77 research outputs found

    Educational policy and research

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    GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A STUDY OF PROVISION, PEDAGOGY AND EMPLOYABILITY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND TURKEY

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    Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are computer-based systems designed to store, organize, analyse and present spatial data. They can be used to help understand and answer a wide variety of problems in fields such as environmental management, resource planning and retail location and development. This thesis aims to explore the GIS education provided within university Geography departments (or units) in both the UK and Turkey. The main topics for investigation are the nature and scale of the GIS provision, the principal characteristic of the teaching, learning and assessment processes and also graduate employability – how far the courses and their students satisfied employer needs. Although there is a substantial literature on GIS education, this thesis is different for two reasons. First, because it takes a more holistic approach to examining many aspects of GIS education within a number of case study departments. Second, because it covers two different countries, which can then be compared. With reference to the research methods, this PhD examined ten case study departments, six from the UK and four from Turkey. The data collected were derived from a combination of student questionnaires, staff interviews, teaching observations and reading course documents. Both qualitative and quantitative were used to examine the data. In the UK the main types of provision were found to be some 90 GIS named modules within Geography undergraduate programmes, 22 GIS Masters degrees and 7 UG GIS programmes. In Turkey, where engineering is the leading GIS discipline, there were 61 modules in undergraduate Geography, two Geography-based Masters programmes and no GIS undergraduate degrees. In the UK the great majority of GIS II provision in Geography degrees takes the form of modules which are optional, with the result that most Geographers obtain only a very limited understanding of GIS and its applications. By contrast, in Turkey, the GIS modules are typically compulsory and the subject therefore occupies a more central and prominent position in the curriculum. In both countries, more than 70 percent of students said they were satisfied with their GIS teaching (with no statistically difference in satisfaction levels related to the gender or year of study). Although this is a positive finding, there were some weakness and disappointments. With respect to curriculum design and delivery, insufficient attention was given to use of Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) and in both countries students complained about too much theory and about teaching which was too heavily based on lectures and not sufficiently active and student centred (especially in Turkey). GIS staff rarely took part in teaching related CPD and GIS was little used outside the formally designated modules. GIS employer opinions were varied on the quality of graduates but common criticisms were that they lacked the business awareness and in Turkey had often poor standards of English. The links between academia and the GIS profession were patchy. The thesis ends with over 20 recommendations, the most important of which is for Geography as a discipline to give more priority to GIS. Particularly in the UK (though less so in Turkey), many Geographers graduate with little knowledge or experience of GIS. In the age of the information economy, this is a significant missed opportunity.The Higher Education Council of Turkey (HECoT

    Education Policies in the 21st Century

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    This open access book explores the agenda of education policies in the 21st century. In the first part of the book, education is handled from a historical and political framework, and the effects of the change of states and policies on education are examined. In the second part, the effects of changes in the economy on education policies and economies’ demands from educational institutions are examined. In the last section, current policies in the international education sector, which is growing day by day as a result of increasing globalization and internationalization, are examined and future trends are tried to be revealed. In articles written by academics from different universities all over the world, the topics are presented in a comparative perspective

    Assessing the uses and impacts of Facebook for teaching and learning in classroom education contexts in Malaysian universities

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    This study examined the uses of Facebook by lecturers and students in classrooms and their outcomes and impacts for teaching and learning practices in Malaysian higher education. The research objectives were to identify how and why lecturers and students use Facebook as a teaching and learning platform in a formal classroom environment, and to evaluate how lecturers and students perceive the outcomes and impacts of Facebook for teaching and learning practices. A multiple-methodology design using a number of qualitative methods was adopted. Empirical data were collected through: (1) semi-structured interviews with eight lecturers and 12 students from seven Malaysian universities; (2) participant virtual observation of two Facebook closed-group pages; and (3) content analysis of 38 students’ reflection journals. Findings revealed that the use of Facebook by Malaysian lecturers and students of this study arises due to its affordances for teaching and learning in classroom education, including ease of use and usefulness for reaching out to students, supporting online discussions, and interactivity. However, participants felt that disadvantages and challenges of using Facebook in formal learning environments do exist. This study provides in-depth insights about the adoption of Facebook by students and lecturers in formal classroom education for enhancing learning experiences as well as supporting and improving teaching practices. The study contributes to current understanding about how and why lecturers and students leverage social media technologies as teaching and learning tools as well as how Facebook enhances engagement and communication among students and with their lecturers. Original contributions from this study are: the identification of similarities of and differences between lecturers’ and students’ uses and perspectives on Facebook in formal learning environments; the presentation of theoretical frameworks related to factors that affect uses and impacts of Facebook for teaching and learning in classroom education in Malaysian universities; as well as an analysis and identification of elements of Facebook features which support learning per se and the management of learning. Ultimately, it contributes to a growing body of empirical research about uses and impacts of social media technologies for classroom education in Malaysian higher education

    5th International Open and Distance Learning Conference Proceedings Book = 5. Uluslararası Açık ve Uzaktan Öğrenme Konferansı Bildiri Kitabı

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    In celebration of our 40th anniversary in open and distance learning, we are happy and proud to organize the 5th International Open & Distance Learning Conference- IODL 2022, which was held at Anadolu University, Eskişehir, Türkiye on 28-30 September 2022. After the conferences in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2019, IODL 2022 is the 5th IODL event hosted by Anadolu University Open Education System (OES)

    A Short Review on 4D Printing

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    Additive Manufacturing can be described as a process to build 3D objects by adding layer-upon-layer of material, the material traditionally being plastics, metals or ceramics, however ‘smart’ materials are now in use. Nowadays, the term “3D Printing” has become a much-used synonym for additive manufacturing. The use of computing, 3D solid modeling applications, layering materials and machine equipment is common to majority of additive manufacturing technologies. Advancing from this 3D printing technology, is an emerging trend for what is being termed “4D printing”. 4D printing places dependency on smart materials, the functionality of additive manufacturing machines and in ingenious design processes. Although many developments have been made, limitations are still very much in existence, particularly with regards to function and application. The objective of this short review is to discuss the developments, challenges and outlook for 4D printing technology. The review revealed that 4D printing technology has application potential but further research work will be vital for the future success of 4D printing

    A COMPARISON BETWEEN MOTIVATIONS AND PERSONALITY TRAITS IN RELIGIOUS TOURISTS AND CRUISE SHIP TOURISTS

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    The purpose of this paper is to analyze the motivations and the personality traits that characterize tourists who choose religious travels versus cruises. Participating in the research were 683 Italian tourists (345 males and 338 females, age range 18–63 years); 483 who went to a pilgrimage travel and 200 who chose a cruise ship in the Mediterranean Sea. Both groups of tourists completed the Travel Motivation Scale and the Big Five Questionnaire. Results show that different motivations and personality traits characterize the different types of tourists and, further, that motivations for traveling are predicted by specific —some similar, other divergent— personality trait
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