Η εισαγωγή και η ενσωμάτωση των Τεχνολογιών της Πληροφορίας και των Επικοινωνιών (ΤΠΕ) στην τριτοβάθμια εκπαίδευση αποτελεί πλέον στις μέρες μας γεγονός παγκοσμίως. Καθοριστικό ρόλο στην πραγματικότητα αυτή έχει διαδραματίσει η ραγδαία ανάπτυξη του διαδικτύου και οι επιμέρους εφαρμογές του. Στην παρούσα εργασία με θέμα «Σχεδίαση, ανάπτυξη, εφαρμογή και αξιολόγηση ενός συμβατικού πανεπιστημιακού μαθήματος με τη χρήση ενός υπολογιστικού περιβάλλοντος σύγχρονης και ασύγχρονης εκπαίδευσης: αντιλήψεις στάσεις και πρακτικές των φοιτητών», σχεδιάσαμε και εφαρμόσαμε ένα παιδαγωγικό πλαίσιο ένταξης ενός συστήματος διδασκαλίας και μάθησης εξ αποστάσεως εκπαίδευσης (Moodle) σε ένα πανεπιστημιακό μάθημα, αξιοποιώντας βασικές εποικοδομιστικές και κοινωνικοπολιστισμικές θεωρήσεις για τη μάθηση. Σκοπός μας ήταν να μελετήσουμε τα χαρακτηριστικά μιας ομάδας χρηστών ενός τέτοιου συστήματος κατά τη διάρκεια ενός εξαμήνου και να αποφανθούμε για τις στάσεις αντιλήψεις και πρακτικές χρήσης που ανέπτυξαν κατά την συμμετοχή τους στο εν λόγω μάθημα, καθώς και να αξιολογήσουμε τη μαθησιακή αποτελεσματικότητα του περιβάλλοντος μάθησης που σχεδιάσαμε. Στο πρώτο μέρος αυτής της εργασίας παραθέτουμε το θεωρητικό πλαίσιο της εργασίας, το οποίο αναφέρεται στις νέες παιδαγωγικές μεθόδους των ΤΠΕ στην τριτοβάθμια εκπαίδευση, σε σχετικές ερευνητικές διαδικασίες και τέλος στην περιγραφή τη σχεδίασης ενός παιδαγωγικού πλαισίου χρήσης, που διαπνέεται από την προσέγγιση της επίλυσης προβλήματος, κατάλληλο για την εφαρμογή σε μικτά μοντέλα διδασκαλίας και μάθησης σε παραδοσιακά πανεπιστημιακά μαθήματα. Στη συνέχεια περιγράφουμε το ερευνητικό πλαίσιο, το οποίο βασίζεται στις βασικές αρχές της αναπτυξιακής έρευνας. Σε πρώτη φάση σχεδιάσαμε ένα περιβάλλον μάθησης, στη συνέχεια το εφαρμόσαμε για ένα ακαδημαϊκό εξάμηνο και τέλος το αξιολογήσαμε εφαρμόζοντας μια μελέτη περίπτωσης. Τέλος, παρουσιάζουμε και αναλύουμε τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας και προβαίνουμε σε κάποια συμπεράσματα. Τα συμπεράσματα αυτά αφορούν την αξιολόγηση του μαθησιακού περιβάλλοντος που εφαρμόσαμε, περιγράφοντας τις αντιλήψεις, τις στάσεις και τις πρακτικές των φοιτητών που παρακολούθησαν το μάθημα, συσχετίζοντάς τα με την επίδοσή τους και τη χρήση του συστήματος. / -

Digitalization has spread into all parts of our lives including shopping, staying in touch with friends and watching cat videos from the cat island in Japan. Studies have shown that digitalization can also have a huge benefit for educational purposes via Learning Management Systems (LMS). The purpose of the study is to describe and create an understanding how learning institutions all across the globe can further improve the usability of their LMS, with a specific focus on the students perspective on the systems usability. Quantitative and qualitative material from a case study was analyzed and compared with previous related studies and to theories from the literature study. The results of the study showed that there is great potential for learning institutions to improve the usability of their LMS by relatively simple means, in many cases using their own students as a resource for improving their education. The study also showed there can be major differences in how students perceive the usability of an LMS, which can have disruptive effects if not addressed properly. / Digitaliseringen har spridit sig till alla delar i våra liv: Shopping, hålla kontakt med vänner och att titta på kattvideos från kattön i Japan. Studier har visat att digitaliseringen också kan ha stora fördelar i utbildningssyfte med hjälp av Learning Management Systems (LMS). Syftet med studien är att beskriva och skapa en förståelse för hur lärosäten över hela världen kan förbättra användbarheten i deras LMS, med specifikt fokus på studentperspektivet i användbarhet. Kvantitativt och kvalitativt material från fallstudien analyserades och jämfördes med tidigare relaterade studier och teorier från litteraturstudien. Resultatet av studien visade att det fanns en stor potential för lärosäten att förbättra användbarheten i deras LMS med relativt enkla medel, i många fall genom att använda sina egna studenter som en resurs för att förbättra deras utbildning. Studien visade också att det kan finnas stora skillnader i hur studenten uppfattar användbarheten i ett LMS, vilket kan ha negativa effekter om det inte adresseras på rätt sätt.

The purpose of this paper is to study the process of audio information in an online education course at the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), which is a federal public university in Brazil. The study was conducted in the second school term of 2010 and in the first school term of 2011, in the Bachelor degree Pedagogy course online education model. Case study was chosen as the method to examine the use of web radio and audio webcasting podcasts in online education, with the UFAL Moodle virtual learning environment. The hypothetical-deductive method was adopted for reasoning and the quali-quantitative method was used for data collection. These data are shown in the reports written during the two research phases exploratory and experimental. The experimental phase was conducted with the subject Knowledge and Methods for Teaching Natural Sciences 1 , which had 176 enrolled students, from different UFAL units of several cities in Alagoas Maceió, Maragogi, Santana do Ipanema and Olho d´Água das Flores. As a reception study, students who composed the audience of live transmissions and the recording of live transmissions could communicate in a synchronous and in an asynchronous way with the tutor. Such communications were mainly conducted in forums. Then the audio information was evaluated with an online questionnaire. The main objective was to find how the formats could be associated with the Moodle Virtual Learning Environment, with the Pedagogical Project and with the online education course. The results were satisfactory in terms of acceptance of both formats by the audience group, which shows that the associations proposed are possible. However, such associations need to be part of a plan that includes forms of evaluating audio information. The results also point to the need for better infrastructure regarding technical support for faculty members including tutors in order to create, produce and transmit didactic materials. Moreover, we found that wideband services need improvement in the State. Our main conclusion is that the formats studied should be created, produced and/or selected by the course for educational purposes. They should also present characteristics of radio phonic language, including sound and web graphic interface, aligned with the education design of the course, especially in the Moodle virtual learning environment. It is also necessary to identify the target audience, their level of digital fluency, and their conditions for accessing computers and the Internet, in order to promote the interaction with the most adequate technologies and tools for audio webcasting. This study is based on theories by Moore and Kearsley (2008), Peters (2004), Haandel (2009), Martín-Barbero (2009), Jacks and Escosteguy (2005), Reyzábal (1999), Machado (2009), Silva (2006; 2010), among others. / O presente trabalho tem por finalidade tratar do processo de transmissão de mídia sonora na educação a distância on-line da Universidade Federal de Alagoas, integrante da Universidade Aberta do Brasil, nos períodos letivos de 2010.2 e 2011.1, no curso de Pedagogia Licenciatura, na modalidade a distância. O estudo de caso foi escolhido como método de abordagem do objeto de estudo e teve por objetivo investigar a utilização dos formatos web rádio e podcasts do webcasting sonoro na educação a distância, no ambiente virtual de aprendizagem Moodle UFAL. Adotou-se o raciocínio do método hipotético-dedutivo e foi utilizado o método quali-quantitativo durante a coleta de dados, os quais são apresentados nos relatos das fases da pesquisa. Esta foi desenvolvida em duas fases: a exploratória e a experimental, tendo como campo de atuação experimental a disciplina Saberes e Metodologias do Ensino de Ciência Naturais 1, a qual possuía 176 estudantes matriculados, vinculados aos polos das cidades alagoanas de Maceió, Maragogi, Santana do Ipanema e Olho d´Água das Flores. Como estudo de recepção, os estudantes que formaram a audiência das transmissões ao vivo e das gravações dessas transmissões puderam se comunicar de forma síncrona e assíncrona com o professor, por meio principalmente de fóruns, e posteriormente avaliaram a mídia sonora por meio de questionário on-line. A questão norteadora foi: como esses formatos poderiam ser associados ao ambiente Virtual de Aprendizagem Moodle, ao Projeto Pedagógico e à dinâmica da modalidade a distância do curso? Os resultados foram satisfatórios em termos de aceitação dos dois formatos pelo grupo-escuta, mostrando que as associações da questão norteadora são possíveis, mas precisam fazer parte de um planejamento que inclua também as formas de avaliação da mídia sonora, além de apontarem para a necessidade de maior infraestrutura do curso em termos de suporte técnico para o corpo docente, incluindo os tutores, no sentido de criação, produção e transmissão de material didático e também para a necessidade de melhoria na condição de banda larga do Estado. A conclusão principal é a de que esses formatos devem: ser criados, produzidos e/ou selecionados pelo curso para fins educativos; apresentar características da linguagem radiofônica, incluindo a montagem sonora, e interface webgráfica aliada ao design educacional do curso, especialmente no ambiente virtual de aprendizagem Moodle; e identificar seu público-alvo, incluindo seu nível de fluência digital, além das condições de acesso a computadores e internet, de forma a promover o diálogo interativo pelas tecnologias e ferramentas mais adequadas ao uso do webcasting sonoro. Como aporte teórico: Moore e Kearsley (2008), Peters (2004), Haandel (2009), Martín-Barbero (2009), Jacks e Escosteguy (2005), Reyzábal (1999), Machado (2009) e Silva (2006; 2010), entre outros.

In recent decades, geographic barriers no longer exist, communication has become faster and affordable and technological tools expanded the power of human information processing, leading to profound economic, social and cultural transformations. Thus, Information and Communication Technologies received critical role in a society that communicates, negotiates and learns "in network", however educational approaches adopted in schools and universities are still lagged. New constructivist teaching techniques such as Project-Based Learning and computational tools like Virtual Learning Environments are researched and experimented, suggesting educational project management through cyberspace as a possible educational approach that promotes the construction of knowledge by the learners themselves collaboratively and overcoming geographical constraints. This dissertation analyzes the Virtual Learning Environment Moodle to support the technique of Project-Based Learning and presents a software architecture for the educational project management like an environment that enables learning of more autonomous and collaborative way. / Nas últimas décadas, barreiras geográficas deixaram de existir, a comunicação tornou-se mais veloz e acessível e ferramentas tecnológicas ampliaram o poder de processamento humano das informações, levando a profundas transformações econômicas, sociais e culturais. Assim, Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação receberam papel fundamental em uma sociedade que se comunica, negocia e aprende "em rede", entretanto abordagens educacionais adotadas nas instituições de ensino ainda se encontram defasadas. Novas técnicas de ensino construtivistas como a Aprendizagem Baseada em Projetos e ferramentas computacionais como os Ambientes Virtuais de Aprendizagem são pesquisadas e experimentadas, apontando a gestão de projetos educativos por meio do ciberespaço como uma possível abordagem educacional capaz de promover a construção do conhecimento pelos próprios aprendizes de forma colaborativa e superando restrições geográficas. Esta dissertação analisa o Ambiente Virtual de Aprendizagem Moodle como suporte à técnica de Aprendizagem Baseada em Projetos e apresenta uma arquitetura de software para a gestão de projetos educativos como um ambiente que permita a aprendizagem de forma mais autônoma e colaborativa.

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2017-01-13T14:30:49Z No. of bitstreams: 1 EduardoHenriqueOlimpioDeGusmao_DISSERT.pdf: 4470499 bytes, checksum: a3dabf4f96a3cf52dbc83d470d5bdfe2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-01-26T14:15:10Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 EduardoHenriqueOlimpioDeGusmao_DISSERT.pdf: 4470499 bytes, checksum: a3dabf4f96a3cf52dbc83d470d5bdfe2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-26T14:15:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 EduardoHenriqueOlimpioDeGusmao_DISSERT.pdf: 4470499 bytes, checksum: a3dabf4f96a3cf52dbc83d470d5bdfe2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-05-05 / Este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a usabilidade e arquitetura da informa??o da interface denominada Moodle Mandacaru, utilizada pelo N?cleo de Estudos em Sa?de Coletiva da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) no Curso de Especializa??o em Gest?o do Trabalho e da Educa??o na Sa?de (CGTES), e propor melhorias para futuras vers?es. O estudo teve como base os conceitos de avalia??es de usabilidade atrav?s de t?cnicas preditivas, utilizando os crit?rios ergon?micos de inspe??o via checklist do LabUtil, e prospectivas, utilizando a avalia??o cooperativa e question?rio de satisfa??o. A metodologia da pesquisa ? descritiva e sua abordagem mista, na qual s?o utilizadas an?lises quantitativas, coletadas em question?rios de satisfa??o, e an?lises interpretativas, coletados em entrevistas in loco com 5 alunos do curso. Para o auxilio na organiza??o e dire??o da pesquisa foi utilizada um framework denominado DECIDE, na qual foi tra?ada uma sequ?ncia espec?fica de orienta??o, execu??o e an?lises no processo de avalia??o. A coleta de dados foi organizada em tr?s etapas: (1) etapa preparat?ria, na organiza??o das a??es que ir?o nortear as etapas subsequentes; (2) primeira etapa, com a realiza??o de uma an?lise diacr?nica do objeto em estudo e inspe??o ergon?mica; (3) segunda etapa, com a execu??o da avalia??o cooperativa aliada ao question?rio de satisfa??o. A an?lise dos dados na primeira etapa, atrav?s da an?lise diacr?nica do ambiente, apresentou um avan?o significativo no aspecto visual, organiza??o dos conte?dos e uso de novas tecnologias em rela??o ?s vers?es anteriores, em contrapartida a inspe??o via checklist apresentou um percentual de aproximadamente 33% de n?o conformidade com os crit?rios ergon?micos no Ergolist, apresentando a flexibilidade, controle do usu?rio, feedback e a??es m?nimas como um dos maiores problemas da interface. Os resultados da segunda etapa mostraram uma conson?ncia com a maioria dos pontos da etapa anterior, adicionando um toque pessoal do usu?rio em rela??o ? satisfa??o e aspectos relevantes ? usabilidade do ambiente. / This papers objective is to evaluate the usability and the information architecture of the Moodle Mandacaru interface, now being utilized in the Center for Studies in Public Health in the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). Specifically in the Specialization Course in Labor Management and Health Education (CGTES), and to propose improvements for future versions. The study was based on the concepts of usability evaluations using predictive techniques, using ergonomic criteria for inspection via checklist LabUtil, and prospective, using the cooperative evaluation and satisfaction questionnaire. The research methodology is descriptive and its mixed approach, in which are utilized quantitative analysis, collected in satisfaction questionnaires and interpretative analysis, collected in interviews on site with 5 students of the course. To help in the organization and direction of the research it was used a framework called DECIDE, where a specific sequence of orientation, execution and analysis in the evaluation process was drawn .Data collection was organized in three stages: (1) the preparatory phase, the organization of actions that will guide the subsequent steps; (2) the first stage, with the realization of a diachronic analysis of the object under study and ergonomic inspection; (3) the second stage, with the implementation of cooperative evaluation coupled with the satisfaction questionnaire. Data analysis in the first stage, through environmental diachronic analysis showed a significant improvement in visual appearance, content organization and use of new technologies in previous versions, however the inspection via checklist presented a percentage of approximately 33% non-compliance with the ergonomic criteria in Ergolist, presenting flexibility, user control, feedback and minimal actions as one of the interface problems. The results of the second step showed a consistent with most points of the previous stage, adding a personal touch user satisfaction with regard to usability and aspects relevant to the environment.

In recent decades, geographic barriers no longer exist, communication has become faster and affordable and technological tools expanded the power of human information processing, leading to profound economic, social and cultural transformations. Thus, Information and Communication Technologies received critical role in a society that communicates, negotiates and learns "in network", however educational approaches adopted in schools and universities are still lagged. New constructivist teaching techniques such as Project-Based Learning and computational tools like Virtual Learning Environments are researched and experimented, suggesting educational project management through cyberspace as a possible educational approach that promotes the construction of knowledge by the learners themselves collaboratively and overcoming geographical constraints. This dissertation analyzes the Virtual Learning Environment Moodle to support the technique of Project-Based Learning and presents a software architecture for the educational project management like an environment that enables learning of more autonomous and collaborative way. / Nas últimas décadas, barreiras geográficas deixaram de existir, a comunicação tornou-se mais veloz e acessível e ferramentas tecnológicas ampliaram o poder de processamento humano das informações, levando a profundas transformações econômicas, sociais e culturais. Assim, Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação receberam papel fundamental em uma sociedade que se comunica, negocia e aprende "em rede", entretanto abordagens educacionais adotadas nas instituições de ensino ainda se encontram defasadas. Novas técnicas de ensino construtivistas como a Aprendizagem Baseada em Projetos e ferramentas computacionais como os Ambientes Virtuais de Aprendizagem são pesquisadas e experimentadas, apontando a gestão de projetos educativos por meio do ciberespaço como uma possível abordagem educacional capaz de promover a construção do conhecimento pelos próprios aprendizes de forma colaborativa e superando restrições geográficas. Esta dissertação analisa o Ambiente Virtual de Aprendizagem Moodle como suporte à técnica de Aprendizagem Baseada em Projetos e apresenta uma arquitetura de software para a gestão de projetos educativos como um ambiente que permita a aprendizagem de forma mais autônoma e colaborativa.

Tato práce se věnuje všudypřítomnému vzdělávání (u-learning) a mapování ontologií, je součástí dlouhodobého projektu MAPLE a vypracoval jsem ji během studijního pobytu na francouzské univerzitě v La Rochelle, v rámci mezinárodního výměnného programu Socrates-Erasmus. Hlavní cíle práce lze rozdělit na dvě související části. První část má za úkol seznámit čtenáře s prostředím pro všudypřítomné vzdělávání a s vhodnými dostupnými nástroji. Jedním z těchto nástrojů je i komerční program LMA, který je určený pro tvorbu mobilních prezentací a kurzů, důraz je kladen na jejich přenositelnost mezi jednotlivými mobilními platformami. Cílem je demonstrace jeho funkčnosti a vytvoření zkušební mobilní prezentace. Dalším krokem je seznámení čtenáře s virtuálním výukovým prostředím (VLE) a systémy pro správu a řízení výukových kurzů (CMS). Vybraný, volně dostupný CMS se jménem Moodle jsem nainstaloval, nakonfiguroval a vytvořením fiktivního kurzu otestoval a vyzkoušel jeho vlastnosti a funkčnost. Druhá část práce se zabývá ontologiemi, dostupnými nástroji pro práci s nimi a mapovacími algoritmy. Čtenář je seznámen s patřičnou teorií i s motivacemi pro využití ontologií v projektu MAPLE, větší prostor je věnován volně dostupnému programu Protégé, který slouží hlavně jako editor ontologií, ale díky jeho rozšiřitelné architektuře může být využit k nejrůznějším účelům. Důležitým bodem práce je analýza a realizace doporučeného mapovacího algoritmu, který jsem implementoval jako zásuvný modul pro program Protégé. Cílem projektu MAPLE je návrh a realizace pedagogického systému pro mobilní, aktivní a participativní výukové prostředí, které obohatí tradiční model prezenční výuky. Díky mobilním zařízením, spolupracujícím s pracovní stanicí vyučujícího, budou mít studenti možnost okamžité zpětné vazby na probíranou látku. Dalšími záměry projektu jsou mobilní přístup k datům a výukovým kurzům, online komunikace a spolupráce zúčastněných osob, efektivní vedení a administrace kurzů pro vyučující a také spolupráce a propojení již existujících systémů v jeden funkční celek. Motivací pro využití ontologií v projektu MAPLE je správa výukových modulů a prezentací, jejich efektivní katalogizace, znázornění závislostí a vztahů mezi uloženými daty a jejich rychlé a přesné vyhledání. Mapovací algoritmus umožní spolupráci mezi moduly a ostatními databázemi, které používají rozdílné ontologie pro popis a charakterizaci uložených dat.

Distance learning offered to students by Swedish universities has continued to increase, which has led to an increase in the use of learning management system (LMS). Recently, due to the pandemic, many universities have temporarily made university classes compulsory as distance through remote learning, and the importance of LMS is also emerging. However, there is a problem that the dropout rate of remote students is significantly higher than that of on-campus students. Therefore, this qualitative study aims to propose various suggestions to enhance students' learning experience by understanding their perception and experience of using Moodle, one of the popular LMS platforms, for the distance students of Information system master program of Linnaeus university. When evaluating the system as a model for this study, David (1989)'s Technology acceptance model (TAM), which has already been verified in many studies, was considered first, but this model does not take into account the feelings of system users. After that, Hassenzhal's UX model was finally adopted as a model for this study. However, this study shows that Hedonic attributes, one of the elements of Apparent product character of this UX model, does not play any role for evaluating UX in LMS platforms such as Moodle. The reason for this is that users think of Moodle as a learning information tool only for their study purpose, and their identification and social communication are significantly poor in the platform. Also, Moodle does not provide any stimulation to their feeling. As the research method, semi-structured interviews were conducted through Skype or Zoom with 7 Moodle users from 5 different nationalities who voluntarily applied for the interviews. As a result, it was found that 8 issues (Usability and design of the main page and dashboard, information distributed across multiple platforms, notification and landing issue, lack of awareness of students about some features of Moodle, presence of unnecessary features, slow website speed, low use of mobile applications, non-standardized course page design) on Moodle through their past experiences that could be detrimental to the user experience. Based on the findings, this paper will discuss various suggestions to improve Moodle's UX for distance students’ better learning experience.

Main topic of this thesis is evaluation of user interfaces of learning management systems (LMS). It is the users and their interaction with the system who are the focus of user interface design within the field of Human Computer Interaction (HCI), and that is why user experience was taken into account for interface evaluation. The aim of the thesis was proposition of function criteria field that reflect users' requirements on the system and that can therefore serve as a basis for partial LMS evaluation. Within the scope of HCI interdisciplinarity, we focused on technical-psychological view (computer - human), complemented by the field that reflects the very purpose of LMS - pedagogical process. We believe that combination of general function criteria, which can be applied to any system, and learning content criteria is crucial for LMS evaluation, together with criteria concerning distribution forms and work methods. Based on defined areas, LMS Unifor courses from 2012- 2014 period of time and LMS Moodle courses from 2015-2017 period of time were evaluated using qualitative and quantitative research methods. The output of the research is a set of function criteria, which we regard to be elementary and suggest to be taken into account when considering a LMS.

Can adult learners of international English learn the language online? This thesis relates research in the domains of the English language learning paradigm, Second Language Acquisition theories, and online language learning findings to produce a model for an English Language Learning Online Network (ELLON) for usage from within an educational institution. This model is partially designable over Moodle. The main original features of this learning design are the reversal of the knowledge transmission system through learner-generated lessons and learning objects, a model designed towards an expanding network of users, knowledge conceptualization and reuse of generated language learning objects; personalization to the socio-economic context of learner needs in English; and its focus on the learning of “online international English” competences. Guidelines are given towards the building and testing of this “ELLON” model. ELLON is designed for learners of English with a B1 level onwards.