Communication skills: A new strategy for training

A new five‐year course in communication skills for medical students has been developed at Nottingham Medical School in response to recommendations from the General Medical Council and a large body of research. As one foundation for this course, a multimedia CAL package was developed to aid acquisition of basic skills and associated knowledge. The CAL course uses extensive digital video for illustration, and relies heavily on interaction for learning. Evaluation of the CAL course has used a variety of methods — pre/post tests, randomized trials, and cohort comparisons. Given the investment needed to introduce learning‐technology‐based courses, initial evaluation has been encouraging and has been used to improve later versions of the material

The role of presentation format on decision-makers' behaviour in accounting

The recent increase in researching presentation format area is resulting in an increase in awareness of the importance of presentation format on decision-makers' behaviour. This paper presents a synthesis of prior research on presentation format in the accounting literature which could be used as bases and references for future research. It reviews and evaluates existing accounting literature that examines the linkages of presentation format on decision-makers behaviour. Finally, future research opportunities in this area are made

Effective CAL: Theory and practice

This paper looks at the creation of CAL material in theory and practice through the perspective of a CAL development unit, the Hypertext Support Unit at the University of Kent. With similar units now in place in other institutions, the production of CAL is taking place at a rapid pace, often with the evaluation of the applications disproportionately lagging behind. This inevitably raises questions of whether what we are producing is effective CAL, and what approaches should be taken to use the potential of multimedia in a learning environment

The implementation and evaluation of an undergraduate virtual reality surveying application

Multi-media applications are increasingly being used to enhance the delivery of on-site and distance learning teaching material. However, production costs are often prohibitive, both in terms of capital investment and development time. Hence it is surprising that authors comment on the failure to adequately evaluate new educational software applications. This paper evaluates an interactive multi-media levelling resource, which comprises text-based guides, video instruction, photo-realistic panoramic scenes and multi-row object movies. Students explore 360 degree images of building sites, using traditional computer input devices, and click on hot spots to gather detailed information about the position of the optical level and staff. Readings are taken directly from the staff and students record backsights and foresights as various change points are introduced. On completion of the levelling exercise, 192 first year undergraduate students completed an evaluation based upon a series of statements drawn from technology-based training literature. The findings suggest that the exercise complements traditional learning approaches, maintains student interest, and reinforces understanding. However, significant differences in student ratings for part-time and full-time cohorts emphasise the importance of designing resources that accommodate the needs of varying student profiles. Suggestions for enhanced interactivity are offered and new areas for development allied to construction technology are identified

Augmented Sustainability Reports: A Design Science Approach

Sustainability reports provide stakeholders with information about a company’s efforts to balance its economic, ecological and social goals. Because of their influence on a company’s image as well as on the customers’ buying and shareholders’ investment decisions, sustainability reports are an integral part of today’s corporate online communication. Following a design science research approach, this paper describes the design, prototypical implementation and evaluation of augmented sustainability reports. In contrast to traditional PDF- or print media-based sustainability reports, augmented sustainability reports contain multimedia contextual information that is displayed depending on the user’s gaze position. In our prototype the gaze position is simulated using mouse tracking. The comparative evaluation of the prototype was conducted via a quantitative questionnaire based on the technology acceptance model (TAM). Additionally, qualitative feedback was gathered during the course of the evaluation. Traditional and augmented sustainability reports were compared on the basis of the questionnaire results which reveal room for improvement of the prototype as well as possible starting points for future research. Overall, the evaluation results indicate that our test users had a strong preference for the augmented sustainability report compared to the PDF-based report even though both alternatives had identical content

Reviews

Integrating Information Technology into Education edited by Deryn Watson and David Tinsley, London, Chapman & Hall, 1995, ISBN: 0–412–62250–5, 316 pages

Bridging the Cultural Gap

As part of a proactive effort to address the cross-cultural barriers that arise in culturally and ethnically diverse communities, in 2009 Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) developed a grant program called Bridging the Cultural Gap. With a focus on using cultural tactics to move hearts and minds in support of immigrant integration, the program was focused expressly on supporting projects that allowed for Silicon Valley residents to come together to discuss shared values and concerns related to immigration. Between 2009 and 2014, SVCF invested $2.4 million in 12 projects that used cultural tactics such as dialogue, film, photography and storytelling to deepen relationships and cross-cultural understanding throughout San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Over the course of five years, these grantees, with support from SVCF, focused their activities on identifying and cementing shared values between immigrants and receiving communities, as well as building relationships within and across various communities in the region