Pedagogical techniques of Earth remote sensing data application into modern school practice

The article dwells upon the Earth remote sensing data as one of the basic directions of Geo-Information Science, a unique source of information on processes and phenomena occurring in almost all spheres of the Earth geographic shell (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, etc.). The authors argue that the use of aerospace images by means of the information and communication technologies involvement in the learning process allows not only to increase the information context value of learning, but also contributes to the formation of students' cognitive interest in such disciplines as geography, biology, history, physics, computer science, etc. It has been grounded that remote sensing data form students' spatial, temporal and qualitative concepts, sensory support for the perception, knowledge and explanation of the specifics of objects and phenomena of geographical reality, which, in its turn, provides an increase in the level of educational achievements. The techniques of aerospace images application into the modern school practice have been analyzed and illustrated in the examples: from using them as visual aids, to realization of practical and research orientation of training on the basis of remote sensing data. Particular attention is paid to the practical component of the Earth remote sensing implementation into the modern school practice with the help of information and communication technologies

Awareness and Utilisation of Online Subscription Databases Among Postgraduate Students in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Purpose: The study was carried out to investigate the level of awareness and utilisation of online subscription databases, and challenges to effective utilization of online subscription databases among the Postgraduate Students in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was adopted for the study with a total population of 8,376 postgraduate students. A sample of 400 students was selected for the study using proportionate stratified sampling and simple random sampling techniques. The data collected were analysed using percentages, frequency, mean, and OneWay MANOVA.Findings: The study discovered that postgraduate students in ABU Zaria are only aware of Science Direct, JSTOR and EBSCOHOST databases out of the 12 databases investigated. The level of utilisation of online subscription databases by postgraduate students in ABU Zaria is low. The result of the hypotheses showed significant differences in the awareness and utilization of online subscription databases among PhD, Masters and PGD postgraduate students Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Lastly, lack of training and orientation on how to use databases, lack of online guide on how to use online subscription databases, lack of ICT and computer literacy skills, non-functioning links to some of the databases, and the inability to locate relevant information resources from the databases were the major challenges impeding effective utilization of online subscription databases.Originality/value: The study showed that the differences that exist in the utilization level of online subscription databases among different categories of postgraduate students is largely occasioned by the awareness factor

The relation between prior knowledge and students' collaborative discovery learning processes

In this study we investigate how prior knowledge influences knowledge development during collaborative discovery learning. Fifteen dyads of students (pre-university education, 15-16 years old) worked on a discovery learning task in the physics field of kinematics. The (face-to-face) communication between students was recorded and the interaction with the environment was logged. Based on students' individual judgments of the truth-value and testability of a series of domain-specific propositions, a detailed description of the knowledge configuration for each dyad was created before they entered the learning environment. Qualitative analyses of two dialogues illustrated that prior knowledge influences the discovery learning processes, and knowledge development in a pair of students. Assessments of student and dyad definitional (domain-specific) knowledge, generic (mathematical and graph) knowledge, and generic (discovery) skills were related to the students' dialogue in different discovery learning processes. Results show that a high level of definitional prior knowledge is positively related to the proportion of communication regarding the interpretation of results. Heterogeneity with respect to generic prior knowledge was positively related to the number of utterances made in the discovery process categories hypotheses generation and experimentation. Results of the qualitative analyses indicated that collaboration between extremely heterogeneous dyads is difficult when the high achiever is not willing to scaffold information and work in the low achiever's zone of proximal development

Applying Cross-cultural theory to understand users’ preferences on interactive information retrieval platform design

Presented at EuroHCIR 2014, the 4th European Symposium on Human-Computer Interaction and Information Retrieval, 13th September 2014, at BCS London Office, Covent Garden, London.In this paper we look at using culture to group users and model the users’ preference on cross cultural information retrieval, in order to investigate the relationship between the user search preferences and the user’s cultural background. Initially we review and discuss briefly website localisation. We continue by examining culture and Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. We identified a link between Hofstede’s five dimensions and user experience. We did an analogy for each of the five dimensions and developed six hypotheses from the analogies. These hypotheses were then tested by means of a user study. Whilst the key findings from the study suggest cross cultural theory can be used to model user’s preferences for information retrieval, further work still needs to be done on how cultural dimensions can be applied to inform the search interface design

A Longitudinal Study on the Effect of Hypermedia on Learning Dimensions, Culture and Teaching Evaluation

Earlier studies have found the effectiveness of hypermedia systems as learning tools heavily depend on their compatibility with the cognitive processes by which students perceive, understand and learn from complex information\ud sources. Hence, a learner’s cognitive style plays a significant role in determining how much is learned from a hypermedia learning system. A longitudinal study of Australian and Malaysian students was conducted over two semesters in 2008. Five types of predictor variables were investigated with cognitive style: (i) learning dimensions (nonlinear learning, learner control, multiple tools); (ii)\ud culture dimensions (power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism/collectivism, masculinity/femininity, long/short term orientation); (iii) evaluation of units; (iv) student demographics; and (v) country in which students studied. This study uses both multiple linear regression and linear mixed effects to model the relationships among the variables. The results from this study support the findings of a cross-sectional study conducted by Lee et al. (2010); in particular, the predictor variables are significant to determine students’ cognitive style

ISTRAŽIVANJE UTJECAJA USPJEHA NA STUDIJU NA ODABIR STRUČNE SPECIJALIZACIJE

The aim of the research presented in this paper was to identify the relation of mechanical engineering students’ individual motives and their choice of specialty to success in their studies. The research includes consideration of motivational factors from a number of aspects. The results suggest a connection between academic success and the motives of professional advancement, success in the profession, achieving perceptible success at work, opportunities for hierarchical advancement in a company and others. In accordance with the expressed motives, the results highlight the importance of individual specialties for students depending on the success achieved in the course of their studies.Cilj je istraživanja prikazanog u ovom radu utvrditi povezanost između pojedinačnih motiva studenata strojarstva i njihovog odabira specijalizacije s obzirom na uspjeh u tijeku studija. Istraživanje uključuje razmatranje motivacijskih čimbenika s različitih gledišta. Rezultati upućuju na povezanost između uspjeha na studiju i motiva profesionalnog napredovanja, uspjeha u struci, postignuća vidljivog uspjeha na poslu, mogućnosti hijerarhijskog napredovanja u tvrtki i drugih. U skladu s izraženim motivima, rezultati upućuju na važnost pojedine specijalizacije za studente ovisno o postignutom uspjehu u tijeku studij

Introducing Preservice STEM Teachers to Computer Science: A Narrative of Theoretically Oriented Design

This paper narrates the process of designing a curricular unit that serves to introduce preservice science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers to computer science (CS) education. Unlike most literature that focuses on results and findings, this paper explains how a justice-centered approach to CS education informed decisions about the theoretical underpinnings of curricular design choices. Situated in issues related to the gentrification of Austin, Texas, the described curricular unit explores how the increased use of CS and growth of the technology sector are having a direct impact on the historically marginalized residents of East Austin. Connected by a theme that maps are both a form of data visualization and political artifact, the described curricular unit uses CS as a tool to: critique the macro-ethics of politics and society; provide a CS learning environment that can be responsive to the multiple social identities of students; and connect CS to larger struggles for justice and liberation.Educatio