Predicting teachers' use of an educational system by intention, attitude and self-reported use

Acceptance studies are for organizations a means to gain insight into users’ perceptions of a (newly introduced) technology. However, the validity of an acceptance study might be limited (a) in the case where a technology can be used receptively (e.g. to download information) as well as generatively (e.g. to share knowledge); and (b) if actual use of the technology is not measured. For this study, different dimensions of actual use of an educational portal (number of logins, downloads, uploads, reactions and pageviews) of 864 teachers were collected on two occasions (T1 and T2), and linked to their responses on an acceptance questionnaire based upon scales of TAM and TPB (taken at T1). Two research questions were put forward: (1) which dimensions of actual use can be predicted by attitude, intention and self-reported use; and (2) which factors discern the uploaders from the non-uploaders. Regression analyses showed that receptive use (logging in, downloading and browsing) could be predicted by attitude, intention and self-reported use, with variance explained ranging between .13 and .16; whereas generative use (uploading and reacting on contributions of other teachers) could not be predicted (Adj. R2 between .01 and .04). Logistic regression showed that the more positive teachers’ attitudes towards the portal are and the higher their perceptions of control; the more likely they will upload information onto the portal. This study is a call for more research on the factors that influence different dimensions of actual educational technology use

Ground-State Properties of Finite Antiferromagnetic Chains

Exact calculations are presented for the ground state of linear antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chains with open ends. The wave function and the energy are given for chains with N = 4, 6, and 8, and quantum number S = 1/2. It is shown that in the limit for N - ∞ the ground state is probably nondegenerate and the long-range order tends to zero. The short-range order shows a strongly oscillating character due to end effects persisting over relatively long distances. A comparison with closed rings is made and the connection with the observation of a reduction of the zero-point deviation in the neighbourhood of non-magnetic impurities in more-dimensional systems is pointed out

Anomalous skin effect in cylindrical samples

A description is given of the anomalous skin effect in a cylinder placed in an a.c. magnetic field parallel to the cylinder axis. The necessary nonlocal relation between current density and electric field inside the sample is established with the aid of Boltzmann's transport equation. Results are presented in terms of the current density in the sample and its magnetic susceptibility

Identifying student- and class-level correlates of sixth-grade students’ listening comprehension

Despite the importance of listening, little investigation of potential correlates of listening comprehension in the language of schooling is done. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate which student- and class-level characteristics are related to sixth-grade students' listening skills in Flanders. A sample of 974 students in 70 classes completed a listening test in order to gather information on their ability to understand and interpret oral information. Further, different questionnaires were administered to the students, their parents and teachers. The results of the hierarchical regression analysis with multilevel design showed that the differences in listening comprehension skills could be primarily attributed to differences in student-level characteristics. The results indicated that students with higher working memory ability, more vocabulary knowledge and lower extrinsic listening motivation performed significantly better on the listening test. In addition, the educational level of the parents and the language diversity in the class was significantly related to students' listening skills in the language of schooling. This study is an important starting point in unraveling the black box of listening skills in the elementary school context. Suggestions for further research and practice were made

Measuring ICT use and contributing conditions in primary schools

Information and communication technology (ICT) use became of major importance for primary schools across theworld as ICT has the potential to foster teaching and learning processes. ICT use is therefore a central measurement concept (dependent variable) in many ICT integration studies. This data paper presents two datasets (2008 and 2011) that contain measurements on ICT use in primary schools on the one hand and contributing conditions on the other hand. In both datasets, ICT use refers to different types of use: basic ICT use, ICT as a learning tool and ICT as an information tool. The influencing conditions refer to variables situated on the individual teacher level (eg, ICT competences, ICT professional development, etc) and the school organization level (eg, ICT school vision, ICT leadership, etc) that support or hinder the use of ICT for teachingandlearning

The response of metals in trapezoidal magnetic fields

The inductive response of metals to applied fields with trapezoidal time dependence is described for samples with cylindrical geometry and for slabs. The influence of coil effects and magnetoresistance is accounted for but mean free path and surface effects are ignored. Experimental data obtained for tin show a close agreement with the theoretical predictions

The response of type H superconductors to trapezoidal magnetic fields

The inductive response of type II superconductors to applied fields with trapezoidal time dependence is described for samples with a slab geometry. An extension of the critical state model which accounts for the observed waveform of the voltage, induced in the pick-up coil, is given. Typical experiments on Nb-slabs with weak pinning and flux flow in fields with both small and large amplitudes are reported

Scattered wave functions of dislocated lattices

Using a Wannier function approach and a transformation of the coordinate system it is shown that a method can be set up to calculate the scattered wave function of a dislocated lattice

Time for action! ICT integration in formal education : key findings from a region-wide follow-up monitor

This paper is a report on the key findings of a region-wide monitoring study conducted in Dutch-speaking schools in Belgium. First, we elaborate on the building blocks of the instrument, which has been updated and improved since its first deployment in 2007. In particular we focus on the core indicators, along with the multi-actor approach, the sample design and the ways in which new phenomena such as media literacy and gaming have been operationalized. Secondly, we highlight the main trends and patterns within pre-school, primary and secondary education. The first descriptive analyses show quite disappointing results with regard to ICT use at the micro level and the available infrastructure, while headmasters, teachers and pupils reported positive perceptions of different aspects of ICT integration. These results indicate an urgent need to take appropriate action. Therefore, the final part of the paper examines how ICT integration could be improved via structural changes and appropriate policymaking with regard to budgeting, teacher training and the particular role of ICT coordinators in schools