DATA MODELLING SOLUTION FOR REFLECTIVE ePORTFOLIO SYSTEM

An importance of creating of efficacious information systems, which would enhance learning outcomes, leads to development of appropriate models.Modelling process with further validation and verification of developed information system or technological solution is essential. This paper displays the considerations and efforts made to work out such model in a form of reflection stimulating and learning outcomes enhancing ePortfolio information system. The authors introduce architecture of developed system from a view of used technologies, system’s algorithmic model and data model, as well its approbation results in Living Lab

COMPETENCES DEVELOPMENT PROCESS RECORDING FOR MULTI-COMPETENCE E-COURSE

Understanding of students’ current level of competencies might be tailored with a finding of the challenging learning approaches to strengthen and enhance their own competencies, and obtain the new ones. Learning paths, which are usually offered by educational organizations to students, as often as not prescribe monotonous acquiring of knowledge. Making a study course more interactive, there are appearing additional features like working in ePortfolio environment which noticeably influence competences level. This paper provides an overview of research results in competences development process recording for multi-competence e-course, assessing competences level of students, both at initial and on-going stages, and analysis of competences interrelation within particular subject domain, e.g. basic business course, as well as an impact of the study themes on different competencies

ADVANCEMENT OF E-PORTFOLIO SYSTEM TO IMPROVE COMPETENCE LEVELS

Nowadays educational process is not imaginable without applications of information technologies. Their implementations in different technology enhanced learning programs, platforms and systems are becoming more and more popular in educational institutions all over the world. Appropriate usage of information systems has already gained significant place in curriculums and learning processes. However, due to rather high dropout rate and insufficient learning outcomes educational organisations are still seeking for new systems, tools and methods which would enhance learners’ competence development. This paper describes benefits of a new ePortfolio system created by Riga Technical University’s researchers group, its testing results in Living Lab environment in study year 2012/2013, and comparative analysis with initial version of the system implemented in previous year. Findings show that introduced new ePortfolio system has a great positive impact on learning outcomes and learners’ competence development

DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN BALANCE CAPABILITY TESTING PROTOTYPE

The detection of human balance functional disorders may provide some kind of awareness or even warning about potential problems for human health both in organs responsible for ensuring the balance function and in organs related to fulfilment of other important life functions. Modern world offers some sophisticated solutions which enable not only determination of the human balance functional capacity but also offer some kind of training environment to provide corresponding rehabilitation. Unfortunately, such systems are very expensive. And this make limitations of their accessibility and practical usability for a wide range of the target group / population. Software solutions, including mobile applications, on the other hand, are incomparably cheaper. However, they do not allow to make precise balance capability measurements, limiting to simplified balance retention simulators. During implementation of the Latvian National State Research Program VPP INOSOCTEREHI from 2015 to 2017 three human balance capability testing prototypes were developed using a variety of electronic and mechatronic solutions. The last one was successfully approbated during two pilots in Latvian schools in 2016 and demonstrated at the International Invention and Innovation Exhibition MINOX-2016. This paper analyses benefits and disadvantages of approaches used in creating of these prototypes. Besides, authors make initial comparison of developed third prototype version against the BioSway system offered in the market. The paper gives also insight into particular system interface development and new effective graphic portrayal of the balance testing output data, as well as sets the goals for further possible commercialization of the developed balance testing prototype

Eye-tracking introduction considerations in vestibular telerehabilitation in Latvia

The terms of telemedicine, telerehabilitation, and e-care have come into our everyday lives as the necessity to make medical assistance and care more effective. These terms are not buzzwords. Indeed, new technology, innovative solutions, offered by programming tools, modern sensor equipment, wearable devices and bio-signal data sets, provide an ability to ensure necessary remote support to a person with special needs anytime and anywhere. This assistance may include person’s online health monitoring, telerehabilitation and health improvement measures, mobile training, rapid alert button initiation, advisory support, and a set of many other measures supporting patient’s care. This paper displays achievements in creation of vestibular telerehabilitation tools and systems, particularly in Latvia, and discuss further necessary developments, including eye-tracking instruments, which would improve existing telerehabilitation systems

Emotions identification utilizing periodic handwriting on mobile surfaces

The purpose of this study is to between the learners’ emotional characteristics and styles in touch screen environments. We propose a method to identify the variety of learners' boredom in the learning process utilising handwriting data. The novelty of the method is to avoid explicit polling of learners how do they feel. We use the recurring acquiring of personal handwriting data utilising the computational power of both a mobile device and cloud-based resources. Also, we use machine learning-based sentiment detection in the research. We smoothly inject periodic handwriting tests convolving them with learning objects to study the correlation between learners’ emotions dynamic, they demonstrate, and the ability to focus and think critically. With the help of machine-learning methods and new communication protocols, we can step up the student-centric mobile-based education process by taking advantage of the latest achievements in a big data analysis and cloud computing. Also, we clarify the conceptual model for the testbed used in the experiment. The findings may likely impact the future personalized e-learning systems

Evaluation and analysis of personality traits of Latvian and Bulgarian inhabitants

The article analyses the aspects of personality traits as well as their role in the choice of one’s employment, field of work, and a career. The theoretical framework is based on the theories of different authors who have studied individual’s adaptation skills to the surrounding world and the work environment, and the decision-making aspects in the process of choosing a career depending on human nature, character, temperament, and other personality traits. The topicality of the study is based on the idea that attitudes, views, values, and lifestyles differ for various social and ethnic groups as well as for different nations and religions. Therefore, the personality characteristics of the inhabitants of Latvia and Bulgaria in different regions aged 19 to 64 were studied and compared during the survey. The study was organized with the aim to assess the personal characteristics of respondents in two countries and their impact on their career choices

Actualities of balance diagnostics system model development for persons with disabilities

In Latvia so far there have not been made comprehensive studies to provide balance function diagnostics for people with disabilities, which would have to continue with further creation of appropriate system. However, Latvian researchers developed methods and technology for the rehabilitation and health improvement. At the same time it is also recognized that there is a lack of dedicated efficient and widely accessible for patients systems, equipment and tools to make balance function and dysfunction diagnostics, as well an improvement of the patients’ movement capabilities. This position paper gives a brief overview about the latest technical engineering solution trends and developments in the world, which could be suited and developed to create the conformable new, rather simple, accessible and cheap system. Such system will have to ensure the diagnostics of balance functions of the persons with disabilities and encourage them to use mentioned equipment for testing and training of their balance and movement functionality

Concept of Learner Behaviour Data Based Learning Support

AbstractIn this article we present our developing progress with the multi-screen e-learning system initially developed and named as eBig3 system that gives users learning access by the means of computers, mobiles and TV, depending on their choice. In the new project JAUZI we build on our previous experience. We identified that insufficient learning support in traditional eLearning settings is the key obstacle to the broad deployment of eLearning and a cause for the high drop-out rate from these programs. As a remedy for this problem, we developed an algorithm to track user trajectories and to identify problem areas. Here, we present the analysis of the data we gathered and used to assign further user support provisions. The particular support provisions we designed were based on a multiple messaging system: SMSs to users, to teachers and also emails to users and teachers. The JAUZI support system is designed respond to potential critical actions in learners’ behaviour and to quickly provide a remedy

Mobile Learning Synergy – The Star Model

Technologies play important role in training and education. New technologies raise changes in educational matters. Educational organizations use technologies to improve educational process and make it more attractive and effective. E-learning became integral part of training programs in numerous of universities, colleges and schools. Besides e-learning, other technologies, such as TV, mobile phones, iPods and so on, offer new ways and opportunities to enhance quality of education and improve learning results. The author displays importance of different kinds of learning based on technologies and proposes new innovative educational model – The Star Model as synergy of them. ePortfolios and social networking, which are becoming so popular nowadays, also play key roles in proposed model