The IADIS International Conference e-Learning 2011 (part of the IADIS Multi Conference on Computer Science and Information Systems) was hosted in Rome, Italy, 20-23 July, 2011.
The purpose of this Conference was to address the main issues of concern within e-Learning, trying to cover both technical as well as the non-technical features of e-Learning.
The IADIS e-Learning 2011 conference received 312 submissions from more than 49 countries. Each submission had been anonymously reviewed by an average of four independent reviewers, to ensure that accepted submissions were of a high standard. Consequently, only 60 full papers were approved which meant an acceptance rate of less than 20%. A few more papers were accepted as short papers, reflection papers, posters and doctoral consortium.
The submissions were accepted under the following main areas and topics:
Organisational Strategy and Management Issues • Higher and Further Education • Primary and Secondary Education • Workplace Learning • Vocational Training • Home Schooling • Distance Learning • Blended Learning • Change Management • Educational Management • Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for Educational and Training Staff • Return on e-Learning Investments (ROI)
Technological Issues • Learning Management Systems (LMS) • Managed Learning Environments (MLEs) • Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) • Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) Tools • Social Support Software • Architecture of Educational Information Systems Infrastructure • Security and Data Protection • Learning Objects • XML Schemas and the Semantic Web • Web 2.0 Applications
e-Learning Curriculum Development Issues • Philosophies and Epistemologies for e-learning • Learning Theories and Approaches for e-learning • e-Learning Models • Conceptual Representations • Pedagogical Models • e-Learning Pedagogical Strategies • e-Learning Tactics • Developing e-Learning for Specific Subject Domains
Instructional Design Issues • Designing e-Learning Settings • Developing e-Learning Pilots and Prototypes • Creating e-Learning Courses - Collaborative Learning - Problem-based Learning - Inquiry-based Learning - Blended Learning - Distance Learning • Designing e-Learning Tasks - E-learning Activities - Online Groupwork - Experiential Learning - Simulations and Modelling - Gaming and Edutainment - Creativity and Design Activities - Exploratory Programming
e-Learning Delivery Issues • e-Delivery in Different Contexts - Higher and Further Education - Primary and Secondary Schools - Workplace Learning - Vocational Training - Distance Learning • Online Assessment • Innovations in e-Assessment • e-Moderating • e-Tutoring • e-Facilitating • Leadership in e-Learning Delivery • Networked Information and Communication Literacy Skills • Participation and Motivation in e-Learning
e-Learning Research Methods and Approaches • Action Research • Design Research • Course and Programme Evaluations • Systematic Literature Reviews • Historical Analysis • Case Studies • Meta-analysis of Case Studies • Effectiveness and Impact Studies • Evaluation of e-Learning Technologies • Evaluation of Student and Tutor Satisfaction • Learning and Cognitive Styles • Ethical Issues in e-learning
e-Skills and Information Literacy for Learning • Teaching Information Literacy • Electronic Library and Information
Search Skills • ICT Skills Education - in Schools and Colleges - for Business, Industry and thePublic Sector - in Adult, Community, Home andPrison Education - Informal Methods (peer Groups, Family) • Education for Computer-mediated • Communication skills - Netiquette - Online Safety for Children and Vulnerable Users - Cybercrime Awareness and Personal Prevention • Student Production of Online Media - Web Design - Digital Storytelling - Web 2.0 Tools - etc. • Digital Media Studies
In addition to the presentation of full, short and reflection papers, posters and a doctoral consortium that divided the conference program in 26 parallel sessions, the conference also included one keynote presentation from an internationally distinguished researcher (Dr. Francois Desjardins, Associate Dean, University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), Canada
Keynote Presentation:
"E-LEARNING RESEARCH: DOMAIN OR ILLUSION?" by
Dr. Francois Desjardins, Associate Dean, University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), Canada
Abstract: Research in e-learning generally remains in a reactive mode. We tend to react to technological developments and to their introduction in educational settings. This is insufficient. We need to move further into a proactive mode, which would then allow us to progress towards a more complete inductive-deductive cycle of reasoning and research. Add to this the constant calls for better and more complete theoretical frameworks for the study of our field, and it is clear that e-learning needs to define itself, clearly, formally and thoroughly.
We need to define the terms and concepts that are specific to our field of study as these would actually also define this field. Which concepts, theories and models are to be considered within the boundaries of e-learning research and which ones are not? What research perspectives, approaches and methodologies are specific to e-learning? Which ones can we adapt from other fields? How does all this formally relate to research and science in other related fields? Collaboration and cooperation are going to be the keys to the establishment of an actual defined field of study, and in this age of social media and social networks, we need to find a manner to first of all actually enter into a dialogue that would result in a set of negotiated definitions of the basic vocabulary as well as of our most complex theories that would not only be the foundation of our discipline, but that would also be recognizable outside our field. This recognition is important in that it is the only way any research can eventually have any impact on the evolution of ideas and practices in any field, even in e-learning.
The intent of this keynote is simply, to collectively consider if e-learning research actually constitutes a distinct field of research activity, a definable domain of knowledge or if it is an illusion.
Extended versions of the best papers were published in the Interactive Technology and Smart Education (ITSE) journal (ISSN:1741-5659), in the IADIS International Journal on WWW/Internet (ISSN: 1645-7641), and also in other selected journals, including journals from Inderscience.
These were the five papers that were considered as the best papers of the e-Learning 2011 Conference:
Best Emergent Technology Paper:
SMART TAGGING TECHNOLOGIES IN PERVASIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS by Ernest Arendarenko and Teemu H. Laine University of Eastern Finland
Abstract: Smart tagging represents a way of marking an object with a tag carrying an encoded message which can be decoded with an appropriate reader device. As such comparison study of RFID and 2D barcode technologies does not exist, a pervasive mobile learning environment for vocabulary/memory training (MemGame) was developed for 2D barcode and RFID modes and then tested. Participants expected RFID to be faster and more convenient to use than 2D barcode and these views only strengthened after the test. For everyday life scenarios RFID was more preferred. While RFID is clearly preferred smart tagging technology, cheap price and wide availability of reader devices makes 2D barcode still a good alternative. These results might be useful not only for further pervasive learning environment development but also for mobile application development in general where RFID and/or 2D barcodes are utilized. Concrete outcomes of this study are an NFC plugin for MUPE platform and the MemGame.
Best Research Paper:
MONITORING BLENDED LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS BASED ON PERFORMANCE DATA by Markus Dahinden and Lukas Faessler, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Abstract: A blended learning course with a large number of students is a complex productive system, and measuring its quality is a demanding task. Traditional educational monitoring is based on pre-course and post-course surveys and often measures students' subjective view of the learning environment. As we know, extrinsic motivational elements often have a greater impact on students' opinion of teaching quality than do didactical principles. We therefore define the quality of a course by the amount of knowledge our students have acquired. In consequence, we prefer to use performance data as the basis for learning evaluation. In this paper we present performance data from 284 students which is stored in an educational data warehouse (eDWH). This data has been linked to process data and status data from the same students. Our findings indicate that performance data can be useful in operationalising the quality of a blended learning environment. Based on three concrete examples, we have been able to illustrate the potential of educational monitoring based on performance data. Our monitoring concept not only allows us to verify the validity of our examinations, but also serves to improve our course and to measure this improvement. The results presented here therefore show that the monitoring of a blended learning environment can indeed be improved using performance data.
Best Qualitative Research Paper:
A SOCIO-TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT OF TECHNOLOGY USE AND TEACHING PEDAGOGY IN A DISTANCE LEARNING COMMUNITY: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY by Rasha Goumaa, Damnhour University and University of Liverpool Management School, Roula Michaelide and Lisa Anderson, University of Liverpool Management School, UK
Abstract: The sociocultural model of learning views learning as a social process that is situation dependent. Within the context of distance learning (DL), the adoption of such a model requires distant learners to be active learners. That is the adoption of a teaching pedagogy that promotes collaborative learning through a process of reflection and interaction with content and with peers and tutors. Computer-mediated communication (CMC) is said to be a valuable tool that can enhance collaborative learning while bridging barriers of distance and time to create a common virtual learning space. This study explores how distant learners make sense of their learning experience, how instructors make sense of their teaching experience, whether a particular learning model dominates and furthermore, examines how technology is being used within the context of a part-time MBA program. Adopting an interpretivist stance and deploying a case study methodology, data were collected via semi-structured interviews with students, academic instructors, and a program head. Template analysis was used to analyze data. Our findings show that students felt they had benefitted from their interaction with each other. They also perceived the technology used to create such virtual classrooms valuable when it was properly aligned with what they believed to be an appropriate teaching pedagogy. While in instances of perceived misalignment, technology was deemed of no added value. We argue that, from a socio-technical perspective, the mere existence of the most advanced forms of technology, without thoughtful use and without the necessary facilities and resources being built in to promote a clearly defined and consistent teaching pedagogy, can actually hinder rather than promote effective distance learning.
Best Practical Paper:
SO MUCH TO DO, SO LITTLE TIME: SUPPORTING PROSPECTIVE ELEMENTARY TEACHERS' SENSE OF RATIONAL NUMBERS by Ann LeSage, University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), Canada
Abstract: Teachers' understanding of elementary mathematics is an important factor contributing to students' success with mathematics. However, how can this knowledge be nurtured within the time limitations of an 18-week Bachelor of Education program? This paper addresses this question by examining changes in prospective elementary teachers' knowledge of rational numbers after completing a 9-week technology-enhanced elective course and viewing supplemental web-based video clips. The paper describes the course design and video clip format, offers empirical evidence including the impact of moderator variables and proposes implications for teaching practice.
Best Short Paper:
INQUIRY BASED LEARNING CASE STUDIES FOR COMPUTING AND COMPUTING FORENSIC STUDENTS by Jackie Campbell, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to describe and discuss the initial evaluation of specifically developed inquiry based learning materials for Computing and Forensic Computing students. Small applications have been developed which require investigation in order to: de-bug applications, analyse data issues and discover 'illegal' behavior. The applications are based around industry case studies and are functioning systems. Applications have been designed with a view to supporting the teaching, learning and assessment within the database curriculum at Leeds Metropolitan University. The students are required to use investigative methods to discover and address the issues. Additionally the exercises are intended to give experience of industrial work such as evaluation, testing and de-bugging of software. The initial feedback is that students like the exercises; they initially may not realize there is anything 'wrong' with the applications and enjoy the investigation and discovery of issues. It has raised their awareness of data quality, data integrity and improved their confidence to question outputs from reports and queries.
The e-Learning Conference 2011 was published both in Book (ISBN: 978-972-8939-38-0) and CD-ROM (ISBN: 978-989-8533-00-5).
Program Committee:
Program Chairs: Miguel Baptista Nunes, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom Maggie McPherson, University of Leeds, United Kingdom
General Conference Co-Chairs: Piet Kommers, University of Twente, The Netherlands Pedro Isaías, Universidade Aberta (Portuguese Open University), Portugal
Committee Members: Abdel-Badeeh Salem, Ain Shams University, Egypt Adamantios Koumpis, Altec Information And Communication Systems, S. A., Greece Adel Elsayed, University Of Bolton, United Kingdom Adriana Berlanga, Open University, Netherlands Alex Voychenko, International Research And Training Center For Its, Ukraine Alexandra Cristea, University Of Warwick, United Kingdom Alexei Tretiakov, Massey University, New Zealand Ali Fawaz Shareef, The Maldives National University, Maldives Alla Manako, Irtc, Ukraine Amali Weerasinghe, University Of Canterbury, New Zealand Amjad Mahmood, University Of Bahrain, Bahrain Andreas Bollin, Klagenfurt University, Austria Andreas Holzinger, Medical University Graz, Austria Andreas Papasalouros, University Of The Aegean, Greece Andrew Lian, Western Illinois University, Usa Andrew Ravenscroft, London Metropolitan University, United Kingdom Andrew Ware, Univeristy Of Glamorgan, United Kingdom Angélica De Antonio, Universidad Politecnica De Madrid, Spain Ania Lian, Australian Catholic University, Australia Annabell Preussler, FernUniversität in Hagen, Germany Annette Payne, Brunel University, United Kingdom Anouk Gelan, University Hasselt, Belgium Antonio Hervás-Jorge, Universidad Politécnica De Valencia, Spain Antonio Navarro, Universidad Complutense De Madrid, Spain Apostolos Gkamas, RACTI, Greece Avgoustos Tsinakos, Department Of Industrial Informatics, Greece Ben Chang, National Chiayi University, Taiwan Benno Volk, University of Zurich, Switzerland Bill Railer, Canadian Defence Academy, Canada Birgit Bomsdorf, Fulda University Of Applied Sciences, Germany Brian Lake, Guildford College, United Kingdom Carmen Holotescu, University Politehnica Timisoara, Romania Cerstin Mahlow, University of Basel, Switzerland Charalampos Karagiannidis, University of Thessaly, Greece Charoula Angeli, University Of Cyprus, Cyprus Christos Bouras, University Of Patras, Greece Claudia Steinberger, Klagenfurt University, Austria Concepción Yániz, Universidad De Deusto, Spain David Guralnick, Kaleidoscope Learning, United States David Millard, University Of Southampton, United Kingdom Demetrios Sampson, University Of Piraeus, Greece Demosthenes Akoumianakis, Technological Educational Institute Of Crete, Greece Diana Pérez Marín, Rey Juan Carlos University, Spain Dirk Ifenthaler, University of Manheim, Germany Edward Wantuch, AGH University of Science and Technology, Poland Egle Butkeviciene, Kaunas University Of Technology, Lithuania Elarbi Badidi, United Arab Emirates University, United Arab Emirates Emma Briend, University Of Limerick, Ireland Eric Schoop, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Germany Erick Araya, University Austral Of Chile, Chile Esma Aimeur, University Of Montréal, Canada Eva Jereb, University Of Maribor, Slovenia Eva Martínez Caro, Universidad Politécnica De Cartagena, Spain Ezendu Ariwa, London Metropolitan University, United Kingdom Francesca Pozzi, Instituto Tecnologie Didattiche – CNR, Italy Franz Wirl, WU Wien, Austria Fuhua Lin, Athabasca University, Canada Gabriela Grosseck, West University Of Timisoara, Romania Gabriella Dodero, Free University Of Bolzano Bozen, Italy Gary Wills, University Of Southampton, United Kingdom Gemma Corbalan, The Netherlands Institute for Curriculum Developme, Netherlands Geoffrey Lautenbach, University Of Johannesburg, South Africa George Palaigeorgiou, Auth, Greece George Papadourakis, School Of Applied Technology, Greece George Tsihrintzis, University Of Piraeus, Greece Giuliana Dettori, Itd-cnr, Italy Gloria Yi-ming Kao, National Taiwan University Of Science And Technolo, Taiwan Gregor Lenart, University Of Maribor, Slovenia Guglielmo Trentin, Cnr - Istituto Tecnologie Didattiche, Italy Hamid Harroud, Al-Akhawayn University In Ifrane, Morocco Hasan Caliskan, Anadolu Universitesi, Turkey Ibrahim Ahmed, International Islamic University, Malaysia Ignacio Aedo, Universidad Carlos Iii De Madrid, Spain Imed Hammouda, Tampere University Of Technology, Finland Ingrid Hunt, University Of Limerick, Ireland Ioan Jurca, Universitatea , Romania Ioannis Vardiambasis, Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Crete, Greece Ismael Pascual Nieto, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Y Uned, Spain Itziar Elexpuru, University Of Deusto, Spain Ivan Ganchev, University of Limerick, Ireland Jackeline Spinola De Freitas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, España Jaime Ramirez, Universidad Politécnica De Madrid, Spain Jane Sinclair, University Of Warwick, United Kingdom Jarkko Suhonen, University of Eastern Finland, Finland Jerzy Dabkowski, Cracow University Of Technology, Poland Jesualdo Breis, University Of Murcia, Spain Jesús Boticario, Universidad Nacional De Educación A Distancia (une, Spain Jesús Ibáñez, Universidad De Las Islas Baleares, Spain Jesús Sánchez Allende, Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio, Spain Jirarat Sitthiworachart, Walailak University, Thailand Johannes Magenheim, Universitaet Paderborn, Germany Jose Bidarra, Open University, Portugal José Bravo, Universidad De Castilla-la Mancha, Spain José Sierra-Rodríguez, Universidad Complutense De Madrid, Spain Juan M. Santos, University of Vigo, Spain Julian Newman, Glasgow Caledonian University, United Kingdom Katerina Kabassi, TEI of Ionian Islands, Greece Katherine Maillet, Institut Telecom & Management Sudparis, France Katherine Sinitsa, Ukraine International Research And Training Center, Ukraine Kazunori Nozawa, Ritsumeikan University, Japan Kostas Vassilakis, Technological Educational Institution Of Crete, Greece Lampros Stergioulas, Brunel University, United Kingdom Larbi Esmahi, Athabasca University, Canada Larisa Zaiceva, Riga Technical University, Latvia Leonardo Garrido, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico Lester Gilbert, University Of Southampton, United Kingdom Liliana Valencia, Rey Juan Carlos University, Spain Liodakis George, Technological Educational Institution Of Crete, Greece Lisette Lunar, UCAB and IVIC, Venezuela Lorraine Cleeton, Walden University, Usa Luigi Sarti, Istituto Per Le Tecnoologie Didattiche, Italy Luis Álvarez-González, Universidad Austral De Chile, Chile Luis Anido-Rifón, University Of Vigo, Spain Lung Hsiang Wong, National Institute Of Education, Singapore Maiga Chang, Athabasca University, Canada Mandel Schewa, University Of Zürich, Switzerland Mandy Schiefner, University Of Zurich, Switzerland Manolis Tsiknakis, Forth, Greece Manos Varvarigos, University Of Patras, Greece Manuel Prieto-Méndez, UCLM, Spain Manuela Delfino, Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche – Cnr, Italy Manuela Repetto, Instituto Per Le Tecnologie Didattiche – Cnr, Italy Marco Kalz, Open University Of The Netherlands, Netherlands Marek Stanuszek, Cracow University Of Technology, Poland Maria Moundridou, School of Pedagogical and Technological Education , Greece Maria Rigou, Patras University, Dept of Computer Engineering an, Greece Marina Ribaudo, University Of Genova, Italy Marina Rui, University Of Genoa, Italy Marina Noelia Cantarutti, Cibadist, Argentina Mario Vacca, University Of Rome , Italy Mark Schofield, Solstice, United Kingdom Markus Bick, ESCP Europe, Germany Martin Ebner, Graz University of Technology, Austria Martin Wolpers, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium Martín Llamas-Nistal, University Of Vigo, Spain Martine Verjans, Universiteit Hasselt, Belgium Matti Lattu, University Of Helsinki, Finland Michael Derntl, University Of Vienna, Austria Michael Kerres, University Duisburg-essen, Germany Michael Paraskevas, University Of Patras, Greece Michael Piotrowski, University of Zurich, Switzerland Michail Kalogiannakis, University of Crete, Greece Michalis Xenos, Hellenic Open University, Greece Michel Ebouyea, Univeristy La Rochelle, France Michela Ott, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, Italy Miguel Zapata Ros, University Of Murcia, Spain Mihaela Dinsoreanu, Technical University Of Cluj-napoca, Romania Mihai Jalobeanu, Universitatea de Vest , Romania Mike Joy, University Of Warwick, United Kingdom Mirjana Ivanovic, University Of Novi Sad, Serbia Mizue Kayama, Shinshu University, Japan Mohamed Amine Chatti, Rwth Aachen University, Germany Mona Laroussi, Insat/lifl, Tunisia Monica Landoni, University Of Strathclyde, United Kingdom Muhammet Demirbilek, Suleyman Demirel University, Turkey Murat Ataizi, Anadolu University, Turkey Nirmi Ziegler, Durban University Of Technology, South Africa Nora Lizenberg, ISP Joaquín V. González, Argentina Oliver Bohl, University of Kassel, Germany Panagiotes Anastasiades, University Of Crete, Greece Paolo Gentilini, Irre Liguria, Italy Patrick Blumschein, University of Freiburg, Germany Patrick Fahy, Athabasca University, Canada Pavel Rusakov, Riga Technical University, Latvia Penne Wilson, University Of New Mexico, United States Pertti Yli-luoma, University Of Oulu, Finland Peter Mikulecky, University Of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic Peter Westerkamp, Westfälische Wilhelms-universität Münster, Germany Pilar Moreno Díaz, Alfonso X El Sabio University, Spain Qing Tan, Athabasca University, Canada Rafael Morales, University of Guadalajara, Mexico Rafael Valencia, Universidad De Murcia, Spain Raquel Hijon, Rey Juan Carlos University, Spain Raul Antonio Aguilar Vera, Universidad Autonoma De Yucatan, Mexico Rory Mcgreal, Athabasca University, Canada Rosa Bottino, Cnr, Italy Rosabel Roig-Vila, Universidad de Alicante, Spain Ruben Miguez Perez, University Of Vigo, Spain Rubén Edel Navarro, Universidad Veracruzana, México Rune Pettersson, Pettersson, Sweden Sandra Schoen, Salzburg Research Forschungsgesellschaft, Austria Seugnet Blignaut, Faculty Of Education Science, South Africa Sharon Role, University Of Malta, Malta Shirley Williams, University Of Reading, United Kingdom Sibren Fetter, Open University The Netherlands, Netherlands Sobah A. Petersen, Sintef, Norway Spiros Sirmakesis, Technological Educational Institutional of Messolo, Greece Stamatina Anastopoulou, University Of Nottingham, Greece Stanimir Stojanov, University Of Plovdiv, Bulgaria Stavros Demetriadis, Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki, Greece Stefania Manca, Istituto Per Le Tecnologie Didattiche, Italy Steve Wheeler, University Of Plymouth, United Kingdom Stis Wu, Chung-yuan Christian University, Taiwan Susan Moisey, Athabasca University, Canada Symeon Retalis, University Of Piraeus, Greece Taher Homeed, University Of Bahrain, Bahrain Telmo Zarronandia, Carlos Iii University, Spain Thrasivoulos Tsiatsos, University Of Patras, Greece Timothy Hall, University Of Limerick, Ireland TOFFOLON Claudine, Université du Maine, France Tomas Sabaliauskas, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania Tomaz Amon, Center For Scientific Visualization, Slovenia Toshio Okamoto, University Of Electro-communications, Japan Tuomo Kakkonen, University Of Joensuu, Finland Ulf Melin, Linkoping University , Sweden Ulrike Hanke, Universitaet Freiburg, Germany Umberto Giani, Università Degli Studi Di Napoli - Federico Ii, Italy Vaiva Zuzeviciute, Magnus University, LITHUANIA Valentina Dagiene, Vilnius University, Lithuania Vassilis Triantafillou, Τechnological Educational Institution Of Mess, Greece Veijo Meisalo, University of Helsinki, Finland Veronika Makarova, University Of Saskatchewan, Canada Vyacheslav Shitikov, Riga Techinical University, Latvia Werner Beuschel, Fh Brandenburg, Germany Wolfram Laaser, Fernuniversität In Hagen, Germany Xavier Ochoa, CTI - ESPOL, Ecuador Xiaokun Zhang, Athabasca University, Canada Yannis Psaromiligkos, Technological Education Institute Of Piraeus, Greece Yubin Yang, University Of New South Wales, Australian Defence , Australia Zinayida Petrushyna, Rwth Aachen, Germany
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