Media Literacy Education in the Age of Machine Learning

The media environment has radically changed over the past few decades. Transition and transformation of media platforms has enabled algorithms and automation to take over media processes such as production, content generation, curation, delivery, recommendation, and filtering of information. It has also enabled tracking of users’ actions, data mining, profiling, and the use of computational and machine learning techniques for purposes like behavior engineering, targeted advertisement, spread of mis- and disinformation, swaying political moods, and many others. In the field of media literacy education, the need to understand algorithm-driven media requires educators to re-think the connections between media literacy education and computing education. This article provides an overview of some computational mechanisms of new media, and it provides new perspectives for media literacy education. The article suggests ways of intertwining media literacy education with computing education in order to improve students’ readiness to cope with modern media and to become critical and skilled actors to navigate in the new media landscape

Key Components of Learning Environments in Creating a Positive Flipped Classroom Course Experience

Peer reviewe

More than fabricated news reports: Children’s perspectives and experiences of fake news

This study aims to explore what kinds of social media services children use in their everyday lives, how children describe their strategies for spotting fake news, and what kinds of fake news they report having encountered in their lived experiences. The article is based on an online questionnaire conducted in Finnish comprehensive schools with children and young people (N = 167) aged 12–15. The results show that children are active users of various social media services and that they accessed social media every day. Children perceived the fake news as much more than fabricated news reports and weaved them together with ordinary lies, rumors, and false information shared in the form of links, videos, posts, messages, and stories. Children recognized that fake news can be produced and shared by anyone with various intentions, including financial and ideological gains, but also personal gains of digital capital, causing confusion, cheating, pranking, and bullying. Children also provided examples of various kinds of myths, rumors, and false information spreading in their online communities. Notably, children typically described fake news in terms of its believability and intentions, but deeper-level evaluation strategies, such as the evaluation of the quality and consistency of evidence, were much less discussed. The results contribute to the body of literature by providing children’s perspectives regarding the complex problem of fake news and signal the need to develop pedagogical approaches that help children to better understand the basic mechanisms of machine learning, including tracking and profiling, behavior/attention engineering, and psychometrics-based advertising

Differences in preservice teachers’ readiness to use ICT in education and development of TPACK

Education for the 21st century society requires the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education. This presents challenges for preservice teacher education. Thus, more cognate understanding about preservice teachers’ readiness to use ICT in education, coupled with knowledge related to ICT in education, is needed. Furthermore, it is important to understand that preservice teachers have various levels of readiness to use ICT in education, thereby creating a demand to investigate sub-groups within preservice teachers. This study focuses on differences of readiness and development of knowledge between preservice teachers’ based on two theoretical constructs: Theory of Planned Behavior and TPACK. Results indicate differences in readiness of preservice teachers’ sub-groups. Still, positive development trends in terms of knowledge of ICT in education can be found during the first two years of preservice teacher education. Limitations and future research are discussed

Developing a cross-disciplinary framework for collaborative research in multi- and intercultural education

This chapter sets out an approach to professional development and team building in a newly established faculty in a Finnish university. A method is given for mapping the academic and professional experiences of eight faculty members across disciplinary boundaries to arrive at a cross-disciplinary framework for collaborative research in multi- and intercultural education. Building cumulatively on faculty members’ expertise, the mapping revealed three interconnected themes as a basis for collaborative research: boundary transactions between knowledge, skill and language; boundary objects as representations and carriers of culture; and technological mediation of boundary encounters. A collectively agreed position statement is given for each of the themes along with a discussion of associated pedagogical ideas.This chapter sets out an approach to professional development and team building in a newly established faculty in a Finnish university. A method is given for mapping the academic and professional experiences of eight faculty members across disciplinary boundaries to arrive at a cross-disciplinary framework for collaborative research in multi- and intercultural education. Building cumulatively on faculty members’ expertise, the mapping revealed three interconnected themes as a basis for collaborative research: boundary transactions between knowledge, skill, and language; boundary objects as representations and carriers of culture; and technological mediation of boundary encounters. A collectively agreed position statement is given for each of the themes along with a discussion of associated pedagogical ideas.Peer reviewe

Computational fluid dynamics assessed changes of nasal airflow after inferior turbinate surgery

Objective: To demonstrate how Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations can reveal important airflow changes in the nasal cavities due to surgical interventions. Material and methods: The steady inspiratory airflow of eight patients was studied pre- and postoperatively with heat transfer from the mucous membrane by performing CFD calculations to patient specific cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Eight patients with the largest distance from pre- and postoperative mean changes in inferior turbinate volumetry and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) results were selected. Results: Calculated CFD heat transfer results from the anterior parts of the inferior turbinates, where surgical interventions were performed, decreased significantly. The heat transfer results were in line with VAS changes. Conclusion: Surgical interventions reduced heat transfer in the operated parts of the inferior turbinates and were in line with VAS changes. CFD is an option in assessing patient well-being as a function of airflow parameters from mucous membrane with larger data sets. The limitations of the study were the small sample size and the preliminary nature of the study.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Computational fluid dynamics calculations in inferior turbinate surgery : a cohort study

Purpose: To investigate how the results of nasal computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations change due to inferior turbinate surgery and how the results correlate with patient specific subjective assessment and volumetric results in the nasal cavities. Methods: The steady inspiratory airflow of 25 patients was studied pre- and postoperatively with heat transfer from the mucous membrane by performing CFD calculations to patient-specific nasal cone beam computed tomography images. These results were then compared to the severity of the patients’ nasal obstruction Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Glasgow Health Status Inventory assessments, and acoustic rhinometry measurements. Results: Total wall shear forces decreased statistically significantly (p < 0.01) in the operated parts of the inferior turbinates. Patients’ subjective nasal obstruction VAS assessment changes between the pre- and postoperative conditions correlated statistically significantly (p = 0.04) with the wall shear force results. Conclusion: Inferior turbinate surgery lead to decreased total wall shear force values postoperatively. Changes in subjective nasal obstruction VAS results against total wall shear force changes between the pre- and postoperative conditions were statistically significant. CFD data have a potential to be used for the evaluation of nasal airflow.Peer reviewe

Adolescents’ Digital Game-Related Information-Seeking

Digital games are a very popular medium among people of all ages. While information related to games is in high demand among adolescents, their digital game-related information-seeking remains an understudied subject. This study explored what kind of digital game-related information adolescents seek, and from what information sources. The data were collected from adolescents’ essays (N=91) and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The results show that adolescents seek information on new games, guidance for gaming, and information on games’ development, background stories, and future. Information is sought from internet sources, face-to-face sources, and books. The results offer valuable insights on adolescents’ information behavior and practices in a wider context as well as adolescents’ perspective on digital game-related information-seeking

Tekoäly, koneoppiminen ja teknologinen murros:: Kohti datatoimijuutta ja tulevaisuuden design-taitoja

Tekoälyn ja erityisesti uudet koneoppimisen tekniikat ovat teknologisen murroksen keskeisiä ajureita. Tänä päivänä koneoppiminen on myös yhä enemmän sulautumassa osaksi kehollista ja materiaalista maailmaa sekä vuorovaikutusta. Antureiden, verkkoyhteyksien ja tietokoneohjelmistojen kautta rakennukset, esineet ja tekstiilit ovat muuttumassa älykkäiden esineiden ja toimintojen verkostoiksi. Virtuaalisen, materiaalisen ja kehollisuuden uudenlainen kohtaaminen tarjoaa myös ennennäkemättömiä mahdollisuuksia sekä haasteita koneoppimisen sekä datalähtöisen suunnittelun ja innovoinnin tukemiseen kouluopetuksessa. Tämän artikkelin tavoitteena on rakentaa näkökulmia datatoimijuuteen sekä datalähtöiseen design-ajatteluun koneoppimisen muovaamassa maailmassa.  Artikkeli esittelee digitaalisen, materiaalisen sekä kehollisuuden uudenlaisia mahdollisuuksia sekä riskejä, joka tuo koneoppimisen ajamaan murrokseen liittyviä näkökulmia osaksi käsityön ja teknologiakasvatuksen tulevaisuudesta käytävää tieteellistä ja julkista keskustelua.   Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and technological transformation: Towards data agency and design skills for the future Abstract Artificial intelligence, and especially new machine learning technologies, are key drivers of technological breakthroughs. Today, machine learning is also increasingly merging into the physical and material world as well as into social interaction. Buildings, artifacts, and textiles are transforming into networks of smart objects and activities through sensors, network connectivity, and computer software.  These novel encounters of virtual, material, and bodily interactions also offer unprecedented opportunities and challenges to enhance understandings of machine learning and data-driven design in school education. This article aims to build perspectives on data agency and data-driven design needed in the age of machine learning. It also provides perspectives on the blurring boundaries of virtual, material, and physical worlds and in a manner that brings the breakthrough of machine learning into the scientific and public discussion about the future of craft and technology education. Keywords: artificial intelligence, machine learning, data-driven design, technology education, skills for the futur