Undergraduate software engineering learners demonstrate a lack of motivation with face-to-face classroom education. Limited access to the Internet via PCs and laptops, hinders effective communication and collaboration. However, the majority of learners enrolled for studies in tertiary education, have cellphones and are proficient in the use of digital technology. A technology-enhanced m-learning solution is indicated. This research project evaluates the usability and user experience of an m-learning environment, custom-designed for a tertiary educational context and delivered by mobile handheld devices, features a synthesized framework of categories and criteria, and determines the nature and scope of an emergent digital divide. A design-based research model suited to the context of the study is implemented, gathering quantitative and qualitative data from experts and learners by survey questionnaires. Analysis of data highlights usability and UX problems, provides insight into an emergent digital divide and suggests guidelines specific to the design of m-learning implementations. / Educational Studies / M. Sc. (Information Systems)

Nästan allt vi gör på internet kräver att vi identifierar oss med e-legitimation. Ändå erbjuds nästan uteslutande bankernas e-legitimation (BankID) via offentliga e-tjänster, trots att BankID inte är något alla har möjlighet att få. Det innebär att människor som inte kan, eller vill, vara bankkunder utesluts från vårt digitala välfärdssamhälle och hindras från att använda e-tjänster de har rätt att använda. Problematiken tydliggjordes ytterligare under coronapandemin, inte minst i vaccinationskaoset som uppstod i början, eftersom BankID krävdes i flera regioner för att kunna boka tid för vaccination. Huvudsyftet med denna kandidatuppsats i Informatik är att identifiera och förklara kommunala och nationella faktorer som bidrar till digital inkludering vid användning av e-legitimationer via kommunala förvaltningars e-tjänster. Bisyftet är att jämföra två DIGG-godkända e-legitimationer för att identifiera och beskriva vilka skillnader det finns som påverkar medborgarnas möjligheter att skaffa e-legitimation. I studien har fallstudiemetoden tillämpats och en litteraturstudie har genomförts för att inhämta kunskaper och erfarenheter från tidigare forskningsstudier. Primära empiriska data har samlats in genom intervjuer via Zoom. Fem olika rollinnehavare har intervjuats beträffande deras erfarenheter och uppfattningar om faktorer som påverkar medborgares möjligheter att använda kommunala e-tjänster med e-legitimation som identifieringsmetod. De viktigaste slutsatserna från studiens analys är: att erbjuda samtliga DIGG-godkända e-legitimationer via de kommunala e-tjänsterna främjar digital inkludering, det beror på att tröskeln för människor att skaffa en e-legitimation minskar. Utan faktorn nationell styrning är sålunda kommunal styrning och kommundirektörens kunskap och prioritering av digitaliseringsfrågan av högre betydelse, speciellt om faktorn medarbetarnas inställning och kunskap inte är särskilt hög. Både nationell och kommunal styrning behövs för att e-förvaltningen ska kunna hålla en likvärdig standard oavsett ekonomiska eller personella förutsättningar. I dagsläget finns bara en DIGG-godkänd e-legitimation som aktivt arbetar för alla människors rätt att få tillgång till en e-legitimation.

Diese Arbeit untersucht den Einfluss von Kultur und Sprache auf die Nutzung des Internets. Drei Hauptgebiete wurden bearbeitet: (1) Der Einfluss von Kultur und Sprache auf Nutzerpräferenzen bezüglich der Darstellung von Informationen und Nutzung von Suchoptionen; (2) Der Einfluss von Kultur auf Nutzerpräferenzen bezüglich des Inhaltes von Websiteinformationen; (3) Der Einfluss von Sprache auf die Nutzerzufriedenheit und Sprache als Informationszugangsbarriere Daten aus Logfile-Analysen, Onlinebefragungen und experimentellen Untersuchungen bildeten die Auswertungsgrundlage für die Überprüfung der 33 Hypothesen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass kulturspezifische Denkmuster mit Navigationsmusters und Nutzung von Suchoptionen korrelieren. Der Einfluss von Kultur auf Nutzerpräferenzen bezüglich des Inhaltes von Websiteinformationen erwies sich als weniger eindeutig. Aus den Untersuchungen zum Einfluss von Sprache ging hervor, dass Sprache Web¬sitezugriff und –nutzung beeinflusst. Die Daten zeigen, dass signifikant weniger L1-Nutzer als L2-Nutzer auf eine Website zugreifen. Dies lässt sich zum einem mit dem sprachbedingten kognitiven Aufwand erklären als auch mit der Tatsache, dass Websites unterschiedlicher Sprachen weniger miteinander verlinkt sind als Websites gleicher Sprachen. Im Hinblick auf die Nutzung von Suchoptionen zeigte sich, dass L2 Nutzer mit geringem themenspezifischen Wissen sich signifikant von L1 Nutzern unterscheiden. Schließlich lassen die Ergebnisse auch darauf schließen, dass Zufriedenheit der Nutzer einer Website einerseits mit Sprachfähigkeiten der Nutzer und andererseits mit der wahrgenommenen Menge muttersprachlichen Angebots im Internet korreliert. / This thesis analyses the impact of culture and language on Internet use. Three main areas were investigated: (1) the impact of culture and language on preferences for information presentation and search options, (2) the impact of culture on the need for specific website content, and (3) language as a barrier to information access and as a determinant of website satisfaction. In order to test the 33 hypotheses, data was gathered by means of logfile analyses, online surveys, and laboratory studies. It was concluded that culture clearly correlated with patterns of navigation behaviour and the use of search options. In contrast, results concerning the impact of culture on the need for website content were less conclusive. Results concerning language, showed that significantly fewer L1 users than L2 users accessed a website. This can be explained with language related cognitive effort as well as with the fact the websites of different languages are less linked than websites of the same language. With regard to search option use, a strong mediation effect of domain knowledge was found. Furthermore, results revealed correlations between user satisfaction and language proficiency, as well as between satisfaction and the perceived amount of native language information online.

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Com o recente crescimento do interesse em atividades manuais baseada em tecnologias digitais, espaços de construção começam a fazer parte de projetos educacionais públicos e privados no país. Estes espaços são planejados, construídos e executados seguindo tendências transnacionais de construção digital. Esta tese contrasta propostas maker baseadas em FabLabs, na Maker Media, em críticas à tecnoutopia californiana e no FabLearn com objetivo de compreender as origens, objetivos e implicações de cada uma dessas diferentes propostas de tecnologias para a Educação. Considerando a sub-teorização do movimento maker em geral, que privilegia o fazer acima do refletir, esta tese apresenta conceitos de tecnologia baseado em Álvaro Vieira Pinto, de práxis e liberdade em Paulo Freire, e de bases social da técnica no campo de Ciência, Tecnologia e Sociedade. Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva de fatos e fenômenos em voga na tecnociência e educação brasileiras. Os resultados alcançados são uma abordagem crítico-reflexiva das diferentes vertentes maker, o contraste entre diferentes propostas de construção digital, uma contribuição a propostas progressistas de educação e a valorização e expansão da obra de pensadores nacionais de Educação e tecnologias. Conclui-se que a proposta FabLearn é condicente com ideias freirianas para Educação e que parte da falta de embasamento teórico do movimento maker em geral pode ser preenchida pelo pensamento filosófico de Álvaro Vieira Pinto e educacional de Paulo Freire, em uma perspectiva emancipatória e inclusiva da sociedade. / Spaces dedicated to construction based on digital resources are taking part of public and private educational projects in Brazil as a result of the growing public interest in hands-on activities. These spaces are planned, built, and executed under transnational trends of digital construction. This Ph.D. thesis contrasts maker proposals, e.g. FabLabs, Maker Media, criticism to the Californian tecnoutopia, and FabLearn, in order to comprehend the origins, the aims and the implications of each one of these distinct proposals of technologies in Education. One considering the under-theorization of maker movement in general, which privileges the ´making´ over reflection, this thesis presents concepts of technology based on Alvaro Vieira Pinto, and praxis and freedom on Paulo Freire’s work, along a discussion of social basis of techniques on Science, Technology and Society Studies. It is a descriptive research about facts and phenomenons in an ongoing debate about Brazilian techno science and education. As results, it presents firstly a critical reflexive approach of diverse maker proposals, secondly a contribution to progressive education discussions, and thirdly the enrichment and expansion of national thinkers’ theories on technology and education. It concludes that FabLearn is consistent with Freire’s ideas of progressive education, and Alvaro Vieira Pinto’s philosophical and Paulo Freire’s educational thoughts can be filled in, based on an emancipatory and inclusive perspective of society, the theoretical gap of maker movement.

Com o recente crescimento do interesse em atividades manuais baseada em tecnologias digitais, espaços de construção começam a fazer parte de projetos educacionais públicos e privados no país. Estes espaços são planejados, construídos e executados seguindo tendências transnacionais de construção digital. Esta tese contrasta propostas maker baseadas em FabLabs, na Maker Media, em críticas à tecnoutopia californiana e no FabLearn com objetivo de compreender as origens, objetivos e implicações de cada uma dessas diferentes propostas de tecnologias para a Educação. Considerando a sub-teorização do movimento maker em geral, que privilegia o fazer acima do refletir, esta tese apresenta conceitos de tecnologia baseado em Álvaro Vieira Pinto, de práxis e liberdade em Paulo Freire, e de bases social da técnica no campo de Ciência, Tecnologia e Sociedade. Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva de fatos e fenômenos em voga na tecnociência e educação brasileiras. Os resultados alcançados são uma abordagem crítico-reflexiva das diferentes vertentes maker, o contraste entre diferentes propostas de construção digital, uma contribuição a propostas progressistas de educação e a valorização e expansão da obra de pensadores nacionais de Educação e tecnologias. Conclui-se que a proposta FabLearn é condicente com ideias freirianas para Educação e que parte da falta de embasamento teórico do movimento maker em geral pode ser preenchida pelo pensamento filosófico de Álvaro Vieira Pinto e educacional de Paulo Freire, em uma perspectiva emancipatória e inclusiva da sociedade. / Spaces dedicated to construction based on digital resources are taking part of public and private educational projects in Brazil as a result of the growing public interest in hands-on activities. These spaces are planned, built, and executed under transnational trends of digital construction. This Ph.D. thesis contrasts maker proposals, e.g. FabLabs, Maker Media, criticism to the Californian tecnoutopia, and FabLearn, in order to comprehend the origins, the aims and the implications of each one of these distinct proposals of technologies in Education. One considering the under-theorization of maker movement in general, which privileges the ´making´ over reflection, this thesis presents concepts of technology based on Alvaro Vieira Pinto, and praxis and freedom on Paulo Freire’s work, along a discussion of social basis of techniques on Science, Technology and Society Studies. It is a descriptive research about facts and phenomenons in an ongoing debate about Brazilian techno science and education. As results, it presents firstly a critical reflexive approach of diverse maker proposals, secondly a contribution to progressive education discussions, and thirdly the enrichment and expansion of national thinkers’ theories on technology and education. It concludes that FabLearn is consistent with Freire’s ideas of progressive education, and Alvaro Vieira Pinto’s philosophical and Paulo Freire’s educational thoughts can be filled in, based on an emancipatory and inclusive perspective of society, the theoretical gap of maker movement.

The thesis deals with the threat of dehumanization when applying digital technologies and robotics into social work. The work focuses on the history and origin of digital technologies within the context of social changes. It explores the basic rules governing elementary functioning and development of digital technologies and robotics. The thesis describes and summarizes basic information about the possibilities and risks of using digital technologies and robotics within social work. Towards the end it also includes opinions of several professional and political authorities who are active in this topic. This thesis aims to trigger the debate over the possible threats connected to dehumanization of social work and the use of digital technologies and robotics, respectively make it more intensive.

(in English) The thesis "Information Policy of European Union in Bangemann's activities period in comparison with USA" is devoted to the Information policy issue applied by the European Union and the United States of America. The thesis structure is defined at the earliest; afterwards the basic terms are followed. The thesis describes the European Union history, which provides context needed to be able to understand the European Union Information policy. The description and evaluation of the European Information policy in Bangemann's activities period in comparison with USA in the same time period and the possibility of mutual utilization of pros of the Information policy of both countries is the aim of this thesis. The following part is occupied with the comparison of EU and USA Information policy at the beginning of 21st century.