The Binational English & Spanish Telecommunications Network

BESTNET was established in the early 1980\u27s, as an effort to link universities on both sides of the U.S.- Mexico border through microwave, satellite and cable television technologies. In the late 1980\u27s BESTNET focused primarily on the development of asynchronous computer mediated learning and teaching in an internationally networked virtual environment. For the past six years (1990\u27s) BESTNET has strengthened its binational ties and continued its high tech focus through the development of active or vibrant model technology which is assisting in the creation of an on-line binational university setting that is borderless (albeit, seamless to the user). Today, this type of design and linkage for curriculum, learning, teaching, research and performing collaborative scholarly work is called a global virtual university . The design center for BESTNET is the vibrant global model based on METIS software. While the binational (U.S.-Mexico) design of BESTNET continues to flourish, new technologies are being continually assimilated into this highly adaptive project. Specifically, as we are able to combine the interests of a multitude of globally located campuses. We are also working towards a virtual project for higher education. Our operating, developmental premise has always been to redefine faculty, staff and student roles towards this purpose. BESTNET was created with the assistance of the founder of ARPANET a direct precursor to the Internet (even before the Internet was popularized) as a scholar\u27s collaborative network, with the explicit charge of exploring alternative approaches to the structures, substance, and processes which have traditionally defined the scholarly work of institutions of higher education. We have continually demonstrated courage in tackling difficult, but essential, issues of technological renewal. We are committed to developing educational programs which are especially responsive to both regional and global needs, student-centered, interdisciplinary in scope, and technologically innovative in nature. The tremendous success of the BESTNET paradigm is that we are not only renewing, we are also brandnewing an ambitious global and virtual educational model that will yield improved educational outcomes (in both low- and high-tech) settings, within the financial resources of most academic institutions. We have especially developed positive outcomes in Africa, Latin America, the United States and Europe. Because we barter and share collectively our on line resources, we avoid the exchange of funds, academic credits and the multitude of bureaucracies that are associated with traditional institutional exchanges. In short, we create a virtual learning environment for the world evolving student to experience like never before. While other projects are undergoing transformation from the Industrial Age to the Information Age, BESTNET is successfully aligning to the global needs of the Cyber-Age, by design

The Development and Evaluation of E-Management Platform for Patient-reported Outcomes Research Based on Business Process Improvement Theory

Background Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) refer to the health-related information coming directly from patients without any explanation by the doctors or others. It is of great significance for patients to participate in medical decision-making, have a higher quality of care，and have a better medical outcome. Therefore, patient-reported outcomes measurements (PROMs) have important clinical value. Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) is one of the most accurate PROMs led by NIH and focuses on health-related big data's scientific characteristics. PROMIS advocates cross-population, cross-region, and cross-disease studies and is widely recognized among the research community. PROMIS Health Organization (PHO) now promotes the global implementation of PROMIS by setting up PROMIS National Center (PNC) in various countries, and PNCs organize the research cooperation with many research groups to promote PROMIS. PROMIS China Center is one of the PNCs that takes charge of the PROs cooperative research with many research teams to promote PROMIS in China. Due to the diverse tasks, complex procedures, and low efficiency of the current cooperative management mode of PROMIS China Center, it cannot meet the efficient research management requirements. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the needs, improve the process, and build an E-management platform under the guidance of business improvement theory to improve the management efficiency of the patient-reported outcome research and eventually promote PROMIS in China. Objectives The general purpose of this research is to improve the management process of patient-reported outcomes research based on the business process improvement theory and develop an E-Management platform as well as evaluate the usability of the E-management platform. Purpose one: The need analysis of the E-management platform for the patient-reported outcomes research; Purpose two: The framework construction of the E-management platform for patient-reported outcomes research; Purpose three: The development of the E-management platform for patient-reported outcomes research; Purpose four: The usability evaluation of the E-Management Platform for Patient-reported outcomes research. Methods The study was comprised of 4 parts： Part1: The need analysis of the E-management platform for the patient-reported outcomes research Based on business improvement theory (ESIA theory), the researcher conducted the semi-structured qualitative interviews, including five rounds of focus group interviews with 5 management staffs of the PROMIS China Center and one-on-one interviews with 11 cooperative team members to know the current management process of patient-reported outcomes research, the problems of current management process, and the need for the E-management platform. Part2: The framework construction of the E-management platform for patient-reported outcomes research The researcher held a brainstorming discussion with 13 management staffs to improve the current management process based on business improvement theory; Meanwhile, the researcher accomplished the literature study about the patient-reported outcomes research E-management platforms of other countries and analyzed the framework; Then, the researcher combined the results of need analysis, brainstorming, and literature study to draw the preliminary framework of the patient-reported outcomes research E-management platform; Finally, the researcher held an expert group meeting with 7 experts from the field of both nursing research and software engineering to revise the preliminary framework and make a final framework. Part3: The development of the E-management platform for patient-reported outcomes research The researchers organized and coordinated close cooperation among experts in different fields. Based on the final framework of the E-management platform formed in the early stage, the researchers adopted the human-centered concept and the agile development method to develop the E-management platform with 3 software engineers. Part4: The usability evaluation of the E-Management Platform for Patient-reported outcomes research The researcher implemented the formative usability evaluation during the process of development to find the problems about the interface, like font and module; Then the researcher implemented the summarized usability evaluation by task analysis and semi-structured interviews with 15 users，including 5 management staffs of the PROMIS China Center and 10 cooperative team members. The evaluation outcomes were reported after data analysis. Results Part1: The need analysis of the E-management platform for the patient-reported outcomes research The qualitative research results show the: ① PROMIS translation, validation, clinical application management processes, and the researcher presented them in text and flow chart. ② The current process's problems, like the current management process is tedious; the current management process involves too much paper materials; it is difficult for management staffs to supervise the process. ③ the need for the E-management: all the participants said they need the E-management platform and expressed their specific needs. Part2: The framework construction of the E-management platform for patient-reported outcomes research The brainstorming efficiently improved the management process, and the improved process was shown with text and flowchart; The literature study presented the framework of the Netherlands PROMIS E-management platform; the researcher drew a preliminary framework of the E-management platform under the guidance of need analysis, improved management process, and Netherlands PROMIS E-management platform, which contains 7 first-level modules, and 5 second-level modules. After the expert group meeting, the final framework was constructed, which includes 6 first-level modules: "Home", " Introduction ", "PROMIS Measurement", "News Center", "Resources", and " Research Cooperation", 16 second-level modules, and the content covered by the second-level modules. Part3: The development of the E-management platform for patient-reported outcomes research The researchers demonstrated the preliminary framework of the E-management platform to the software engineers, and we worked jointly to complete the development of the E-management platform after the steps of requirement clarification, design, development, testing, and release. Part4: The usability evaluation of the E-Management Platform for Patient-reported outcomes research During the formative usability evaluation, the researcher found many problems, and they were all solved by software engineers; During the summarized usability evaluation, we demonstrated the platform in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction. Based on the scores of the usability evaluation questionnaire after the test: system usefulness is 5.2 (from management staffs) and 5.8 (from cooperative team members), information quality is 6.8 (from management staffs) and 6.0 (from cooperative team members), interface quality is 5.4 (from management staffs) and 5.9 (from cooperative team members), and overall evaluation is 6.0 (from management staffs) and 6.2 (from cooperative team members). Through qualitative interviews, we understand the user experience of the platform. The interview data shows two topics related to usability. By combining quantitative and qualitative outcomes, the researcher thinks that the E-management platform's usability is generally good, but there are still some shortcomings. Conclusions Both the management staffs and cooperative team members of the PROMIS China Center have a high level of need for the E-management platform. The final framework based on need analysis and process improvement is good guidance for developing the E-management platform. The usability evaluation shows that the E-management platform has a good usability and can help manage the patient-reported outcomes cooperative research. It will be able to enhance the management efficiency of patients-reported outcomes research extensively and accelerate the rapid promotion of PROMIS in China

Teaching with Technology in the Modern Classroom: A Learning Systems Model

Rapid advances in technology, an expanding non-traditional student body, and paradigm shifts are profoundly changing education. With Federal initiatives targeting ways to help students, educators feel the pressure to do more teaching with technology. However, educators may tend to adapt a piecemeal approach, without recognizing the wider implications for education as a total system. The Learning Systems Model expands and tailors a process model for teaching that identifies the interrelated components of education at the levels of individual, institution, and the wider society. In particular, elements within the model emphasize the needs of a multicultural and diverse student body, as well as the implications of utilizing technology as a tool in education. The discussion ends with specific teaching skills and techniques to help the educator adapt to the modern classroom

Organizational change factors for increasing online learning within a southeastern state university system

This bounded case study describes the readiness of a Southeastern State University System to support the growth of online learning. Structured as a case study, the view provided of the Southeastern State University System in this moment in time provides a contextually rich view of the phenomenon of change within a university system. The study answers the following questions regarding the change towards online course delivery: Does the Southeastern State University System have a primarily transformational or transactional orientation? What are the key change facilitating factors within the Southeastern State University System? What are the key change restraining factors within the Southeastern State University System? The key change facilitating factors identified as part of the first phase of the study included: motivation to change, job/task requirements and organizational culture supportive of change. The perspectives of the administrators regarding facilitating factors differed, as did views on if the organizational culture was supportive of change. The CIO interviewed described a variation in perspectives regarding online learning based on institutional categories and missions, which was reflected in the interviews. The key change restraining factors were identified during the survey phase of the study as: change related systems, emotional impact of change and change mission and strategy. Financial incentives, both for the institutions and the individuals involved in online or blended activities was identified in the interviews. However, the CIO interviewed outlined a perspective that the funding model for collaborative programs in the university system was flawed. A perceived lack of change mission strategy was common through the interviews, with signs pointing towards improvement within the system, with a new focus on online learning as part of an initiative to have more college graduates within the state. This study provides a snapshot of the state of a university system as it adapts to the changing environment of higher education. The study describes the application of an established organizational change and development model to the study of online learning, which provides future researchers with a framework to investigate online learning at a university system level