This study investigated the students&rsquo / perceptions about a web based course. Their perceptions about course materials, level of communication, online course support, and satisfaction were discussed in this study. In this case study, Information Technology in Education II (CEIT 112), an undergraduate course at the department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology (CEIT), Middle East Technical University (METU) at 2004/2005 spring semester was taken into investigation. Totally 34 1st year CEIT students attended the course in the term and participated to the study. The course was delivered via web based instruction. The data were collected by using a survey instrument at the end of the term and analyzed using descriptive statistical analyzing methods. Frequency distributions for demographic data about the students and the statements evaluating different aspects of the course were obtained. Results showed that students&rsquo / feelings about course materials, online course support, level of communication and satisfaction were neutral. The study results may be used in evaluation of web-based instruction environment for the instructor and the department. They may give clues in order to create an effective learning environment in the future design of the course.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects web-based multimedia annotated vocabulary learning in context model and in spaced repetitions on vocabulary retention of intermediate level English language learners. The research study encompassed two main faces which was related to development of the material and implementation of it. In WEBVOCLE, which stands for web-based vocabulary learning material, the contextual presentation of vocabulary were enriched with audible online dictionary, pictures and animations / target words were repeated by the learners with interactive exercises, such as gap-filling, cloze and multiple choice test, games, puzzles, in &lsquo / spaced repetitions&rsquo / . In the study both qualitative and quantitative data were gathered through attitude questionnaires, checklists, interviews, focus group interviews and through vocabulary retention tests. The qualitative data were analyzed according to qualitative data analysis techniques and quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS statistics software. Feedback obtained from the learners demonstrated that they not only developed a positive attitude toward English vocabulary language learning but also increased their vocabulary retention level of the target vocabulary through spaced repetitions.

This study analyzed students&rsquo / perceived effectiveness of an online course delivered through one of the open source course content management system, Moodle. Students&rsquo / expectations, perception, comments and suggestions about Moodle were investigated in this study. This is a case study carried out 49 students who attended to CEIT321 Foundation of Distance Education course in summer school in 2008 and 29 students who attended to the same course in fall semester of 2008-2009 academic year at Computer Education and Instructional Technology at Middle East Technical University. Blended learning that combines face-to-face interaction and online learning was used in the course. In this study, the qualitative and quantitative data were gathered from the students attended to the study. The questionnaire was distributed to the participants at the end of the summer school and fall semester. In addition, interviews with the volunteer participants were conducted in order to understand students&rsquo / perceptions, thoughts, expectations, recommendations, and comments on Moodle and its applications. The data showed that students had positive attitudes towards Moodle and its application. This study can contribute the future research studies related with Moodle. Moreover, the results of this study can contribute the development of Moodle.

Many distance education researches have pointed out that students are often forced to study in isolation due to the lack of support from mates and regular attendance. Thus, the objective of this research is to find effective group composition methods to increase the interaction among students in asynchronous distance education using the theories of cooperative learning, group dynamics and social cognitive theory as foundations. The outcome can be a reference for the design of network cooperative learning activity and web-based instructional system in the future. This study is conducted in NSYSU Cyber University using surveys and observations to investigate the influence of cognitive style on cooperative learning when different types of tasks are assigned. This research concludes that the choices of discussion tools in the chat room are different under intellective and decision-making tasks. Moreover, regardless of the task types, the heterogeneous groups outperform the homogeneous group during the cooperative learning process. Finally, the cognitive style is significantly related to group satisfaction in a cooperative learning environment

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The purpose of this study is to analyze the functional requirement of web-based portfolio supporting system and to investigate the relationship between learning portfolio and personal knowledge management. First, this study surveys the literature to explore the architecture of web-based portfolio supporting system. Then, a prototyping system that adopts the system architecture is implemented and finally this study evaluates the system by using the questionnaire and observing learners¡¦ operating conditions. A total of 69 subjects are from Kaohsiung Hospitality College. The main findings show that web-based portfolio supporting system meets learners¡¦ need mostly and has a positive effect on learners¡¦ learning process. Most learners are not familiar with portfolio assessment, and therefore teachers must make learners to understand what is portfolio assessment. A few learners organize and manage their personal learning portfolio according to their learning need. Furthermore, most learners are not used to sharing their files and knowledge. However, teachers can encourage learners to interact by promoting their sharing will. Finally, based on the research findings, this study proposes following suggestions for the follow-up research. 1. Portfolio assessment must be put into practice as soon as possible. 2. Improving teachers¡¦ participation to promote learners¡¦ will of interaction and sharing. 3. Adding teaching assistants to reduce learners¡¦ loading to establish learning portfolio.

Research regarding use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among all populations in America is needed to understand what seems to be an increasing trend. Education has been shown to be a significant determinant of CAM use, therefore, college students are likely to be CAM users. Little research has addressed the prevalence and predictors of CAM use among this population, so the purpose of this study was to: (1) measure the prevalence and type of CAM use among a sample of college undergraduates; and (2) test the significance of select social-cognitive constructs and demographics as predictors of CAM use. A random sample of undergraduate students within the Texas A&M University System was solicited via email to complete a web-based survey. Findings show high rates of CAM use. Gender, attitude toward CAM, outcome expectancies regarding the health care encounter, and social network use of CAM were shown to be significant predictors of CAM use. Results can inform health care and health education professionals interested in improving health care processes and addressing positive and negative issues related to CAM use.

The use of Web-Based-Collaboration-Systems (WBCS) continues to grow as part of information technology development in the Architecture-Engineering-Construction (AEC) industry. WBCS provide different media channels to support collaboration across geographical distributed teams. However, many companies are still hesitant to integrate WBCS. This research provides an understanding of how WBCS are used in practice. Most distinctively, it obtained practice data from several major US architecture firms and examined about 30,000 transactions produced during actual design and planning projects as practicing architects, engineers and consultants used WBCS. The study investigated what information was used and exchanged among participants during the different design stages. This was related to the different media channels of WBCS. The raw project data has been coded and transformed into secondary data through computer-supported content analysis. Based upon categories from previous literature, such as communication, coordination and design theories, the data has been analyzed for sender, receiver, channel and content of information transmitted. The content has been characterized into work tasks, information handling behavior and design activities. Additional interviews with industry professionals produced information that had not been documented through WBCS and that corroborated the analytical findings. The combination of theory, quantitative, and qualitative analysis has been synthesized into a portrait of WBCS usage that was validated through triangulation. The analysis of digital records of design communication from practice through content analysis is a new research methodology in AEC. The evidence supporting design methods theory shows the changes in tasks and information handling in regards to the project phases. It indicates that the most frequent loops of design activity are Evaluation- Analysis-Synthesis and Evaluation-Synthesis-Evaluation. It documents the actual usage of WBCS based on descriptive statistics and Markov models. WBCS was used primarily as a document repository and calendaring tool. The remote team members used it more frequently than centrally located participants. The study shows the limitations of WBCS: none of the verbal communication was captured. More significant, the entire email exchange took place outside the WBCS. WBCS was used very extensively, if the implementation of the system supported the organizational structure and vice versa.

<p>The Web has been defined as the interface between Web servers and Web clients. Traditionally, HTML has been used as an intercommunication medium for the Web. Web-Based Information Systems (WBISs) is the most general class of Web sites being fully distributed, platform-independent and having a hypertextual user interface. XML is emerging as a new standard for data exchange and data representation on the Internet. The W3C Consortium is responsible for the development of standards for the Web. In this dissertation we have showed how XSL and XPath could be used to meet the query requirements of SWISS-PROT, which is a WBIS. We have showed that XSL offers some level of extensibility as a query language for SWISS-PROT, but if queries were to be extended to a high level of complexity XQuery would be more appropriate to use since using XSL for this purpose includes hand-coding of for-loops and if-statements. Another problem is related to maintenance. Updating the structure of the XML source would include updating hand-coded for-loops and if-statements. There is still no recommendation available for XQuery at the W3C Consortium. Considering other factors of information management, we have showed that XSL and XPath would play a significant role in displaying and formatting information in SWISS-PROT. This would though require that Web browsers in SWISS-PROT have standardised support for XML.</p>

<p>Web-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems deployed through theSoftware-as-a-Service (SaaS) model are a major disruptive technology in the fieldof ERP systems. The defining features of the SaaS are that they are hosted remotelyand are completely used through the web; they are subscription-payment basedand they operate on a multi-tenant fashion. This technological innovation redefinestraditional technical and economic ERP paradigms.</p><p>This Bachelor’s thesis aims through interviews with vendors, users and consultants,as well as by researching various academical and professional publications onthe subject of Web-based (SaaS) ERPs to study these pehomena, and produce a listof their benefits to SMEs. It also analyses their opportunities and challenges via anumber of interesting facts, thus allowing for thought-provoking observations andspawning of stirring discussions.</p><p>The benefits of Web-based ERPs were reported to be similar to the ones characteristicfor the On-premise ERPs. They furthermore included remote data access, costefficiency,flexibility, scalability, as well as the esublishment of a new customerdrivenrelationship with the ERP vendor. The major disadvantages of SaaS wereconsidered to be security, cost (in the long run), and customizability. These disadvantages,which were first reported years ago, are continuously dismissed by theadavncements and innovations made in Web-based solutions. Findings from previousstudies and trends suggest that issues of security, cost and customizabilityare gradually disappearing as technology improves and industry dynamics becomesmore customer-centric. Security, which was a major issue in 2007 slowlyfaded and is not regarded as the concern it used to be. From 2008 till now the issuesof customizability and TCO have been heavily disputed about Web-based ERPsolutions. The problem of customizability has also been found to be diminishingdue to technologically advanced capabilities of these systems; new systems haveemerged and old systems have improved enough to provide this feature. Cost hasnever been a transparent issue when it comes to IT investments and has beenshown to be higher in On-Premise solutions through the TVO approach whichlooks at other hidden and non-financial costs. All of the above sheds new light intothe once-‘static’ benefits and drawbacks of Web-based solutions, and provides afresh insight into this developing phenomenon.</p>