Measuring the Importance of User Education in Academic Libraries from Students’ Perspective: A Comparative Study among the University of Tsukuba, Fudan University and the National Taiwan Normal University

Thesis (Master of Science in Library and Information Studies)--University of Tsukuba, no. 37748, 2017.3.2

Implementation of Lean and digitalization in the Norwegian Coastal Administration Development Department.

In response to the recent decline in productivity within the construction industry, there has been a growing focus on digitizing projects and processes to streamline operations. This has led to the introduction of Lean as a methodology and new way of thinking in the industry. The aim of this thesis is to address the main question regarding Lean's applicability and implementation. “How can Lean implementation and digitization be optimized in a public administration context? An exploration of challenges and experiences at The Norwegian Coastal Administration Development Department.” To gather information on this topic, a literature review was conducted, complemented by interviews with individuals involved in various stages of projects at The Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA). These individuals possess knowledge of Lean principles and frequently utilize digital tools to enhance efficiency in their daily tasks. While Lean has been a central aspect of corporate governance in Japan, particularly at Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), its adoption in the construction industry has been at varying degrees. However, consistent positive outcomes have been observed in various projects that have embraced Lean's philosophy and principles. The application of Lean in project-based production varies from company to company, with TMC primarily focusing on its implementation in production engineering. External organizations like Lean Construction play an active role in facilitating the transition of Lean methodologies between different companies. The Last Planner System (LPS), a core component of Lean Construction, is employed for project planning and management. In this thesis, specific attention is given to the interpretation of the Last Planner System known as Involving Planning (IP), which is implemented by Veidekke AS in numerous projects. The experiences and insights gained from Veidekke's use of IP serve as a basis for drawing parallels and identifying strategies for implementing Lean in a public administration context, such as the Norwegian Coastal Administration. Continuous efforts are being made to explore digitalization of Lean principles in the public administration sector, aiming to enhance its manageability. This includes the adoption of digital tools and aids to streamline work processes. To successfully integrate Lean into an organization, it is crucial to understand that it is both a methodology and a mindset that should be embraced by leaders and workers alike. Developing a culture of improvement and fostering worker maturity, in terms of knowledge and results, are essential prerequisites for progressing towards digitalization and coordinated Lean implementation

The Living Environmental Education

This open access book is designed and written to bridge the gap on the critical issues identified in environmental education programs in Asian countries. The world and its environments are changing rapidly, and the public may have difficulty keeping up and understanding how these changes will affect our way of life. The authors discuss various topics and case studies from an Asian perspective, but the content, messaging, and lessons learned need not be limited to Asian cultures. Each chapter provides a summary of the intensive research that has been performed on pro-environmental behaviors, the experience of people working in industry and at home, and their philosophies that guide them in their daily lives. We highlight humanity’s potential to contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by understanding better the environmental psychology, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability and stewardship protection elements that contribute to responsible environmental citizenship. The content of the chapters in this book includes a discussion of the crucial issues, plans, and evaluations for sustainability theories, practices, and actions with a proposed management structure for maximizing the cultural, social, and ecological diversity of Asian experiences compared to other theories and cultures internationally. We intend that the data in this book will provide a comprehensive guide for students, professors, practitioners, and entrepreneurs of environmental education and its related disciplines using case studies that demonstrate the relationship between the social and behavioral sciences and environmental leadership and sustainability

The Living Environmental Education

This open access book is designed and written to bridge the gap on the critical issues identified in environmental education programs in Asian countries. The world and its environments are changing rapidly, and the public may have difficulty keeping up and understanding how these changes will affect our way of life. The authors discuss various topics and case studies from an Asian perspective, but the content, messaging, and lessons learned need not be limited to Asian cultures. Each chapter provides a summary of the intensive research that has been performed on pro-environmental behaviors, the experience of people working in industry and at home, and their philosophies that guide them in their daily lives. We highlight humanity’s potential to contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by understanding better the environmental psychology, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability and stewardship protection elements that contribute to responsible environmental citizenship. The content of the chapters in this book includes a discussion of the crucial issues, plans, and evaluations for sustainability theories, practices, and actions with a proposed management structure for maximizing the cultural, social, and ecological diversity of Asian experiences compared to other theories and cultures internationally. We intend that the data in this book will provide a comprehensive guide for students, professors, practitioners, and entrepreneurs of environmental education and its related disciplines using case studies that demonstrate the relationship between the social and behavioral sciences and environmental leadership and sustainability

Education to Build Back Better

This open access book examines the implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic for education systems and argues that major education reforms will be necessary, particularly in the Global South, to address the learning loss caused by the pandemic. To inform those reforms, knowledge about the implementation reforms in the Global South is necessary, and such knowledge is seriously lacking as the existing literature on the implementation of educational change focused principally in reforms in countries in the Global North. This book contributes to address this gap by examining five major education reforms in India, Egypt, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Senegal, and by presenting two novel approaches to climate change education using a bottoms up strategy of reform. The chapters examine the implementation process drawing on a theoretical model of educational change by Reimers (published in Educating Students to Improve the World by Springer in 2020). The book concludes discussing the implementation of such reforms as an evolutionary and learning process, characterized by four dimensions: the goals of the reform, the drivers of the reform, the reform strategy, and the mindsets about educational change which undergird the implementation strategy

Canonical explorations of 'Tel' environments for computer programming

This paper applies a novel technique of canonical gradient analysis, pioneered in ecological sciences, with the aim of exploring student performance and behaviours (such as communication and collaboration) while undertaking formative and summative tasks in technology enhanced learning (TEL) environments for computer programming. The research emphasis is, therefore, on revealing complex patterns, trends, tacit communications and technology interactions associated with a particular type of learning environment, rather than the testing of discrete hypotheses. The study is based on observations of first year programming modules in BSc Computing and closely related joint-honours with software engineering, web and game development courses. This research extends earlier work, and evaluates the suitability of canonical approaches for exploring complex dimensional gradients represented by multivariate and technology-enhanced learning environments. The advancements represented here are: (1) an extended context, beyond the use of the ‘Ceebot’ learning platform, to include learning-achievement following advanced instruction using an industrystandard integrated development environment, or IDE, for engineering software; and (2) longitudinal comparison of consistency of findings across cohort years. Direct findings (from analyses based on code tests, module assessment and questionnaire surveys) reveal overall engagement with and high acceptance of collaborative working and of the TEL environments used, but an inconsistent relationship between deeply learned programming skills and module performance. The paper also discusses research findings in the contexts of established and emerging teaching practices for computer programming, as well as government policies and commercial requirements for improved capacity in computer-science related industries