Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The Brazilian Northeastern Semi - arid during its occupation process was a region of stimulated economic value at the height of cattle breeding and also for its fertile lands, in which urban clusters formed, most of them close to intermittent rivers and streams.With the population densification in the urban nuclei resulted in the search for other places, and the settlement extended to the vast lands that sheltered the interior of these cities, mainly in the areas surrounded by isolated mountain ranges, known as upland forest, endowed with more humid climate, Lush forest and rising springs. Thus, they became favorable environments to the detriment of the natural system, by the continuous use of water, of its natural sources. It is known that the semi-arid region in the Northeast of Brazil suffers from water deficiency, where it is supplied by its hydrographic basins, whose sources are considered by law, permanent preservation areas - APP'S, and aim to establish the continuous sustenance of water supply. The current research seeks to analyze the socioenvironmental dynamics of the springs in Poço das Trincheiras, semi - arid region of Alagoas, with the spatial cut of the research in Serra do Poço, classified as an montane wet forest and due to environmental conditions, Thus forming the Serra do Poço Village. The municipality integrates the hydrographical region of the São Francisco River, and is drained by the sub - basins of the Rio Ipanema, Capiá and Riacho Grande. Poço das Trincheiras is bathed by intermittent rivers, but with many natural sources or watery eyes that originate on the mountains, coming from the outcrop of groundwater. Due to the water stresses and climatic anomalies faced by the living in the backlands, the springs are primordial sources of utilization of the population to overcome problems related to water scarcity, thus establishing a direct relationship between society and nature. For this, the developed research was outlined, starting from the systemic approach, having as category of geographic analysis the landscape. The methodological procedures consist of: bibliographic research, documentary research, experimental research and data treatment. A theoretical reference was made on the theme, later an integrated analysis of the landscape through the characterization of the environmental and socioeconomic constraints of the study area and, finally, the study of these sources. Finally, it is concluded that the springs areas protected by law evidenced in the municipality, especially in the Serra do Poço Village, are in small rural properties, totaling 12 (twelve), serving as local use for the community, whether in the cultivation of subsistence or watering of animals, some disturbed, others degraded by anthropic actions, but that there is no type of inspection or applicability of the legislation in the area. / O Semiárido nordestino brasileiro, durante o seu processo de ocupação, foi uma região de estimulado valor econômico no auge da criação bovina e também por suas terras férteis, nas quais se formaram aglomerados urbanos, a maioria próxima aos rios e riachos intermitentes. O adensamento populacional nos núcleos urbanos resultou na procura de outros locais, sendo que o povoamento se estendeu pelas vastas terras que abrigavam o interior dessas cidades, principalmente para áreas circundadas por serras isoladas, conhecidas como brejos de altitude, dotadas de clima mais úmido, mata exuberante e afloramento de nascentes. Assim, tornaram-se ambientes favoráveis, em face do sistema natural e do uso contínuo de água de suas fontes naturais. Sabe-se que a região semiárida, no Nordeste do Brasil, sofre com a insuficiência hídrica, que é suprida por suas bacias hidrográficas, cujas nascentes são consideradas por lei áreas de preservação permanente – APP’S – e visam a estabelecer o sustento contínuo do fornecimento de água. A pesquisa vigente busca em seu objetivo geral analisar a dinâmica socioambiental das nascentes em Poço das Trincheiras, no semiárido alagoano, sendo o recorte espacial da pesquisa situado em Serra do Poço, classificada como um brejo de altitude que, devido às condições ambientais, foi ocupada, formando assim o Povoado Serra do Poço. O município integra a região hidrográfica do rio São Francisco e é drenado pelas sub-bacias dos rios Ipanema, Capiá e Riacho Grande. Poço das Trincheiras é banhado por rios intermitentes, mas com muitas fontes naturais ou olhos d’água que se originam sobre as serras, provenientes do afloramento das águas subterrâneas. Devido aos estresses hídricos e às anomalias climáticas enfrentados pelos viventes dos sertões, as nascentes são fontes primordiais de utilização da população para vencer problemas relacionados à escassez de água, estabelecendo assim uma relação direta entre sociedade e natureza. Diante disso, a pesquisa desenvolvida delineou-se a partir da abordagem sistêmica, tendo como categoria de análise geográfica a paisagem. Quanto aos procedimentos metodológicos utilizados, eles consistiram em: pesquisa bibliográfica, pesquisa documental, pesquisa experimental e tratamento dos dados. Realizou-se um levantamento teórico acerca da temática, posteriormente fez-se uma análise integrada da paisagem através da caracterização dos condicionantes ambientais e socioeconômicos da área de estudo e, por fim, procedeu-se ao estudo dessas nascentes. Enfim, conclui-se que as nascentes, áreas protegidas por lei, evidenciadas no município, em especial no Povoado Serra do Poço, encontram-se em pequenas propriedades rurais, totalizando 12 (doze), servindo de uso local para a comunidade, seja no cultivo de subsistência ou na dessedentação de animais; verificou-se ainda que algumas são perturbadas e outras são degradadas pelas ações antrópicas, mas não existe nenhum tipo de fiscalização e nem aplicabilidade da legislação na área. / São Cristóvão, SE

Since the emergence of the environmental consciousness as a result of increased pressure from environmentalists who fight against the overuse of natural resources, sustainable development has become a major challenge since the twentieth century. As a means to ensure sustainable development, Brazil has been developing environmental policies which have instruments such the environmental licensing. The shrimp farming is an activity which has polluting potential, therefore to be developed within the law it has to go through the licensing process. At São Cristóvão municipality, Sergipe State, shrimp farm has been developed mostly by smallholders in Permanent Preservation Areas. Due to the location of aquaculture estuarine ponds that have existed for about 200 years, those shrimp ponds do not have licensing and, if on the one hand, closing those ponds would be ideal under the environmental point of view, it would also be responsible for an enormous negative socioeconomic impact to the actors involved in this activity. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate sustainability in social, economic and ecological dimensions of marine shrimp farm in São Cristóvão, through the use of indicators based on the methodology Framework for Assessment Systems Natural Resources Management Incorporating Sustainability Indicators (MESMIS). At the study literature searches were performed in addition to query a database of the Study Group on Aquaculture and Sustainability (GEAS), which provided data about shrimp farmers and actors involved in the activity. 30 indicators were selected and it was observed that the economic dimension obtained the highest level of sustainability (86.04%), followed by social dimension (80.37%) and ecological dimension (67.78%), respectively. The general index found for the shrimp farms studied in São Cristóvão was 78.06%, confirming the hypothesis that the local marine shrimp farms are sustainable considering the economic, social and ecological dimensions. However, more studies are needed in order to deepen the knowledge about sustainability in the study area. / A partir do surgimento de uma consciência ambiental, fruto de maior pressão dos ambientalistas que combatem o uso exagerado dos recursos naturais, o desenvolvimento sustentável tornou-se um grande desafio desde o século XX. Como forma de garantir o desenvolvimento sustentável, o Brasil vem criando políticas ambientais que dispõem de instrumentos como o licenciamento ambiental. A carcinicultura, criação de camarão que possui potencial poluidor, para ser desenvolvida dentro da legalidade, precisa passar pelo processo de licenciamento. Em São Cristóvão, Sergipe, essa atividade é desenvolvida, em sua maioria, por produtores familiares em Áreas de Preservação Permanente. Devido à localização, esses viveiros, que existem há cerca de 200 anos, não possuem licenciamento e, se por um lado, o fechamento desses viveiros seria ideal do ponto de vista ambiental, também seria responsável por um enorme impacto socioeconômico aos atores sociais envolvidos na atividade. Diante disto, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a sustentabilidade nas dimensões social, econômica e ecológica de carciniculturas em São Cristóvão, através de indicadores, utilizando uma adaptação da metodologia Marco para Avaliação de Sistemas de Manejo de Recursos Naturais Incorporando Indicadores de Sustentabilidade (MESMIS). Para isso foram realizadas pesquisas bibliográficas, além de consulta a um banco de dados do Grupo de Estudos sobre Aquicultura e Sustentabilidade (GEAS), que forneceu dados dos produtores e atores sociais envolvidos na atividade. Foram selecionados 30 indicadores e observou-se que a dimensão econômica obteve maior nível de sustentabilidade (86,04%), seguida pela dimensão social (80,37%) e ecológica (67,78%), respectivamente. O índice geral das carciniculturas estudadas em São Cristóvão foi de 78.06%, confirmando a hipótese de que a produção de camarão marinho no município, avaliada nas dimensões social econômica e ecológica é potencialmente sustentável. Porém, mais estudos são necessários a fim de aprofundar o conhecimento sobre a sustentabilidade nessas áreas.

The aim of the present study was to find out what qualities teachers look for in apps for reading development, what qualities researchers think an app should possess, and whether the apps that teachers use have these qualities. To achieve this purpose, teachers in grades 1–3 were asked to complete a questionnaire and three educational apps were analysed with the aid of questions based on Sjödén’s (2015) dissertation “What makes good educational software?” The questions were used to study the contexts representation, interaction and social positioning. The results of the study showed that the three most desirable qualities in an educational app are that it should motivate pupils, that it should be linked to the learning goals, and that it should give pupils an opportunity to work independently. The analysis showed that the three most frequently used apps had the qualities that the teachers considered most significant and also the qualities that research has found essential in an educational app. The apps mostly elicited positive responses to the analysis questions, but there were defects in the concretizing potential of the apps, and none of them enabled social interaction through the assumption of character roles. The conclusions show that, despite the qualities of the apps, the teacher is indispensable in the teaching of reading with apps, and to choose a good educational app teachers should use the analysis in the study as a foundation but also integrate their own experience of teaching.

Being physically active plays an essential role in ensuring good health and well-being. Motivation is a key factor for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and together with the help of today’s modern technology, facilitating new innovative approaches has made it easier to motivate people towards regular physical activity. This study aims to examine how a training application can increase motivation and how behavioral change occurs when using a training application. Qualitative data collection methods such as interviews and observations have been used in this study. The results show that the training applications ability to motivate varies, and there is a vast interest in taking part of the statistical results and having control over personal developments. / Fysisk aktivitet är en viktig roll för att kunna säkerställa god hälsa och välmående. Motivation är en nyckel faktor för att upprätthålla en hälsosamlivsstil. Tillsammans med dagens moderna teknik har det utvecklats nya innovativa tillvägagångssätt för att motivera människan till regelbunden fysisk aktivitet. Denna studie undersöker hur en träningsapplikation kan bidra till ökad motivation och hur beteendeförändring förekommer vid användning av en träningsapplikation. Kvalitativa datainsamlingsmetoder såsom intervjuer och observationer har använts i denna studie. Resultatet visar att träningsapplikationens förmåga att motivera varierar beroende på användare. Det finns även ett stort intresse att kunna ta del av slutresultat och ha kontroll över den personliga utvecklingen.

Syftet med denna studie är att beskriva barn och föräldrars upplevelse av att spela PokémonGo, samt att redogöra vilka komponenter som motiverar till fysisk aktivitet. Genom enkvalitativ metod med latent ansats utfördes fyra stycken intervjuer med hälsopromotion ifokus. Urvalet av informanter varierade i ålder 7-12 år och var av båda könen samt minst endeltagande förälder. Dataanalysen tillät oss att göra en latent tolkning genom eninnehållsanalys vilket resulterade i följande huvudtema: Pokémon Go bidrar till ökad fysiskaktivitet samt gemenskap med vänner och familj. Resultatet visade att informanterna genomPokémon Go skapat en ny attityd gentemot fysisk aktivitet och att Pokémon Go som appöppnat upp möjligheten till gemenskap och att fysisk aktivitet är roligt. Vi hoppas att meddenna studie kunna bidra till framtida forskning för att integrera interaktiva appar såsomPokémon Go som visat positiva effekter på ungas fysiska aktivitet och hälsa. / The purpose of this study is to describe children and parents experience of playing PokémonGo, as well as explaining what components motivate to physical activity. Through aqualitative approach, four interviews were conducted with health promotion in focus. Theselection of informants varied between the ages of 7-12 and was of both sexes and at least oneparent. Data analysis allowed us to make a latent interpretation through a content analysiswhich resulted in the following main themes: Pokémon Go contributes to increased physicalactivity and community with friends and family. The result showed that the Pokémon Goinformants created a new attitude towards physical activity and that Pokémon Go as appopened up the possibility of community and physical activity is fun. We hope that this studywill contribute to future research to integrate interactive apps such as Pokémon Go, whichshowed positive effects on young people's physical activity and health.

Social networks are popular platforms that simplify user interaction and encourage collaboration. They collect large amounts of media from their users, often reported from mobile devices. The value and impact of social media makes it however an attractive attack target. In this thesis, we focus on the following social media vulnerabilities. First, review centered social networks such as Yelp and Google Play have been shown to be the targets of significant search rank and malware proliferation attacks. Detecting fraudulent behaviors is thus paramount to prevent not only public opinion bias, but also to curb the distribution of malware. Second, the increasing use of mobile visual data in news networks, authentication and banking applications, raises questions of its integrity and credibility. Third, through proof-of- concept implementations, we show that data reported from wearable personal trackers is vulnerable to a wide range of security and privacy attacks, while off-the-shelves security solutions do not port gracefully to the constraints introduced by trackers. In this thesis we propose novel solutions to address these problems. First, we introduce Marco, a system that leverages the wealth of spatial, temporal and network information gleaned from Yelp, to detect venues whose ratings are impacted by fraudulent reviews. Second, we propose FairPlay, a system that correlates review activities, linguistic and behavioral signals gleaned from longitudinal app data, to identify not only search rank fraud but also malware in Google Play, the most popular Android app market. Third, we describe Movee, a motion sensor based video liveness verification system, that analyzes the consistency between the motion inferred from the simultaneously and independently captured camera and inertial sensor streams. Finally, we devise SensCrypt, an efficient and secure data storage and communication protocol for affordable and lightweight personal trackers. We provide the correctness and efficacy of our solutions through a detailed theoretic and experimental analysis.

Diploma thesis deals with mobile applications for policyholders in the segment of general insurance. Aims of thesis are to create an analysis of existing applications on market in the Czech Republic, reveal their shortcomings, design a new application and then create it and make it available for policyholders of all insurers. The first chapter of thesis contains definition of basic terms that are used later in text. Analysis of existing applications is the content of second chapter. It is based on examination of functions of existing applications and the reviews from users and experts. Design of the new application is described in chapter three and is included as a runnable HTML prototype on the attached disk. Description of implemented application is included in the next part of the third chapter and application itself is available for download from Google Play and can also be found on the attached disk. The main benefits of thesis are the analysis of mobile insurance applications market, the new application available for all policyholders, and some recommendations resulting from re-search for companies intending to produce their own application.

Impulse purchases on mobile applications are an important source of income for clothing companies in today's society. Thoughtful store communication on shopping apps is therefore necessary in the competitive clothing industry. Environmental elements are various communication tools in online visual merchandising (OVM) which have a great influence on consumers' purchasing behavior but whose impact on impulse purchases separately has not yet been explored. The purpose of the study is therefore to elucidate which environmental elements stimulate impulse buying behavior online on mobile shopping apps in the clothing industry. To investigate this, a qualitative study was conducted in the form of semi-structured interviews. According to the study, all environmental elements besides audio on video stimulate online impulse buying behavior on mobile shopping apps within the clothing industry. However, certain conditions exist for the execution of these environmental elements for this stimulus to occur. The study's results therefore show a problem that exists in securing which environmental elements stimulate impulse buying behavior when there are many embodiments of environmental elements that are experienced in different ways depending on who is exposed to them that causes an element to be able to stimulate but also prevent impulse purchases depending on this. / Försäljning genom impulsköp via mobilappar är en viktig inkomstkälla för klädföretag i dagens samhälle. Behovet av genomtänkt butikskommunikation på shoppingappar är därför stort i den konkurrenssatta klädbranschen. Miljömässiga element är olika kommunikationsredskap inom online visual merchandising (OVM) som har stort inflytande på konsumenters köpbeteende men vars påverkan på impulsköp var för sig ännu inte har utforskats. Syftet med studien är därför att belysa vilka miljömässiga element som stimulerar impulsköpbeteende online på mobila shoppingappar inom klädbranschen.  För att undersöka detta har en kvalitativ studie genomförts i form av semistrukturerade intervjuer. Enligt gällande studie stimulerar alla miljömässiga element förutom ljud till video till impulsköpbeteende online på mobila shoppingappar inom klädbranschen. Dock förekommer vissa premisser för utförandet av dessa miljömässiga element för att denna stimulans ska ske. Studiens resultat visar således en problematik som förekommer vid säkerställandet av vilka miljömässiga element som stimulerar till impulsköpbeteende då det förekommer många utföranden av miljömässiga element, som i sin tur upplevs på olika vis beroende på vem som exponeras för dem att det gör att ett element många gånger verkar kunna stimulera men också förhindra impulsköp beroende av detta.

[ES] Esta tesis se centra en tres tecnologías móviles: podcasting, aplicaciones móviles y Twitter, y evalúa su potencial para el aprendizaje de idiomas basándose en una serie de estudios con distintos tipos de participantes, incluyendo estudiantes de enseñanza formal, de contextos informales de aprendizaje, y profesores. El objetivo general de los diferentes estudios de investigación es evaluar las tres tecnologías a través de procesos para a) identificar el potencial de esas tecnologías, b) investigar cómo las utilizan los aprendices y los profesores, y c) analizar si la forma de utilizarlas cumple con el potencial identificado y es propicio para el aprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras. La introducción presenta los antecedentes de la investigación realizada y seis conceptos que afectan nuestra comprensión del aprendizaje de idiomas a través de estas tecnologías: el concepto de enseñar a personas desconocidas, el desarrollo de capacidades digitales, la micro-credencialización, el aumento de la atención parcial continua, la ansiedad por el idioma extranjero y la normalización. El capítulo dos es un compendio de los nueve trabajos publicados y se divide en tres secciones. La primera sección trata sobre el uso de podcasting como herramienta de aprendizaje de idiomas. La primera publicación proporciona una taxonomía de recursos de podcasts, revisa los materiales de podcasting a la luz de las teorías de adquisición de segundas lenguas, aboga por un mejor diseño y sugiere direcciones para futuras investigaciones. Esta investigación se presenta en las publicaciones dos y tres. La sección dos del capítulo dos se enfoca en el uso de aplicaciones móviles para el aprendizaje y la enseñanza de idiomas. La publicación cuatro revisa la investigación actual sobre el potencial para el aprendizaje de idiomas de las aplicaciones y presenta una taxonomía de las aplicaciones disponibles y su uso para ello. El artículo también presenta un marco que consta de cuatro categorías para evaluar aplicaciones de aprendizaje de idiomas (tecnología, pedagogía, experiencia del usuario y aprendizaje de idiomas). La publicación concluye con una propuesta de áreas de investigación adicional, incluido el uso por parte del aprendiz en contextos formales e informales. Estas áreas de investigación se investigan en las publicaciones cinco y seis. La sección tres se centra en la tercera tecnología: Twitter como herramienta de enseñanza y aprendizaje de idiomas. La publicación siete destaca el potencial de Twitter como herramienta de aprendizaje de idiomas. La publicación ocho muestra cómo un grupo de profesores de idiomas utiliza Twitter como herramienta para el desarrollo profesional continuo y evalúa el impacto de su red de Twitter en sus prácticas docentes. Por último, la publicación nueve presenta un estudio a gran escala de aprendices autónomos de idiomas que utilizan Twitter. Los resultados de estos estudios se discuten en el capítulo tres. El capítulo cuatro vuelve a los principales temas y conceptos presentados en la introducción y proporciona algunas consideraciones basadas en los resultados de la investigación realizada. A continuación, propone que puede ser necesario reenfocar la agenda de investigación de MALL y sugiere posibles áreas de desarrollo. La investigación presentada en esta tesis contribuye a los campos de CALL y MALL de varias maneras. Primero, proporciona perfiles de usuario de los aprendices que utilizan estas tecnologías. En segundo lugar, proporciona evidencia de cómo esos usuarios utilizan las tecnologías y evalúan su experiencia de aprendizaje. En tercer lugar, presenta una nueva taxonomía de recursos MALL. En cuarto lugar, describe un proceso para evaluar el uso de tecnologías móviles para el aprendizaje de idiomas, con un nuevo marco teórico de evaluación basado en cinco criterios: tecnología, experiencia del usuario, aprendizaje de idiomas, interacción y pedago / [CA] Aquesta tesi se centra en tres tecnologies mòbils: podcasting, aplicacions mòbils i Twitter, i avalua el seu potencial per a l'aprenentatge d'idiomes basant-se en una sèrie d'estudis amb diferents tipus de participants, incloent estudiants d'ensenyament formal, de contextos informals d'aprenentatge, i professors. L'objectiu general dels diferents estudis d'investigació és avaluar les tres tecnologies a través de processos per a) identificar el potencial d'aqueixes tecnologies, b) investigar com les utilitzen els aprenents i els professors, i c) analitzar si la manera d'utilitzar-les compleix amb el potencial identificat i és propici per a l'aprenentatge de llengües estrangeres. La introducció presenta els antecedents de la investigació realitzada i sis conceptes que afecten la nostra comprensió de l'aprenentatge d'idiomes a través d'aquestes tecnologies: el concepte d'ensenyar a persones desconegudes, el desenvolupament de capacitats digitals, la micro-credencialització, l'augment de l'atenció parcial contínua, l'ansietat per l'idioma estranger i la normalització. El capítol dos és un compendi dels nou treballs publicats i es divideix en tres seccions. La primera secció tracta sobre l'ús de podcasting com a eina d'aprenentatge d'idiomes. La primera publicació proporciona una taxonomia de recursos de podcasts, revisa els materials de podcasting a la llum de les teories d'adquisició de segones llengües, advoca per un millor disseny i suggereix direccions per a futures investigacions. Aquesta investigació es presenta en les publicacions dues i tres. La secció dues del capítol dos s'enfoca cap a l'ús d'aplicacions mòbils per a l'aprenentatge i l'ensenyament d'idiomes. La publicació quatre revisa la investigació actual sobre el potencial per a l'aprenentatge d'idiomes de les aplicacions i presenta una taxonomia de les aplicacions disponibles i el seu ús per a això. L'article també presenta un marc que consta de quatre categories per a avaluar aplicacions d'aprenentatge d'idiomes (tecnologia, pedagogia, experiència de l'usuari i aprenentatge d'idiomes). La publicació conclou amb una proposta d'àrees d'investigació addicional, inclòs l'ús per part de l'aprenent en contextos formals i informals. Aquestes àrees d'investigació s'investiguen en les publicacions cinc i sis. La secció tres se centra en la tercera tecnologia: Twitter com a eina d'ensenyament i aprenentatge d'idiomes. La publicació huit mostra com un grup de professors d'idiomes utilitza Twitter com a eina per al desenvolupament professional continu i avalua l'impacte de la seua xarxa de Twitter en les seues pràctiques docents. Finalment, la publicació nou presenta un estudi a gran escala d'aprenents autònoms d'idiomes que utilitzen Twitter. Els resultats d'aquests estudis es discuteixen en el capítol tres. El capítol quatre torna als principals temes i conceptes presentats en la introducció i proporciona algunes consideracions basades en els resultats de la investigació realitzada. A continuació, proposa que pot ser necessari reenfocar l'agenda d'investigació de MALL i suggereix possibles àrees de desenvolupament. La investigació presentada en aquesta tesi contribueix als camps de CALL i MALL de diverses maneres. Primer, proporciona perfils d'usuari dels aprenents que utilitzen aquestes tecnologies. En segon lloc, proporciona evidència de com aqueixos usuaris utilitzen les tecnologies i avaluen la seua experiència d'aprenentatge. En tercer lloc, presenta una nova taxonomia de recursos MALL. En quart lloc, descriu un procés per a avaluar l'ús de tecnologies mòbils per a l'aprenentatge d'idiomes, amb un nou marc teòric d'avaluació basat en cinc criteris: tecnologia, experiència de l'usuari, aprenentatge d'idiomes, interacció i pedagogia. / [EN] This thesis focuses on three mobile technologies: podcasting, mobile apps, and Twitter, and evaluates their potential for language learning purposes based on a series of studies with a range of users including formal learners, informal learners, and teachers. The overarching aim of the different research studies is to evaluate the three technologies through a process of a) identifying the potential of those technologies, b) investigating how they are used by learners and (where applicable) teachers, and c) analysing whether the way they are used meets the identified potential and is conducive to language learning. The introduction presents the background to the research carried out. This is followed by the introduction of six concepts that shape our understanding of language learning through these technologies: the concept of teaching strangers, the development of digital capabilities, micro-credentialing, the rise in continuous partial attention, foreign language anxiety, and normalisation. Chapter two is a compendium of the nine published works that explore the potential of the three technologies and evaluate them. It is separated into three sections. Section one deals with the use of podcasting as a language learning tool. The first publication provides a taxonomy of podcast resources, reviews podcasting materials in the light of Second Language Acquisition theories, argues for better design, and outlines directions for future research. This research is presented in publications two and three. Section two of Chapter two concerns the use of mobile apps for language learning and teaching. Publication four reviews current research about the potential of apps for language learning and presents a taxonomy of available apps and their use for language learning. The paper also presents a framework consisting of four categories for evaluating language learning apps (technology, pedagogy, user experience, and language learning). The publication concludes with a proposal for areas for further research, including learner use in formal and informal contexts. These research areas are investigated in publications five and six. Section three focuses on the third technology: Twitter as a language learning and teaching tool. Publication seven highlights the identified potential of Twitter as a language learning tool. Publication eight shows how a group of language teachers use Twitter as a tool for continuous professional development through a hashtag and evaluates the impact of their Twitter network on their teaching practices. Finally, publication nine reports on a large-scale study of autonomous language learners who use Twitter. The results from these studies are discussed in chapter three, which also showcases the impact the research has had on the fields of CALL and MALL. Chapter four returns to the main topics and concepts presented in the introduction and provides some considerations based on the results of the research carried out. It then proposes that there may be a need to refocus the MALL research agenda and suggests directions that future developments may take. The research presented in this thesis contributes to the fields of CALL and MALL in a number of ways. First, it provides user profiles of the learners who use the three technologies. Second, it provides evidence of how those users utilise the technologies and evaluates their learning experience. Third, it presents a new taxonomy of MALL resources. Fourth, it outlines a process for evaluating the use of mobile technologies for language learning purposes, including a new evaluation framework with five criteria: technology, user experience, language learning, interaction and pedagogy. / Rosell Aguilar, F. (2021). Evaluating the use of mobile technologies for language learning purposes [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/163675 / TESIS

There is growing evidence that knowledge co-creation and interactivity during learning interventions aid knowledge acquisition and knowledge transfer. However, learners have mostly been passive consumers and not co-creators of the knowledge visualisation aids created by teachers and instructional designers. As such, knowledge visualisation has been underutilised for allowing learners to construct, demonstrate and share what they have learned. The dearth of appropriate guidelines for the use of knowledge visualisation for teaching and learning is an obstacle to using knowledge visualisation in teaching and learning. This provides a rationale for this study, which aims to investigate usability-based knowledge visualisation guidelines for teaching and learning. The application context is that of Science teaching for high school learners in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Following a design-based research methodology, an artefact of usability-based knowledge visualisation guidelines was created. The artefact was evaluated by testing learners’ conformity to the visualisation guidelines. Qualitative and quantitative data was captured using questionnaires, interviews and observations. The findings indicate that the guidelines considered in this study had various degrees of impact on the visualisations produced by learners. While some made noticeable impact, for others it could be considered negligible. Within the context of high school learning, these results justify the prioritisation of usability-based knowledge visualisation guidelines. Integrating Human Computer Interaction usability principles and knowledge visualisation guidelines to create usability-based knowledge visualisation guidelines provide a novel theoretical contribution upon which scientific knowledge visualisation can be expanded. / School of Computing / M. Sc. (Computing)