Can Soil Mechanics laboratory courses use tools and lessons from online learning to enhance in-person laboratory experiences?

During and immediately after the Covid-19 pandemic, faculty and students were pushed into online learning resources in ways that were not previously encountered. Faculty identified methods to produce laboratory exercises through distance learning, and these tools are still available as universities return to in-person classes. In our in-person soil mechanics laboratory courses, faculty are now using these previously developed online learning resources to supplement and enhance our traditional hands-on laboratory exercise. To determine how these new tools affect learning, an anonymous survey instrument was developed. Existing analytical data from Learning Management Systems (LMS) and grades were used to determine how student learning has changed. This research focuses on soils mechanics laboratory exercises which are traditionally considered difficult to execute online. The survey instrument collects demographic information specifically inquiring about representation from historically marginalized groups in order to study whether instructional changes equitably impact these groups. In addition, respondents are asked for their perceptions of online, flipped, and in-person course delivery methods. A more specific question asks about internet connectivity which can correlate with financial status or location and can impact how these instructional changes affect students. The survey enquires about student experience with online laboratory exercises, especially in soils mechanics. Since returning to in-person classes, student perceptions of online courses have evolved. Students report that online content has many positives, like watching videos multiple times or at their own pace. Conversely, students have repeatedly stated a strong preference to in-person delivery of content. Students have adapted to post-pandemic changes, specifically the availability of online course content and appreciate the opportunities to use video content as a supplement to other more traditional tools. Anecdotally, faculty have found that student interactions with pre-recorded lab videos have increased their depth of understanding of soil lab testing and soil mechanics properties. Faculty have also observed students investing more time outside of class, using the videos to inform questions asked in class and office hours. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2022.

Quality and User Satisfaction of the Telemedicine Service in Cardiology During COVID-19

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the quality of telemedicine service in cardiology and user satisfaction during COVID-19 at the Victor Lazarte Echegaray Hospital - Trujillo, Peru, in 2021. The research methodology used is the hypothetical method deductive with a non-experimental quantitative approach and descriptive correlational analysis with cross-sectional design. For this study, a total of n = 96 patients (100%) were surveyed and received care in the telemedicine services in cardiology. Two types of survey instruments were used, the first SERVQHOS is to evaluate the quality of the telemedicine service, and the Second SERVQUAL is for user satisfaction and its dimensions such as reliability, responsiveness, security, empathy, and tangibility. We used the Spearman correlation coefficient to determine the association between telemedicine service quality versus user satisfaction and its dimensions. The results show a significant relationship of p < 0.05 between the two variables and a moderate positive correlation of Rho = 0.525. In addition, most of the patients surveyed (41.7%) during the COVID-19 pandemic indicated that the telemedicine service is regular and safety is acceptable. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Identifying the Contractor’s core competencies in post-COVID-19 scenario: developing a survey instrument

Purpose: Construction industry is one of the worst affected sectors due to the impact of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the key competencies that should be demonstrated by the contractors in the post-COVID-19 scenario to make them resilient to the adverse impact of pandemic outbreaks. Design/methodology/approach: A survey instrument was developed using an extensive literature review and was tested using a pilot study. It was then administered online using survey monkey to 900 respondents, out of which 324 complete responses were obtained. The data analysis was performed using exploratory factor analysis and second-order confirmatory factor analysis. Findings: After analyzing the data, it was identified that the most critical competence was managing site safety (standard factor loading (SFL) = 0.91), followed by leadership skills (SFL = 0.88), technical competence (SFL = 0.81), managing supply chain disruption (SFL = 0.73) and financial stability (SFL = 0.48) that were found to be less essential from the respondents’ point of view. Originality/value: The study is first of its kind to identify the core competencies that should be demonstrated by the contractors to cope with COVID-19-induced disruptions. The findings of this article can be used by the practitioners to develop policies and procedures for selection of contractors. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Study of Customer Sentiment Towards Smart Lockers

Understanding customer sentiment associated with delivery solutions, such as smart lockers, is an area of increasing interest for package delivery companies. Applications of this data could result in cost savings through vehicle route planning, cross docking, fleet size optimization, and increased placement of smart locker technology for stop reduction. However, there has been little effort applied to gathering information related to public sentiment applications to last mile package delivery. Therefore, through a survey instrument we gather sentiment data related to smart lockers for review and analysis. Sentiment analysis by region (suburban, urban, and rural) is accomplished through a survey instrument with the goal of understanding the difference in sentiment by region and the effects of COVID-19 on customer sentiment towards the use of smart lockers. Some significant findings were that suburban residents were willing to travel further to pick-up a package from a smart locker (α = 0.01) and previous experience was correlated with increased sentiment (α = 0.05). © 2022, ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering.

COVID-19 Effects on Student Internships in the Construction Industry: Experiences from Georgia and Oklahoma

This research project is to determine how the student internships have been affected by the COVID-19. The paper examines student internships in the construction industry experiences from Georgia and Oklahoma. This research evaluates internship requirements, the challenge of getting internships, safety measures in the work environment, and identifies construction experience perceptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students were surveyed to provide information about how internships have been affected during this time. The results of the survey are used to predict how future economic changes would affect internships. An online survey instrument was created to circulate among construction students to a) evaluate internships experience during COVID-19, b) identify adaptation of working environment in the office and field, c) use of additional safety measures, d) identify any project changes due to COVID-19, and e) describe their role of the COVID-19 response team. The results of the student internships activity are analyzed to examine the changes associated with their previous internships before COVID-19 versus their internship during the COVID-19 pandemic. The two states, Georgia and Oklahoma, are compared with students' respondent perspectives. Additionally, insights into external views of the media or political background are identified in the students' responses. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2021