This study determines the particular components that are considered the best practices to use when implementing an e-Learning curriculum. Technical communicators and instructional designers have numerous development options to choose from. However, practices that work in academe do not always integrate well in a corporate setting, and what works for one corporation may not work for another. There is no singular methodology for developers to apply that enables e-Learning to fit every organization's needs. Research shows that to ensure a successful online learning implementation, a sound project management team must be in place at the beginning of the project planning. This team must be prepared to collaborate with managers and users across an organization and carefully incorporate their suggestions into the curriculum design. Additionally, this team must be experienced not only in making sure that the project is launched on time and within the defined budget, but also in asking pertinent questions about the users, content structure, and design. Implementing an e-Learning site involves more than putting a Web page online for users to view. Developers must know about adult learning styles, must know how to incorporate interactive activities (like games and simulations), and must know how to write content so that it is engaging yet understandable.

Heavy/at-risk alcohol use among young adults is an important public health problem given its association with health risk behavior and negative consequences. Dual process models of self-control characterize heavy/at-risk alcohol use as a function of (1) automatic appetitive processes and (2) conscious control processes. While existing interventions typically focus on individuals’ conscious control processes, recent research has focused on targeting automatic appetitive processes directly through strategies such as Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM). Although there is some evidence that CBM may improve outcomes for patients in treatment for alcohol use disorder, there is less evidence for its efficacy among young adults. This has been attributed to utilizing CBM as a stand-alone intervention and recruiting samples with low motivation to change drinking in prior studies. To address these limitations, this study examined the efficacy of CBM as an adjunct to brief web-based motivational intervention among young adults interested in changing their drinking. Heavy drinkers, ages 18-34, were recruited through social media platforms and completed an online screener. Eligible participants (N = 81) completed baseline assessment and a web-based motivational intervention (NIAAA- Rethinking Drinking). Participants were randomized to one of two adjunct intervention conditions—CBM or SHAM (control)—that was completed following the motivational intervention and over 4 sessions in the ensuing week. Weekly number of drinks, weekend drinking, alcohol-related consequences, readiness to change, and implicit biases toward alcohol were measured at baseline, 1-week and 1-month follow-up. Intervention condition did not significantly predict the primary outcomes of weekly drinking or consequences at 1-month, controlling for sex. In addition, intervention condition was not associated with implicit bias toward alcohol at 1-week or 1-month follow-up, controlling for sex. Post-hoc analyses revealed the intervention may be differentially efficacious for individuals high, versus low, in readiness to change. Overall, this web based CBM intervention did not reduce drinking behavior, consequences, or implicit biases compared to SHAM. Future work should focus on alternative strategies to modify automatic processes to enhance motivational web-based interventions, particularly among individuals highly motivated to change their behavior.

This study sought to identify factors that influence the adoption of Web-based courses by State University of New York faculty members engaged in professional development and preparation of teachers. The central question of this research study was: What factors and concerns affect State University of New York teacher education faculty members' decisions regarding development and implementation of Web-based courses? The study addressed issues raised during earlier research efforts on the objections, problems, or barriers to the use of distance learning during the academic preparation of teachers. Earlier studies revealed technical barriers surrounding the perceived reliability or unreliability of hardware components or software available to instructors. Non-technical problems centered on professional objections to online courses. Job security, intellectual property rights, course control, and the constant requirement to learn or maintain new skills were listed as concerns by faculty. Implementation of Web-based courses also required a training period for faculty. Teacher education programs found within the State University of New York were selected as the focus of this study due to the availability of a structured resource for faculty seeking to develop and present online courses to their students. State University of New York faculty respondents in these programs were experienced educators who viewed Web-based teaching within the context of pre-service teacher preparation as important or very important but were concerned about "quality" issues such as student discussion or interaction, the suitability of course content, and concerns that more time is needed to prepare online courses without any corresponding support or policy guidance from institutional administration. Few courses were offered to pre-service teachers in the setting that was studied. Many respondents viewed the use of Web-mediated instruction as inconsistent with the requirements of pre-service classroom observation or other efforts to develop teaching skills. Several respondents reported that they had no online teaching experience but indicated some exposure to online teaching resources. This would suggest that hybrid courses (a mix of classroom contact supported by Web-based classes) should be explored. / Ed. D.

More and more people are affected by stress in their work lives, and it is in society’s interest to decrease the levels of stress [15]. There are several approaches that can be used to reduce stress, such as bodily exercises, digital aids, psychological treatment programs, or relaxation exercises. A new psychological program called Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), originally used to prevent relapses in depression, can also help to treat stress. However, not much research has been conducted on the effects of MBCT to treat stress, and even less on how to design for web solutions for this treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate and explore how web solutions for mindfulness-based cognitive therapy used to treat stress can be designed, with the research question Based on an informed understanding of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, how might we, from a design perspective, design a novel web application for it? To investigate this, a research through design approach was used, and the method “future workshop” for the evaluation of the design prototype. The results of this study suggest that when designing websites for MBCT treatments, the most important features to include are visual representations of the patient’s progress and regulated home assignments. The visual representations should show the correlation between stressors and mood, and the regulation would provide assurance to the therapist that the patient does the home assignments. However, more research should be done to further explore the design space in web solutions for mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. / Fler och fler människor påverkas av stress på sina arbeten och det ligger i samhällets intresse att minska stressnivåerna [15]. Det finns flera tillvägagångssätt att minska stress, som exempelvis att göra kroppsliga övningar, använda digitala hjälpmedel, psykologiska behandlingsprogram eller avslappningsövningar. Ett nytt psykologiskt program kallat mindfulnessbaserad (medveten närvaro) kognitiv terapi (MBCT), ursprungligen använt för att förhindra återfall av depression, användas också för att behandla stress. Däremot har det inte gjorts mycket forskning om MBCT:s effekter för att behandla stress, och än mindre om hur man kan designa webblösningar för denna behandling. Målet för denna studie är att undersöka och utforska hur man kan designa webblösningar för mindfulnessbaserad kognitiv terapi som används för att behandla stress med frågeställningen Baserat på befintlig information om mindfulnessbaserad kognitiv terapi, hur kan man, från ett designperspektiv, designa en ny webbapplikation för den? För att undersöka det användes det iterativa tillvägagångssättet ”research through design” och metoden ”future workshop” för att utvärdera designprototypen. Denna studies resultat föreslår att de viktigaste funktionerna att inkludera i designandet av hemsidor för MCBCT-behandlingar är visuella representationer av patientens utveckling, samt reglerade hemuppgifter. De visuella representationerna borde visa korrelationen mellan stressorer och humör, och regleringen skulle garantera terapeuten att patienten gör hemuppgifterna. Däremot bör mer forskning göras för att ytterligare utforska designområdet inom webbaserade lösningar för mindfulnessbaserad kognitiv terapi.

No description available.

How important is conservation planning to society today? It impacts the quality of our most precious natural resources: water, air, soil, wildlife, and plant material as well as every aspect of one of the largest industries in the United States: agriculture. In order to gain a better understanding of the conservation planning process, as well as the elements involved in creating an effective conservation plan, a Web-based survey was administered to one of the leaders in the advancement of conservation planning and planning technology, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The purpose of this study is to identify the trends and needs within the Mississippi NRCS, as well as to identify the characteristics of a potential end user of a conservation planning tool. The purpose of the survey was to identify the agents’ comfort levels with the conservation planning process, conservation practice design and implementation, numerous incentive programs, water quality testing, and most importantly digital technology.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.