Use of Technology

There is little understanding of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior as preventive health behaviors in autistic adults. Technology has been used as an educational and social intervention tool for autistic individuals, yet it is also associated with low PA and high sedentary time (ST) in the neurotypical population. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of self-reported PA and ST and their relationships with various technology uses in autistic adults. We employed a Qualtrics online survey that consisted of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire, and National Alliance for Mental Illness's digital technology use survey. 229 responses (74.6% under 35 years of age; 64.1% males) satisfied the response validity criteria and were included in the analyses. The majority of participants (78%) met the recommended PA amount of ≥ 600 metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-minutes/week (median, 1,812 total MET-minutes/week), but they were also overly sedentary on both weekdays (median, 8 h/day) and weekends (median, 7 h/day). Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that variance of ST in weekday (45%) and weekend (43%) was largely explained by quality of life (β =-0.31; β =-0.33) and technology use time (β = 0.31; β = 0.26) (all p < .01). While technology can be an effective tool to support social and academic abilities in autistic adults, the use of technology devices needs to be monitored with care as it may put these individuals at risk for sedentary lifestyles and associated chronic diseases.

This inquiry flags the shortage of evidence on the distinctive effect of technology use on defined learning skills. To tackle this inertia, it identifies (1) video gaming, (2) internet searching and (3) smartphone usage as ubiquitous forms of technology. Then, it characterises (1) abstract conceptualisation, (2) concrete experience and (3) reflective observation and active experimentation as dominant learning skills. Investigating a Nigeria and UK sample of 240 generation Z students, the associations are examined alongside the effects of gender and country. Based on a structural equation model, the analysis showed that although alternate uses of technology have mostly significant influences, their impact is largely negative with only internet searching having a positive effect on learning. The findings are explained through a cognitive load lens and insights are offered to learning providers to temper the appetite for technology use in instructional designs with thought and caution.

Background In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults worldwide have increasingly received health care virtually, and health care organizations and professional bodies have indicated that virtual care is “here to stay.” As older adults are the highest users of the health care system, virtual care implementation can have a significant impact on them and may pose a need for additional support. Objective This research aims to understand older adults’ perspectives and experiences of virtual care during the pandemic. Methods As part of a larger study on older adults’ technology use during the pandemic, we conducted semistructured interviews with 20 diverse older Canadians (mean age 76.9 years, SD 6.5) at 2 points: summer of 2020 and winter/early spring of 2021. Participants were asked about their technology skills, experiences with virtual appointments, and perspectives on this type of care delivery. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed. A combination of team-based ...

INTRODUCTIONA large volume of research studies has reported the advantages of using computer-assisted language learning (CALL) in childhood education. For example,( Al-Khatib, 2011, Almekhlafi & Almeqdadi, 2010; Kessler & Bikowski, 2010; Raby, 2007; Stockwell, 2007; Barr & Gillespie, 2003; Ayres, 2002) indicated that this type of learning creates, an enjoyable, flexible, low-anxiety, interactive language learning environment for children&#39;s language learning. Additionally, it increases students&#39; participation in the learning process and boosts their motivation (Raby, 2007). Using computer assisted learning (CAL) can be a valuable medium for improving the quality of language learning and teaching. Therefore, language teachers need to look at technology as a tool that can improve language learning and teaching and should provide different opportunities for their students to benefit from the available technological resources. Teachers&#39; perceptions towards the use of software...

De la fracture numérique aux frontières numériques. Pour une meilleure compréhension des inégalités numériques. From digital divide to digital borders. For a better understanding of digital inequalities. Alyse YILMAZ (1), Evelyne CLEMENT (2), Khaldoun ZREIK (3)

Background This study investigated the influence of various factors on Faculty Attitude, Faculty Engagement, and Work Performance in higher education. The study specifically examined the impact of faculty attitudes towards digital technology on their level of involvement and effectiveness in the classroom. Furthermore, it investigated how the utilization of digital technology by faculty members influences the connection between their attitudes and job performance.

Ethiopia remains to be one of the least connected countries in the world. However, digital media continues to play a crucial role in the socioeconomic and political life of digital media audiences. Yet, only little is known about the nature of the burgeoning digital media audience and the key online information providers. This research report aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the digital media landscape in Ethiopia, focusing on understanding audience behavior, preferences, and the practices of content creators.The frst section or the audience survey
explores various aspects of digital media use in Ethiopia. It examines the nature of digital media users, social media use, time spent on digital media, frequency of usage, motivations for using social media, and audience preferences for content formats and digital media platforms. It also assesses trust in digital media, information disorder, techniques used to identify dis/ misinformation, and online media literacy education. The survey also explores recent developments in telecom services, including tariff reduction, Wi-Fi accessibility, and expenditure on internet services. The analysis of the digital media audience involved a survey and qualitative research approaches. The survey used a structured, close-ended questionnaire designed based on theoretical and empirical reviews. A total of 429 survey respondents participated, and three additional focus group discussions were also conducted. The second part of the research focuses on content creators, analyzing their platform presence, audience profles, content production practices, engagement levels, and institutional and business models. It examines the diversity of platforms used, reach, audience demographics, understanding, media formats, content
preferences, content volume, and sources of information, engagement strategies, and various aspects of the institutional and business infrastructure. For the analysis of digital media outlets or content creators, the research relied on observations, interviews, and focus group discussions. A total of 18 key informant interviews and two focus
group discussions were conducted with digital media content creators in Addis Ababa, both in-person and online. The study was conducted between March and June, 2023. Based on the findings, the study concludes that digital media outlets in Ethiopia cater to a diverse audience in terms of demographics, interests, and platform preferences, primarily focusing on urban areas and individuals with internet access. The
most common formats used are text, video, and images, often through content recycling and repurposing. While Facebook and YouTube are the most preferred platforms for content consumption, Facebook stands as a less trusted platform among the audience (ranks 4th). Audiences prioritize quality entertainment, current information, reliable reporting, and educational value content, while content creators mostly cover topics
like politics, business, and social issues. Ethiopian users spend 2 to 4 hours daily on digital media, mainly accessed through smartphones. Online misinformation is widespread, and platforms like Telegram,
websites, and YouTube are more trusted. Connectivity challenges, high staff-turnover, and limited advertising opportunities hinder content production and distribution. Digital media outlets engage with audiences
through various platforms, targeting youth with a higher proportion of male users. Editorial systems, physical infrastructure, and revenue models vary among digital media outlets. The study recommends that media organizations enhance digital literacy and fact-checking skills, diversify revenue streams, utilize digital storytelling tools, and access training programs. It suggests that government institutions streamline
administrative procedures and provide incentives for digital innovation. Media development organizations are encouraged to offer capacity-building programs, provide financial and technical support, and collaborate on media literacy initiatives and fact-checking platforms. Acting on these recommendations could help mitigate challenges related to content production, verification, revenue generation, media literacy, and collaboration.

This case study examines the degree to which teachers in a well-resourced secondary school integrated technology into their teaching. The author, who spent five months at the school studying its journey toward integration, utilized three lenses to determine the degree to which technology integration was successful or not—the presence of student-centered practices, evidence of higher-level thinking (Bloom’s Taxonomy), and the SAMR Framework (Substitution-Augmentation-Modification-Redefinition) (Puentedura, 2011). Classroom observation data suggested three dominant patterns of technology integration: (1) technology integration practices were uneven, with the technology often locking teachers into more teacher-centered practices, (2)  technology was used to promote more lower-level thinking, and (3) devices were used in “substitutive” versus “redefinitional” ways. The author posits that teachers, despite enthusiasm about technology and their frequent use of technology for teaching, lacked a shared definition of technology integration and were unaware of technology integration frameworks which they could use to envision, guide and monitor their own path toward technology integration. The author’s research further suggests that the school suffered a lack of leadership around technology that ultimately impacted teacher practice and self-efficacy regarding technology use. The author argues that despite the ubiquity of computing devices in many schools, “technology integration” is still a relevant concept and that schools wishing to successfully integrate technology would do well to revisit the research on integration. This is true even in well-resourced, 1:1 school environments, where such schools may believe that access to abundant technologies and infrastructure and enthusiastic users of technology are the main ingredients for successful technology use.

ما در این نوشتار با استفاده از سه مفهوم «سرمایه¬داری سیاسی»، «گفتمان خودکفایی» و «استعمار بینافرودستی» عوامل و نیروهای عمده¬ی موثر در خشکاندن دریاچه¬ی ارومیه را توضیح می¬دهیم. این عوامل با تاریخ¬های متفاوت در یک لحظه¬ی خاص با هم تلاقی پیدا کرده¬اند و سبب نابودی بسیاری از زیست‌بوم¬ها در ایران و به طور مشخص دریاچه¬ی ارومیه شده¬اند. خشک شدن دریاچه¬ی ارومیه یکی از ده¬ها مورد از تخریبات گسترده محیط زیستی در ایران است که توضیح منطق چگونگی نابودی آن می-تواند ما را در رسیدن به درکی درست از مکانیسم¬های تخریب¬گر نظام جمهوری اسلامی در عرصه‌ی محیط زیست یاری دهد.

The research aims to develop a robust tool for analyzing and comprehending consumer behavior concerning online shopping in Arab countries, with a specific focus on Yemen. Given the limited availability of Arabic scales in this context, the study employs a multi-scale adaptation approach to identify the factors influencing the adoption of online shopping and the role of social media engagement in targeting potential customers. Design/Methodology/Approach-The study follows established best practices, back translation, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, as well as reliability and validity assessments, to create and validate the adapted scales using AMOS and SPSS software. The investigation uncovers distinct factors within the Arabicadopted scales compared to their original versions. Findings-The research findings shed light on the unique factors influencing online shopping adoption and social media engagement in Arab countries, particularly in Yemen. The online consumer behavior scale reveals three factors: awareness, social cognition, and online business perception, while the extended scale derived from the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology encompasses usability, price value, and adoption intention. in contrast, the social media engagement scale yields a single predominant factor. Discussion-The study's outcomes hold significant implications for shaping future models and understanding the distinct consumer behavior patterns in Yemen and similar countries. Furthermore, these insights can inform strategies to enhance the online shopping industry, ensuring it aligns with the specific needs and preferences of consumers in the region.

In this study, Turkey-partnered special education projects carried out in eTwinning (European School Education Platform) were analyzed using the systematic analysis method. Projects implemented between 2017-2019 were examined and analyzed. Twenty-five projects that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed as part of the research. As a result of the analysis, it was seen that the number of projects increased over time, the majority of the projects were carried out with Turkish partners, and among the program countries, Turkish teachers formed partnerships with Romanian teachers at the highest rate. It has been determined that more awareness activities are carried out in the projects. In addition, it has been observed that the projects generally do not meet the validity standards. It has been determined that the academic, social and technological skills of teachers and students have improved through the projects. As a result of the study, suggestions for other studies and teachers are described.

In this research, the competency of teachers using technology in eTwinning projects was evaluated in terms of different variables. The research was carried out in the causal comparison model. The research participants consisted of 42.745 projects that applied to the eTwinning quality label in Turkey in 2022. The data of the research were obtained from the evaluations of the technology used in the projects during the project evaluation process of the eTwinning National Support Organization of Turkey. The data of the research were analyzed with descriptive statistics. As a result of the research, it was found that female teachers with a quality label, teachers having international projects, teachers working with children in secondary and high school, and teachers with more project experience use technology better in their eTwinning projects. The technology competency of teachers living in the city center is similar to working in the countryside. According to these results, studies can be carried out for male teachers to improve their competency level in technology in eTwinning projects, and more incentives should be given to them to do projects; training to teachers should be given according to the school types.

Considering the critical situation of the Urmia Lake and the decision made by the government on its restoration, attention should be given to the effects of over-exploitation of the ground water resources in the plains upstream the lake plays a critical role in recharging and restoring the lake. In various areas of Iran, over-extraction of ground water resources for agricultural purposes caused land subsidence. Similarly in the plains around Lake Urmia, the agricultural development and pressure on ground water resources caused the subsidence of a significant area in the region. In this study, a subsidence map of the Urmia Lake's surrounding areas was assessed by applying combined various geodetic observations. Results showed that there are 13 subsidence areas around Urmia Lake. The maximum rate of subsidence in these areas is 18.9 cm/yr and unfortunately 70 percent of the perimeter of the lake is subsiding. The area of subsidence is about 4000 square kilometers. Considering the subsidence hazards to water and soil resources of the region, ground water resource management, optimal cultivation pattern performance and modern irrgation methods should be accounted for urgently.

Issues related to water resources are complex due to two main reasons. First is the inherent nature of these resources in that they are exhaustible while it is difficult to limit the use of them. The second reason is the multiplicity and variety of dimensions related to water issues. In this study, in order to analyze the water resources governance model, the archetypes in the model were identified and intervention policies were presented. In this study 13 Archetypes are identified and analyzed in the form of five types introduced in the research literature, including limits to growth, fixes that fail, shifting the burden, escalation, and success to the successful. Then the leverage points identified using the twelve intervention levels provided by Meadows (1999) and the hour chart provided by Abson et al. (2017) were analyzed in terms of the level of influence. In this study, in addition to the proposed intervention measures, it was suggested to design and implement intervention measures at two levels in order to avoid falling into the trap of partial measures. At the first level comprehensive and long-term measures and at the second level short measures should be designed and implemented to facilitate the implementation of the long-term program.

The rapid evolution of technology has profoundly affected social life and the educational process. The transition from classical teaching materials to modern technological tools has added richness and diversity to the learning process. Science course stands out as an area where students have difficulty in understanding abstract concepts and therefore it is of great importance that learning activities are carefully planned. Information
technology-supported education can enable the concepts in science courses to be conveyed to students more effectively and visually. This study makes an important emphasis by focusing on the need for the education system to be affected by this transformation in today’s world where digital technologies are integrated into our daily lives. In particular, addressing the detailed views of teachers, one of the main stakeholders
of the education system, on the process of developing educational digital content plays a critical role in understanding the nature of this transformation. The study was conducted with 20 science teachers from different regions across Turkey. Participants were asked various open-ended questions through a semi-structured interview form shared online. These questions focused on topics such as teachers’ experiences in creating digital content, the challenges they faced, and the advantages of digital content. The rich data obtained were analyzed in detail using descriptive analysis techniques. According to the study’s key findings, teachers generally feel a sense of deficiency in creating digital content and emphasize the need for more training in this area. However, teachers stated that the use of digital content in lessons has great potential in terms of concretizing abstract concepts, increasing student interest, and ensuring knowledge retention. Among the difficulties experienced by teachers in the process of preparing digital content are the time-consuming nature of this process and the barriers to students’ learning through practice. In this context, the study contributes to the realization of
digital transformation in education more effectively by providing guiding suggestions to researchers and relevant stakeholders for a more effective and healthy digital content creation process.

In this research, the competency of teachers using technology in eTwinning projects was evaluated in terms of different variables. The research was carried out in the causal comparison model. The research participants consisted of 42.745 projects that applied to the eTwinning quality label in Turkey in 2022. The data of the research were obtained
from the evaluations of the technology used in the projects during the project evaluation process of the eTwinning National Support Organization of Turkey. The data of the research were analyzed with descriptive statistics. As a result of the research, it was found that female teachers with a quality label, teachers having international projects, teachers working with children in secondary and high school, and teachers with more project experience use technology better in their eTwinning projects. The technology competency of teachers living in the city center is similar to working in the countryside. According to these results, studies can be carried out for male teachers to improve their competency level in technology in eTwinning projects, and more incentives should be
given to them to do projects; training to teachers should be given according to the school types.

This study set out to answer the question, how well teachers in Karachi, Pakistan, integrate technology into their lessons and what influence this has on their students' academic Success. The study used a quantitative research strategy to collect data from a survey to accomplish its goals. Researcher employed SPSS and PLS-SEM to analyze the data. It was discovered that teachers' professional progress in subject-matter competence, pedagogical skills and technological integration positively affects student achievement. Furthermore, teachers scored highly on the model's foundational components, suggesting they possess the skills, knowledge, and understanding to carry out the vast majority of the tasks reflected in the survey's questions. Three fundamental TPACK structures were discovered to be dynamic, shedding light on the ever-evolving nature of teachers' TPACK. The findings show that teachers adapt their TPACK to the specifics of each teaching situation. Given this, it is necessary to place greater focus on context inside the TPACK framework and to situate the framework as a whole within the context. This study's intention is to bring academic focus to the reform of policy in teacher education and teacher preparation so that new technologies can be effectively incorporated into existing curricula and pedagogical frameworks.

The weakening of the traditional cultures is becoming more evident from the final quarter of the last century, a period of time where the world starts to look like a "small village" in all means. A substantial cause of cultural deterioration shows to be the growing use of information and communication technologies widening the views, mentalities, and perspectives of people. Today the adolescent groups frequently owning, utilizing and consequently being charmed by the electronic equipment such like computers, internet and cellular phones have developed a unique tradition/practice in sensing and meaning life triggering larger generation gap and fading of established cultures. The main focusing of the paper is on the correlation between computer and internet use and life satisfaction, level of hope, personal development assessments and expectations of the adolescent groups in Turkey. Interpretation of the survey findings indicates that this group grading highest in use of that shows to be the happiest, most hopeful and optimistic ones among other groups. Methodologically, the study is based on data analysis and a review of recent key literature. For more dependable results a further study comparing similar tendencies of the similar groups of other nationalities is recommended.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of brain-based teaching on the self-efficacy of young EFL learners. The initial participants of the study were 90 learners within the age range of 13-16 who were selected based on convenience sampling. Theses 90 young EFL learners were given a Flyers test the scores of which were used to choose 60 homogeneous learners whose scores fell within the range of +/-one standard deviation from the mean. The 60 selected learners were then divided into an experimental and a control group. A Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children (SEQ-C), developed by Muris (2001) was administered to the participants in both groups before and after the treatment after being translated into Persian and piloted for reliability check. To implement brain-based teaching in the experimental group, the researcher taught the lessons based on the three techniques of Brain Based Teaching Approach (BBTA). The three techniques used were Relaxed Alertness (RA), Orchestrated Immersion (OI) and Active Processing (AP) in line with Thomas and Swamy (2014). The results of statistical analyses indicated that brain-based teaching approach had a significant effect on students' self-efficacy. The findings of the study can have implications for both students and EFL teachers in the realm of foreign language learning and teaching.

The Oman Vision 2040 Policy aims to create a system of high-quality education where human capabilities are empowered and where learners of a wide range of ability feel welcome and their learning is invigorated. However, research reveals that educators still need to improve their knowledge of how to access valuable insights into such education practice, and there are many ideas that need to be sharpened and elaborated in academic and public discussions. In the context of Oman’s higher education, besides English language learning and communicative skills’ enhancement, there is inclusive language education as one of strategic directions and priorities. Suggesting that foreign language acquisition understood as a complex cognitive and social process can be facilitated by assistive technology used for enhancing English language achievement of the learners who lack some of its essential aspects, this paper explores the reality of integrating assistive technology in the English language cl...

Social commerce is the natural evolution of electronic commerce, in which some scientific studies have focused on analyzing the factors that impact consumers to make their purchases through the Internet. As such, the objective of this research is to determine the influence of the information posted on social media and the ease of use of social commerce technology, with the purpose of generating trust in the consumer's commercial operations as a precedent in their intention to purchase through the Internet. The proposed method is the administration of a questionnaire to 182 users of social commerce in the northeastern region of Mexico. The SmartPLS v4 software was used for inferential analysis. The main findings show that trust is essential in purchase intention. Likewise, the information quality is the main prerequisite for consumers to shop trusty social commerce.

O presente trabalho teve como objectivos averiguar a quantidade ea qualidade de sono dos alunos em função do seu meio de residência, sexo e ano de escolaridade; identificar factores externos que influenciam a redução do tempo de sono; e averiguar a influência da ...

This study aims to describe the implementation of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) of mathematics teachers in the teaching practice of the material system of linear equations of two variables (SLETV). The approach used is a qualitative case study. The main instrument is the researchers themselves and the supporting instruments is a vignette sheet, sheet Content Representation (CoRe), and video tape recorders (Handycam). Research procedure includes providing vignette sheets and sheets of CoRe, making instructional videos and conducting the interview. Data were analyzed using frameworks Karahasan. The results showed that the subject 1 (S1) found that the implementation of the PCK S1 when teaching increased from PCK S1 prior to the implementation of the teaching practice, while the subject 2 (S2) found that the implementation of the PCK S2 upon teaching declined from PCK S2 prior to the implementation of the teaching practice.

Latest developments in information technology resulted in a revolution in library and information sciences. Acquiring electronic searching skills together with the availability of electronic resources will enable researchers to access a plethora of up-to-date information and will lead to productivity in research. This study tried to investigate the availability of electronic databases at Arab university libraries, whether faculty members can search electronic databases, and the frequency of database usage. The homepages of 202 Arab universities were browsed and a sample of faculty was interviewed. It was found that 80.7% of Arab university libraries are still traditional and lack electronic databases, including some open universities, virtual universities and universities of science and technology. All university libraries in the Gulf States except Shari'aa universities contain electronic databases. It was also found that most databases are in English; Arabic databases are lacking. Foreign universities, such as the University of Columbia in the Sudan and the American Universities of Cairo and Beirut host many more databases than Arabic universities. It was found that all electronic databases at Um Al-Qura University were used 3686 times a year only. On average, a student or faculty member uses all databases once a year. Taking into consideration that the subscription fee for a single database per year can be as high as US$ 24,000, it can be said that database usage at Arab universities with database access is not cost-effective. In addition, 94% of female faculty members and 97% of female graduate students and none of the library employees at King Saud University can search electronic databases. On the basis of these findings, the study recommends that all Arab universities and research centers have a network of electronic resources, and that Arabic specialized electronic databases be created and new documents be indexed and stored on a regular basis. Researchers should be allowed to access available databases on and off-campus. Electronic publishing in Arabic should be also encouraged.

Akgunduz, D., & Kinik Topalsan, A. (2023). Examining Technology Use and Competence of Higher Education Academics During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Higher Learning Research Communications, 14 (1).
DOI:10.18870/hlrc.v14i1.1421

Objectives: The present study describes the utilization frequency and competencies of educational technologies among academics at a university in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Participants were 391 faculty members and lecturers working in the faculties and vocational schools of a Turkish university during the 2020–2021 academic year. A survey included questions regarding the use of educational technologies and perceived competency in the use of those technologies.

Results: Academics are more familiar with distance education than hybrid or blended learning. Academics reported that blended learning, hybrid learning, and distance education provide more effective education on integrating technology but report that they mostly prefer face-to-face teaching after the COVID-19 pandemic. The top three self-reported competencies are MS Office, the university academic information system, and meeting and course management tools. More information is needed about educational technology approaches and various applications such as augmented reality, simulations, assessments, and video tools.

Conclusion: Faculty use of digital tools is limited, they experience significant deficiencies in using various digital tools and systems, and they are less competent in applying these tools. Academics still consider traditional face-to-face teaching as the primary choice if they are free to make decisions in the context of education and training. Thus, there is a need for professional development focused on pedagogical educational technology approaches, models, and methodologies.

Implications: Various factors such as the course type, subject matter, education level, technical infrastructure, and technological and methodological support should be evaluated within the context of digitizing universities.

Background Older adults with chronic illnesses or dependency on care who strive to age in place need support and care depending on their illness. Digital technology has enabled the possibility of supporting older adults in their wishes to age in place. However, current studies have mainly focused on the solitary evaluation of individual technologies or on evaluating technologies for specific illnesses. Objective This study aimed to synthesize research on the experiences of older people from the Western culture with chronic illnesses or care needs and their families with digital technology for aging in place. From the meta-synthesis, a model was derived that can be useful for the development of assistive devices in old age and that can support health care providers and professionals in their work with affected individuals. Methods A systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis was performed using an inductive approach, as proposed by Sandelowski and Barroso. We performed a system...

Background Older adults with chronic illnesses or dependency on care who strive to age in place need support and care depending on their illness. Digital technology has enabled the possibility of supporting older adults in their wishes to age in place. However, current studies have mainly focused on the solitary evaluation of individual technologies or on evaluating technologies for specific illnesses. Objective This study aimed to synthesize research on the experiences of older people from the Western culture with chronic illnesses or care needs and their families with digital technology for aging in place. From the meta-synthesis, a model was derived that can be useful for the development of assistive devices in old age and that can support health care providers and professionals in their work with affected individuals. Methods A systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis was performed using an inductive approach, as proposed by Sandelowski and Barroso. We performed a system...

In recent times, social media is a form of interactive communication of business platform which presents an alternative way to entrepreneur to posted and promotes their products and services at a zero cost and efficiently 24/7. Most used social media platforms are Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, blogs, social networks, content communities, forum, and bulletin boards. For entrepreneurs, social media has become an important tool to keep in touch with suppliers and customers, promoting brands or business profile, improve customers' satisfaction and generally to save cost in running business. Despite increasing numbers of online businesses registered with SSM (Companies Commission of Malaysia), entrepreneurs in Malaysia still relies on traditional approach or offline business such as-renting kiosk, booth or shop lot that requires paying bills and rental fees. Thus, the objective of this study is to delineate the impact of social media towards entrepreneurial development in Malaysia. Therefore, this study will hopefully provide some insights for local entrepreneurs and online merchant to utilize social media as a business platform more effectively, cost efficient and ready for competitive worldwide market. This study is based on literature reviews and synthesizing data and information from the findings of past researches. Findings in this study will be the foundation to entrepreneurs who use social media to design and implement their business platform towards entrepreneurship development in Malaysia, which provides them opportunity to collaborate and share knowledge within their network.

Bu çalışma, ileri düzey İngilizce öğrenen Türk öğrencilerinin yazma doğruluğunu geliştirmede ters yüz sınıf öğretiminin etkisini araştırmayı amaçlamıştır. Belirlenen amaca ulaşmak için Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa Üniversitesi İngilizce Öğretmenliği Bölümünde öğrenim gören 18-24 yaş aralığında 42 erkek ve kadın ileri düzey Türk İngilizce Öğretmenliği bölümü öğrencisi seçilmiş ve homojen dağılımdan sonra rastgele deney ve kontrol gruplarına atanmıştır. Yazma modülleri ile ilgili video ve powerpointler araştırmacı tarafından öğretmen yardımıyla hazırlanmış ve derse gelmeden önce izlenmesi için araştırmacı tarafından oluşturulan Telegram grubu aracılığıyla deney grubundaki katılımcılara konular gönderilmiştir. Kontrol grubu için geleneksel öğretim yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Deney grubu için, videolar katılımcılarla paylaşılmadan önce tüm deneklerden IELTS hedefleri ve akademik yazma modülüne dayalı ön test olarak bir kompozisyon yazmaları istendi. Uygulamanın 16. oturumunun sonunda tüm deneklerden son test olarak başka bir yazı yazmaları istendi. Verilerin analizi, EFL ileri seviyedeki öğrencilere yazma öğretiminde ters-yüz öğretiminin, geleneksel sınıf içi öğretime kıyasla daha etkili olduğunu ve ileri seviyede İngilizce öğrenen Türk öğrencilerin yazma doğruluğunu daha iyi geliştirmeye katkıda bulunduğunu ortaya koymuştur.

Genel anlamda işletmeler bilgi teknolojilerini müşterilerine değer sunmak, mevcut müşterilerini muhafaza etmek ve yenilerini kazanmak için kullanırlar. Muhasebe bürolarının mükelleflerin beklentilerine cevap verebilmeleri, onlara değer katabilmeleri, bunu zamanlı ve en uygun maliyetle yapabilmeleri ve faaliyetlerini etkin olarak sürdürebilmeleri bilgi teknolojisi araçlarını etkin olarak kullanabilmelerine bağlıdır. Bu çalışmada muhasebe bürolarının özelliklerine bağlı olarak bilgisayar ve internet kullanımından sağladıkları yararları algılama biçimleri arasında bir farklılık olup olmadığı saptanmaya çalışılmaktadır. Çalışma sonunda, muhasebe bürolarının bilgi teknolojisi araçlarını kullanım yoğunlukları arttıkça, sağladıkları faydaların da arttığı ancak bilgisayar ve internetten yeterince yararlanmadıkları saptanmıştır. Ayrıca, muhasebe bürolarının özelliklerine bağlı olarak bilgisayar ve internet kullanımının sağladığı faydaların bir kısmına ilişkin algı farklılığı bulunduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.

Background Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing epidemic in the United States, and metabolic control has not been improved over the last 10 years. Glycemic excursion minimization (GEM) is an alternative lifestyle treatment option focused on reducing postnutrient glucose excursions rather than reducing weight. GEM has been proven to be superior to routine care when delivered face to face, and equivalent or superior to conventional weight loss therapy, but it has not been evaluated among patients newly diagnosed with T2D or in a self-administered format. Objective This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of a self-administered version of GEM, augmented with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), to improve metabolic control (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]) while diminishing or delaying the need for diabetes medications in adults recently diagnosed with T2D. These primary objectives were hypothesized to be achieved by reducing carbohydrate intake and increasing physical activity to diminish CGM ...

The purpose of this study is to investigate technology integration related issues among Turkish middle school social studies teachers. The researchers administrated a 34-item survey to 259 middle school social studies teachers in Turkey. As indicated in the findings, the most highly identified barriers were external obstacles such as a lack of technology, restricted Internet access, and a lack of administrative and technical support. Moreover, a significant difference existed between teachers who attended technology-related professional development sessions and those who did not.

This paper briefly describes the function of media literacy in the classroom. Beginning with the notion that language is socially constructed, the paper focuses on how it is possible to incorporate a field that is familiar and accessible to all, in our teaching. Furthermore, the advantages of studying the media are outlined and supported by existing studies. Teachers who strive to show sensitivity to their students ought to include texts that are central to their students' lives.

Vinalhaven, Maine is a bucolic island community, a jewel of Penobscot Bay in central Maine. Gleaming waters and bobbing fishing boats greet the many visitors that flock to the island during Maine’s summers. During the off season, Vinalhaven has 1,200 inhabitants, while its ranks swell to roughly 5,000 at the peak of the summer tourist season. For a few months during the summer, locals and visitors alike live side-by-side in the community, paradoxically creating both a place of heightened insularity and a place of continual boundary permeations. As such, its public discourse fashions a community that is both fixed and in flux.

This dissertation explores the intersections of technology, space and place in Vinalhaven. It examines the utilization of technology and the ways that people talk (and do not talk) about technologies that shape experiences. The purpose of this exploration is to better understand the articulation of place in light of the tumultuous vicissitudes of technology. While one school of thought argues that as connectivity increases, the perceived differences between places begins to fade, other studies argue that increased connectivity results in the amplification of place specificity. And yet, still other scholars argue that the boundaries themselves are key elements of community identity (Douglas, 1966). This study explores a bounded community’s identity in relation to technologies given a population that is both fluid and fixed.

To undertake this analysis I proceed in five chapters. Chapter one provides an introduction to community of Vinalhaven and provides the theoretical foundations of my work. Chapter two offers insights into the history of land use management in the state of Maine and on Vinalhaven, offering a context for further analysis. Chapter three explores discourse surrounding the potential construction of a cell phone tower. Chapter four offers examines the community’s relationship with transportation technologies and the parallel discursive patterns that indicate that whether the technology in question is physical or non-physical, the primary concern is the movement of bodies. Chapter five offers a few concluding thoughts on the nexus of place, technology, and identity, as well as identifying opportunities for additional scholarship.

Around the world, it has been anticipated that population movements among countries due to reasons related to profession, education, vocation and immigration, and as a result of this the need for learning languages, will gradually increase. International foundations support language-learning facilities, and alternative language teaching methods are considered as priority. The advances in informatics are the most important advances of the previous and 21st century. The development in education and technology has promoted use of technology in instruction. The web based distance language teaching programs have been increasing due to the increasing importance and use of open and distance education around the world, due to the fact that it can provide various and rich learning environments, use many tools together for language teaching, gather students from different geographical areas, and thanks to its various advantages such as flexible time. Nowadays, learning a foreign language becomes necessary; the importance of teaching Turkish to the foreigners is getting more and more. In this work, we present a qualitative study on online learning of the Turkish language using the screening model. The scope of this work is the effect of distance learning based on open learning tools on Turkish edux as a second language. In particular, we focus on language education and technology, computer-aided language education, development and application of web based distance learning software and online learning of Turkish language. We apply document analysis as a qualitative research method for collecting data.

Background Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing epidemic in the United States, and metabolic control has not been improved over the last 10 years. Glycemic excursion minimization (GEM) is an alternative lifestyle treatment option focused on reducing postnutrient glucose excursions rather than reducing weight. GEM has been proven to be superior to routine care when delivered face to face, and equivalent or superior to conventional weight loss therapy, but it has not been evaluated among patients newly diagnosed with T2D or in a self-administered format. Objective This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of a self-administered version of GEM, augmented with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), to improve metabolic control (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]) while diminishing or delaying the need for diabetes medications in adults recently diagnosed with T2D. These primary objectives were hypothesized to be achieved by reducing carbohydrate intake and increasing physical activity to diminish CGM ...

Este trabalho tem como objetivo investigar os fatores que influenciam a intenção de uso de um software simulador de práticas contábeis por parte dos alunos do curso de ciências contábeis de uma instituição de ensino superior privada da cidade de Curitiba-Pr. O estudo foi realizado utilizando-se como base o Modelo de Aceitação da Tecnologia (TAM), o qual foi ajustado tendo sido incorporado cinco variáveis externas para maior poder de predição. Para a coleta de dados, utilizou-se de questionário desenvolvido por Sánchez-Prieto et al. (2016), tendo sido aplicado in loco para uma população de 142 alunos. A amostra é composta de 54 respondentes. Para o tratamento dos dados, utilizou-se a técnica de modelagem de equações estruturais (SEM) para a verificação das hipóteses do modelo. Dentre as doze hipóteses tratadas no modelo estendido, cinco delas foram corroboradas, enquanto para as demais os testes não apresentaram significância estatística. Com base nos resultados obtidos é possível in...

Digital health interventions (DHIs) are increasingly used to address the health of migrants and ethnic minorities, some of whom have reduced access to health services and worse health outcomes than majority populations. This study aims to give an overview of digital health interventions developed for ethnic or cultural minority and migrant populations, the health problems they address, their effectiveness at the individual level and the degree of participation of target populations during development. We used the methodological approach of the scoping review outlined by Tricco. We found a total of 2248 studies, of which 57 were included, mostly using mobile health technologies, followed by websites, informational videos, text messages and telehealth. Most interventions focused on illness self-management, mental health and wellbeing, followed by pregnancy and overall lifestyle habits. About half did not involve the target population in development and only a minority involved them co...

A pandemia de Covid-19 obrigou governos adotarem o isolamento social como forma de conter e controlar a disseminação do vírus. A urgência do momento não permitiu ao Ifes analisar o conjunto de fatores psicossociais e suas inter-relações que afetam a intenção de uso e o comportamento de uso dos novos usuários do AVA-Moodle do Cefor-Ifes. Este estudo busca analisar a viabilidade e a confiabilidade dos constructos no modelo adaptado, verificando a capacidade preditiva do modelo. No aporte teórico traz-se a aceitação e uso de tecnologias, com a utilização da Teoria Unificada de Aceitação e Uso de Tecnologias (UTAUT) onde se propõe um modelo adaptado com a inclusão do constructo Isolamento Social ao contexto da pandemia. Diante da uniformidade de disponibilização remota do Moodle Cefor e das características do método de análise, foi necessário a coleta de dados de 30 (trinta) respondentes para a realização do pré-teste e de 80 (oitenta) respondentes para as análises. As análises por meio...

Technology's origin comes from the God-given human faculties of creativity and free will and is blessed for use for a good purpose. Its uncontrolled entry in man's life in our day however has reached mindless proportions, especially considering the advent of AI, against whose continued betterment advised the top AI experts today due to the uncontrollable risks of the endeavour in the immediate future. In this article we present Christian position of advised limiting of the personal engagement of the Orthodox Christian with endless use of available technologies (such as new devices, media, etc.) from the viewpoint of his or her healthy spiritual life. We attempt to draw some usable types of behavior against the oncoming expected threat in the coming era of AI, which very soon, if it already isn't, will be an integral part of any technology which we are using at the very moment today. The last is to say that the Orthodox Christian in the conditions of our present day very speedily will have to get comfortable with the radical changes in the manner of behaviour in using technology-in his or her personal life, at the workplace and even in his efforts in assisting the parish or the Church. In conclusion we discuss some possible ways to exit this hypothetically advancing crisis from the viewpoint of the healthy spiritual life of the Orthodox Christian.

Background: Technology acceptability and usage surveys (TAUS) are brief questionnaires that measure technology comfort, typical daily use, and access in a population. However, current measures are not adapted to low-and middle-income country (LMIC) contexts. Objective: The objective of this pilot study was to develop a TAUS that could be used to inform the implementation of a mobile health (mHealth) intervention in Nigeria. Methods: A literature review of validated technology comfort and usage scales was conducted to identify candidate items. The draft measure was reviewed for face validity by an expert panel comprised of clinicians and researchers with cultural, methodological, and clinical expertise. The measure was piloted by radiologists at an oncology symposium in Nigeria. Results: After expert review, the final measure included 18 items organized into 3 domains: (1) comfort with using mobile applications, (2) reliability of internet or electricity, and (3) attitudes toward using computers or mobile applications in clinical practice. The pilot sample (n=16) reported high levels of comfort and acceptability toward using mHealth applications in the clinical setting but faced numerous infrastructure challenges. Conclusions: Pilot results indicate that the TAUS may be a feasible and appropriate measure for assessing technology usage and acceptability in LMIC clinical contexts. Dedicating a domain to technology infrastructure and access yielded valuable insights for program implementation.

Background: Technology acceptability and usage surveys (TAUS) are brief questionnaires that measure technology comfort, typical daily use, and access in a population. However, current measures are not adapted to low-and middle-income country (LMIC) contexts. Objective: The objective of this pilot study was to develop a TAUS that could be used to inform the implementation of a mobile health (mHealth) intervention in Nigeria. Methods: A literature review of validated technology comfort and usage scales was conducted to identify candidate items. The draft measure was reviewed for face validity by an expert panel comprised of clinicians and researchers with cultural, methodological, and clinical expertise. The measure was piloted by radiologists at an oncology symposium in Nigeria. Results: After expert review, the final measure included 18 items organized into 3 domains: (1) comfort with using mobile applications, (2) reliability of internet or electricity, and (3) attitudes toward using computers or mobile applications in clinical practice. The pilot sample (n=16) reported high levels of comfort and acceptability toward using mHealth applications in the clinical setting but faced numerous infrastructure challenges. Conclusions: Pilot results indicate that the TAUS may be a feasible and appropriate measure for assessing technology usage and acceptability in LMIC clinical contexts. Dedicating a domain to technology infrastructure and access yielded valuable insights for program implementation.

Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic impacted across the globe disrupting all sectors including the higher education universities. Nursing institutions faced various challenges due to the pandemic restrictions, of which the abrupt shift of implementing the curriculum to online mode posed a major challenge to both the teachers and the students. To assess nursing students&#39; perception of pandemic pedagogy and the challenges faced in online teaching-learning, this cross-sectional survey was conducted among 982 undergraduate nursing students from three Deemed to be University nursing institutions of Southern India. Institutional Ethics Committee approval (IEC 444/2020), permission from the heads of the institutions and study participant’s consent was obtained. Data was collected using an online survey questionnaire which had three domains, including student-related (19 items), teacher-related(5 items), and physical learning environment-related factors (11 items).  The reliability was es...

Tras la aparición del COVID-19 los países vienen enfrentando las consecuencias de las decisiones políticas que optaron los gobiernos como medidas de prevención y reducción de los efectos de esta crisis sanitaria, sin embargo, no se consideró los efectos generados en el desarrollo de las actividades económicas siendo el sector turismo uno de los sectores más afectados, en este sentido. el propósito de la presente investigación, es determinar de qué manera influyen los factores identificados en el desarrollo microempresarial turístico ante el COVID-19 en la Provincia del Cusco, en cuanto la metodología utilizada fue de alcance explicativo, de diseño no experimental y enfoque mixto, la muestra fue calculada mediante muestreo probabilístico estratificado con un total de 242 micro empresas turística, dicha información fue procesada mediante el programa estadístico SPSS25 bajo el índice de Pearson. Concluyendo que, los factores Gestión empresarial, Innovación, Inversión, Formalización, Ma...

Tendo por objetivo identificar eventuais mudanças no tempo dedicado ao trabalho doméstico por homens e mulheres, no período de 12 anos, este artigo analisa as horas gastas por homens e mulheres no trabalho doméstico e a sua perceção da justiça dessa distribuição, através da comparação dos dados obtidos nos inquéritos do ISSP (International Social Survey Programme) sobre família e género de 2002 e 2012 (2014 em Portugal). Esta análise é precedida por uma revisão da investigação recente, em Portugal, integrando a divisão do trabalho doméstico nas várias dimensões que estruturam as relações de género, de modo a contribuir para um diagnóstico da extensão e qualidade da igualdade de género. Concluímos que, apesar das grandes transformações sociais das últimas décadas, a persistência de uma ideologia de género tradicional impõe limites à modernização da sociedade portuguesa.