Program: electronic library and information systems

Deveci Topal, Arzu; Çoban Budak, Esra; Kolburan Geçer, Aynur

2017 Program: electronic library and information systems

doi: 10.1108/PROG-05-2017-0038

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the effects of algorithm teaching on the problem-solving skills of deaf-hard hearing students.Design/methodology/approachIn this research, a pre-test and post-test problem-solving scale was applied to the single group (16 deaf-hard hearing students at a secondary school level) that had received algorithm education. Pre-test and post-test results were compared in order to see whether there was a significant difference among students in terms of their problem-solving attitudes. Students’ levels of performing the applications were examined through observation forms and their opinions about algorithm teaching were received.FindingsAs a result of the research, it was determined that implemented algorithm teaching had a significant effect on improving the problem-solving skills of the students.Originality/valueScratch training can be administered as either a compulsory or an optional course for hearing students as the Scratch programme offers the opportunity of teaching algorithmic reasoning with games, making the courses entertaining and giving students the chance to create their own designs which helps to improve their creative problem-solving skills and their motivation accordingly. Scratch teaching can be beneficial in developing students’ problem-solving behaviours and creativity.

Figuerola, Carlos G.; Groves, Tamar

2017 Program: electronic library and information systems

doi: 10.1108/PROG-02-2016-0016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the presence and structure of scientific content in the Spanish version of Wikipedia by applying social networks analysis techniques.Design/methodology/approachWikipedia articles have hyperlinks that connect them, so it is possible to represent Wikipedia as a network, in which the nodes are the articles and the edges are hyperlinks. The authors use communities detection techniques, in order to identify clusters of articles with similar content and then the authors carry out a manual analysis to detect science articles and identify the most representative scientific fields and their main features.FindingsThe authors conclude that science articles comprise 11.66 per cent of Spanish Wikipedia articles and that the most important clusters of scientific articles do not always coincide with classical science disciplines.Originality/valueAs Wikipedia is an open content resource, which is constructed by a community of users, and is widely employed in educational contexts by both students and teachers, this kind of analysis contributes to understanding Wikipedia better as an educational tool.

Llanes-Padrón, Dunia; Pastor-Sánchez, Juan-Antonio

2017 Program: electronic library and information systems

doi: 10.1108/PROG-03-2017-0021

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the Records in Contexts proposal of a conceptual model (RiC-CM) from the International Council on Archives’ (ICA) archival description and to propose an OWL ontology for its implementation in the semantic web.Design/methodology/approachThe various elements of the model are studied and are related to earlier norms in order to understand their structure and the modeling of the ontology.FindingsThe analysis reveals the integrating nature of RiC-CM and the possibilities it offers for greater interoperability of data from archival descriptions. Two versions of an OWL ontology were developed to represent the conceptual model. The first makes a direct transposition of the conceptual model; the second optimizes the properties and relations in order to simplify the use and maintenance of the ontology.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed ontology will follow the considerations of the final version of the ICA’s RiC-CM.Practical implicationsThe analysis affords an understanding of the role of RiC-CM in publishing online archival data sets, while the ontology is an initial approach to the semantic web technologies involved.Originality/valueThis paper offers an overview of Records in Contexts with respect to the advantages in the field of semantic interoperability, and supposes the first proposal of an ontology based on the conceptual model.

Yeni, Sabiha; Cagiltay, Kursat

2017 Program: electronic library and information systems

doi: 10.1108/PROG-07-2016-0050

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide information about the design principles of educational games in the context of an educational math game example to educational game developers and instructors. Especially, it tries to demonstrate the importance of the academic content-fantasy integration and entertainment factors of educational games from the viewpoint of the experts. For this purpose, as a sample, an educational math game was examined to see how successful is the academic aspect, fantasy aspect, academic-fantasy aspects integration and enjoyment aspect of the game. Good aspects of the game and aspects need improvement were summarized for guidance to game developers while producing educational games.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, heuristic evaluation method was used for evaluating the educational math game. In the scope of this study, an example of modern educational computer game was examined by experts in this study. The integration of academic-fantasy context and enjoyment aspects of the game were analyzed deeply by using qualitative and quantitative data collection methods together.FindingsAccording to Relevance Embedding Translation Adaptation Immersion and Naturalization rubric results, embedding element received the highest mean score. It showed that the academic content is well coupled with the fantasy/story content. According to GameFlow criteria, clear goals and feedback sections got the highest scores; on the contrary immersion section got the lowest score. Immersion element of the game should be improved. According to the interview findings, more than half of the participants stated that, in terms of academic content of game, players can actively be involved in learning process during the game. The story of the game and elements used in the game have counterpart in daily life. Didactic elements do not affect learners’ flow in the game. It is easy to learn and feedbacks are enough and useful.Originality/valueThis study offered suggestions to designers for developing good educational games which are well balanced with academic and fantasy context.

Papanastasiou, George; Drigas, Athanasios; Skianis, Charalabos; Lytras, Miltiadis D.

2017 Program: electronic library and information systems

doi: 10.1108/PROG-02-2016-0020

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the integration of serious games (SGs) in the area of special educational needs in the last ten years (2007-2017).Design/methodology/approachSGs indicate positive effects on students with special educational needs and promote a multi-sensory style of learning.FindingsResearch showed that SGs are able to keep K-12 education students with attention, memory and developmental disabilities engaged in classroom facilities scaffolding their learning through increased motivation, independence, autonomy and resultant self-esteem.Research limitations/implicationsTime constraints, cost and availability of appropriate games as well as the small sample of the individuals being investigated are some of the research limitations the paper refers to.Practical implicationsLearning through SGs has educational values that are based on learning concepts intrinsically motivating.Social implicationsStudents with attention, memory and developmental disabilities demonstrate characteristics of engagement, creativity, control and communication.Originality/valueSGs-based learning has proven its value added to students with attention, memory and executive control difficulties as well as mental or developmental disabilities engaging students better than when using traditional methods.

Bringula, Rex Perez

2017 Program: electronic library and information systems

doi: 10.1108/PROG-06-2015-0046

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine the influence of students’ profiles and the usage of e-books, online educational materials, and other programming books on the adoption of printed programming textbooks for computing students. It was hypothesized that the predictor variable set could not explain any of the variance of the dependent variables.Design/methodology/approachThis descriptive study utilized a content-validated questionnaire. The study involved 190 student participants. Canonical correlation analysis was employed to determine whether students’ profiles and use, perceived usefulness, and preference of e-books, online educational materials, and other programming books explained any variance in printed programming textbook adoption.FindingsPrinted programming textbook adoption could be explained by two functions. The first function revealed that the use and the perceived usefulness of textbooks were positively influenced by the use of e-books and other programming books and by the perceived usefulness of e-books, fora/blogs, other programming books, and YouTube. The second function revealed that the use of printed programming textbooks alone was positively influenced by the use of e-books and other programming books but was negatively influenced by the perceived usefulness of programming websites and YouTube and by the preference of programming websites over textbooks.Originality/valueThe study provided empirical evidence that e-books, other programming books, and online educational materials provide additional resources to students. Thus, e-books, online educational materials, and other programming books complement, rather than threaten, the existence of printed programming textbooks.

Chhabra, Sheena; Kiran, Ravi; Sah, A.N.; Sharma, Vikas

2017 Program: electronic library and information systems

doi: 10.1108/PROG-05-2017-0035

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to focus on examining the first day returns of initial public offerings (IPOs) and the role of information on their performance. The study tries to optimize the returns of the new issues during 2005-2012 with risk as a constraint.Design/methodology/approachThe initial returns are measured through the market-adjusted excess return and the risk associated with the new issue is measured through underwriters’ reputation. The returns have been optimized through a mixed integer linear problem using the Maple software.FindingsThe previous studies show that various informational variables affect the listing day returns significantly. The results of the present study indicate that the mean of initial returns for IPOs during 2005-2012 is 18.03 and the mean risk for these issues is 0.46. The findings also suggest that the optimal returns are obtained in the pre-recession era (2005-2008) and the value for the same is 50.02 percent.Originality/valueThe current study contributes in the investment decisions for global investors as every investor wants to maximize his/her returns. The optimal returns with risk as a constraint will help the investors in improving their investment decision as a prudent investor does not aim solely at maximizing the expected return of an investment but is also interested in optimizing with the minimization of risk.