF MOBILE LEARNING READINESS SCALE IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR

The aim of the study is to conduct validity-reliability study of mobile learning readiness scale (MLRS) developed by Cheon, Lee, Crooks and Song (2012) in the framework of theory of planned behavior by adapting to Turkish. The participants of the study are 344 pre-service science teachers educating at two different faculties of education (Nevşehir Hacı Bektas Veli University and Kırşehir Ahi Evran University) in the spring semester of 2018-2019 in Turkey. The construct validity of the scale adapted to Turkish was carried out via Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) method. Reliability of the scale was tested by computing Cronbach’s alpha (α) as internal consistency levels. It was found that the level of internal consistency value was .93 and sub-factors of MLRS were in good level. In conclusion, Turkish version of the MLRS in the framework of theory of planned behavior consists of four main factors including attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control and intention and three external beliefs including Attitudinal Beliefs (Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Usefulness), Normative beliefs (Instructor Readiness, Student Readiness) and Control beliefs (Perceived Self-efficacy, Learning Autonomy) as in the original model

Nigeria Pattern of Migration: Issues on Human Sustainable Development

Conventional interpretation on Nigerians’ migration in the 21st Century emphasizes the acceleration and geo-spatial diversification of Nigerians from their home country to other African Countries, Europe, Asia and North America portraying a South-North Migration. Nigeria, like other Africa countries, is often seen and regarded as a country entangled with the problem of mass migration and displacement resulting from poverty, violent conflict, bad governance, insurgency and the dilapidating environmental condition. This perception, to an extent, may likely be untrue when a theoretically informed research is conducted on the pattern of migration in Nigeria. Contradicting the common ideological spread, the pattern of internal and international migration in Nigeria solely does not rest on poverty, conflict and environmental factors, but driven by a prospect for development and social transformation to increase Nigerians’ capability to contribute towards their country’s sustainable development and as such sustain future migration aspiration of the people. This paper x-rays, from a sociological perspective, the pattern, trends and determinant of migration in Nigeria. Relying majorly on secondary information sources, relevant literature on Africa Migration, with Nigeria in mind, were reviewed and criticized bringing out the overlapping knowledge gap in the literature. The review process specifically focused on varied migration process in terms of the scale, pattern and reasons for migration. The precise operational model that justifies the pattern of migration in Nigeria was reviewed and applied to the varied factors responsible for migration. The paper reveals that the diversification of migration streams, changing cause of migration, the predominance of certain categories of migration such as brain-drain all had significant consequence on Nigeria’s sustainable development. The paper concluded that in as much as we want internal and international migration tobe discouraged; the responsibility is laid on government to meet the trans-migration demands of Nigerians