Applying Fuzzy Logic For Learner Modeling And Decision Support In Online Learning Systems

Vol. 2 No. 3

Year:2005

Issue: October-December

Title	: Applying Fuzzy Logic For Learner Modeling And Decision Support In Online Learning Systems
Author Name	:
Synopsis	:
Advances in computers and multimedia technology have changed traditional methods for learning and skills training. Online learning continues to play a major success of any academic program. Such learning can personalize learning needs for students, it can provide an environment where virtual reality techniques are used to create interactive interfaces and real-time software can monitor every response made by the user. This paper presents an attempt to introduce the concepts of fuzzy set theory the design of a an online educational module. Such a module can deal with uncertainties in the knowledge acquisition, representation and decision making. The fuzzy logic principles are used in creating the learner model and to provide the appropriate teaching material to each learner according to his/her learning level.

Loyalty Switching From Traditional To E-Learning In Indian Higher Education

Vol. 2 No. 3 

Year:2005

 Issue: October – December

Title	: Loyalty Switching From Traditional To E-Learning In Indian Higher Education
Author Name	: Mamilla Rajasekhar, Cuddapah Anitha
Synopsis	:
It is high time for Indian universities to transform themselves from sellers to marketers, though they are non-profit organizations, in marketing their degrees to its customers (students). In this direction e-learning could be one of the tools that helps achieve this objective. The authors in this survey-based article studied the consumers' (professors, scholars, and students of their university) loyalty switching from traditional to e-learning through Markov Chain Analysis, an operations research technique, based on which they suggested certain strategies to be adopted in order to provide quality higher education, as is intended by WTO's Cancun 2003 Meet, and to face the imminent, healthy, and cut-throat competition from foreign as well as private universities in both regular and distance education product categories from January, 2005 onwards.

Designing The Teacher Like Behavior Of E-Learning System: A Case Study Of Indian Scripts Typing Tutor

Vol. 2 No. 3
Year:2005

Issue: October – December

Title	: Designing The Teacher Like Behavior Of E-Learning System: A Case Study Of Indian Scripts Typing Tutor
Author Name	: Dinesh S. Katre
Synopsis	:
Transactional Analysis (TA) of teaching and learning process reveals actions and reactions triggered from the ego-states of teacher and learner. The teacher has to switch between these ego-states to achieve effective communication and learning results. Ego-states of teacher and learners are worth studying in the context of e-learning, as the e-learning system has to emulate the teacher's behavior. Present problem is how to integrate the behavior of teacher in the system. This paper presents the behavioral models of interactions between teacher and learner. The case study of Indian Scripts Typing Tutor software is presented to show how some of these behaviors are modeled and incorporated with consideration of egostates. It has helped in the design of interface metaphor, interaction, dialogs, color schemes etc. Indian Scripts Typing Tutor is being developed for school children and adult learners.

Components Of A Faculty Web Site

Vol. 2 No. 3

Year:2005

Issue: October – December

Title	: Components Of A Faculty Web Site
Author Name	: B. Jean Mandernach, Amber Dailey, Emily Donnelli
Synopsis	:
Instructors teaching in the online classroom are faced with the unique challenge of creating a personalized relationship in a virtual environment that lacks the traditional outlets for establishing an informal connection with students. While there are various means of facilitating the online student-teacher relationship, faculty Web pages are often used as a simple, low-cost means of sharing information about an instructor's personal life (including interests, hobbies, family, etc). The purpose of the current study was to examine students' perception of the relative importance of various types of information placed on a faculty Web page. It was hypothesized that online students would desire more personalized content on an instructor's Web page as these students would lack the face-to-face, informal interactions that typically reveal this type of information. Contrasting the hypothesis, this study found online students and face-to-face students placed little importance on the personalized components of a faculty Web site. Rather, regardless of educational delivery format, students placed high importance on basic contact and course-specific information, with very little importance on an instructor's personal information.

The Influence Of Ethnic Background, Gender And Age On Student Performance In Distance Learning Programs

Vol. 2 No. 3

Year:2005

Issue: October – December

Title	: The Influence Of Ethnic Background, Gender And Age On Student Performance In Distance       Learning Programs
Author Name	: James V. Koch
Synopsis	:
The role of distance learning in higher education has exploded in recent years. The Sloan Center for OnLine Education reports that the number of students taking online courses has been growing at approximately 20 percent per year and that more than 1.9 million students were taking an online course in the United States in Fall 2003 (Carlson, 2004). However, this does not reflect the full impact of distance education, for still other students engage in distance learning via television, PCs, compact disks, DVDs, and the like.

Towards More Effective Instructional Uses Of Technology: The Shift To Virtual Learning

Vol. 2 No. 3

Year:2005

Issue: October – December

Title	: Towards More Effective Instructional Uses Of Technology: The Shift To Virtual Learning
Author Name	: Carmencita Castolo L
Synopsis	:
"The world is undergoing a revolution." Technology is revolutionizing our field in education by altering its structure disregarding institutional walls, developing new ways to access information, solve problems and collaborate. We have heard this before but not enough to prompt us into action. We are under revolution, but this time, with much fervor let us become active participants to this revolution.

Strategic Planning And Online Learning

Vol. 2 No. 3

Year:2005

Issue: October – December

Title	: Strategic Planning And Online Learning
Author Name	: Karen McLaughlin- Graham, Zane L. Berge
Synopsis	:
Strategic planning is a critical part of sustaining distance education. Through such planning, the organization can solve business problems that involve training and education in an effective and often cost savings manner compared to inperson training efforts. This paper examines the strategic planning process as it relates to sustaining distance education and training.

Incorporating Digital E-Books Into Educational Curriculum

Vol. 2 No. 3

Year:2005

Issue: October – December

Title	: Incorporating Digital E-Books Into Educational Curriculum
Author Name	: Freda Turner
Synopsis	:
The first books were probably the Egyptian scrolls of papyrus that provided lineal content to readers. Today (2005) the Internet technology presents the Internet lifestyle that has introduced electronic or e-books that can enrich learning experiences. E-books have an advantage over traditional books in that they offer hypertext linking, search features, and connections to other online databases enhancing data comprehension. Printed books may surely become artifacts like the papyrus documents as interactivity lifestyle desires continue to become the norm. While leaders of all educational organizations might benefit from using e-books, educational leaders of online and distance education environments may have a competitive advantage at implementing e-books into the learning culture. Distance education users tend to be confident and agile in computer skills. Advantages of e-books over traditional texts and suggestions on how to incorporate the use of e-books into a learning culture are provided.

Encouraging Creativity In Online University Classes

Vol. 2 No. 3

Year:2005

Issue: October - December

Title	: Encouraging Creativity In Online University Classes
Author Name	: Brent Muirhead
Synopsis	:
Educational and business literature affirms the importance and value of creativity.Unfortunately, this knowledge is not always presented in a manner that is useful to online instructors who want to integrate more reflective lessons into their courses. The discussion will provide vital background information on creativity and offer relevant instructional suggestions to promote creativity in online classes.

Pragmatic Oral Proficiency In English Of The Entering Freshmen At The College Of Education

Vol. 2 No. 2

Year:2005

Issue: July – September

Title	: Pragmatic Oral Proficiency In English Of The Entering Freshmen At The College Of Education
Author Name	: Evelyn L. Barrido, Lorento N. Romero
Synopsis	:
The quality of the dispensation of education depends largely on the kind of people who are responsible in the operation of the educational system. Above all the other important elements teachers are in the top of the hierarchy.

Identification Of Problems Associated With Implementing Organizational Learning Through A Systems-Based Approach

Vol. 2 No. 2

Year:2005

 Issue: July – September

Title	: Identification Of Problems Associated With Implementing Organizational Learning Through A Systems-Based Approach
Author Name	: Rumesh Kumar Sharma
Synopsis	:
This paper uses a systems-based approach to identify problems associated with organizational learning in various subsystems in an organization. The functionalist model of the systems-based approach is first used to identify the relevant sub systems involved in organizational learning. This is followed by a consideration of key functional sub systems deemed important in the context of Organizational Learning. These sub-systems include the goal, managerial as well as human subsystems. Problems that are manifested in the context of each subsystem are identified. These problems are then assessed in the context of the overall organizational setting. On analysis the problems associated with each subsystem suggests that a traditional, linear model of problem identification that is normally used to identify problems is inappropriate. Organizational learning requires a system based approach to accurately identify organizational learning related problems. The paper concludes that for an accurate and definitive identification of the root causes of problems associated with organizational learning to be identified, a consideration of the interdependencies and inter relatedness of the various sub systems has to be carried out. For this to be done a systems approach is required.

Knowledge Transfer From Universities To The Sme Sector

Vol. 2 No. 2

Year:2005

Issue: July – September

Title	: Knowledge Transfer From Universities To The Sme Sector
Author Name	: Piero Formica
Synopsis	:
The sustained phase of transition to economies characterised by considerable, and sometimes revolutionary, advances in science, technology and related industries, coupled with subsequent profound changes in economy and society, has increased the importance of the knowledge-intensive phases of production for value-creation. As enterprises, in fact, become more reliant on technology, they will become more dependent on knowledge. Accordingly, policy makers in a growing number of countries have become increasingly concerned with the management of the entire knowledge chain: from creation to the diffusion, conversion and entrepreneurial exploitation of scientific and technological knowledge. The knowledge chain also has profound implications for higher education institutions and business schools, which to be successful, need to help companies create knowledge and become part of knowledge streams.

Knowledge Management A Teacher Educatior’s Perspective

Vol. 2 No. 2

Year:2005

Issue: July – September

Title	: Knowledge Management A Teacher Educatior’s Perspective
Author Name	: Radha Mohan
Synopsis	:
The knowledge learned from the best practices used in the best classrooms can provide formative data to help manage teacher-training colleges particularly instruction with more efficiency and effectiveness.