Technology Readiness for Education 4.0

The chapter aims at investigating the relationships between human resources and ICTs with the aim to underline what barriers and opportunities are emerging in digital societies. As a matter of fact, the production, through the concept of Industry 4.0, is requiring advanced training of the workforce. To address these challenges, the chapter specifically provides a wide conceptual framework for describing the relationships between human resources and ICTs in the Industry 4.0 framework. After this, the attention is focused on the construct of technology readiness as a way to clarify human resources' reaction to the introduction of new technologies and digital instruments. Finally, the proposed conceptual framework is used to trace possible guidelines for the management of educational programs.

Teacher Use of iPads in the Classroom of a South African Public School

This chapter argues that when implementing technologies such as iPads in developing country educational contexts, there are different factors to consider than when implementing in the developed world. It is important to consider these to reap benefits that improve the inclusivity of education for all. The chapter examines teacher use of iPads in the classroom of a township school in South Africa and the benefits and challenges experienced by teachers in using the devices. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with teachers. The findings of the study indicated that overall the effect of iPad use by the teachers was positive. The use of iPads resulted in the teachers having access to quality multi-media and educational apps to teach their subjects which led to learners' increased class involvement and independent learning. The study revealed that effective use of iPads requires teachers that are adequately trained to use the iPad in relation to subject specific content, a reliable wireless connection, technical support, and mitigation of learners' distractions.

A Photo-Narrative of the Sociolinguistic and Sociocultural Identities of a Refugee Adolescent

One's linguistic discourse is directly linked to his or her identity construction. The author conducted a qualitative study that investigated the sociolinguistic and sociocultural identities, both current and imagined, of a newly arrived adolescent of refugee status, named Yerodin, through a photo-narrative approach. Yerodin was unique in that he was 11 years old when he arrived to the United States but did not have any prior formalized schooling. Therefore, he was illiterate in both his first language of Swahili and second language of English. This study took place during a summer school program that sought to develop Yerodin and his siblings' literacy skills before the upcoming school year. Findings illustrated Yerodin's current identity as one who appreciated his experiences in the refugee camp prior to resettlement and as an English learner. Furthermore, Yerodin realized that English, his second language, and academics were key to accessing his desired communities of identity, including aspects of American culture and friendships with “American peers.”

Kahoot!

Learning strategies in the digitalization era are vastly expanding. Students are comprised of the millennials for whom life cannot be separated from technology and the internet. The ever-expanding technology has posed new challenge on the teaching process of millennials, and one of which is the growing importance and increased involvement of technology that empower a host of new learning tools. One of the most prominent open-access teaching/learning tool is Kahoot! This chapter aims to complement studies about the use of game-based methods at higher education. The survey was conducted for 1 year at a university located in a small city in Indonesia. A total of 415 students were actively involved in measuring their perceptions of games-based learning tools called Kahoot! Furthermore, this study also measured differences in outcomes between faculties, types of subjects, and commonly used research methods. The result shows that Kahoot! positively impacts student academic achievement as measured by student motivation, enjoyment, engagement, and concentration.

Independent E-Learning

Recent advances in technology provide the opportunity for independent e-learning virtually anytime and anywhere. Although technology offers options that can meet the needs of most learners, distractions, and motivation to learn are concerns. This chapter will provide a brief history of independent e-learning and Khan Academy, as well as research on motivation to learn and gamification. In addition, Khan Academy case studies and other independent learning resources will be discussed along with advantages and disadvantages of use. The increase in free e-learning resources that are available for classroom and personal use is changing the world of education and learning. Future research recommendations are also presented.

Lecturers' Perceptions of Learning Management Systems Within a Previously Disadvantaged University

The integration of learning management systems into an educational context can prepare students to cope with the current information society, as well as enhance pedagogical practices and knowledge transmission. In order to realize these potential benefits, it is important to understand lecturers' reasons for use and non-use of LMS. This chapter argues that when introducing digital technologies into education in developing economies, contextual issues need to be taken into account, as users have to grapple with issues that may prevent use such as low technical literacy, poor technical support, and limited internet access. For education to be truly inclusive in developing economies, these contextual issues need to be addressed so that students from such contexts are able to reap the same benefits of technology as their contemporaries worldwide, such as improved education in terms of content, and improving the future potential of students in the workplace, with its ever-increasing reliance on technical skills and global connection to the digital economy.

Students' Formal and Informal Information Sources

Based on an explorative interview study, this chapter reports on students' usage behavior concerning formal and informal information sources for academic (learning) purposes. In this regard, a variety of information sources was reported, ranging from scholarly materials to applications based on user-generated content like Wikipedia, Facebook, YouTube, blogs, forums, and question-and-answer sites. The findings showed that students' acceptance of information sources varied with an increase in the academic age: the more experienced students were, the more focused their choice of information sources was. Bachelor students utilized diverse sources, while doctoral and PhD students mainly concentrated on scholarly materials and news articles, but used Wikipedia, YouTube, and blogs as well. Regarding such informal sources, bachelor students mainly consulted these for learning purposes, while doctoral/PhD students primarily utilized them for checking up/acquiring information and their preparation work. The results are preliminary in their nature and are to be validated in further research.

A Systematic Exploration of Language Learning Technologies

There is an ever-growing number of language learning technologies designed for teaching English, and they commonly take the form of applications for mobile devices and websites. Because learning a language provides personal and professional opportunities, this chapter's researchers conducted a case study that examined the functionality and quality of websites designed to teach English using Puentadura's substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition (SAMR) scale. This case study opens with an overview of the edtech marketplace before explaining how the researchers used SAMR to analyze websites designed for teaching English. The researchers found that the majority of websites functioned at SAMR's lower levels and that their design presented challenges when navigating through their content. This chapter concludes with multiple recommendations for both developers and researchers regarding ways to increase the websites' functionalities and improve their design.

Investigating Asynchronous Interaction Between MOOC Learners Through Forum Use and Peer Review

Designers, developers, and educators in an online course, where the risk of learners feeling isolated is of greater concern, should consider including learning activities that engage students with content and with each other in order to promote multiple ways of interaction and communication between learners and higher learners' engagement in the course. Interaction could be developed both in synchronous and asynchronous mode, in a direct or/and indirect (vicarious) way within the e-learning process. This chapter focuses on the development of asynchronous interaction between learners in a MOOC on personal development, provided in 2016 via a popular educational platform and how interaction affected the learning outcomes. The ways that learners asynchronously interact with each other through forum and peer review are identified and research proved that learners interact in a direct and indirect way and that the development of interaction returns multiple benefits to the learning process and outcome.

Cloud Learning Management System in Higher Education

The main objective of this chapter is to discuss the growth of cloud-based learning management system (LMS) in higher education. This will look at the benefits of LMS adoption and how it has grown in higher education institutions. The utilization of information and communication technology (ICT) has permeated in almost every aspect of life. This chapter will cover a brief introduction about cloud-based LMS, roles of LMS in education, drivers for adoption and advantages of cloud-based LMS, factors to consider in the adoption of cloud-based LMS, the need for LMS and end with conclusion and future directions of cloud-based LMS.