Participatory Culture between Producer, Co-Producers and Community on YouTube Channel Easy Languages

Easy Languages is a channel on YouTube that focuses on language learning through street interviews. The channel is the result of dynamic participatory culture on the Web 2.0 and it has a main producer and several co-producers who constantly upload language-learning videos on the channel. Participatory culture is the main theme of this thesis. This thesis investigates the motivations behind the participation of the producer and the co-producers on the video production and the reason behind the community support towards the works of the producer and the co-producers within the Easy Languages channel. To investigate participatory culture on the Easy Languages channel, semi-structured interview was used as the method of data collection. This thesis begins with a discussion on the motivation behind the involvement of the producer and co-producers on the channel. This highlights the process of participation on the YouTube channel by the producer and co-producers. The following analysis investigates the motivation, driving factors and challenges during video production. In this analysis, self-motivation and driven motivations are the primary factors that influence participation in video production. The notion of amateur works is discussed in the next chapter, which highlights the results of amateur work and how the producer and co-producers perceive their work as an amateur. The last analysis of this thesis provides a discussion on the role of the community within the Easy languages channel. There are three important findings that support a continuation of participatory culture within the Easy Languages channel. Firstly, feedback plays an important role in motivating the producer and co-producers to produce more videos. Secondly, YouTube is the right platform for amateur workers to publish and distribute their videos publicly. Thirdly, the community is essential in creating sustainability for the Easy Languages project. Finally, the continuous exchange of communication and information created mutual benefits for producer, co-producers and the community within the Easy Languages channel

Exploring students’ iterative practices when learning with physical computing kits through data visualisations

Physical computing kits allow the practical implementation of open-ended, hands-on, interactive learning experiences in the classroom. In the process of engaging with physical computing kits, students formulate and implement self-constructed goals using an iterative approach. However, the openness and diversity of such learning contexts often make them challenging to design and support. The field of learning analytics has the potential to support project-based learning, using continuous real-time data traces arising from student interactions. Data visualisations, specifically, can provide reflective opportunities for teachers to analyse students’ actions and act based on this evidence. However, to date, there has been little data visualisation research targeted at learning with physical computing kits. This thesis reports progress into the design and evaluation of a suite of data visualisations focussed on students’ iterative design process when using physical computing kits in authentic classroom settings. The areas of iterative design, appropriation theory, process-driven learning analytics and data visualisation inform the analysis and interpretation of trace data collected from students’ interactions. The contribution of the thesis is three-fold. First, a model for examining students’ trace data in keeping with social processes, such as appropriation, is presented. Secondly, insights into the iterative design process of students engaging in open-ended projects are produced, as they emerge from our data visualisations, across multiple groups of students. Thirdly, an evaluation into the role and potential of using data visualisations in the classroom is conducted with ten teachers. Implications for the design and support of open-ended project-based learning experiences with physical computing kits using trace data and data visualisation are discussed based on the teachers’ feedback. The thesis represents a first step towards the design of context-aligned, process-oriented data visualisations to provide evidence-based reflective opportunities to support students’ iterative design behaviours in this learning setting

Changing the way the world thinks about computer security.

Small changes in an established system can result in larger changes in the overall system (e.g. network effects, émergence, criticality, broken Windows theory). However, in an immature discipline, such as computer security, such changes can be difficult to envision and even more difficult to amplement, as the immature discipline is likely to lack the scientific framework that would allow for the introduction of even minute changes. (Cairns, P. and Thimbleby, H, 2003) describe three of the signs of an immature discipline as postulated by (Kuhn, 1970): a. squabbles over what are legitimate tools for research b. disagreement over which phenomenon are legitimate to study, and c. inability to scope the domain of study. The research presented in this document demonstrates how the computer security field, at the time this research began, was the embodiment of thèse characteristics. It presents a cohesive analysis of the intentional introduction of a séries of small changes chosen to aid in maturation of the discipline. Summarily, it builds upon existing theory, exploring the combined effect of coordinated and strategie changes in an immature system and establishing a scientific framework by which the impact of the changes can be quantified. By critically examining the nature of the computer security system overall, this work establishes the need for both increased scientific rigor, and a multidisciplinary approach to the global computer security problem. In order for these changes to take place, many common assumptions related to computer security had to be questioned. However, as the discipline was immature, and controlled by relatively few entities, questioning the status quo was not without difficulties. However, in order for the discipline to mature, more feedback into the overall computer security (and in particular, the computer malware/virus) system was needed, requiring a shift from a mostly closed system to one that was forced to undergo greater scrutiny from various other communities. The input from these communities resulted in long-term changes and increased maturation of the system. Figure 1 illustrates the specific areas in which the research presented herein addressed these needs, provides an overview of the research context, and outlines the specific impact of the research, specifically the development of new and significant scientific paradigms within the discipline

Tales of the tribes: animation as a tool for indigenous representation.

In India animation practice is almost completely dominated by commercial production. Much of this is outsourced to India by foreign companies, but even the animation that is produced for national broadcast shows characteristics of animation design of Western origination with regard to content, presentation and art style. Consequently, modes of commercially driven animation are dictating the expectations of the medium in India, and have become widely regarded as the normative standard. The forces of global expansion have accelerated the arrival of commercial media entertainment into the various peripheral regions of India. The indigenous communities there have been represented by outsiders since colonial times and have no representation of their own in the medium of animation. As a consequence, young indigenous people are growing up with media entertainment that has no cultural relevance to them. It is challenging their identities and through this process, they are losing touch with their own cultural heritage. In this research I set out to investigate whether animation is a medium that can be used to retell indigenous folktales and reconnect young indigenous audiences to their traditional narratives. The development and production of a sample collection of short animation films, Tales of the Tribes through participatory film-making practice presents case studies of the process of collaborating with indigenous artists and cultural practitioners from selected communities to examine these issues of representation and to investigate how adaptation can be negotiated from oral to audio visual forms of cultural expression. The contribution to knowledge that has emerged from this research shows how the medium of animation can have a significant role for communication within and between cultures. Young indigenous collaborators are receptive to adapting their traditional narratives to the animation medium and participatory practice based on local content engages their contribution. The practice has demonstrated that the possibilities for experimentation with local content and art forms can work to reconnect the young generation with existing cultural forms and practices. In addition, the research shows that young animators in India also appreciate opportunities to experiment with little known Indian content and folk art forms. My research delivers a practical model for animation practitioners to collaborate ethically with local communities and organisations within the context of media representation. For indigenous artists to work alongside animation practitioners to re-imagine their narratives through animation film-making empowers the voices of indigenous young people in India to tell their own story

Changing the way the world thinks about computer security

Small changes in an established system can result in larger changes in the overall system (e.g. network effects, émergence, criticality, broken Windows theory). However, in an immature discipline, such as computer security, such changes can be difficult to envision and even more difficult to amplement, as the immature discipline is likely to lack the scientific framework that would allow for the introduction of even minute changes. (Cairns, P. and Thimbleby, H, 2003) describe three of the signs of an immature discipline as postulated by (Kuhn, 1970): a. squabbles over what are legitimate tools for research b. disagreement over which phenomenon are legitimate to study, and c. inability to scope the domain of study. The research presented in this document demonstrates how the computer security field, at the time this research began, was the embodiment of thèse characteristics. It presents a cohesive analysis of the intentional introduction of a séries of small changes chosen to aid in maturation of the discipline. Summarily, it builds upon existing theory, exploring the combined effect of coordinated and strategie changes in an immature system and establishing a scientific framework by which the impact of the changes can be quantified. By critically examining the nature of the computer security system overall, this work establishes the need for both increased scientific rigor, and a multidisciplinary approach to the global computer security problem. In order for these changes to take place, many common assumptions related to computer security had to be questioned. However, as the discipline was immature, and controlled by relatively few entities, questioning the status quo was not without difficulties. However, in order for the discipline to mature, more feedback into the overall computer security (and in particular, the computer malware/virus) system was needed, requiring a shift from a mostly closed system to one that was forced to undergo greater scrutiny from various other communities. The input from these communities resulted in long-term changes and increased maturation of the system. Figure 1 illustrates the specific areas in which the research presented herein addressed these needs, provides an overview of the research context, and outlines the specific impact of the research, specifically the development of new and significant scientific paradigms within the discipline.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Multivariate Money: A statistical analysis of Roman Republican coin hoards with special reference to material from Romania

The aim of this thesis is assess the usefulness of the statistical analysis of coin hoards for the examination of aspects of ancient societies including coin use and exchange. Special attention was paid to various aspects of ‘formation processes.’ The thesis was divided into three parts. Part I — Background. This Part initially reviews the history of the project and then goes on to examine the concept of money in the light of anthropological and economic work. A brief discussion of types of exchange (gift, barter, commodity exchange) in societies is offered. The Part is concluded with a review of previous statistical analyses of coin assemblages. Part II—Analysing Hoards A large database of Roman Republican coin hoards was collected for this project. The problems with this type of data, its storage and retrieval are discussed. The database is then analysed in great detail in order to answer a series of numismatic, archaeological and statistical questions. Correspondence analysis was used on twenty-two subsets of the data to reveal patterning in the data-set which is discussed. A new variant of cluster analysis was developed to subdivide the data set whilst minimising the time series element. The results are compared to principal coordinates and detrended correspondence analyses. The analyses reveal aspects of the use and supply of Roman coinage over Europe and show clearly the unique nature of the Romanian data. An attempt is made to estimate the speed of circulation of coin in Italy. It is shown that the nature of coin supply leads to variation between periods which is the result of simple probability and sampling theory, not changes in the speed of circulation of coin as has been suggested by other authors. Simulation studies are used to examine the validity of estimates of coin production and annual coin loss. The results are summarised. The usefulness of the techniques used is discussed. In the light of the formation processes examined, the patterns in coin hoard data are tentatively interpreted. Part III — Romania. It is argued that to attempt a detailed interpretation of the patterns revealed above the material must be seen in its archaeological context. This case study is offered as one such attempt. Romania was chosen for two reasons: 1) the exceptional quantity of hoards found in an area outside Roman control; 2) the unique evidence for the copying of coins. After reviewing various aspects of Romanian archaeology, a detailed analysis of the problem of copies is offered including the results of a large scale archaeometallurgical study conducted under the direction of the author. Estimates of the quantities of coins copied are given. A brief review of the settlement evidence in the counties of Sibiu, Alba and Hunedoara, of special settlement and structure types, and of hoards of silverware is presented. The thesis concludes by discussing the nature of Dacian society and its use of coin in the light of the theoretical discussions in Part I, the evidence for coin supply discussed in Part II and the results of the analyses in Part III in the context of the wider archaeological evidence