ABSTRACT
Productivity has always been a focus of manufacturing equipment development, but one of the biggest and most profitable challenges to address is production line changeover-managing the cost of complexity. [...]it would be hugely advantageous for the European market to have a 'pan-European' product pack, to minimize changeovers and potential compliance issues with errors in packaging materials. With increased costs of importing from Asia, it is advantageous to look at ways in which more of the manufacturing supply chain can be brought to Europe, as well as reducing the environmental impact of transporting goods halfway around the world. No longer is NIMBY [not in my back yard] a solution to offshore-the environment is now everyone's yard to take care of, relocating doesn't remove the problem.
ABSTRACT
There has been extensive amount of research in terms of digital literacy and digital literacy education since the notion of embracing digital literacies in teaching contexts to reach the objectives has been highly emphasised within the 21st century teaching contexts. However, a considerable amount of research has been conducted for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers. This study aims to investigate digital literacy levels of pre-semce EFL teachers and also investigates if there are any significant differences of the participants' critical digital literacies in relation to their gender, grade, age, the amount of time they spend online, their beliefs concerning how competent they are while they are using digital technologies and their preferences about reading online or print materials. The study also aims to explore the possible relationships among their subs kills: technological skill, personal security skill, critical skill, device security skill, informational skill, and communication skill. This is a cross-sectional quantitative study. The results indicated that the general digital literacy levels of the participants were moderately high (x=3.75). Considering the changes with regard to their demographics, the study showed that their digital literacy levels revealed a significant difference in relation to their gender, grade, and the information they had using digital platforms. However, their digital literacy level did not show a significant difference with regard to the amount of time spent online and their preferences about reading online or print materials. Finally, considering the relationships among their sub-skills also revealed some positive or negative oriented significant relationships. Particularly with the occurrence of the pandemic disease COVID-19, many institutions all around the world have had to reorganise their programs and curricular activities in accordance with distance education to suit all practices to the learners' needs and this dictated an urgent need for the development of the digital skills of teachers to make a smooth transition. Investigating digital literacy levels and lite ray skills of EFL pre-service teachers will enlighten educators in preparing language programs.
ABSTRACT
Purpose>This study aims to investigate the key factors that motivate learners to use handheld devices to access library resources. To do so, this study integrates the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the DeLone and McLean information systems success (D and M-ISS) model.Design/methodology/approach>The relationship between the causes and the outcomes may not be symmetrical. To test this proposition, data were collected from 210 respondents in a Gulf country and analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) and complemented by fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA).Findings>The SEM results revealed that three constructs – perceived ease of use (PEOU), service quality (SQ) and system quality (SEQ) are strong drivers of students’ continuous intention to use handheld devices to access library resources. However, perceived usefulness (PU) and information quality (IQ) do not significantly influence students’ intentions. Besides, SQ and PEOU are positively related to PU. Furthermore, fsQCA results show that two different conjunctions, PU*PEOU*IQ*SEQ and PEOU*SQ*IQ*SEQ, cause the students to show a continuous intention to use handheld devices to access library resources.Originality/value>Unlike previous studies on mobile library resource utilization, this analysis extends TAM to investigate the linear additive influence of two basic TAM constructs: PEOU and PU, and three constructs, namely, SEQ, SQ and IQ of the ISS model, on students’ library resource utilization. Furthermore, the findings of SEM were complemented by a set theory-based configuration method, fsQCA, to investigate the asymmetrical, equifinal and configurational causation leading to the desired outcome. The findings of this study have theoretical and practical implications.
ABSTRACT
The paper presents results of research that examined the learning of young learners within the blended learning model. The model included face-to-face lessons and homework done online distance. In total, 123 learners from the Slovak Republic (aged 10–12) participated in the research. In homework, the learners practised and fixed the learning content that was explained in face-to-face lessons. They worked either with printed materials or used an e-application. Two tools were exploited within the research: (1) didactic tests, that is, pretest that detected learners entrance knowledge, and posttest, that monitored their final knowledge;(2) a semi-structured interview in the focus group that proportionally included 16 learners. Five hypotheses were set to discover whether the learners achieved the expected learning objectives and outcomes. The results discovered that within the blended learning model learners achieved the required knowledge, irrespective they worked with printed materials or with e-application. Moreover, all test results were in favour of the e-app. Furthermore, in the semi-structured interview in the focus group, the learners reflected their experience with the blended learning model in four areas: hardware and software equipment, digital skills, autonomy in learning, and home environment. The results aspire to be applied in blended learning in the new normal era of post-pandemic education. © 2022, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 gave rise to puzzling circumstances globally, thus altering the principles in which dentistry was practised in the pre-COVID era. A survey to assess the level of knowledge and attitude regarding oral radiography during the pandemic was conducted, targeting the dental professionals in the country of Pakistan. This cross-sectional study was performed from September 1st - September 30th 2020. Googlesurveys.com was utilized for designing the questionnaire which included three sections, constituting demographic details, knowledge and practices respectively. The calculated sample size was 356. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 and a Chi-square test was applied to analyze the knowledge and practices of extraoral radiographs among dentists in Pakistan during the COVID-19 pandemic. A superlative, response was revealed in the knowledge part which evaluated the mode of COVID-19 disease transmission;however alarming feedback was achieved when different extraoral techniques were inquired. The use of intraoral radiographs by 71.3% of dental practitioners, even during the pandemic was a noteworthy finding of the survey, regardless of the strong emphasis been on the use of extraoral radiographs. Prompt attention by healthcare authorities is required especially in underdeveloped countries for practice modifications in the dental setting to reduce the risk of cross-infection. This study showed extra-oral periapical and bitewing radiographs can be used for the diagnosis of dental problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. This will prevent the transmission of the Corona Virus to the patients and dental healthcare professionals.