Hashtags and Pins in Education: Digital Native Educators in Digital Habitats.

As technology becomes more ubiquitous in society, education cannot ignore the impact it is having on education. This research seeks to understand how Digital Native educators are using Digital Habitats in their professional practice. By gaining a deeper understanding of how educators use Digital Habitats, including their tools, like hashtags and pins, we can begin to develop ways to incorporate these skills into our teacher preparation programs. The knowledge gained from this study can help administrators, technology leaders and coaches to better understand their Digital Native teachers and how they are using these technology tools in their professional practice. This qualitative study was conducted with six public-school Digital Native educator participants. Data was collected in the form of interviews, focus groups, digital archives, observations and documents. The data was coded, categorized and analyzed for thematic revelations. Some of the key findings supported established literature and others extended and refined the current knowledge base. Overall, the findings of the study demonstrate the participants’ interesting and excessive usage of their Digital Habitats personally and professionally. The gregarious nature of the Digital Native educators in this study supported their infusion of Digital Habitat elements into their personal and professional landscape

Always and never the same: Women\u27s long-distance friendships during life course transitions

Various challenges can threaten the security of personal relationships, but one of the most difficult problems to manage is geographic distance. As more people live apart from someone about whom they care, the prevalence of long-distance relationships will increase. However, research on how long-distance friendships are characterized and accomplished lags behind. Therefore, the present study was designed to uncover how women define and maintain their long-distance friendships. A total of 34 interviews were conducted with first-year undergraduate students, first-year graduate students, and recently-hired faculty members at a large university. The interview transcripts were analyzed inductively, which resulted in the creation of nine categories. These were eventually reduced to six maintenance behaviors: openness, assurances, positivity, joint activities, personal networks, and mediated communication. Participants also challenged definitions of long-distance friendship based upon geography and replaced them with definitions based upon communication (access to interaction, use of mediated communication, level of closeness, and a commitment to expend the necessary time and energy to make it work). Although long-distance friendships may require more effort and involve more mediated communication, this study demonstrates that long-distance friends rely on similar maintenance behaviors as geographically-close friends. This indicates that long-distance friendships may not be as dramatically different or as perplexing as commonly thought. Overall, the present study reveals that long-distance friendships can be satisfying and maintained successfully, which challenges both cultural assumptions and traditional social science research. Many long-distance friendships are well-equipped to weather both changes and challenges, making them flexible, not fragile

Design for Relationship Break Ups:Curation of Digital Possessions

University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.Individuals in a romantic relationship will typically have a substantial number of digital possessions associated with that relationship; sometimes even creating digital possessions connected to their relationship before meeting in real life. These digital possessions connect partners by contributing to their digital identities as ‘individuals in a relationship’; they are an important part of a digital connection between partners, and actively contribute to the maintenance of that connection. If a romantic relationship ends in a break up, separation, or divorce, the digital possessions that once connected partners in a positive way become responsible for maintaining a connection that no longer accurately reflects the ex-partners’ relationship status. The persistence of digital possessions means that until they are managed or curated in some way, those digital possessions will continue to connect ex-partners in a digital context. The tools and options available to ex-partners when it comes to managing and curating their digital possessions in the context of a relationship break up are limited, and often do not support the specific intent of the individual. In this doctoral thesis, I investigated the ways in which technology could support individuals in managing and curating their digital possessions associated with a past relationship, after that relationship has ended. Through four qualitative studies, this research (1) introduced and evaluated eight prototype grammars of action aimed at supporting individuals to manage and curate their digital possessions in the context of a break up; (2) presented a reproducible method for identifying design dimensions to guide the development of those grammars of action across different life transitions; (3) demonstrated an understanding of the ways in which individuals’ attitudes towards digital possessions may be ‘tainted’ after a break up; and (4) demonstrated the current technical limitations individuals are confronted with when curating and managing digital possessions post-break up

Artificial intelligence applications in marketing: the chatbot of the Department of Economics and Management "Marco Fanno”

openL'intelligenza artificiale (AI) offre numerose applicazioni nel marketing, ma allo stesso tempo ci sono diverse limitazioni da considerare nella sua adozione. Dopo la prima parte di analisi generale delle applicazioni e degli aspetti negativi dell'AI e dei chatbot, la tesi si concentra sul caso dell'implementazione di un chatbot da parte del Dipartimento di Economia e Management “Marco Fanno” dell'Università di Padova. La domanda di ricerca è volta a capire se il chatbot implementato dal Dipartimento sia stato efficace nell'alleggerire e supportare il lavoro dell'ufficio amministrativo e nel rispondere alle domande degli studenti. A tal fine, il documento analizza se il numero di email è diminuito dopo l'introduzione del chatbot. Inoltre è stato svolto un questionario per valutare l'esperienza che gli studenti del Dipartimento hanno avuto con il chatbot di ateneo. Il sondaggio ha anche chiesto agli studenti quali servizi vorrebbero che il chatbot aggiungesse a quelli attuali. Inoltre, è stata condotta un'analisi economica su benefici e costi per valutare se il chatbot genererà un risultato economico positivo. Questo studio consente di valutare l'impatto che un chatbot potrebbe avere nel campo dell'istruzione. In particolare, può fornire informazioni alle università sul fatto che un chatbot possa migliorare il coinvolgimento con gli studenti, liberare il personale da compiti ripetitivi e generare benefici economici netti nel lungo periodo. Il questionario stesso è stato condotto attraverso un sondaggio web su Google Forms e un sondaggio attraverso un chatbot. In questo modo ho anche analizzato quale dei due metodi sia il più efficace per condurre un'indagine. Alcune prove rivelano come i sondaggi condotti attraverso un chatbot possano portare a risposte più accurate da parte degli intervistati. Confrontando i risultati ottenuti della due modalità di sondaggio ho potuto verificare queste evidenze con un nuovo campione di partecipanti, gli studenti di Economia. I risultati della tesi non hanno mostrato prove chiare del fatto che il chatbot consentisse di ridurre il numero di e-mail. Ma si suggerisce un'indagine su un periodo più lungo. Successivamente i risultati hanno evidenziato un buon apprezzamento degli studenti per il chatbot e hanno suggerito l'introduzione di notifiche push che ricordano delle scadenze universitarie come le tasse. La stima dell'analisi costi-benefici prevedeva un risultato netto positivo su tre anni con un ROI del 29%. Inoltre, il sondaggio chatbot ha parzialmente confermato la tendenza ad ottenere risposte più accurate rispetto ad un classico sondaggio web.Artificial intelligence (AI) offers numerous applications in marketing, but at the same time, there are several limitations to consider in its adoption. After the first part about a general analysis of the applications and negative aspects of AI and chatbots, the thesis focuses on the case of the implementation of a chatbot by the Department of Economics and Management “Marco Fanno” of the University of Padua. The research question turns towards understanding whether the chatbot implemented by the Department was effective in easing and supporting the work of the administrative office and answering students questions. For this purpose, the paper analyses if the number of emails is decreased after the chatbot introduction. In addition, a questionnaire was carried out to evaluate the experience that the students of the Department have had with the university chatbot. The survey also asked students what services they would like the chatbot to add to their current ones. Moreover, an economic analysis on benefits and costs was conducted to estimate whether the chatbot will generate a positive outcome. This study allows evaluating the impact a chatbot could have in the education field. In particular, it can provide insight to universities on whether a chatbot could enhance the engagement with students, offload staff from repetitive tasks and generate net economic benefits in the long period. The questionnaire itself was conducted through a web survey on Google Forms and a chatbot survey. In this way, it could also be verified which of the two methods is the most effective to conduct a survey. Some evidence finds how chatbot surveys can lead to less satisfactory answers by respondents. Comparing the two survey results, I can verify these past findings with a different sample of participants, the students of Economics. The results did not show clear evidence of whether the chatbot allowed reducing the number of emails. But an investigation over a longer period is suggested. Then, findings highlighted a good appreciation of students for the chatbot and suggested the introduction of push notifications that remember university deadlines such as taxes. The estimation of the benefits-cost analysis forecasted a net positive outcome over three years with an ROI of 29%. Also, the chatbot survey partially confirmed the encouraging finding in reducing satisficing by respondents.

Communicating Effectively: An Exploration of Communication Methods between Parents and Teachers with Mixed Methods

This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study explored the communication preferences of parents and teachers through traditional and new technology-based communication modes. Parents (n = 34) and teachers (n = 6) were selected from a public elementary school in the northeastern United States. Participants were administered Likert-type scales on the perceived connectedness of communication modes, as well as the Parental Academic Support Scale, Importance of Supportive Behaviors Scale, and Satisfaction of Communication Tools Scale. The survey contained four open-ended questions on home-school communication preferences. Survey results indicated that parents (M = 17.61, SD = 4.14) and teachers (M = 18.33, SD = 2.25) reported greater perceived connectedness with traditional communication modes, as opposed to parents’ (M = 13.38, SD = 5.19) and teachers’ (M = 13.17, SD = 2.48) perceptions of newer modes. Additionally, results revealed that parents (M = 13.79, SD = 3.66) and teachers (M = 15.50, SD = 1.22) perceived stronger connections to warmer and richer modes, as opposed to parents’ (M = 17.21, SD = 5.66) and teachers’ (M = 16.00, SD = 2.28) perceptions of colder and leaner modes as defined by Social Presence Theory and Media Richness Theory. However, the survey indicated that participants have a strong preference for using e-mail, a cold and lean mode, for all communication. Subsequent interviews and artifact reviews provided insight into the benefits and drawbacks of each mode and strategies for use, determining that preference was driven by convenience. This research contributes to literature surrounding parent-teacher communication modes and strategies

A study of enhanced and interactive online communication service : focusing on e-mail interface

Application of online communication services such as e-mails, e-cards and instant messaging are very useful tools as nonverbal communication for online users. Computer technology has been developing powerful engine tools to be able to convey messages using various methods. Although e-card and instant messenger in online communication services have developed significantly in both visual and functional approaches, it was discovered that e-mail hasn\u27t improved much even though the number of users has significantly increased compared to other services. The purpose of this study is to improve e-mail service both visually and interactively. This research is specifically focused on proposing a new environment for an e-mail program. Incoming and outgoing shows a great interaction between sending and receiving messages based on organized interface and functions. Outgoing is significantly improved and more useful for creating various types of messages. For instance, the user can create messages in terms of different interface environments depending on the formal or informal types of messages. Moreover, the user can classify e-mail into different categories such as personal, business and short memos. There is another consideration with creating kinetic messages in order to make them more personal and unique based on e-card service. In addition, the user can express messages by using kinetic typography based on different typefaces, colors, sounds, and motions. These elements are basic and simple categories in order to be able to create dynamic text messages. The prototype design shows different application tools for online users allowing them to create messages with multiple options. Thus, this research will address potential online communication services in the future

Making Technology Work For You

Meeting proceedings of a seminar by the same name, held May 5, 2021