Digital transformation’s applications on higher education learning

BACKGROUND – Higher Education Institutions (HEI) have mainly used technology to incrementally innovate their sector, in lieu of disrupting HEI programming altogether (Jackson, 2019). However, Navaridas-Nalda et al. (2020) identify the need to digitally transform education as a “core concern” and an “educational priority”. AIM – To discover how HEI can take advantage of Digital Transformation to enhance students’ learning outcomes. METHODOLOGY – Design Science Research (DSR) with focus groups. A Literature review was conducted and through it, a conceptual framework of digital transformation in HEI was created, which was then subjected to validation through two focus groups. RESULTS / FINDINGS – Reflections from the focus groups and a proposal of the final iteration of the framework are presented. ISCTE-IUL is used as a case study for an application of the framework. CONCLUSION / SIGNIFICANCE – HEI must create a digital culture that directs it toward the investigation of newer ways of providing student-oriented solutions. To offer valuable and disruptive educational experiences, HEI will have to modernize teaching, assessment and certification. Digital transformation has brought new elements that can bolster teaching, such as digital platforms and contents and innovative educational methodologies and the use of these resources can enable more customized, self-regulated, collaborative and stimulating learning (Benavides et al., 2020). This dissertation’s significance rests upon the conceptual framework it presents. ORIGINALITY / VALUE – Kerroum et al. (2020) have identified that digital transformation hasn’t been used to create a framework that can be adopted by a traditional HEI. This dissertation addresses this opportunity.CONTEXTO – As Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES) têm usado a tecnologia principalmente para inovar incrementalmente o seu setor, em vez de transformar a programação da IES por completo (Jackson, 2019). No entanto, Navaridas-Nalda et al. (2020) identificam a necessidade de transformação digital da educação como uma “preocupação central” e uma “prioridade educacional”. OBJETIVO – Descubrir como uma IES pode tirar proveito da Transformação Digital para aprimorar os resultados de aprendizagem dos alunos. METODOLOGIA – Design Science Research (DSR) com focus groups. Foi realizada uma revisão da literatura e, através dela, foi criado um modelo conceptual de transformação digital em IES, que foi submetido a validação através de dois focus groups. RESULTADOS – São apresentadas reflexões dos focus groups e uma proposta da iteração final do modelo. O ISCTE-IUL é utilizado como estudo de caso para uma aplicação do framework. CONCLUSÕES – Uma IES deve criar uma cultura digital que a direcione para a investigação de novas formas de fornecer soluções voltadas para o aluno. Para oferecer experiências educacionais valiosas e disruptivas, as IES terão que modernizar o ensino, a avaliação e a certificação. A transformação digital trouxe novos elementos que podem impulsionar o ensino, como plataformas e conteúdos digitais e metodologias educacionais inovadoras e a utilização desses recursos pode permitir uma aprendizagem mais personalizada, responsável, colaborativa e estimulante (Benavides et al., 2020). ORIGINALIDADE / VALOR – Kerroum et al. (2020) identificaram que a transformação digital não foi usada para criar um modelo que possa ser adotado por uma IES tradicional. Esta dissertação aborda essa oportunidade

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data

Design and implementation of the AMIGA embedded system for data acquisition

International audienceThe Auger Muon Infill Ground Array (AMIGA) is part of the AugerPrime upgrade of the Pierre Auger Observatory. It consists of particle counters buried 2.3 m underground next to the water-Cherenkov stations that form the 23.5 km2 large infilled array. The reduced distance between detectors in this denser area allows the lowering of the energy threshold for primary cosmic ray reconstruction down to about 1017 eV. At the depth of 2.3 m the electromagnetic component of cosmic ray showers is almost entirely absorbed so that the buried scintillators provide an independent and direct measurement of the air showers muon content. This work describes the design and implementation of the AMIGA embedded system, which provides centralized control, data acquisition and environment monitoring to its detectors. The presented system was firstly tested in the engineering array phase ended in 2017, and lately selected as the final design to be installed in all new detectors of the production phase. The system was proven to be robust and reliable and has worked in a stable manner since its first deployment