Faculty perceptions of online learning in engineering education

textResearch indicates there is a gap in the implementation of online courses and programs in engineering education compared to other academic disciplines (Allen & Seaman, 2008, 2011, 2013). Using a mixed methods approach, this study collected both quantitative survey and qualitative interview data to identify which factors engineering faculty members perceived influence the implementation of online engineering courses. The survey items, based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology Model (UTAUT) (Davis, 1989; Venkatesh, Morris, Davis, & Davis, 2003), included important factors specific to engineering education as indicated the literature. The interview instrument was developed based on the significant results of the survey portion of the study. The initial survey was sent to every engineering faculty member at all 31 institutions and 125 ABET accredited engineering programs in the state of Texas, with a final response population of n=266. The findings identified three major factors that influenced the implementation of online engineering courses: online teaching experience, course development issues, and implementation of technical aspects particular to engineering in an online format. The results are discussed within the context of the literature and recommendations to address the identified factors and barriers to implementation of online engineering are provided.Curriculum and Instructio

The Oxford-Dartmouth Thirty Degree Survey I: Observations and Calibration of a Wide-Field Multi-Band Survey

The Oxford Dartmouth Thirty Degree Survey (ODTS) is a deep, wide, multi-band imaging survey designed to cover a total of 30 square degrees in BVRi'Z, with a subset of U and K band data, in four separate fields of 5-10 deg^2 centred at 00:18:24 +34:52, 09:09:45 +40:50, 13:40:00 +02:30 and 16:39:30 +45:24. Observations have been made using the Wide Field Camera on the 2.5-m Isaac Newton Telescope in La Palma to average limiting depths (5 sigma Vega, aperture magnitudes) of U=24.8, B=25.6, V=25.0, R=24.6, and i'=23.5, with observations taken in ideal conditions reaching the target depths of U=25.3, B=26.2, V=25.7, R=25.4, and i'=24.6. The INT Z band data was found to be severely effected by fringing and, consequently, is now being obtained at the MDM observatory in Arizona. A complementary K-band survey has also been carried out at MDM, reaching an average depth of K_{5\sigma}~18.5. At present, approximately 23 deg^2 of the ODTS have been observed, with 3.5 deg^2 of the K band survey completed. This paper details the survey goals, field selection, observation strategy and data reduction procedure, focusing on the photometric calibration and catalogue construction. Preliminary photometric redshifts have been obtained for a subsample of the objects with R <= 23. These results are presented alongside a brief description of the photometric redshift determination technique used. The median redshift of the survey is estimated to be z~0.7 from a combination of the ODTS photometric redshifts and comparison with the redshift distributions of other surveys. Finally, galaxy number counts for the ODTS are presented which are found to be in excellent agreement with previous studies.Comment: 18 pages, 21 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRA

Examining audience reactions to brand journalism

An experimental study was conducted to assess the audience's reaction to framing and attributed source cues in brand journalism, also referred to as custom content, custom publishing, or named for method of delivery (i.e. "customer magazines"). Given that establishing trust with customers, brand-building, and influencing purchase decisions are goals of brand journalism, this study examined the effect of commercial/branded or editorial/non-branded frames and use of corporate or peer customer sources on message credibility, attitude toward the brand, and purchase intent, with media savvy and involvement with the product as moderating factors. It was found that the editorial/non-branded frame had a positive effect on message credibility, while source cues alone had no direct effect on message credibility, attitude toward the brand, or purchase intent. However, involvement with the product emerged as a primary factor, having a greater effect on message credibility, attitude toward the brand, and purchase intent than frame or source cues as they were manipulated in this study. Further, involvement with the product exhibited significant interacting effects with source cues. Participants showing high involvement with the product were more likely to rate attitude toward the brand and purchase intent higher when information in brand journalism is attributed to a peer customer source, while participants showing low involvement with the product were more likely to rate attitude toward the brand and purchase intent higher when information in brand journalism is attributed to a corporate source. (Published By University of Alabama Libraries

Spokes-character usage as a marketing tool on Twitter

This research investigates how marketers use spokes-characters on Twitter to communicate with consumers subscribing to the character's Twitter feed. This research content analyzes Twitter posts for 20 spokes-characters representing a variety of brands and different product categories. A random sample of 2,691 tweets were selected to be analyzed for content, links, and timing. The results proved several relationships between different spokes-character demographics and their tweeting habits. When compared to male characters, female characters are significantly more likely to tweet original content, while males are significantly more likely than females to respond to queries. The most frequently tweeted type of content for all characters is pass along content, with news being the least frequently observed content category. Significant content differences are observed between spokes-characters based upon the spokes-character's gender, appearance and product type represented. When all characters are considered, most spokes-characters tweet during weekday mornings. Similar patterns are observed for monthly tweet activity: tweet frequency peaks in the summer, and declines during the October, November and December. (Published By University of Alabama Libraries

Communications management in athletics and the excellence theory: a case study of the University of South Alabama football program

Increasingly, universities across the country are adding college football to their athletics programs. The communications activities surrounding a football launch had never been examined relative to communications theory. The purpose of this case study was to investigate the football communications function of a university athletic program in its first years, and determine whether the theory of excellence in public relations (ET) or integrated marketing communication (IMC) theory was more reflected in the organizational structure, management, and goals of the program. The University of South Alabama (USA) was chosen as the subject of the case study, who added the sport in December 2007. To prepare, a review of ET and IMC theory and research that tested and analyzed those theories was conducted. During the course of this study, six members of the University of South Alabama's staff responsible for football communications were interviewed in person and asked questions about their experience, skills, responsibilities, their department, strategy development, decision making, and other factors that relate to ET and IMC. Three hours of interviews were transcribed, coded, analyzed, and compared back to ET and IMC to see which theory was more reflected at USA. During the analysis, it was discovered that USA implements a management structure and organizational culture that would be in line with the principles of ET, but that the technical duties, goals and objectives of their messages are highly reflective of IMC. During the course of this study, six members of the University of South Alabama's staff responsible for football communications were interviewed in person and asked questions about their experience, skills, responsibilities, their department, strategy development, decision making, and other factors that relate to ET and IMC. Three hours of interviews were transcribed, coded, analyzed, and compared back to ET and IMC to see which theory were more reflected at USA. During the analysis, it was discovered that USA implements a management structure and organizational culture that would be line with the principles of ET, but that the technical duties, goals and objectives of their messages are highly reflective of IMC. (Published By University of Alabama Libraries

Product appearances in NBC's the Office compared to multiple character variables

This study examined the relationship between product appearances and character variables through content analysis. The Elaboration Likelihood Model was used as a foundation for this study. The ELM indicates that character credibility, liking and consensus are the three primary heuristics for reaching a subject through the peripheral route and product appearances were considered peripheral forms of advertising by nature. Product variables were compared to multiple character variables. Character variables included gender, role (major or minor), credibility, likeability, and consensus. Character credibility and likeability were determined by a survey of bloggers who assigned the characters a static credibility/likeability score. The data collected by this content analysis indicated that characters with high likeability scores were linked to more product appearances than characters with low likeability scores and characters that were typical consumers were also linked to more products than non-typical consumers. However, there was no relationship found between character credibility and the quantity or cost of product appearances. (Published By University of Alabama Libraries

Masculinity in magazine advertisements: is it in the eye of the beholder?

Masculine roles in the media are constantly changing and those evolving roles had not been observed in a decade. This research was conducted to investigate levels of masculinity in the print medium among a variety of target audiences. Its goal was to decipher how portrayals of masculinity changed based on the magazine's target audience, and several coding factors were used to determine that information. To prepare, a review of advertising and gender, psychological and communication theories, the changing nature of masculinity, feminine impact, target audience participation and an array of relevant past research was conducted. Over the course of this content analysis, 315 advertisements from nine magazines over three years were examined to distinguish changes in masculine roles based on the magazine's target audience. While few significant correlations were found, the results pertaining to raw data have proved to be a significant addition to the body of knowledge on the portrayal of male roles, especially in comparison to past research's results that were displayed in raw data without significance testing. Results show some findings consistent with past research, and some new developments as well. Overall, it was found that masculine portrayals are inconsistent among target audiences. Therefore, theoretically men and women are creating differing constructs of the masculine man, which could result in male-to-female relational conflict. (Published By University of Alabama Libraries

Multimedia rights holders and athletic sponsorship: a system theory case study of the University of Alabama

This research offers a case study of sports multimedia contracts as awarded by the University of Alabama and executed by Crimson Tide Sports Marketing, a Learfield/IMG sports management subsidiary. This case study used system theory to investigate how the UA/CTSM sports contract is executed. System theory reviews complex organizations as composed of smaller units with specific responsibilities. System theory research involves observing and describing the operating units, how they interact and how each unit contributes to the organization's goals. Six system components were identified in the UA/CTSM system. However, the most frequent interactions were reported between the control, network distribution, and advertising units. These components work together to create revenue through their participation in the system. (Published By University of Alabama Libraries

The effect of social media communications on positive youth development: an analysis of 4-H Facebook pages and 4-H'ers' positive development

With the hope of raising children and adolescents to become responsible and active citizens with upstanding values, many scholars and educators are paying more attention to youth organizations. Many youth-related organizations have focused their efforts on providing quality programs and opportunities to encourage early participation in civic engagements. These efforts are expected to contribute to positive development of youth and future civic engagements. In order to play a significant role in educating the next generation, youth-related organizations have actively engaged in social media to connect with youth. Social media are believed to promote learning opportunities and communications with youth and educators, which will eventually facilitate positive youth development. Therefore, this study is designed to (1) examine how youth-related organizations communicate with young members through social media in order to educate them, and (2) examine how their young users perceive the effect and impact of such communication on their development. This research consists of a two-step study to enhance understanding of the communications and its effects on positive youth development. The first step analyzed communication patterns of the national 4-H Facebook page through content analysis of posts from 2009 to 2014. For the second step, in-depth interviews were conducted with recent 4-H alumni, who used 4-H Facebook during the period of analysis, in order to find out their perceptions on the 4-H role in positive development. The results show that 4-H Facebook posts increase the organization's interaction with its young members by building more connections and by somewhat facilitating positive development of youth. These findings suggest some insights for youth-serving organizations, providing that strategic communications through social media can increase interactions with youth and potentially impact the development of positive traits that will aid them in becoming more active and responsible citizens. (Published By University of Alabama Libraries