The Importance of Usability for Learning with Digital Media

Im Rahmen einer quantitativen Feldstudie wurde der Zusammenhang zwischen der System Usability eines digitalen Lernmediums und dem erzielten Lernerfolg in einem computerbasierten Unterrichtssetting untersucht. 31 Schülerinnen und Schüler zweier gymnasialer Biologie-Leistungskurse absolvierten dazu eine webbasierte Lerneinheit zu einem Thema der Zellbiologie. Es zeigte sich eine mittlere Korrelation zwischen der Usabilitybewertung und dem Ergebnis eines Leistungstests (r(28) = .384, p < .05). Der Zusammenhang erwies sich auch unter Kontrolle lernerfolgsrelevanter Personenmerkmale mittels multipler Regression als stabil. Gemeinsam erklären Vorwissen, numerische Verarbeitungskapazität, Aktualmotivation und System Usability 52.9% der beobachteten Leistungstestvarianz. Ferner zeigte sich ebenso eine mittlere Korrelation zwischen System Usability und dem Interesse der Schüler an der Lernaufgabe (r(28) = .396, p < .05). Usability erscheint damit als bedeutsames Interaktionsmerkmal für das Lernen mit digitalen Medien. In der durchgeführten Studie erklärte sie substantiell interindividuelle Unterschiede bei der computergestützten Wissensaneignung und stellt damit möglicherweise eine wesentliche Gelingensbedingung für die Digitalisierung des Lehrens und Lernens dar.In a field study we examined the relationship between the system usability of a digital learning medium and the learning success of computer-assisted instruction quantitatively. 31 students from two advanced biology courses at a German secondary school took a web-based lesson on cell biology. We found a medium correlation between subjective usability ratings and test scores (r(28) = .384, p < .05). The relationship remained stable even after controlling for personality traits and states relevant to learning success by using multiple regression. Prior knowledge, numerical reasoning, current motivation, and system usability accounted for 52.9% of the observed test score variance. Furthermore, we found a medium correlation between system usability and students interest in the learning task (r(28) = .396, p < .05). We therefore conclude that usability seems to be a significant attribute of interaction when students learn with digital media. The results of our study revealed that usability explained substantial individual differences in computer assisted knowledge acquisition and appears to be an essential success factor for the digital transformation of teaching and learning

Distribution of the two forms of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte binding antigen-175 (eba-175) gene in Lao PDR

BACKGROUND: The erythrocyte binding antigen 175 (EBA-175) is a 175 kDa antigen of Plasmodium falciparum and plays a major role in erythrocyte recognition by the parasite. The antigen is also supposed to be partly responsible for the invasion of erythrocytes by merozoites. EBA-175 has been sequenced from the FCR-3 and CAMP strains of P. falciparum. The sequences were identical in most parts of the gene. Differences were apparent in a 423 bp segment in the FCR-3 strain, the F-Fragment, that is not found in the CAMP-strain and a 342 bp segment, the C-Fragment, which is present in the CAMP-strain but not in the FCR-3-strain. The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of the two EBA-175-alleles in the Lao PDR. MATERIALS & METHODS: Altogether, 240 blood-samples were collected in two areas of the country: Attapeu in the south and Lung Namtha in the north. Subsequently, the material was scanned for the F-and C-fragments. RESULTS: In the whole study population, 52% carried the F-fragment, and 41% the C-fragment while seven percent of the patients were infected with at least two parasite strains and showed both alleles. CONCLUSION: Distribution of the alleles showed significant differences between the north and the south province. Reasons for this include possible importation of different parasite strains from neighbouring countries

Manslaughter by Fake Artesunate in Asia—Will Africa Be Next?

Fake artesunate could compromise the hope that artemisinin-based combination therapy offers for malaria control in Africa and Asia

Therapeutic efficacy of artemether–lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria from three highly malarious states in India

Additional file 1. Flowchart showing site-wise enrolment and follow-up profile

A Collaborative Epidemiological Investigation into the Criminal Fake Artesunate Trade in South East Asia

Paul Newton and colleagues' international, collaborative study found evidence that counterfeit artesunate was being manufactured in China, which prompted a criminal investigation

Gender-Specific Covariations between Competencies, Interest and Effort during Science Learning in Virtual Environments

Women are still underrepresented in engineering courses although some German universities offer separate women’s engineering courses which include virtual STEM learning environments. To outline information about fundamental aspects relevant for virtual STEM learning, one has to reveal which similarities both genders in virtual learning show. Moreover, the question arises as to whether there are in fact differences in the virtual science learning of female and male learners. Working with virtual STEM learning environments requires strategic and arithmetic-operative competences. Even if we assume that female and male learners have similar competences levels, their correlational pattern of competences, motivational variables, and invested effort during virtual STEM learning might differ. If such gender differences in the correlations between cognitive and motivational variables and learning behavior were revealed, it would be possible to finetune study conditions for female students in a separate engineering course and shape virtual STEM learning in a more gender-appropriate manner. That might support an increase in the number of women in engineering courses. To reveal the differences and similarities between female and male learners, a field study was conducted with 56 students (female = 27, male = 29) as part of the Open MINT Labs project (the German term for Open STEM Labs, OML). The participants had to complete a virtual STEM learning environment during their regular science lessons. The data were collected with questionnaires. The results revealed that the strategic competences of both genders were positively correlated with situational interest in the virtual learning environment. This result shows the big impact strategic competences have for both genders regarding their situational interest. In contrast, the correlations between mental effort and competences differed between female and male participants. Especially female learners’ mental effort decreased if they had more strategic competences. On the other hand, female learners’ mental effort increased if they had more arithmetic-operative competences. All in all, female learners seem to be more sensitive to differences in their strategic and arithmetic-operative competences regarding their mental effort. These results imply that the implementation of separate women’s engineering courses could be an interesting approach

Challenges and future perspective for dengue vector control in the Western Pacific Region

Dengue remains a significant public health issue in the Western Pacific Region. In the absence of a vaccine, vector control is the mainstay for dengue prevention and control. In this paper we describe vector surveillance and vector control in the Western Pacific countries and areas.Vector surveillance and control strategies used by countries and areas of the Western Pacific Region vary. Vector control strategies include chemical, biological and environmental management that mainly target larval breeding sites. The use of insecticides targeting larvae and adult mosquitoes remains the mainstay of vector control programmes. Existing vector control tools have several limitations in terms of cost, delivery and long-term sustainability. However, there are several new innovative tools in the pipeline. These include Release of Insects Carrying a Dominant Lethal system and Wolbachia, an endosymbiotic bacterium, to inhibit dengue virus in the vector. In addition, the use of biological control such as larvivorous fish in combination with community participation has potential to be scaled up. Any vector control strategy should be selected based on evidence and appropriateness for the entomological and epidemiological setting and carried out in both inter-epidemic and epidemic periods. Community participation and interagency collaboration are required for effective and sustainable dengue prevention and control. Countries and areas are now moving towards integrated vector management

Focused Screening and Treatment (FSAT): a PCR-based strategy to detect malaria parasite carriers and contain drug resistant P. falciparum, Pailin, Cambodia.

Recent studies have shown that Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites in Pailin province, along the border between Thailand and Cambodia, have become resistant to artemisinin derivatives. To better define the epidemiology of P. falciparum populations and to assess the risk of the possible spread of these parasites outside Pailin, a new epidemiological tool named "Focused Screening and Treatment" (FSAT), based on active molecular detection of asymptomatic parasite carriers was introduced in 2010. Cross-sectional malariometric surveys using PCR were carried out in 20 out of 109 villages in Pailin province. Individuals detected as P. falciparum carriers were treated with atovaquone-proguanil combination plus a single dose of primaquine if the patient was non-G6PD deficient. Interviews were conducted to elicit history of cross-border travel that might contribute to the spread of artemisinin-resistant parasites. After directly observed treatment, patients were followed up and re-examined on day 7 and day 28. Among 6931 individuals screened, prevalence of P. falciparum carriers was less than 1%, of whom 96% were asymptomatic. Only 1.6% of the individuals had a travel history or plans to go outside Cambodia, with none of those tested being positive for P. falciparum. Retrospective analysis, using 2010 routine surveillance data, showed significant differences in the prevalence of asymptomatic carriers discovered by FSAT between villages classified as "high risk" and "low risk" based on malaria incidence data. All positive individuals treated and followed-up until day 28 were cured. No mutant-type allele related to atovaquone resistance was found. FSAT is a potentially useful tool to detect, treat and track clusters of asymptomatic carriers of P. falciparum along with providing valuable epidemiological information regarding cross-border movements of potential malaria parasite carriers and parasite gene flow