What does it take to make integrated care work? A ‘cookbook’ for large-scale deployment of coordinated care and telehealth

The Advancing Care Coordination & Telehealth Deployment (ACT) Programme is the first to explore the organisational and structural processes needed to successfully implement care coordination and telehealth (CC&TH) services on a large scale. A number of insights and conclusions were identified by the ACT programme. These will prove useful and valuable in supporting the large-scale deployment of CC&TH. Targeted at populations of chronic patients and elderly people, these insights and conclusions are a useful benchmark for implementing and exchanging best practices across the EU. Examples are: Perceptions between managers, frontline staff and patients do not always match; Organisational structure does influence the views and experiences of patients: a dedicated contact person is considered both important and helpful; Successful patient adherence happens when staff are engaged; There is a willingness by patients to participate in healthcare programmes; Patients overestimate their level of knowledge and adherence behaviour; The responsibility for adherence must be shared between patients and health care providers; Awareness of the adherence concept is an important factor for adherence promotion; The ability to track the use of resources is a useful feature of a stratification strategy, however, current regional case finding tools are difficult to benchmark and evaluate; Data availability and homogeneity are the biggest challenges when evaluating the performance of the programmes

A Hybrid Data-Driven Web-Based UI-UX Assessment Model

Today, a large proportion of end user information systems have their Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) built with web-based technology (JavaScript, CSS, and HTML). Some of these web-based systems include: Internet of Things (IOT), Infotainment (in vehicles), Interactive Display Screens (for digital menu boards, information kiosks, digital signage displays at bus stops or airports, bank ATMs, etc.), and web applications/services (on smart devices). As such, web-based UI must be evaluated in order to improve upon its ability to perform the technical task for which it was designed. This study develops a framework and a processes for evaluating and improving the quality of web-based user interface (UI) as well as at a stratified level. The study develops a comprehensive framework which is a conglomeration of algorithms such as the multi-criteria decision making method of analytical hierarchy process (AHP) in coefficient generation, sentiment analysis, K-means clustering algorithms and explainable AI (XAI)

Accessible lifelong learning at higher education:outcomes and lessons Learned at two different PilotSites in the EU4ALL Project

[EN] The EU4ALL project (IST-FP6-034778) has developed a general framework to address the needs of accessible lifelong learning at Higher Education level consisting of several standards-based interoperable components integrated into an open web service architecture aimed at supporting adapted interaction to guarantee students' accessibility needs. Its flexibility has supported the project implementation at several sites with different settings and various learning management systems. Large-scale evaluations involving hundreds of users, considering diverse disability types, and key staff roles have allowed obtaining valuable lessons with respect to "how to adopt or enhance eLearning accessibility" at university. The project was evaluated at four higher education institutions, two of the largest in Europe and two mediumsized. In this paper, we focus on describing the implementation and main conclusions at the largest project evaluation site (UNED), which was involved in the project from the beginning, and thus, in the design process, and a medium-sized university that adopted the EU4ALL approach (UPV). This implies dealing with two well-known open source learning environments (i.e. dotLRN and Sakai), and considering a wide variety of stakeholders and requirements. Thus the results of this evaluation serve to illustrate the coverage of both the approach and developments.The authors would like to thank the European Commission for the financial support of the EU4ALL project (IST-2006-034478). The work at aDeNu is also supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (TIN2008-06862-C04-01/TSI “A2UN@”). Authors would also like to thank all the EU4ALL partners for their collaboration.Boticario, JG.; Rodriguez-Ascaso, A.; Santos, OC.; Raffenne, E.; Montandon, L.; Roldán Martínez, D.; Buendía García, F. (2012). Accessible lifelong learning at higher education:outcomes and lessons Learned at two different PilotSites in the EU4ALL Project. Journal of Universal Computer Science. 18(1):62-85. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/37117628518

A gentle transition from Java programming to Web Services using XML-RPC

Exposing students to leading edge vocational areas of relevance such as Web Services can be difficult. We show a lightweight approach by embedding a key component of Web Services within a Level 3 BSc module in Distributed Computing. We present a ready to use collection of lecture slides and student activities based on XML-RPC. In addition we show that this material addresses the central topics in the context of web services as identified by Draganova (2003)

eCPD Programme - Enhanced Learning.

This collection of papers (edited by Kevin Donovan) has been produced by the Association for Learning Technology (ALT) for LSIS. They are based on the summaries used by presenters during workshops at the 2009 launch of the eCPD Programme

Evaluating a collaborative IT based research and development project

In common with all projects, evaluating an Information Technology (IT) based research and development project is necessary in order to discover whether or not the outcomes of the project are successful. However, evaluating large-scale collaborative projects is especially difficult as: (i) stakeholders from different countries are involved who, almost inevitably, have diverse technological and/or application domain backgrounds and objectives; (ii) multiple and sometimes conflicting application specific and user-defined requirements exist; and (iii) multiple and often conflicting technological research and development objectives are apparent. In this paper, we share our experiences based on the large-scale integrated research project - The HUMBOLDT project - with project duration of 54 months, involving contributions from 27 partner organisations, plus 4 sub-contractors from 14 different European countries. In the HUMBOLDT project, a specific evaluation methodology was defined and utilised for the user evaluation of the project outcomes. The user evaluation performed on the HUMBOLDT Framework and its associated nine application scenarios from various application domains, resulted in not only an evaluation of the integrated project, but also revealed the benefits and disadvantages of the evaluation methodology. This paper presents the evaluation methodology, discusses in detail the process of applying it to the HUMBOLDT project and provides an in-depth analysis of the results, which can be usefully applied to other collaborative research projects in a variety of domains. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd

A descriptive case study: Investigating the implementation of web based, automated grading and tutorial software in a freshman computer literacy course

Students in higher education require satisfactory computer skills to be successful. While today’s students may have greater exposure to technology, research shows that their actual computer knowledge and skills are superficial and narrow. As a result, the freshman computer literacy course remains an important curricular component. This study investigates the implementation of an innovative Web-based technology for delivering software proficiency training for Microsoft Office. Building upon decades of end-user computing satisfaction and technology acceptance research, the purpose of the study is to describe the instructor and student experiences that result from the implementation and use of MyITLab educational software. The nature of the study is descriptive, rather than evaluative, with the following goals: (a) to describe instructors’ experiences with the software, (b) to identify patterns of technology usage and utility, and (c) to elucidate levels of computing satisfaction and technology acceptance among users. The study applies a mixed-method, single-unit, embedded case study design to focus the inquiry on an introductory computer applications course, offered in the Fall 2011 semester at a college in western Canada. The embedded units consist of five instructors, with 322 students enrolled across 10 sections. Data were analyzed from course documents, classroom observations, instructor interviews, and a student survey that produced 149 satisfactory responses. The survey was constructed by adapting instruments based on the Wixom and Todd (2005) integrated research model and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. Results of the study are summarized into five assertions: 1) MyITLab effectively eliminates or, at least, reduces instructor grading workloads for assignments, 2) MyITLab provides students with frequent corrective feedback on assignments, 3) the step-by-step presentation of instructions in MyITLab may not solely meet the needs of solution-based learning outcomes, 4) instructors should be trained on MyITLab to maximize the software’s utility, and 5) the MyITLab solution bank of acceptable responses should be expanded to reduce potential grading inaccuracies. An enhanced Wixom and Todd (2005) model is also presented for future research of educational software. Lastly, the reader is encouraged to reconsider the information presented and generalize it for their own purposes

INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBAL DIGITALIZATION

In the article, the authors consider the issues of digitalization as a means of ensuring the effectiveness of inclusive education. The categories, principles, methods and objectives of inclusive education are identified. The concept of a virtual fund of scientific research is defined. To achieve the goal of the study, methods of retrospective analysis of the development of digitalization of the educational process of inclusive education in Russia and abroad were used, as well as conversations, analysis of portfolios, situations, experience of the authors of the article, assessment and self-assessment of bachelors, teachers, generalization and systematization of the data obtained; statistical methods, cluster analysis, questionnaires, analysis of parents’ opinions on the conditions and quality of inclusive education, analysis of students’ opinions on the conditions and quality of vocational training. The authors made a deep theoretical analysis, as well as an analysis of empirical data, which made it possible to contribute to the clarification of the essence of digital technologies. Assistive means for solving correctional-compensatory problems, categories of digital devices for solving problems of inclusive education are designated. The principles, methods and technologies of digital learning (e-learning) in the context of inclusive learning, the advantages and disadvantages of e-learning are revealed; models of organizing inclusive education using e-learning; free services, paid educational platforms, their capabilities, advantages and disadvantages in inclusive education. The means of intellectual information support in the digital educational environment, the didactic potential of the educational platform have been identified. The virtual fund of scientific effects, which provides educational and methodological support for the inclusive educational process, and its architectural components have been determined. The authors noted that the effectiveness and quality of inclusive education is provided by individual educational trajectories, a methodological resource that includes the best examples and practices, methods of educational activities in an electronic environment, online learning, and access to digital technologies. The experience of organizing distance inclusive education and inclusive group virtual learning has been clarified. It has been proven that digitalization is the goal and means of ensuring the effectiveness of inclusive education. The difficulties of students and the role of teachers as professional partners in their elimination are revealed. Digital devices for solving the problems of inclusive education are identified. The principles, methods and technologies of digital (e-learning) are presented in the context of the interaction of students and teachers

PUBLIC SECTOR ONLINE COMMUNICATION CHANNEL ADOPTION AND USAGE AMONGST OLDER ADULTS: A UK LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE

Ukamaka Nwanekezie, Jyoti Choudrie, Neil Spencer, 'PUBLIC SECTOR ONLINE COMMUNICATION CHANNEL ADOPTION AND USAGE AMONGST OLDER ADULTS: A UK LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE'. Paper presented at the 24th European Conference on Information Systems: Information Systems as a Global Gateway, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey, 12-15 June 106.The UK government like many other countries around the globe has moved from classic communica-tion channels of delivering services (face-to-face, or the telephone) to a more digital approach using the internet. This includes using the internet as both a communication tool and an information source to improve efficiency in their services. Access to, and growth of these online communication mediums due to the internet has created new opportunities for the public sector; thus, forcing the public sector to adapt to this changing environment by introducing online products and services. However, not all the citizens are making use of these changes; particularly, for the purposes of this research, the older adults. Of all the various age groups in society, the ageing population is one that is presently causing immense concern. Therefore, the aim of this research-in-progress paper is to understand and identify the factors that encourage older adults to continue using a particular online communication channel when interacting with the government. This research-in-progress paper also provides the implications and benefits of this research to academia, policy makers and industry in this study and the future directions, limitations and conclusions of this paper.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio