Bridging digital divides in the learning process: challenges and implications of integrating ICTs

Abstract: This paper investigates an initiative by a New Zealand School to integrate one-to-one ICTs into the learning process, called \u27Bring your own device\u27 (BYOD). Prior to embarking on the BYOD initiative, similar past initiatives have been studied and some persistent issues have been identified. Before starting with the detailed investigation of BYOD, a preliminary analysis of the public response data from different sources has also been conducted. From the past initiatives and preliminary analysis of public responses, we have been able to form general research questions for the study. A socio-cultural ecological approach to mobile learning has been considered appropriate as a means of analysis for this study. Authors: Janak Adhikari, Doctoral Student; Dr. David Parsons, Associate Professor and Dr. Anuradha Mathrani, Lecturer, in the department of Information Technology, Massey University Auckland. This paper was presented at mLearn 2012 Mobile and Contextual Learning, Helsinki, Finland, October 16 -18, 2012 and published in the Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Mobile and Contextual Learning .  &nbsp

Play2Learn: A Case of Game Based Learning Approach in ICT education

This study has utilised a game-based learning (GBL) approach using a case Play2Learn to engage students and enhance their programming skills sets. The paper gives a detailed narrative of how educational games were first mapped with the curriculum of a programming course, and then two separate student cohorts pursuing an introductory ICT course were invited to participate in the GBL experiment. One student cohort had not yet started the programming module, while the second student cohort had recently completed the introductory module on programming. Findings reveal that educational games add to the fun element in learning, with students rating the game as an effective way to learn programming. The study contributes to the use of gaming elements for ongoing development of innovative pedagogies in teaching and learning

IT Offshore Provider Profiling Strategies: New Zealand and Indian Perspectives

Offshoring of IT products and services to provider nations belonging to the Asia Pacific region is a growing phenomenon. However, clients are apprehensive of risks undertaken by outsourcing work to businesses in different economic spaces which represent different time zones, cultures and income status. This study does an empirical investigation through twenty case studies to understand the profiling strategies used by IT offshore provider organisations in two diverse countries – India (farshore) and New Zealand (nearshore) – to improve their business image and reduce clients’ perceptions of risks. Findings reveal that strategies used by IT providers depend upon ownership status by clients or third parties, their organisational size as well as cultural differences between client and provider nations. The paper contributes to existing studies on emerging offshore marketplace and explains global strategies adopted by IT provider businesses to remain competitive. offshore markets, profiling strategies, outsourcing arrangements, national consortia, accreditation

Diffusion and Binding of Radio-Labeled Antibodies in a Tumor

With the decreasing cost of monoclonal antibody production, radioimmunotherapy (RIT) has rapidly emerged as one of the more promising methods of treating cancer cells. RIT makes use of radio-labeled monoclonal antibodies to detect and deliver controlled doses of radiation to malignant cells. The primary advantage of this method is that damage to normal, healthy tissue is minimized. We investigated the use of radio-labeled antibodies as a method of tumor destruction. Our primary interests were the rate of antibody diffusion into the tumor, the antibody binding kinetics, and the overall effectiveness of radioimmunotherapy given the rate of radioactive decay. By modeling the concentration of bound antibody with respect to time, we were able to optimize tumor destruction while minimizing the damage to the surrounding tissue. Our results show that a computer simulation using FIDAP is a time-saving, cost-effective method of obtaining quantitative results about the binding kinetics of antibody to tumor. In addition, we determined that while the binding specificity plays an important role in ensuring proper binding to the tumor, the rate of antibody to antigen complex formation does not affect the treatment and that this process is limited by diffusion. Given this fact, we recommend that low molecular weight antibodies be used because they will typically have higher diffusivities. In an example case of metastatic melanoma, we found that 4.33 mg of 188Re-6D2 complex would destroy the tumor in our model

Managing Enterprise Systems for Enhancing Business Benefits

Enterprise systems (ESs) necessitate a substantial investment for most organisations and maximising benefits from this investment is a critical issue. This research utilises an ES data transformation model from existing literature to investigate how ES data were transformed into knowledge by a hi-tech manufacturing firm from an ES implementation, and how this knowledge was used to provide benefits for the company. Findings indicate that the ES data transformation process was the result of making knowledge-leveraging actions at both operational and executive levels. At the operational level, the ES data supported day-to-day running of business functions to provide an infrastructure for actions. At the executive level, various tools and methods were used for transforming ES data into knowledge including the use of data warehouses and business intelligence modules that helped in extraction and manipulation of data, and reporting on particular data objects. Cascades of balanced scorecards were used for knowledge sharing and to assess progress for achieving goals. The organisation continues to establish analytical and knowledge-leveraging processes to optimise and realise business value from its ES investment

Close encounters in the rainforest : a children\u27s book for eight and nine-year-olds

Presents an original children\u27s book that describes the array of biodiversity present in a tropical rainforest

Managing Distribution Logistics Using Enterprise Systems

To meet the shipping deadlines of dynamic product demands efficiently, the operations and shipping systems in an enterprise must be nimble and responsive enough to delight customers. Organizations have implemented enterprise systems (ESs) to integrate their supply chain processes such as customer order receipt, logistics planning, manufacturing, and dispatch of products. This paper explores the distribution logistics function of manufacturing organizations utilizing ES technology to investigate the goods dispatch process. Three case studies are conducted in manufacturing companies that have implemented ESs to examine how these systems support the management practices and strategies in shipping out operations. Findings reveal that ES tools aid information flow for tracking shipment orders, optimization of product packaging, and achieving on-time deliveries. Though firms are sometimes constrained in materials and availability of physical products for dispatch, the underlying ES technology provides the analytical and knowledge-leveraging support to spur the distribution logistics processes efficiently

Critical business intelligence practices to create meta-knowledge

In order to successfully implement strategies and respond to business variations in real-time, business intelligence (BI) systems have been deployed by organisations that assist in focused analytical assessments for execution of critical decisions. Although businesses have realised the significance of BI, few studies have explored their analytical decision-enabling capabilities linked to organisational practices. This study investigates the BI practices critical in creating meta-knowledge successfully for strategy-focused analytical decision-making. First, key BI suppliers are interviewed to develop an understanding of their BI capabilities and current deployment practices. Subsequently, two large BI implementation case studies are conducted to examine their practices in data transformation process. Findings reveal that BI practices are highly context-specific in mapping decisions with data assets. Complimentary static and dynamic evaluations provide holistic intelligence in predicting and prescribing a more complete picture of the enterprise. These practices vary across firms in their effectiveness reflecting numerous challenges and improvement opportunities.Publishe