Micro-Class teaching of the tourism English course: the smart education in China vocational colleges / Liao Danlu & Fong Pang Chew

Smart education becomes the inevitable trend of the global education. With the rapid international tourism development, it becomes a new issue in China to explore how to cultivate qualified tourism graduates with proficient English skills from vocational colleges in terms of smart education. Therefore, this paper aims at discussing China’s current teaching problems of tourism majors’ core course-Tourism English. There are four characteristics of micro-class, namely short-time, fine and concise, interesting, and small-volume resource. The researcher finds raised issues in the teaching classroom include monotonous teaching methods, lack of practice field, inappropriate teaching materials and short of professional teaching staff. In conclusion to solve these problems, the researcher gives three recommendations on Tourism-English micro-class teaching as follows: (1) Realize multiple and open teaching mode, and three dimensions openness of time, space and structure; (2) Increase financial and construction support from the college; (3) Establish the evaluation system of the tourism students' learning achievements in micro-class teaching. As highly information-based the smart education has just started, we should make full use of micro-lesson to improve English Teaching level in vocational colleges, to cultivate students' autonomous learning ability, to cultivate innovative and creative professional tourism talents

Determinants of purchasing online courses through education platform in China

Online courses have become the main source of income for online education platforms. It is of great value to explore the factors affecting users’ intention to buy online courses. Based on the technology acceptance model, perceived value theory and perceived risk theory, this study constructs the structural equation model of the purchase intention of online courses by taking users on online education platforms as the research object, and resorts PLS-SEM for analysis. This research explores factors that impact the intention to buy online courses and levels of these impact. The research questionnaire of this study was developed through literature review, and 669 valid questionnaires were collected. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS V24.0 and SmartPLS 3.2.8. Before the multi-group analysis, it is found that perceived value, time and space autonomy, course free trail exert positive impact on purchase intention, while perceived risk has negative impact on it. Perceived cost does not significantly affect purchase intention. Time and space autonomy, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use are positively affecting perceived value, while perceived cost and perceived risk negatively affect perceived value. Course free trail does not significantly affect perceived value. Perceived value completely mediates perceived cost, and partially mediates the impact of time and space autonomy and perceived risk on purchase intention. Word-of-mouth positively moderates the impact of perceived value on purchase intention. Age has negative impact on purchase intention, while education positively affects purchase intention. Perceived profit (perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, time and space autonomy) significantly and positively affects perceived value, and perceived loss (perceived cost, perceived risk) significantly and negatively affects perceived value. Perceived value mediates the impact of perceived gain and perceived loss on the users’ purchase intention. PLS multi-group analysis is conducted according to the users’ experience in buying a course. Users with different purchasing experience have different significance in terms of Online courses have become the main source of income for online education platforms. It is of great value to explore the factors affecting users’ intention to buy online courses. Based on the technology acceptance model, perceived value theory and perceived risk theory, this study constructs the structural equation model of the purchase intention of online courses by taking users on online education platforms as the research object, and resorts PLS-SEM for analysis. This research explores factors that impact the intention to buy online courses and levels of these impact. The research questionnaire of this study was developed through literature review, and 669 valid questionnaires were collected. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS V24.0 and SmartPLS 3.2.8. Before the multi-group analysis, it is found that perceived value, time and space autonomy, course free trail exert positive impact on purchase intention, while perceived risk has negative impact on it. Perceived cost does not significantly affect purchase intention. Time and space autonomy, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use are positively affecting perceived value, while perceived cost and perceived risk negatively affect perceived value. Course free trail does not significantly affect perceived value. Perceived value completely mediates perceived cost, and partially mediates the impact of time and space autonomy and perceived risk on purchase intention. Word-of-mouth positively moderates the impact of perceived value on purchase intention. Age has negative impact on purchase intention, while education positively affects purchase intention. Perceived profit (perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, time and space autonomy) significantly and positively affects perceived value, and perceived loss (perceived cost, perceived risk) significantly and negatively affects perceived value. Perceived value mediates the impact of perceived gain and perceived loss on the users’ purchase intention. PLS multi-group analysis is conducted according to the users’ experience in buying a course. Users with different purchasing experience have different significance in terms of course free trail, perceived risk, perceived ease of use, time and space autonomy, and education. Based on the data analysis, this study also discussed the corresponding recommendations, such as guaranteeing course quality, providing word-of-mouth, grouping users according to their purchasing experience, using artificial intelligence to recommend online courses for users; optimizing functions of time and space autonomy, improving user experience with 5G, virtual reality, and augmented reality; reducing course price with cloud services and big data technologies, and providing more course free trial in an attempt to reduce users’ perceived risk.Os cursos à distância tornaram-se a principal fonte de rendimento para as plataformas de educação online. O estudo dos fatores que afetam a intenção dos utilizadores de compra de cursos online tem uma grande valia. Com base no modelo de aceitação de tecnologia, na teoria do valor percebido e na teoria do risco percebido, este estudo constrói o modelo de equações estruturais da intenção de compra de curso online ao considerar os utilizadores de plataformas de educação online como objeto de investigação, com base na metodologia PLS-SEM (mínimos quadrados parciais – modelação com equações estruturais). Esta pesquisa explora fatores que influenciam a intenção de compra de cursos e os seus níveis de impacto. O questionário de investigação deste estudo foi desenvolvido através da revisão da literatura e foram recolhidos 669 questionários válidos. A análise de dados foi realizada utilizando o IBM SPSS V24.0 e o SmartPLS 3.2.8. Antes da análise multi grupos, verificou-se que as variáveis valor percebido, autonomia de espaço e tempo e teste gratuito de curso exercem um impacto positivo na intenção de compra, enquanto o risco percebido tem um impacto negativo sobre o mesmo. O custo percebido não afeta significativamente a intenção de compra. Autonomia de espaço e tempo, utilidade percebida e perceção de facilidade de utilização afetando positivamente o valor percebido, enquanto custo percebido e risco percebido afetam negativamente o valor percebido. O teste gratuito do curso não afeta negativamente o valor percebido. O valor percebido é um mediador integral do custo percebido, e mediador parcial do impacto da autonomia de espaço e tempo, risco percebido na intenção de compra. Palavra-de-boca (word of mouth) modera positivamente o impacto do valor percebido na intenção de compra. A idade tem um impacto negativo na intenção de compra, enquanto a educação afeta-a positivamente. O lucro percebido (facilidade percebida de utilização, utilidade percebida, autonomia de espaço e tempo) afeta significativa e positivamente o valor percebido, e a perda percebida (custo percebido, risco percebido) afeta significativa e negativamente o valor percebido. O valor percebido é mediador do impacto do lucro percebido e da perda percebida na intenção de compra dos utilizadores. A análise de vários grupos da análise PLS foi realizada de acordo com a experiência dos utilizadores na compra de um curso. Os utilizadores com diferentes experiências de compra têm uma significância diferente em termos de experimentação gratuita dos cursos, risco percebido, facilidade percebida de utilização, autonomia de espaço e tempo e educação. Com base na análise de dados, este estudo também analisou as recomendações correspondentes, como garantir a qualidade do curso, fornecer informações de word of mouth, agrupar os utilizadores de acordo com a sua experiência de compra, utilizando a inteligência artificial para recomendar cursos online para os utilizadores; otimizar funções da autonomia de espaço e tempo, melhorar a experiência do utilizador com 5G, realidade virtual e realidade aumentada; reduzir o preço do curso com serviços na nuvem e tecnologias de grandes bases de dados, e fornecer mais cursos experimentais gratuitos para tentar reduzir o risco percebido dos utilizadores

The Industry and Policy Context for Digital Games for Empowerment and Inclusion:Market Analysis, Future Prospects and Key Challenges in Videogames, Serious Games and Gamification

The effective use of digital games for empowerment and social inclusion (DGEI) of people and communities at risk of exclusion will be shaped by, and may influence the development of a range of sectors that supply products, services, technology and research. The principal industries that would appear to be implicated are the 'videogames' industry, and an emerging 'serious games' industry. The videogames industry is an ecosystem of developers, publishers and other service providers drawn from the interactive media, software and broader ICT industry that services the mainstream leisure market in games, The 'serious games' industry is a rather fragmented and growing network of firms, users, research and policy makers from a variety of sectors. This emerging industry is are trying to develop knowledge, products, services and a market for the use of digital games, and products inspired by digital games, for a range of non-leisure applications. This report provides a summary of the state of play of these industries, their trajectories and the challenges they face. It also analyses the contribution they could make to exploiting digital games for empowerment and social inclusion. Finally, it explores existing policy towards activities in these industries and markets, and draws conclusions as to the future policy relevance of engaging with them to support innovation and uptake of effective digital game-based approaches to empowerment and social inclusion.JRC.J.3-Information Societ

Internet Plus strategy as a factor of development of economic education in the People's Republic of China

Розвиток Інтернету значною мірою впливає на трансформацію та модернізацію галузей та підприємств Китайської Народної Республіки. Як результат, уряд Китаю розробив спеціальну стратегію Інтернет Плюс для трансформації, модернізації та оснащення традиційних галузей, щоб приєднати їх до сучасної економіки. Ця стратегія реалізується шляхом розробки мобільних пристроїв, хмарних сервісів та додатків нового покоління, що підключають людей до соціальних мереж, аналітики та великих даних. Такий розвиток подій буде залучати іноземні компанії, які планують вплинути на бурхливу китайську Інтернет-економіку, із зростаючою потребою в досвідчених економістах, що зможуть посприяти їх зусиллям. В статті підсумовано та охарактеризовано конкретні характеристики та сфери застосування Інтернет Плюс у різних галузях промисловості. Обґрунтовано шляхи застосування Інтернет Плюс в економічній освіті Китайської Народної Республіки. Висвітлено та проаналізовано ефективні мобільні додатки, що використовуються в навчальних цілях для навчання економістів у закладах вищої освіти Китайської Народної Республіки. Сформульовано рекомендації, які застосовуватимуться у зовнішньоекономічній освіті з використанням переваг стратегії Інтернет Плюс. Розуміння та застосування стратегії Інтернет Плюс є найважливішою складовою для економістів Китайської Народної Республіки та за кордоном для досягнення успіху в кар’єрі, а також відкриття майбутнього бізнесу для виходу на китайський та світовий ринки.The development of the Internet greatly influences the transformation and modernization of the industries and businesses in the People’s Republic of China. As a result, the Chinese government has developed a special Internet Plus strategy to transform, modernize and equip conventional industries for joining the modern economy. This strategy is being implemented through the development of mobile devices, cloud services and new generation applications connecting people to social media, analytics and big data. Such development is going to attract foreign businesses planning to make an impact on the booming Chinese Internet economy, with the growing need for the experienced economists to assist their efforts. The specific characteristics and the areas of application of Internet Plus in different industries have been summed up and characterized. The ways of application of Internet Plus in economic education of the People’s Republic of China were substantiated. The effective mobile applications used for educational purposes with the economists in the higher educational institutions of the People’s Republic of China were highlighted and analyzed. The recommendations to be applied in foreign economic education using the benefits of Internet Plus strategy were formulated. Understanding and application of the Internet Plus strategy is a critical component for the economists in People’s Republic of China and abroad to achieve career success and open future businesses to enter the Chinese and world market

Absorptive, adopted and agile: A study of the digital transformation of Africa carriers

My thesis explores the cultural, social and management context of digital transformation for African carriers, and discusses the elements of social-cultural barriers, obstacles of digital adoption, innovation, organisation change, ecosystem and their influences. Existing studies are mainly based on the presumed conditions in developed markets, including the free market, rule by law, human capital without considering the social and historical obstacles, absorptive capacities of organisations and the influences of foreign ICT enablers. Using a qualitative research paradigm privileges the insiders’ perspective. I have examined the different backgrounds of digital transformation in Africa. Path dependence is a significant negative consequence of post-colonial social net and western knowledge dominant environment. Vested interest plus corruption slowed down the process of digital adoption while arbitrary administration causes unnecessary concerns for participants. Traditionalism of Africa is a trade-off between customs of tribes and influence of colonial power. The priority for carriers is reshaping the organisation to take advantage of existing strategic assets, while the improvement of value creation efficiency is carried out by activating the ability of individuals. The new value net breaks the previous development model of low interdependence, maximising the use of external resources based on complementary advantages and sharing. The value net inherits the advantages of flexibility, innovation, quick response, and risk reduction advantages of organisations. Meanwhile, it has 4 following unique characteristics in Africa: Extremely Various Needs of Customers, Cross-industry, Locally Adopted Business Model and High Sensitivity in Costs. Four aspects are examined in value proposition, core competence, incubation and co-value creation to enable value net synergies. My research contributes to the theory of the digital transformation in undeveloped countries, in particular how social relationships and cultural norms are inextricably linked with insiders’ understandings of digital transformation. It also contributes to emerging debate about digital maturity research paradigms and methodologies

Research on Calligraphy Evaluation Technology Based on Deep Learning

Today, when computer-assisted instruction (CAI) is booming, related research in the field of calligraphy education still hasn’t much progress. This main research for the calligraphy beginners to evaluate their works anytime and anywhere. Author uses the literature research and interview to understand the common writing problems of beginners. Then conducts discussion on these problems, design of solutions, research on algorithms, and experimental verification. Based on the ResNet-50 model, through WeChat applet implements for beginners. The main research contents are as follows: (1) In order to achieve good results in calligraphy judgment, this article uses the ResNet-50 model to judge calligraphy. First, adjust the area of the handwritten calligraphy image as the input of the network to a small block suitable for the network. While training the network, adjust the learning rate, the number of image layers and the number of training samples to achieve the optimal. The research results show that ResNet has certain practicality and reference value in the field of calligraphy judgment. Regarding the possible over-fitting problem, this article proposes to improve the accuracy of the judgment by collecting more data and optimizing the data washing process. (2) Combining the rise of WeChat applets, in view of the current WeChat applet learning platform development process and the problem of fewer functional modules, this paper uses cloud development functions to develop a calligraphy learning platform based on WeChat applets. While simplifying the development process, it ensures that the functional modules of the platform meet the needs of teachers and beginners, it has certain practicality and commercial value. After the development of the calligraphy learning applet is completed, it will be submitted for official

Trialing project-based learning in a new EAP ESP course: A collaborative reflective practice of three college English teachers

Currently in many Chinese universities, the traditional College English course is facing the risk of being ‘marginalized’, replaced or even removed, and many hours previously allocated to the course are now being taken by EAP or ESP. At X University in northern China, a curriculum reform as such is taking place, as a result of which a new course has been created called ‘xue ke’ English. Despite the fact that ‘xue ke’ means subject literally, the course designer has made it clear that subject content is not the target, nor is the course the same as EAP or ESP. This curriculum initiative, while possibly having been justified with a rationale of some kind (e.g. to meet with changing social and/or academic needs of students and/or institutions), this is posing a great challenge for, as well as considerable pressure on, a number of College English teachers who have taught this single course for almost their entire teaching career. In such a context, three teachers formed a peer support group in Semester One this year, to work collaboratively co-tackling the challenge, and they chose Project-Based Learning (PBL) for the new course. This presentation will report on the implementation of this project, including the overall designing, operational procedure, and the teachers’ reflections. Based on discussion, pre-agreement was reached on the purpose and manner of collaboration as offering peer support for more effective teaching and learning and fulfilling and pleasant professional development. A WeChat group was set up as the chief platform for messaging, idea-sharing, and resource-exchanging. Physical meetings were supplementary, with sound agenda but flexible time, and venues. Mosoteach cloud class (lan mo yun ban ke) was established as a tool for virtual learning, employed both in and after class. Discussions were held at the beginning of the semester which determined only brief outlines for PBL implementation and allowed space for everyone to autonomously explore in their own way. Constant further discussions followed, which generated a great deal of opportunities for peer learning and lesson plan modifications. A reflective journal, in a greater or lesser detailed manner, was also kept by each teacher to record the journey of the collaboration. At the end of the semester, it was commonly recognized that, although challenges existed, the collaboration was overall a success and they were all willing to continue with it and endeavor to refine it to be a more professional and productive approach