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: Collaborative learning & Educational technology. The organization has 1943 authors who have published 4646 publications receiving 64200 citations. The organization is also known as: Universitat Oberta de Catalunya & UOC.

The role of information and communication technologies in improving teaching and learning processes in primary and secondary schools

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to analyse what is happening at schools regarding the integration and use of information and communication technologies (ICT) and to examine teachers’ perceptions about what teaching and learning processes can be improved through the use of ICT. A multiple-case-study research methodology was applied. From a previous exploratory research, four different types of schools were determined. Data show there is a widespread view that ICT in teaching favours several teaching and learning processes. In particular, it shows that the contribution of ICT to the improvement of teaching and learning processes is higher in the schools that have integrated ICT as an innovation factor. To attain this highest level implies that a school not only has to modernise the technological tools, but also has to change the teaching models: the teacher’s role, issues regarding classroom organisational, the teaching and learning processes, and the interaction mechanisms.

6TiSCH Wireless Industrial Networks: Determinism Meets IPv6

Abstract: In the last 40 years we have witnessed the emergence of the Operational Technology (OT) and the Information Technology (IT) in parallel, each established with its own scope and range of applications; then, the progressive convergence of IT over an IP infrastructure, imprinted by the birth of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Nowadays, we are witnessing the unstoppable evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT), and the upcoming integration of OT and IT. The technologies facilitating such OT/IT convergence only recently commenced to take shape. In detail, existing industrial Wireless Sensor Network technologies have demonstrated that the IEEE802.15.4e Timeslotted Channel Hopping (TSCH) effectively enables industrial-grade deterministic properties for control loops with low latency, ultra-low jitter, ultra-low power consumption and a high reliability. This chapter introduces the work recently started at the IETF by the 6TiSCH working group, and which aims at enabling IPv6 over the TSCH mode of the IEEE802.15.4e standard. In particular, 6TiSCH standardizes different mechanisms for allocating link-layer resources and trade off latency and bandwidth with power consumption. Several approaches are supported, based on a combination of centralized and distributed techniques.

Online teacher development: collaborating in a virtual learning environment

Abstract: Over recent years, educational institutions have been making increasing use of virtual environments to set up collaborative activities for learners. While it is recognized that teachers play an important role in facilitating learner collaboration online, they may not have the necessary skills to do so successfully. Thus, a small-scale professional development programme was set up and piloted by two distance universities. The aims were to develop teachers’ experience of online group work, to trial a set of pilot activities that would raise awareness of factors contributing to successful collaborative online activity, and to identify professional development needs in this area. This article reports on the hands-on experience of a group of 20 teachers, examines some of the competences that are needed to successfully collaborate in virtual environments, and presents the skills that teachers need to foster online collaborative learning in the virtual classroom. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected,...

k-Degree anonymity and edge selection: improving data utility in large networks

Abstract: The problem of anonymization in large networks and the utility of released data are considered in this paper. Although there are some anonymization methods for networks, most of them cannot be applied in large networks because of their complexity. In this paper, we devise a simple and efficient algorithm for k-degree anonymity in large networks. Our algorithm constructs a k-degree anonymous network by the minimum number of edge modifications. We compare our algorithm with other well-known k-degree anonymous algorithms and demonstrate that information loss in real networks is lowered. Moreover, we consider the edge relevance in order to improve the data utility on anonymized networks. By considering the neighbourhood centrality score of each edge, we preserve the most important edges of the network, reducing the information loss and increasing the data utility. An evaluation of clustering processes is performed on our algorithm, proving that edge neighbourhood centrality increases data utility. Lastly, we apply our algorithm to different large real datasets and demonstrate their efficiency and practical utility.

Flow in e‐learning: What drives it and why it matters

Abstract: This paper seeks to explain why some individuals sink further into states of flow than others, and what effects flow has in the context of a virtual education environment. Our findings-gathered from both questionnaire and behavioural data-reveal that flow states are elicited by the e-learners' senses of controlling the virtual education environment, their attention centred on the learning activity, and their feelings of physically being in such an environment. We bring evidence about three benefits from flow states: they facilitate e-learner's positive emotions, they enhance e-learners' academic performance, and they contribute to students' effective continuance in e-learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]