Quality specifications in postgraduate medical e-learning: an integrative literature review leading to a postgraduate medical e-learning model

BACKGROUND: E-learning is driving major shifts in medical education. Prioritizing learning theories and quality models improves the success of e-learning programs. Although many e-learning quality standards are available, few are focused on postgraduate medical education. METHODS: We conducted an integrative review of the current postgraduate medical e-learning literature to identify quality specifications. The literature was thematically organized into a working model. RESULTS: Unique quality specifications (n = 72) were consolidated and re-organized into a six-domain model that we called the Postgraduate Medical E-learning Model (Postgraduate ME Model). This model was partially based on the ISO-19796 standard, and drew on cognitive load multimedia principles. The domains of the model are preparation, software design and system specifications, communication, content, assessment, and maintenance. CONCLUSION: This review clarified the current state of postgraduate medical e-learning standards and specifications. It also synthesized these specifications into a single working model. To validate our findings, the next-steps include testing the Postgraduate ME Model in controlled e-learning settings

Scaffolding in teacher-student interaction: a decade of Research

Although scaffolding is an important and frequently studied concept, much discussion exists with regard to its conceptualizations, appearances, and effectiveness. Departing from the last decade’s scaffolding literature, this review scrutinizes these three areas of scaffolding. First, contingency, fading, and transfer of responsibility are discerned in this review as the three key characteristics of scaffolding. Second, an overview is presented of the numerous descriptive studies that provided narratives on the appearances of scaffolding and classifications of scaffolding strategies. These strategies are synthesized into a framework for analysis, distinguishing between scaffolding means and intentions. Third, the small number of effectiveness studies available is discussed and the results suggest that scaffolding is effective. However, more research is needed. The main challenge in scaffolding research appears to be its measurement. Based on the encountered and described measurement problems, suggestions for future research are made

Security in Outsourcing of Association Rule Mining

Outsourcing association rule mining to an outside service provider brings several important benefits to the data owner. These include (i) relief from the high mining cost, (ii) minimization of demands in resources, and (iii) effective centralized mining for multiple distributed owners. On the other hand, security is an issue; the service provider should be prevented from accessing the actual data since (i) the data may be associated with private information, (ii) the frequency analysis is meant to be used solely by the owner. This paper proposes substitution cipher techniques in the encryption of transactional data for outsourcing association rule mining. After identifying the non-trivial threats to a straightforward one-to-one item mapping substitution cipher, we propose a more secure encryption scheme based on a one-to-n item mapping that transforms transactions non-deterministically, yet guarantees correct decryption. We develop an effective and efficient encryption algorithm based on this method. Our algorithm performs a single pass over the database and thus is suitable for applications in which data owners send streams of transactions to the service provider. A comprehensive cryptanalysis study is carried out. The results show that our technique is highly secure with a low data transformation cost.link_to_subscribed_fulltex