INSPIRAL: investigating portals for information resources and learning. Final project report

INSPIRAL's aims were to identify and analyse, from the perspective of the UK HE learner, the nontechnical, institutional and end-user issues with regard to linking VLEs and digital libraries, and to make recommendations for JISC strategic planning and investment. INSPIRAL's objectives -To identify key stakeholders with regard to the linkage of VLEs, MLEs and digital libraries -To identify key stakeholder forum points and dissemination routes -To identify the relevant issues, according to the stakeholders and to previous research, pertaining to the interaction (both possible and potential) between VLEs/MLEs and digital libraries -To critically analyse identified issues, based on stakeholder experience and practice; output of previous and current projects; and prior and current research -To report back to JISC and to the stakeholder communities, with results situated firmly within the context of JISC's strategic aims and objectives

Reusable e-learning development: Case studies, practices and issues of awareness for knowledge-based organisations

Reusable e-learning development (RED) is defined as the cloning, modification and customisation of existing files or source codes for developing another website or another web-based application. RED does not imply just copying and changing existing files or source codes but rather, it provides a practical technique for time-saving, improving efficiency and maximising utility of existing resources for creating another website or another web-based application. RED is particularly useful for a large-scale web development, where there is an extremely high degree of overlapping of information, resources and web designs. Therefore, RED has been widely adopted by many knowledge-based organisations (KBO). In order to investigate the impacts of RED on KBO, various case studies, practices and issues of awareness for KBO are presented and analysed. This paper particularly focuses on studies and recommended practices from the University of Cambridge. Results from these case studies reveal a number of outcomes

Implementing a resource list management system in an academic library

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the key components of the introduction of a new resource list management system (RLMS) at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) using the Aspire application from Talis Education. It explains the key service goals; the implementation milestones; the main technical challenges which needed to be addressed; and the dynamic relationship between the rollout of the RLMS and existing selection, acquisition and resource delivery processes

The Use of Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Protein Structure Prediction

The conventional technique for computerized protein structure prediction uses several programming languages such as Fortran, C, Pascal etc. With recent advances in programming languages and the development of rule-based systems, the computerized part of the problem is undergoing major change. This thesis sets out the idea of extending the properties of an intelligent rule-based system and recognising incomplete nature of knowledge for this problem. It reviews the existing architectures and characteristics that embody an intelligent system. As the outcome of the idea, a new system called PREDMOLL, written in Prolog, is developed. PREDMOLL is based on the blackboard architecture with several other extra features. This thesis also reviews some current uncertainty techniques and developes a formula based on a modifications of the Bayes theorem, to deal with multiple hypotheses. The problem of conditional independence assumption is reduced to the minimum. The formula is used as a decision-making criterion to determine secondary structure boundaries. For tertiary structure prediction, this thesis suggests a similarity value for primary sequence homology to overcome the problem of arbitrary uncertainty values in rules. PREDMOLL and the uncertainty techniques incorporated with it are used to test the hypothesis that the performance of protein structure prediction is improved by combining several methods. The test is carried out by a series of experimental predictions with user-defined rules and predefined constraints. The behaviour of PREDMOLL during the problemsolving process of the experiments is shown. The results obtained yield improvements in precision for secondary structure prediction and further improvements are expected. For tertiary structure prediction, some preliminary progress is shown and, due to lack of genuine rules, ad-hoc rules are generated from the protein data base. The status of PREDMOLL and its advantages over other systems is discussed. Several suggestions are made to improve current facilities in PREDMOLL and problems in a wider domain. Suggestions are also made for further improvements in tertiary structure prediction

Locating image presentation technology within pedagogic practice

This article presents data gathered through a University for the Creative Arts Learning and Teaching Research Grant (2009-2010); including a study of existing image presentation tools, both digital and non-digital; and analysis of data from four interviews and an online questionnaire. The aim of the research was to look afresh at available technology from the point of view of a lecturer in the visual arts, and to use the information gathered to look more critically at the available technology

Analysis of E-Learning Concept

E-Learning plays vital role in recent years. It is defined as learning with a computer where you can learn in a learning environment and also connected with your teacher. Mostly an e-Learning is a self study course with self interest. In this paper we discuss the overview of e-learning that is history of e-learning, its four main components such as standardization of content, development of content, management of content, and delivery of content with examples, authoring tools and the types of content to present the concept in interactive way

The subject librarian and the virtual learning environment: A study of UK universities

Purpose: The prevalence of virtual learning environments (VLEs) in higher education is well documented and has been promoted in the UK by government funded projects, but there has been little empirical research on the level of involvement of subject librarians with VLEs. A survey was designed to investigate how VLEs are affecting the work of subject librarians and to examine factors influencing their use in providing electronic information resources and developing information skills. The aim of this paper is to document the results Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire was distributed electronically to a purposive sample of 132 subject librarians at seven UK universities. The instrument contained mainly closed specified response questions with a few open questions and a response rate of 43 per cent (n=57) was achieved. Findings: Use of VLEs by subject librarians varies both between and within institutions. Factors affecting this include the subject area, co-operation of academic staff and attitudes of librarians towards technology-based teaching. JISC-funded projects have enabled better use of VLEs through the creation of re-usable learning objects and development of pedagogical understanding and skills. Recognition by academic staff of the teaching role of subject librarians has a critical impact on their involvement with VLEs. Research limitations/implications: The timeframe limited the scale of the study and size of the sample. The mainly quantitative approach limited the detail and depth of responses, but sufficient data were collected to establish broad trends, illuminate important factors and identify key issues. Originality/value: The paper provides empirical evidence of how VLEs are affecting the day-to-day activities of subject librarians and suggests areas where further research would be valuable. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Leertechnologie in de lage landen

Op het terrein van onderwijs en ICT investeren onderwijsinstellingen, bedrijven, brancheorganisaties en overheden in het bewerkstelligen van leertechnologie-afspraken. Het doel van die gezamenlijke inspanning is om het onderwijs te kunnen verbeteren en efficiënter te maken. Gedeelde opvattingen, vastgelegd in specificaties en standaarden, maken uitwisseling van gegevens mogelijk tussen uiteenlopende systemen. Dat biedt grote kansen voor onderwijsvernieuwing. Basisgegevens hoeven slechts op één plek onderhouden te worden, maar zijn toch voor iedere instelling bruikbaar: eenmaal gemaakte lesmaterialen kunnen in verschillende leeromgevingen worden ingezet, studenten kunnen zich flexibel inschrijven voor cursussen aan verschillende instellingen terwijl hun studievoortgang zonder probleem wordt geregistreerd. Deze processen zijn essentiële voorwaarden voor een duurzame ontwikkeling van e-learning in de Lage Landen. Als samenwerkingsorganisatie voor het hoger onderwijs in Nederland neemt SURF deel aan de mars naar standaardisatie binnen de leertechnologie. De SURF SiX expertisegroep, een Special Interest Group van SURF, onderneemt activiteiten om realisatie en gebruik van leertechnologie-afspraken te bevorderen die voor het Nederlandse hoger onderwijs bruikbaar en nuttig zijn en die blijvende aansluiting van Nederland bij internationale e-learningontwikkelingen garanderen. Met dit boek geeft SURF SiX een brede groep onderwijsontwikkelaars en geïnformeerde eindgebruikers inzicht in de huidige Nederlandse situatie op het gebied van leertechnologie-afspraken. Daarnaast wil dit boek laten zien dat leertechnologiespecificaties en standaarden meerwaarde hebben.Stichting Sur

A-Lib 2.0: New Avatar Academic Libraries with Web 2.0 Applications

The web has seen the explosion of social networking tools, which are empowering ordinary people to connect, collaborate and contribute in a global collaboration. These social software applications are now the hottest properties of the Internet users. This article explains the how Web 2.0 tools could be applied in academic libraries to convert them as A-Lib 2.0 or Academic Library 2.0. The paper further includes a few cases from different libraries which have already adopted these new services. One recent survey found that 34.41% of total academic libraries in New York State are using Web 2.0 Services; the major ones include IM, Blogs, RSS, Book marking, Wiki, Social Networks, etc. Library 2.0 has changed the traditional way of thinking about the profession where library only engage in creating the content and services for user shifted to the side of user where librarian will enable user to create them for themselves

About Massachusetts Colleges Online June 2006 Sharing Best Practices Conference

This paper summarizes trends and issues in online learning in the United States of America as reflected in the presentations of the Massachusetts Colleges Online “Sharing Best Practices in E-Learning” Conference held on June 13-14, 2006