Open University of Catalonia

About: Open University of Catalonia is a education organization based out in Barcelona, Spain. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Context (language use) & Higher education. The organization has 1943 authors who have published 4646 publications receiving 64200 citations. The organization is also known as: Universitat Oberta de Catalunya & UOC.

Distributed-based massive processing of activity logs for efficient user modeling in a Virtual Campus

Abstract: This paper reports on a multi-fold approach for the building of user models based on the identification of navigation patterns in a virtual campus, allowing for adapting the campus' usability to the actual learners' needs, thus resulting in a great stimulation of the learning experience. However, user modeling in this context implies a constant processing and analysis of user interaction data during long-term learning activities, which produces huge amounts of valuable data stored typically in server log files. Due to the large or very large size of log files generated daily, the massive processing is a foremost step in extracting useful information. To this end, this work studies, first, the viability of processing large log data files of a real Virtual Campus using different distributed infrastructures. More precisely, we study the time performance of massive processing of daily log files implemented following the master-slave paradigm and evaluated using Cluster Computing and PlanetLab platforms. The study reveals the complexity and challenges of massive processing in the big data era, such as the need to carefully tune the log file processing in terms of chunk log data size to be processed at slave nodes as well as the bottleneck in processing in truly geographically distributed infrastructures due to the overhead caused by the communication time among the master and slave nodes. Then, an application of the massive processing approach resulting in log data processed and stored in a well-structured format is presented. We show how to extract knowledge from the log data analysis by using the WEKA framework for data mining purposes showing its usefulness to effectively build user models in terms of identifying interesting navigation patters of on-line learners. The study is motivated and conducted in the context of the actual data logs of the Virtual Campus of the Open University of Catalonia.

Doing digital team ethnography: being there together and digital social data

Abstract: With the digital availability of social data helping reshape ethnographic research and thus broadening the mainstream understanding of ethnography, this research proposes a set of strategies to overcome current limitations in doing ethnography. Based on a two-year online and offline ethnographic project on social media use in later life, insights are provided into how the practices and meanings of ethnography are being reconstructed and negotiated in response to the explosion of digital social data and through team practices. This paper reviews how collaborative and interdisciplinary ethnographic reflection is sustained and extended by digital tools, creating a live source of data that can be analysed within the framework of ethnography. As a contribution to current debates on the “Social Life of Methods“, it also reviews epistemic issues associated with digital data and team ethnography, such as the role of the ethnographer(s), the field(s) and computational data analysis. The article reaches the conclusion that digital team ethnography is a viable option for undertaking thick and descriptive studies about the use of social media, which in turn favours a collaborative, non-hierarchical and dialogue-driven knowledge production process.

Food consumption and civil society: Mediterranean diet as a sustainable resource for the Mediterranean area.

Abstract: Objective To define the Mediterranean diet model inside a Mediterranean social and cultural food framework and from the perspective of a local model of consumption. Design Reflexion and review of literature available in relation to the Mediterranean diet, locality and proximity. Setting and subjects Mediterranean region and its populations. Results The Mediterranean local food system under the term Mediterranean diet encourages local production and local consumption. From this perspective, this model takes part of every local Mediterranean lifestyles and encourages sustainability. Conclusions From a local Mediterranean point of view and as a proximity model of consumption, Mediterranean food and diet can be a sustainable resource for the Mediterranean area.

Portafolios electrónicos y educación superior en España : situación y tendencias

Abstract: RESUMEN En el marco de la consolidacion de la RED de portafolios electronicos (e-portafolios) en el estado espanol, el presente articulo expone, los marcos conceptuales que guian las diferentes propuestas en el diseno y la implementacion de e-portafolios en la educacion superior. En este texto se realiza una cierta revision sobre estas perspectivas teoricas. Tambien se aborda genericamente las tipologias de e-portafolios que se relacionan con el conocimiento practico dirigido por un enfoque de desarrollo competencial y se finaliza el articulo apuntando lineas de desarrollo y aplicacion futuras que emergen de nuevas demandas y necesidades en el campo educativo y social. ABSTRACT In the frame of the network of electronic portfolios (e-portfolios) in Spain, this article presents the conceptual frameworks that guide the various proposals regarding the design and implementation of e-portfolios in higher education. Then we make a revision of these theoretical perspectives and also the generic types of e-portfolios that are related to practical knowledge in the skills approach. The article ends by recommending lines of future development and application of emerging from new demands and needs in education and social development.