Evaluation of Technical Education by Using a Modern Structured MOODLE Laboratory Course, in Relation to Recent Data

E-learning platforms support education systems worldwide, transferring theoretical knowledge as well as soft skills. In the present study high-school pupils’, and adult students’ opinions were evaluated through a modern structured MOODLE interactive course, designed for the needs of the laboratory course “Automotive Systems”. The study concerns Greek secondary vocational education pupils aged 18 and vocational training adult students aged 20 to 50 years. The multistage, equal size simple random cluster sample was used as a sampling method. Pupils and adult students of each cluster completed structured 10-question questionnaires both before and after attending the course. A total of 120 questionnaires were collected. In general, our findings disclosed that the majority of pupils and adult students had significantly improved their knowledge and skills from using MOODLE. They reported strengthening conventional teaching, using the new MOODLE technology. The satisfaction indices improved quite, with the differences in their mean values being statistically significant.

Application of ICT in Art Education： A Case Study of HIFA

This paper intends to expound the application of information and communication technology （ICT） in art education, making a case of study of Hubei Institute of Fine Arts （HIFA）. Despite financial pressure, HIFA has invested heavily in the infi＇aslructure. The classrooms at HIFA can be roughly divided into three kinds： studios, multimedia classrooms and computer labs with reference to ICT. There are three general approaches to the instructional use of the technology at HIFA, namely： learning about computers and the Intemet; learning with computers and the Intemet and learning through computers and the Internet. The utilization oflCT has shaped the art education model of HIFA considerably and has brought about a lot of changes and benefits to the faculty and students. However, its disadvantage may overweigh the advantage unless it is properly harnessed.

Developments of Computing in Papua New Guinea in the Post-Independence Era

This article looks at the developments of computing in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the post-independence era. More specifically, this article examines the development of national policies on Information and Communications Technology (ICT), digital technologies in PNG, and the development of computing education in PNG since 1975. The research findings reveal that PNG has made solid progress in computing, ICT, national ICT policies, digital technologies, and computing education at universities in the post-independence era. The proposed approach in this article might facilitate the research and development of computing, ICT, digital technologies, and big data analytics in PNG, and beyond.

Simulations of Using Vectors in Natural Sciences Education

The implementation of ICT （information and communication technologies） into the educational process is becoming a reality in the 21st century. Today＇s students grow up with technology. To keep their attention, scientific problems should be solved through visualization, which is made possible using ICT in the educational process. In the modem educational process, students still have difficulties in learning science concepts. Also, it is a very common problem that students cannot apply mathematical language and concepts into other science areas such as physics, engineering, etc. For example, students start learning about vectors in mathematics in secondary school. Vectors are very important because they have a wide area of applications especially in physics, engineering and navigation to represent forces, tension, velocity, etc.. Using the free mathematical software GeoGebra, a simulation of using vectors in these areas is made. It will be shown that such simulations increase students＇ interest, keep their attention, and make this knowledge more real and more understandable and connected to the physical world and thus more applicable to their other studies.

On the Inconspicuousness of Indigenous African Languages: The Case of IsiZulu Linguistic Integration in KwaZulu-Natal’s Basic Education Sector

This paper investigates the challenges associated with the inconspicuousness of indigenous African languages in the South African education system,as established during empirical research conducted by the author for his PhD thesis.According to the findings of the research,integrating indigenous African languages in the basic education sector is a key strategic shift that should be considered for it could fast-track efforts to elevate and promote indigenous African languages as media of educational instruction.These languages have been discriminated against for decades,since the era of colonisation and Apartheid South Africa.Despite attempts by the democratic government,through transformative legislative frameworks,African languages are inconspicuous within the education sector.Institutions of learning have developed multilingual language policies yet their implementation remains a problem.Based on the critical review of the literature on indigenous African languages,and with a focus on information and communication technology(ICT),the paper investigates policy opportunities and challenges.The paper concludes by assessing the low profile of indigenous languages in education,and its likely impact on the high failure rate in South African schools.

An Overview of ICT and Educational Change:Development,Impacts,and Factors

This paper focuses on the development of information and communication technology(ICT)in education,its impact on teaching and learning,as well as the factors that sustain change in education.Since the rise of e-learning in the 1990s,ICT has evolved rapidly in the field of education.Furthermore,ICT is seen as a catalyst for change in education,and its impact on both,students and teachers should not be understated.In addition,the sustenance of these positive changes brought about by ICT should also garner attention.This paper consequently focuses on an overview of the evolution of ICT in the field of education in the last decade or so,its impact on the changes in teaching and learning,as well as the factors that sustain the changes.Through a study of prior literature and reports,the results found that ICT has had a different focus and predicted direction each year from 2009 to the present,as well as significant effects on the content,approach,time,and place of teaching,administration,research process,and roles of teachers and students.Additional factors that influence educational change include funding,equipment software,and personnel expertise.Therefore,this article provides referenceable evidence for further ICT applications in education.

企业主导的现代产业学院是如何建设的?——以华为ICT学院为例

现代产业学院是促进产教融合的有效平台,是多主体联合区域产业发展所需复合型高技术技能人才的重要载体。华为ICT学院是现代产业学院建设的典型模式,主要从五个方面进行了创新性建设:制定适应ICT人才特点的人才培养方案;打造以实验实训平台为核心的ICT基础设施;组建校企混编的专业课教学团队;构建以实用理论与实际操作类为主的课程体系;实施对华为ICT学院人才培养质量的多元监控。华为ICT学院建设案例对现代产业学院建设的启示为:要重视企业利益,激发企业主体活力;要明细校企双方权责,规范工作流程;要注重合作的全面性和系统性,协同推进各项工作。

Competence of clinical teachers:A survey on perception of masters of nursing specialist postgraduates, their clinical teachers, and head nurses

Objectives:To explore the current admittance situation of clinical teachers for masters of nursing specialist(MNS)postgraduates and to test the competence of clinical teachers in self-evaluation and other evaluations.Methods:In this cross-sectional study,using a random number table,we chose 80 MNS postgraduates under clinical practice,their clinical teachers,and head nurses each from six hospitals in Hunan and Guangdong.The participants were tested on the basis of the Clinical Teachers'Competence Inventory of MNS Postgraduates.The competences of clinical teachers were evaluated by the three groups of participants.Results:The aggregated scores of teacher competence as evaluated by the MNS postgraduates(181.33±24.95)were lower than those assigned by both clinical teachers(190.75±24.30)and their head nurses(198.53±18.90),with significant differences in all dimensions except for clinical managing ability.The five highest rated items from all participants focused on the teachers'clinical nursing ability,and the five lowest rated items were mainly about their clinical research ability.Conclusion:The evaluation from MNS postgraduates is obviously lower than the self-evaluation of clinical teachers,and all participants are aware of the deficiency in research ability of the teachers.Thus,the admittance and examination of clinical teachers should be controlled strictly.Training should be carried out immediately to strengthen their comprehensive abilities,especially their research ability.

产教融合背景下的高校ICT类专业实训基地建设研究

产教融合是当前高等教育领域的热门话题,如何开展校企深度合作,打造一流的产教融合实训基地,改革创新校企共同育人的教学方法和教学模式,培养学生综合实践技能以及创新创业综合素质,提升人才培养质量是很多高等院校一直在思考的问题.通过对ICT类专业产教融合实训基地建设进行深入研究,提出了一些方法与途径,以促进高等院校与企业在教学、生产和创新创业工作方面的相互配合、相互支持,有效推进校企合作共赢.

E-commerce development in rural and remote areas of BRICS countries

E-commerce plays an essential role in modern trade today.It is expected that e-commerce volume amounted to 29 trillion USD in the world in 2017,and would grow with the spread of the Internet and information and communication technologies(ICTs).Brazil,Russia,India,China and South Africa(BRICS),together with many others,consider e-commerce a means to facilitate rapid,inclusive and sustainable economic growth,improving the living standards and alleviating poverty.This article examines areas for potential cooperation by BRICS countries in e-commerce development across rural and remote areas to fight poverty.It analyses the current state of e-commerce development in rural and remote areas in each of the BRICS countries,including cases of public and private initiatives to support it.The article also defines the opportunities which e-commerce brings to people living in rural and remote areas.Moreover,it evaluates the existing challenges and risks.The article concludes that despite the rapid e-commerce development in BRICS countries,and significant opportunities created,there are still issues of disproportionate e-commerce in varied regions and the lack of BRICS cooperation in this sphere.Based on a comparative and normative in-depth,systematic analysis,the article develops a set of recommendations for deepening BRICS countries'cooperation in the following areas:infrastructure in rural and remote regions;education;consumer protection;online dispute resolution;coordinated policy in the international scene,including representation of BRICS countries in international indexes,such as the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD)Digital Services Trade Restrictiveness Index(STRI).

Information and communication technology in science learning as a tool for “scientific thinking” in engineering education

New methodologies in science (also mathemat- ics) learning process and scientific thinking in the classroom activity of engineer students with ICT (information and communication technology, including also graphic calculator) are presented: visual modelling with ICT, action research with graphic calculator, insight in classroom, com- munications and reflection of integrative ac- tions. How can we show our students the beauty of science (and mathematics) with ICT and the way scientists think and try to find the truth? Is it possible to create the motivation in science learning for students using ICT or graphic cal- culator? How can we organize the engineer training on such professional activity in class- room? In this paper we try to answer the ques- tions using methodology of visual modelling and technology of resource lessons in high en- gineering school.

Research on Online Education Consumer Choice Behavior Path Based on Informatization

The application of information and communications technology(ICT)in the education industry is becoming more and more extensive,and online education realized through ICT is developing in full swing.The influence of ICT on online education consumer's choice behavior is the core issue of online education industry development research.The research on the interactive path and methods of information and online education consumer choice behavior is worth exploring and revealing.This study introduces the word-of-mouth factor as a new research variable under the framework of the Rational Choice Theory model(RCT)and the structural equation method to conduct empirical research and theoretical analysis to verify the validity of the hypothesis and model.The fifthGeneration mobile communication system(5 G)analyses the factors affecting online education consumer behavior choices based on the premise of ICT.Research on the path between ICT and choice behavior provides new ideas for online education consumer choice behavior research and ICT and content and provides a new scenario.This article is a cross-disciplinary research content in theory,and its innovation opens up a new path for the management of ICT research.The research results have innovative significance and value at both the theoretical and practical levels.

Using ICT to Support University Students'Learning English

It is getting more and more popular to use Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to support students'Eng lish learning nowadays. This paper focuses on some previous researches on how ICT support learners learning English and explained the importance of using ICT in English learning from different perspectives.

Internet Usage, Challenges, and Attitudes among University Students: Case Study of the University of Jordan

The Internet usage has grown rapidly during the last decade in almost every country in the world and in Jordan specifically;today millions of individuals are connected to the Internet and the Internet has become the backbone of the information economy. It was used for social, commercial, political, and personal interactions. This study aims to investigate the attitudes of students at The University of Jordan towards using ICT (Information and Communication Technology). A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data for obtaining students attitudes on the amount of Internet usage, reasons for using the Internet, and how the Internet impacted on students’ life. The data analysis was done by using SPSS, version 17. 536 students from different faculties (medical, humanities, and scientific) of the University of Jordan participated in the study. The results indicated that most students access Internet before they attended university;there is a positive attitude towards Internet;and they used it mainly for social websites, chatting and information gathering. The slow speed of the Internet connection and the lack of adopting ICT in courses syllabus are some constraints facing the students.

高等职业院校ICT专业群建设探索

依托甘肃省信息技术职教集团和甘肃省信息技术专业学科课程组的优势平台,在高等职业院校ICT专业群建设方面形成鲜明特色。ICT专业群积极开展技能竞赛和举办专业研讨会,探索中-高职贯通人才培养模式、扩大社会服务,取得了良好的教学效果。依托ICT平台资源和ICT行业创新基地,努力推进师资培训、专业建设、课程改革、双证书建设和教材建设,使ICT专业群在职业技术教育中发挥了重要作用。

中外面向教师的国家ICT标准的比较研究

ICT的发展为教育带来了巨变,为教师的能力标准提出了新要求。面向教师的ICT标准研究已经成为世界各个国家关注的热点问题,我国在2004年也适时地推出了《中国教师教育技术能力标准(试行)》。文章就中美英日四国的ICT标准从不同维度进行了比较、分析,并对我国面向下一代教师的ICT标准发展提出了几点启示。

基于“学习设计”开发支持过程与活动的ICT教育应用模式

学习设计是教育技术领域最近最有意义的发展之一。它关注E-learning中的学习过程和活动,旨在描述各种各样的教学方法及过程,并能适应教学方法的不断更新。学习设计与教学设计存在着联系和区别,它通过教学设计进入教育实践应用中,为教师表达教学思想提供一个过程框架。它也可以帮助我们更好地理解信息技术在传统学校教育中的应用,为设计和开发支持过程与活动的ICT教育应用模式提供有效的途径。