Simulation Models in Education

This paper introduces the use of simulation models in an e-learning environment. Nowadays, simulation models are a part of computer-assisted learning and thus an important guide for lifelong education. E-learning systems, combined with the use of simulation models as tool for interactivity, are the best way to provide some kind of virtual reality in education. Important techniques for building a usable simulation model are also presented. A good model has to be accompanied by texts, demonstration material, worksheets, teachers' guides, student manuals, as well as tools for the teacher in order to be able to make changes in the computer simulation program, like a text-editor, a graphic editor as well as a resource editor. In addition, the paper describes why it is important to follow the building scheme and discusses the problem of credibility. Then, these models are explained as a method of learning dependent on and independent from the use of computers and a view of its valuable aspects is shown. After presenting various examples from the primary and secondary schools to the university and in lifelong learning, examples of their use in information sciences have been presented, as well as need to include the course of building simulation model in the curriculum

Comparative analysis of interactive web services

The fact that interactive web services have entered all spheres of life motivated the authors to investigate how this new collaborative media influences modern information society. The paper discusses the results obtained by comparative analysis of different collaborative media. Interactivity was considered as one of the most important criteria for choosing between the many different inter¬ active web services. The authors analyzed the main characteristics of the cho¬ sen services, classified them into groups and compared them within those groups. The paper stresses the importance of today’ s most popular services, varying from search engines, all kinds of online communities, different types of leisure services to e-learning services, on the behavior and expectations of all participants in the global Internet-based communication. Search engines were analyzed according to ranking and credibility while Web community services were analyzed according to many of their interactive and communication pos¬ sibilities. The category of leisure services ranged from those services created for leisure time to those created for other purposes but used as leisure ser¬ vices. Also, the interactive services of the largest Croatian e-learning solution, implemented at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Univer¬ sity of Zagreb, were analyzed. The positive and negative sides of each of the analyzed groups of interactive web services were compared and synthesized, and their effects on media de¬ velopment and the society in general were analyzed. In the paper, the authors tried to emphasize the great social aspect of the Internet today and the services it provides. They showed how society has a great influence on the growth of the Internet, but also how the Internet has an even greater effect on the rela¬ tionships and activities within society. Thus, this paper does not only give an overview of the comparative analysis of interactive web services but also shows the mutual influence of the collaborative media and human creativity on the development of the information society. (IN CROATIAN: Činjenica da interaktivni mrežni servisi prožimaju sva područja današnjeg života potaknula je autore da analiziraju kolaborativne medije i njihov utjecaj na moderno informacijsko društvo. U radu su prikazani rezultati dobiveni metodom usporedne analize kolaborativnih medija. Interaktivnost je pritom smatrana jednim od najvažnijih kriterija za odabir mrežnih servisa koji će biti uključeni u istraživanje. Autori su analizirali glavne karakteristike odabranih servisa, klasificirali ih u skupine te ih unutar njih usporedili. Posebno je uzeta u obzir važnost utjecaja najpoznatijih internetskih servisa današnjice, počevši od pretraživača, raznih vrsta online zajednica, zatim servisa namijenjenih zabavi, do servisa specijaliziranih za izobrazbu u elektroničkoj okolini, na ponašanje i očekivanja svih sudionika u globalnoj komunikaciji utemeljenoj na internetskoj tehnologiji. Pretraživači su analizirani prema rangiranju i vjerodostojnosti ponuđenih rezultata. S druge strane, online zajednice analizirane su prema raznim ponuđenim mogućnostima interakcije i komunikacije. Kategorija “zabavnih” servisa obrađena je u dva oblika – jednom, u kojem su bili servisi za zabavu, te drugom, u kojem su se našli servisi koji nisu namijenjeni zabavi, ali se za nju koriste. Naposljetku su analizirani interaktivni servisi najveće hrvatske implementacije sustava za e-učenje – one na Filozofskom fakultetu Sveučilišta u Zagrebu. Autori su usporedili i sintetizirali pozitivne i negativne strane analiziranih interaktivnih servisa unutar svake skupine, a zatim su analizirali njihov utjecaj na razvoj medija i društva općenito. Autori su istraživanjem pokušali istaknuti današnji velik utjecaj interneta i njegovih servisa na društvo. Pritom su pokazali kako društvo snažno utječe na rast interneta, ali internet ima još veći utjecaj na odnose i aktivnosti u društvu. Stoga ovaj članak ne prikazuje samo rezultate usporedne analize interaktivnih mrežnih servisa nego također međusobni utjecaj kolaborativnih medija i ljudske kreativnosti na razvoj informacijskog društva.

Usporedna analiza interaktivnih mrežnih servisa

The fact that interactive web services have entered all spheres of life motivated the authors to investigate how this new collaborative media influences modern information society. The paper discusses the results obtained by comparative analysis of different collaborative media. Interactivity was considered as one of the most important criteria for choosing between the many different interactive web services. The authors analyzed the main characteristics of the chosen services, classified them into groups and compared them within those groups. The paper stresses the importance of today’s most popular services, varying from search engines, all kinds of online communities, different types of leisure services to e-learning services, on the behavior and expectations of all participants in the global Internet-based communication. Search engines were analyzed according to ranking and credibility while Web community services were analyzed according to many of their interactive and communication possibilities. The category of leisure services ranged from those services created for leisure time to those created for other purposes but used as leisure services. Also, the interactive services of the largest Croatian e-learning solution, implemented at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Zagreb, were analyzed.The positive and negative sides of each of the analyzed groups of interactive web services were compared and synthesized, and their effects on media development and the society in general were analyzed. In the paper, the authors tried to emphasize the great social aspect of the Internet today and the services it provides. They showed how society has a great influence on the growth of the Internet, but also how the Internet has an even greater effect on the relationships and activities within society. Thus, this paper does not only give an overview of the comparative analysis of interactive web services but also shows the mutual influence of the collaborative media and human creativity on the development of the information society.Činjenica da interaktivni mrežni servisi prožimaju sva područja današnjeg života potaknula je autore da analiziraju kolaborativne medije i njihov utjecaj na moderno informacijsko društvo. U radu su prikazani rezultati dobiveni metodom usporedne analize kolaborativnih medija. Interaktivnost je pritom smatrana jednim od najvažnijih kriterija za odabir mrežnih servisa koji će biti uključeni u istraživanje. Autori su analizirali glavne karakteristike odabranih servisa, klasificirali ih u skupine te ih unutar njih usporedili. Posebno je uzeta u obzir važnost utjecaja najpoznatijih internetskih servisa današnjice, počevši od pretraživača, raznih vrsta online zajednica, zatim servisa namijenjenih zabavi, do servisa specijaliziranih za izobrazbu u elektroničkoj okolini, na ponašanje i očekivanja svih sudionika u globalnoj komunikaciji utemeljenoj na internetskoj tehnologiji. Pretraživači su analizirani prema rangiranju i vjerodostojnosti ponuđenih rezultata. S druge strane, online zajednice analizirane su prema raznim ponuđenim mogućnostima interakcije i komunikacije. Kategorija “zabavnih” servisa obrađena je u dva oblika – jednom, u kojem su bili servisi za zabavu, te drugom, u kojem su se našli servisi koji nisu namijenjeni zabavi, ali se za nju koriste. Naposljetku su analizirani interaktivni servisi najveće hrvatske implementacije sustava za e-učenje – one na Filozofskom fakultetu Sveučilišta u Zagrebu. Autori su usporedili i sintetizirali pozitivne i negativne strane analiziranih interaktivnih servisa unutar svake skupine, a zatim su analizirali njihov utjecaj na razvoj medija i društva općenito. Autori su istraživanjem pokušali istaknuti današnji velik utjecaj interneta i njegovih servisa na društvo. Pritom su pokazali kako društvo snažno utječe na rast interneta, ali internet ima još veći utjecaj na odnose i aktivnosti u društvu. Stoga ovaj članak ne prikazuje samo rezultate usporedne analize interaktivnih mrežnih servisa nego također međusobni utjecaj kolaborativnih medija i ljudske kreativnosti na razvoj informacijskog društva