MEASURING LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT IN SOCIAL NETWORK FORUMS

ABSTRACT The advances in Internet technologies that have enabled ease of navigation and access have also created many new opportunities for self-improvement and education. This study investigates the education opportunities that internet social network forums provide. The author argues that the learning process in these forums is the result of the level of user engagement. In the study he describes a number of these groups that he has led and has measured the level of participant contributions. He has identified and analysed three types of Internet behaviour modes and their concomitant contribution levels and concludes that the most significant learning is realized by participants most analytically engaged in internet forum discussions. This study aims to analyze the extent to which individuals will take advantage of self-education opportunities in an internet environment. The study materials under discussion here are offered strictly for self-improvement or personal satisfaction and earn no certificate or diploma upon completion of the learning materials

DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN BALANCE CAPABILITY TESTING PROTOTYPE

The detection of human balance functional disorders may provide some kind of awareness or even warning about potential problems for human health both in organs responsible for ensuring the balance function and in organs related to fulfilment of other important life functions. Modern world offers some sophisticated solutions which enable not only determination of the human balance functional capacity but also offer some kind of training environment to provide corresponding rehabilitation. Unfortunately, such systems are very expensive. And this make limitations of their accessibility and practical usability for a wide range of the target group / population. Software solutions, including mobile applications, on the other hand, are incomparably cheaper. However, they do not allow to make precise balance capability measurements, limiting to simplified balance retention simulators. During implementation of the Latvian National State Research Program VPP INOSOCTEREHI from 2015 to 2017 three human balance capability testing prototypes were developed using a variety of electronic and mechatronic solutions. The last one was successfully approbated during two pilots in Latvian schools in 2016 and demonstrated at the International Invention and Innovation Exhibition MINOX-2016. This paper analyses benefits and disadvantages of approaches used in creating of these prototypes. Besides, authors make initial comparison of developed third prototype version against the BioSway system offered in the market. The paper gives also insight into particular system interface development and new effective graphic portrayal of the balance testing output data, as well as sets the goals for further possible commercialization of the developed balance testing prototype

Actualities of balance diagnostics system model development for persons with disabilities

In Latvia so far there have not been made comprehensive studies to provide balance function diagnostics for people with disabilities, which would have to continue with further creation of appropriate system. However, Latvian researchers developed methods and technology for the rehabilitation and health improvement. At the same time it is also recognized that there is a lack of dedicated efficient and widely accessible for patients systems, equipment and tools to make balance function and dysfunction diagnostics, as well an improvement of the patients’ movement capabilities. This position paper gives a brief overview about the latest technical engineering solution trends and developments in the world, which could be suited and developed to create the conformable new, rather simple, accessible and cheap system. Such system will have to ensure the diagnostics of balance functions of the persons with disabilities and encourage them to use mentioned equipment for testing and training of their balance and movement functionality

Concept of Learner Behaviour Data Based Learning Support

AbstractIn this article we present our developing progress with the multi-screen e-learning system initially developed and named as eBig3 system that gives users learning access by the means of computers, mobiles and TV, depending on their choice. In the new project JAUZI we build on our previous experience. We identified that insufficient learning support in traditional eLearning settings is the key obstacle to the broad deployment of eLearning and a cause for the high drop-out rate from these programs. As a remedy for this problem, we developed an algorithm to track user trajectories and to identify problem areas. Here, we present the analysis of the data we gathered and used to assign further user support provisions. The particular support provisions we designed were based on a multiple messaging system: SMSs to users, to teachers and also emails to users and teachers. The JAUZI support system is designed respond to potential critical actions in learners’ behaviour and to quickly provide a remedy