This study examines how social and motivational attributes may influence students' online learning experiences. Based on a review of social theories of learning and research about individual characteristics associated with motivation four constructs were included: social ability, learning goal orientation, perceived task value, and self-efficacy. A model was generated to depict the dynamic relationships among these constructs and the outcome measure of learning satisfaction. Factor analyses highlight four dimensions of social ability: social presence-students, social presence-instructors, social navigation, and written communication skills. The results of applying structural equation modeling to data from a sample of 110 online students show the importance of students' perceived task value, self efficacy, and social ability for satisfaction in online learning.
Distance education has the unique characteristic of using technologies as the primary means of delivery of instruction and interaction. The present study contributes to research dedicated to explaining or predicting phenomena related to distance education, and has four objectives: (1) to identify specific social and technological factors affecting online students' behavior of using technology, (2) to conceptualize a theoretical model to better represent the relationships among the salient factors, (3) to examine how the elements in the theoretical model influence students' learning perceptions and satisfaction in the distance education program, and (4) to compare the proposed model with prior work to model and explain online behavior and satisfaction. For the purpose of advancing understanding of the roles of social and technological factors in a distance learning environment, this study proposed a unified theoretical model based upon four attitude-behavior models, the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), and the decomposed TPB. By reviewing and identifying salient factors in each model, this study attempts to construct a measurable Unified Model of Technology Appropriation (UMTA) integrating the identified factors so as to best overcome the limitations of each model. The study investigated a distance education program providing both a physical and virtual place to support enrolled students in a Midwest state university to learn knowledge and skills by doing. Instructional materials and supports were delivered through a network-based learning system as well as other communication tools. Data collection included self-report questionnaires and computer-recorded system usage data. Among the statistically significant paths found in UMTA, subjective norm (instructor/mentor/peer influence) had the strongest relationship to students' technology appropriation behavior, while perceived behavioral control (self-efficacy and technology/resource facilitating conditions) had the strongest impact on students' satisfaction. These findings have important implications for system designers, online educators, and distance education program managers. In order to reduce students' frustration, not only online instructors but also program managers need to provide and assure the availability of external supports including mentoring and technical supports. System designers, on the other hand, have to enhance the system's ease of use through good design and by providing clear instructions. Results of the present study should help to better manage online courses by focusing attention on social influences and control factors in a distance education program..
This case study reports on a third grade class’s use of ubiquitous tools during a science unit on forces and motion. The investigation documents the unique ways in which children can construct knowledge and create representations of their learning when afforded ready access to a variety of digital devices. Further, the study explores the way ubiquitous computing environments support meaningful student collaboration and the situated learning approach.
Shadow netWorkspace[TM](SNS) is designed and developed as a free, open source, network-based work environment specifically for use in K12 schools to support schools and learning. This paper describes a learning module utilizing features of SNS and articulates how teacher and students can collaboratively learn and work to build knowledge. The paper also proposes a collaborative knowledge building model that illustrates the significant phases in the learning module. Teachers in the local community are invited to evaluate the feasibility of learning module in terms of its benefits, challenges, the ease and appropriateness of use. Feedback from the evaluation will provide recommendations for the design and development of knowledge building activities. (Contains 18 references and 1 figure.) (Author) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.
It is important to have clinical testing tools for food safety testing, forensic analysis, homeland security and environmental monitoring in recent years. How to rapidly and accurately find infected pathogens in a limited resource environment is an important topic. In the remote areas of genotoxic infection, Salmonella is one of the most common food borne pathogens. Rapid and accurate identification of Salmonella from food samples by public health agencies and diagnostic laboratories enable better to product quality and effective in preventing outbreaks of infection. In the research, we have developed an electrochemical platform with real-time monitoring LAMP of Salmonella spp. genomic DNA in foods. We have determined 30μM methylene blue (MB) as DNA intercalating redox probes to optimal concentration in the LAMP reaction buffer. Then, we have evaluated and valuated the real-time electrochemical LAMP assay for serial dilutions of Salmonella spp. comparing to fluorescence method. Their corresponding melting curves were also implemented. In the electrochemical and fluorescence LAMP, a detection limit as 1 DNA copy of the Salmonella DNA target was achieved in a reaction time less than 30 min.
AbstractLife history theory posits that reproduction is constrained by a cost of reproduction such that any increase in breeding effort should reduce subsequent survival. Oxidative stress refers to an imbalance between the prooxidant reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defense. If not thwarted, ROS can cause damage to DNA, lipids, and proteins, potentially increasing the rate of senescence and decreasing cellular function. Reproduction is often associated with higher metabolic rates, which could increase production of ROS and lead to oxidative damage if the animal does not increase antioxidant protection. Thus, oxidative stress could be one mechanism creating a cost of reproduction. In this study we explored how reproduction may affect oxidative status differently between male and female thick-billed murres during early and late breeding seasons over three consecutive years. We manipulated breeding efforts by removing an egg from the nest of some individuals, which forced females to relay, and by handicapping other individuals by clipping wings. We measured total antioxidant capacity (TAC), uric acid (UA) concentration, and malondialdehyde (MDA; an index of lipid oxidative damage) concentration in blood plasma as well as activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) in red blood cells. Oxidative status was highly variable across years, and year was consistently the most important factor determining oxidative status; inconsistent results in previous field studies may be because reproductive oxidative stress occurs only in some years. Females had lower SOD and GPx and higher MDA and TAC than males immediately after egg laying, suggesting that the cost of egg laying required investment in cheaper nonenzymatic antioxidant defenses that had lower capacity for defending against lipid peroxidation. Delayed birds had lower UA and lower SOD, GPx, and CAT activity compared with control birds. In conclusion, when reproductive costs increase via higher energy costs or longer breeding seasons, the oxidative status of both male and female murres deteriorated as a result of reduced antioxidant defenses.
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