[publication] Operationalising Transparency as an Integral Value of Learning Analytics Systems – From Ethical and Data Protection to Technical Design Requirements #gdpr #learninganalytics #tugraz

We did a contribution to the HCII 2023 conference titled „Operationalising Transparency as an Integral Value of Learning Analytics Systems – From Ethical and Data Protection to Technical Design Requirements„. Now you can find the publication online:

Abstract:
With the rising complexity of technology and its introduction into educational settings, the question of trusting and designing trustworthy learning analytics (LA) systems has gained importance. Transparency is one of the values that can contribute to enhancing an LA system’s trustworthiness. It has been included and discussed as a separate core value or principle in many ethical frameworks for LA. Even though these frameworks provide valuable contributions, they are mostly limited to the conceptual level. Defining what transparency entails in the context of LA is an important aspect, nevertheless, the translation and operationalisation of such abstract concepts into technology should be equally considered.In this paper, we focus on the question of how transparency can be translated into concrete design requirements in order to enhance the trustworthiness of LA systems. We present a normative framework in the form of an interdisciplinary Criteria Catalogue for trustworthy LA, which consists of seven core areas, including transparency. Second, we demonstrate how transparency can be translated and operationalised into more specific and low-level elements by using an example of the Learners’ Corner LA dashboard developed within the project “Learning Analytics – Students in Focus”. Third, we share the results of a study conducted to better understand students’ information needs in relation to LA tools and evaluate our design choices for the introduction of three quick information butt
ons within the Learners’ Corner.

[publication @ book’s homepage]
[draft @ ResearchGate]

Rerference: Veljanova, H., Barreiros, C., Gosch, N., Staudegger, E., Ebner, M., Lindstaedt, S. (2023). Operationalising Transparency as an Integral Value of Learning Analytics Systems – From Ethical and Data Protection to Technical Design Requirements. In: Zaphiris, P., Ioannou, A. (eds) Learning and Collaboration Technologies. HCII 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14040. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34411-4_37

[publication] Perceived Effects of Mixed Reality in Distance Learning for the Mining Education Sector #mixedreality #research

One of our contributions to the HCII 2023 was titled „Perceived Effects of Mixed Reality in Distance Learning for the Mining Education Sector“ and it got published right now:

Abstract:
Mixed reality as a tool for teaching has made only limited use of its possibilities so far. However, it brings a plethora of new opportunities, with benefits ranging from interactivity to more vividness. These factors could improve numerous areas of teaching. The mining sector would benefit from new methods combined with mixed reality especially. Therefore, the MiReBooks project was launched: Various applications have been developed that can vividly present content using 3D models, virtual field trips and other methods. To verify and further improve these tools, an evaluation phase was conducted. During two test lectures in distance learning, a total of 23 participants answered a posttest questionnaire. The results showed that the teaching quality could be maintained well by the mixed reality application even in distance learning. Students were satisfied with the methods used, attributed good usability to the tool, and felt integrated into the classroom. At the same time, the team realized that the quality of the lesson depends heavily on the quality of the materials and the expertise of the lecturer. It also became clear that other factors, such as the technical infrastructure and support, are particularly important in this format.

[full article @ publisher’s homepage]
[draft @ ResearchGate]

Reference: Thurner, S., Schön, S., Ebner, M., Leitner, P., Daling, L. (2023). Perceived Effects of Mixed Reality in Distance Learning for the Mining Education Sector. In: Zaphiris, P., Ioannou, A. (eds) Learning and Collaboration Technologies. HCII 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14041. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34550-0_15

[publication] Wirkung der nationalen MOOC-Plattform iMooX.at auf die digitale Transformation der Hochschulen #imoox #mooc

Wir wurden gebeten einen kurzen Artikel zu „Wirkung der nationalen MOOC-Plattform iMooX.at auf die digitale Transformation der Hochschulen“ in dem Buch zur digitalen Transformation an österreichischen Universitäten beizutragen. Da ist nun die publizierte Fassung:

Zusammenfassung:
2012 entstand die österreichische MOOC-Plattform iMooX.at in Zusammenarbeit zwischen der Universität Graz und der Technischen Universität Graz (TU Graz). 2020 wurde mit dem Projekt „iMooX – Die MOOC-Plattform als Service für alle österreichischen Universitäten“ das Ziel verfolgt, iMooX zu einer nationalen MOOC-Plattform auszu- bauen. Das Projekt ermöglichte die Produktion und Bereitstellung von MOOCs für alle österreichischen Universitäten. Dieser Artikel präsentiert vorläufige Ergebnisse zu den Auswirkungen von iMooX.at im Hinblick auf die digitale Transformation in der Hochschulbildung. Als Basis dient dafür eine Befragung von MOOC-Ersteller*innen. Als Ausblick wird die Integration von Microcredentials in MOOCs diskutiert.

[Artikel @ Verlag Technische Universität Graz]
[Artikel @ ResearchGate]

Zitation: Ebner, M., Schön, S. & Zwiauer, C. (2023) Wirkung der nationalen MOOC-Plattform iMooX.at auf die digitale Transformation der Hochschulen. In: Digitale Transformation an österreichischen Hochschulen. S. 146-157. DOI: 10.3217/978-3-85125-966-7-16

[publication] Practitioner Integrated Education for Vital Computational Thinking Skills #tugraz #research #edil23

Our conference paper, titled „Practitioner Integrated Education for Vital Computational Thinking Skills„, at EDMedia and Innovative Learning 2023 conference in Vienna is published.

Abstract:
The leap from formal education to a modern work environment is often surprisingly difficult. Having young people struggle in these transitional periods while entrepreneurs and businesses strive to merge new team members is a worthy cause to investigate. The process of teacher education can not adequately cope with the intensity of technological and methodological progress. Based on expert-driven, participatory workshops in Austria, the effects and benefits of practitioner integration are evaluated. In multiple stages based on an action research methodology, the problem-solving approach of Computational Thinking (CT) was introduced to learners aged 16 to 18 (K-12) with the help of outside practitioners. This research project reveals the immense potential of expert integration in a secondary school classroom setting. The primary research question of “What consequences has practitioner integration on Computational Thinking education?” is answered. With the development of sustainable, interdisciplinary interfaces between teaching staff and industry experts a multitude of systemic problems in the educational system can be mitigated and the missing link to Computational Thinking education established. With all involved stakeholders and driven by the needs of young learners a robust and inclusive path to practitioner integrated Computational Thinking education is established.

[draft @ ResearchGate]
[article @ conference’s homepage]

Reference: Pollak, M., Ebner, M. & Sagbauer, N.N. (2023). Practitioner Integrated Education for Vital Computational Thinking Skills. In T. Bastiaens (Ed.), Proceedings of EdMedia + Innovate Learning (pp. 593-602). Vienna, Austria: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved August 31, 2023 from https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/222704/.

[presentation] Shifting Patterns in IT Equipment and Communication Application Preferences among Study Beginners: A Longitudinal Analysis at TU Graz, Austria #study #tugraz #beginner #students #digital

Our anual study results were traditional presented at the EDMedia and Innovative Learning 2023 conference in Vienna titled „Shifting Patterns in IT Equipment and Communication Application Preferences among Study Beginners: A Longitudinal Analysis at TU Graz, Austria„. Here are the slides:

[slides @ ResearchGate]

[publication] Openness in Education as a Praxis: From Individual Testimonials to Collective Voices #OER #openess #education

I had the possibility to write a collaborative article with many colleagues about „Openness in Education as a Praxis: From Individual Testimonials to Collective Voices“ for the Journal Open Praxis and it got published already in summer 🙂

Abstract:
Why is Openness in Education important, and why is it critically needed at this moment? As manifested in our guiding question, the significance of Openness in Education and its immediate necessity form the heart of this collaborative editorial piece. This rather straightforward, yet nuanced query has sparked this collective endeavour by using individual testimonies, which may also be taken as living narratives, to reveal the value of Openness in Education as a praxis. Such testimonies serve as rich, personal narratives, critical introspections, and experience-based accounts that function as sources of data. The data gleaned from these narratives points to the understanding of Openness in Education as a complex, multilayered concept intricately woven into an array of values. These range from aspects such as sharing, access, flexibility, affordability, enlightenment, barrier-removal, empowerment, care, individual agency, trust, innovation, sustainability, collaboration, co-creation, social justice, equity, transparency, inclusivity, decolonization, democratisation, participation, liberty, and respect for diversity. This editorial, as a product of collective endeavour, invites its readers to independently engage with individual narratives, fostering the creation of unique interpretations. This call stems from the distinctive character of each narrative as they voice individual researchers’ perspectives from around the globe, articulating their insights within their unique situational contexts.

[full article @ Journal’s homepage]
[full article @ ResearchGate]

Reference: Bozkurt, A., Gjelsvik, T., Adam, T., Asino, T. I., Atenas, J., Bali, M., Blomgren, C., Bond, M., Bonk, C. J., Brown, M., Burgos, D., Conrad, D., Costello, E., Cronin, C., Czerniewicz, L., Deepwell, M., Deimann, M., DeWaard, H. J., Dousay, T. A., Ebner, M., Farrow, R., Gil-Jaurena, I., Havemann, L., Inamorato, A., Irvine, V., Karunanayaka, S. P., Kerres, M., Lambert, S., Lee, K., Makoe, M., Marín, V. I., Mikroyannidis, A., Mishra, S., Naidu, S., Nascimbeni, F., Nichols, M., Olcott. Jr., D., Ossiannilsson, E., Otto, D., Padilla Rodriguez, B. C., Paskevicius, M., Roberts, V., Saleem, T., Schuwer, R., Sharma, R. C., Stewart, B., Stracke, C. M., Tait, A., Tlili, A., Ubachs, G., Weidlich, J., Weller, M., Xiao, J., & Zawacki Richter, O. (2023). Openness in Education as a Praxis: From Individual Testimonials to Collective Voices. Open Praxis15(2), pp. 76–112. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55982/openpraxis.15.2.574

[ijet, journal] Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning Vol. 18 / No.22 #ijet #research

Issue 18(22) of our journal on emerging technologies for learning got published. Enjoy the readings as usual for free :-).

Table of Contents:

  • Digital Gaming and Autistic Spectrum Disorder
  • Examining the Factors Influencing Students’ Satisfaction with Hackathon for IT Projects
  • Designing a Smart Classroom Based on a Multi-Screen Interactive Learning System for Improving Student Satisfaction
  • Practical Analysis of Digital Technology in an Electronic Education Platform in PE Training
  • A Classification and Retrieval System for Learning Resources of MOOC
  • The Effect of Intelligent Evaluation Technology on Students’ Initiative in Post-lecture Evaluation of Online Teaching
  • Online Sharing Mechanism of Teaching Resources from the Perspective of Knowledge Management
  • The Importance of Using Metaverse Technology in Education from the Point of View of University Teachers
  • Effects of Adventure Education with Digital Teaching on Students’ Self-Efficacy and Interpersonal Relationship
  • Impact of Peer Review on Learning Performance in a Smart Classroom Teaching Environment
  • Design and Implementation of Experiment Online Teaching Platform for Oil and Gas Storage and Transportation Based on WeChat Mini-Program
  • Research on the Teaching Method of College Students’ Education Based on Visual Question Answering Technology
  • Intercultural Communication Competence Improvement of Students under the International Education Management Model
  • A Collaborative Filtering Recommendation Algorithm Model Based on User Feature Transfer
  • New Teaching Model of Professional Big Data Courses in Universities Based on an Outcome-Oriented Educational Concept

[Link to Issue 18/22]

Nevertheless, if you are interested to become a reviewer for the journal, please just contact me 🙂 .

[ijet, journal] Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning Vol. 18 / No.21 #ijet #research

Issue 18(21) of our journal on emerging technologies for learning got published. Enjoy the readings as usual for free :-).

Table of Contents:

  • Gamification and Game-Based Learning as Cooperative Learning Tools: A Systematic Review
  • A Data Mining-Based Approach to Managing Intercultural Teaching Activities in Online Classrooms
  • ChatGPT and the General Concepts of Education: Can Artificial Intelligence-Driven Chatbots Support the Process of Language Learning?
  • Learning Analytics in Education: A Social Network-Based Approach for Analyzing the Interaction and Influence of Collaborative Learning Communities
  • Prototype for Analyzing Instructor Profiles in Online Courses: A Fuzzy Logic-Based Approach
  • Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation of Students’ Classroom Experience in Online Teaching
  • A CNN-Bi-LSTM Model for MOOC Forum Post Classification
  • Enhancing Finance Students’ Learning Effectiveness and Motivation: Application of Financial Simulation Game
  • A Neural Networks Based Model to Predict the Interest of College Students in Sports Activities
  • Curating an Offline Wikipedia for Schools in any Language: A Road Map
  • Influence of Teacher Intervention on College Students’ Metacognition in an Online Collaborative Learning Environment
  • Using Technology Acceptance Model to Discuss Factors in Distance Learning Behavior
  • A Machine Learning Based Method to Evaluate Learning in Gamification Practices
  • Identifying Mathematics Anxiety Through Automated Process (IMATAP): A Web-Based Screening Tool for Teachers
  • The Contextual Environment as a Catalyst for Change in the Learning Process and Learning Styles of Students
  • Voice Analytics for the Identification of University Student Satisfaction, from WhatsApp Audio Messaging

[Link to Issue 18/21]

Nevertheless, if you are interested to become a reviewer for the journal, please just contact me 🙂 .

[imoox, GADI] Woche 7: Homo Deus & IT Security #gadi23 #imoox

Der MOOC „Gesellschaftliche Aspekte der Informationstechnologie“ auf iMooX geht nun in die siebte Woche. Diesesmal sind die Expertin Maria Eichlseder, die Experten Stefan More und Michael Pfeiffer und ich selbst an der Reihe. Das Thema IT-Security. Ich denke spannend genug um mitzumachen.

Darüberhinaus wage ich mich selbst einmal an eine Buchbesprechung, nachdem ich letztes Jahr den Bestseller Homo Deus gelesen habe, denke ich, dass es spannend ist vielleicht einmal diese Gedanken aufzugreifen und zu reflektieren.

Also unbedingt vorbei schauen und mitdiskutieren – der Einstieg in den MOOC ist jederzeit noch möglich.
[Link zum Kurs]