A window into learning: case studies of online group communication and collaboration

The two case studies presented explore the potential offered by in‐depth qualitative analysis of students’ online discussion to enhance our understanding of how students learn. Both cases are used to illustrate how the monitoring and moderation of online student group communication can open up a ‘window into learning’, providing us with new insights into complex problem‐solving and thinking processes. The cases offer examples of students’ ‘thinking aloud’ while problem‐solving, showing how and why they arrived at particular outcomes and the underlying thought processes involved. It is argued that these insights into students’ learning processes can in turn offer us the opportunity to adapt our own teaching practice in order to achieve a better pedagogical ‘fit’ with the learning needs of our students; for example, through a more precise or more timely intervention. It is also suggested that looking through this ‘window’ enables us to concentrate our assessment more closely on the process of task completion, rather than focusing solely on the end product

The politics of promoting freedom of information and expression in international librarianship : the IFLA / FAIFE Project. Alex Byrne.

The politics of promoting freedom of information and expression in international librarianship : the IFLA / FAIFE Project. Alex Byrne

Knowledge management: an introduction

Knowledge management: an introductio

Discursive structures in knowledge co-creation: analysing interactions with SKAD and Social Network Analysis

Wissen und Macht sind zentrale Konzepte in der internationalen Entwicklungszusammenarbeit. In dieser Arbeit werden Machtstrukturen in zwei Fallstudien anhand der wissenssoziologischen Diskursanalyse untersucht; im Fokus steht dabei die entwickelte Methodologie. Die wissenssoziologische Diskursanalyse wird zur Studie der reziproken Beziehungen zwischen formellen und informellen sozialen Strukturen verwendet und in dieser Arbeit werden einige ansatzspezifische Stärken identifiziert und aufgeführt. Darüber hinaus wird diskutiert wie Strukturierung auf zwischenmenschlicher Ebene praktiziert wurde und wie diese existierende soziale Strukturen beeinflusst haben und vice versa. Die Studie belegt, dass die wissenssoziologische Diskursanalyse für Forschungsprojekte dieser Art geeignet ist.Power and knowledge are central concepts in the practice and analysis of international development. This study employs the Sociology of Knowledge Approach to Discourse Analysis (SKAD) to look at power structures in two case studies in international development. The developed methodology is the focus of this paper. SKAD’s insights into the circular relationship between informal and formalised social structures and the contribution SKAD can make in this domain are outlined. Furthermore, it is discussed how, in the open and invited spaces observed in the case studies, structuration was practically conducted and how this process was influenced by pre-existing institutional structures and vice versa. It was found that SKAD can support enquiries of this kind

Open Access and the REF: Issues and Potential Solutions Workshop

This report provides a summary of the discussion and findings of the Open Access and the REF: Issues and Potential Solutions workshop held as part of the End-to-End Project. The workshop was highly interactive and feedback received indicated it was considered an excellent event, and that it was vital and useful to bring together various key stakeholders to discuss problems and procedures and develop ideas

Cleaners don’t need computers : bridging the digital divide in the workplace

Purpose: To report the findings of research into the extent and impact of restricted access by specific groups of staff to ICT-based communications in UK Further and Higher Education Institutions. Design / methodology / approach: An exploratory approach combining quantitative and qualitative methods. A questionnaire survey was distributed to all HEFCE-funded institutions in the UK. Six institutions acted as case study sites for in-depth qualitative investigation using documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews. Findings: Lack of hardware and network infrastructure posed less of a barrier than lack of ICT skills, lack of motivation either to use computers or to gain ICT skills, and line manager resistance to staff using computers or accessing ICT training in work time. Job function was the factor most associated with lack of access, with cleaning, catering and estates staff least likely to have access. However, there were also many examples of good practice to extend staff access, particularly with regard to ICT training. The research concludes that one of the main concerns for institutions is to ‘win the hearts and minds’ of non-desk staff and their managers. The development of an institutional communication strategy is identified as being of critical importance. Research limitations / implications: Provides a ‘snapshot’ of the prevailing situation at the point of data collection rather than a longitudinal insight into developments in access over time. Originality / value of the paper: The first comprehensive analysis of staff access to ICT in UK further and higher education. In addition to highlighting examples of good practice for dissemination across the sector, the research provides information about gaps in provision to inform the targeting of future initiatives

Big data analysis of public library operations and services by using the Chernoff face method

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to conduct a big data analysis of public library operations and services of two cities in two countries by using the Chernoff face method. Design/methodology/approach – The study is designed to evaluate library services by analysing the Chernoff face. Big data on public libraries in London and Seoul were collected respectively from CIPFA and the Korean government’s website for drawing a Chernoff face. The association of variables and human facial features was decided by survey. Although limited in its capacity to handle a large number of variables (eight were analysed in this study) the Chernoff face method does readily allow for the comparison of a large number of instances of analysis. 58 Chernoff faces were drawn from the formatted data by using the R programming language. Findings – The study reveals that most of the local governments in London perform better than those of Seoul. This consequence is due to the fact that local governments in London operate more libraries, invest more budgets, allocate more staff and hold more collections than local governments in Seoul. This administration resulted in more use of libraries in London than Seoul. The study validates the benefit of using the Chernoff face method for big data analysis of library services. Practical implications – Chernoff face method for big data analysis offers a new evaluation technique for library services and provides insights that may not be as readily apparent and discernible using more traditional analytical methods. Originality/value – This study is the first to use the Chernoff face method for big data analysis of library services in library and information research

The role of tacit knowledge sharing in national sales companies

The role of tacit knowledge sharing in national sales companie

ICT in the workplace: access for all or digital divide?

The paper presents the findings of research into the extent and impact of restricted access to ICT based communications for specific groups of staff in UK further and higher education organisations. Educational institutions disseminate key corporate information internally via email, intranets and Virtual Learning Environments. However, the extent to which access to electronic communications is available to all personnel within such institutions in the UK has not previously been established. The research arose from a concern that a significant proportion of staff were being routinely excluded from access, thus perpetuating and extending existing inequalities among personnel and creating a digital divide between the ‘information rich’ and the ‘information poor’. A questionnaire survey was used to quantify the extent of restrictions on staff access across the sector, whilst case study research was used to conduct a qualitative analysis of its impact on individuals and institutions. The findings indicate that lack of hardware and network infrastructure pose less of a barrier to access than does lack of ICT skills, lack of motivation either to use computers or to gain ICT skills, and line manager resistance to staff using computers or accessing ICT training in work time. Job function was the factor most associated with lack of access, with cleaning, catering and estates staff least likely to have access. However, there were also examples identified of effective practice in extending the range of personnel with access and ensuring inclusive communication with all personnel. These insights into good practice should be transferable to a wide range of workplace contexts