Education Commons^™

“I Was Told There’D Be Homebrew”: Using Open Resources To Build No Cost/Low Cost Ttrpg Events, Nathaniel Bareford

All Things Open

While tabletop role-playing games (TTRPG) like Dungeons and Dragons 5e are more popular than they have ever been, access barriers still exist for some players hoping to get into the game. The cost of game materials such as rule books, dice, and miniatures (or "minis") can prevent some people from playing. This presentation gives an overview of open resources and low-cost/no-cost materials that librarians, educators, community event planners and others can use to eliminate barriers and welcome all gamers to the table. We will describe how Wizards of the Coast’s open gaming license and System Reference Document, virtual tabletop systems, …

Open Access Scholarship: Amplifying Reach, Enhancing Collaboration, And Empowering Education, Yvonne Earnshaw, Matthew Schmidt

All Things Open

In this presentation, we highlight three benefits of leveraging open educational resources in academia. Our experiences as open access advocates and key contributors to OER projects will be supported by compelling analytics, highlighting the potential of open access publishing. We will first discuss how OER increases impact and visibility in that it liberates research from paywalls, granting unrestricted global access. This wider reach leads to greater readership, amplifying the influence of research within and beyond academia. Next, we will discuss enhanced citations and collaboration, highlighting how open access fosters a culture of knowledge-sharing and community across disciplines, thereby reducing the …

What Should Professors Know About Expensive Textbooks?, Charlene Martoni

All Things Open

Last year during Open Access Week, Georgia State University Library asked its students, "What should professors know about expensive textbooks?" and "What have you done when a textbook was too expensive?" Applying open pedagogical approaches, these questions were displayed on white boards at library service desks on each campus. Students were encouraged to respond to the first question in their own words, and they were asked to respond to the second question by selecting one of five responses. Responses were analyzed and anonymized, and they were then used in faculty professional development to demonstrate the local impact of expensive textbooks. …

Mapping The Way Forward For Post Pandemic Digitalization Of Higher Education Administration,Teaching And Learning: A Systematic Literature Review, Barbara Tsverukayi, Sam Takavarasha

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

The post COVID—19 era signals an epoch that arose after the crisis of the pandemic. This therefore requires higher education institutions (HEIs) to embrace digitalization in administration, teaching and learning as a contingency measure in case of future disruptions. This systematic literature review paper explores the challenges and opportunities presented to HEIs by the pandemic with a view to mapping the way forward through digitalization. The study applied a literature search strategy on seven electronic databases which yielded a total of 5 462 articles. Following an inclusion and exclusion process, 36 articles were found eligible for this study. The findings …

The Impact Of Digital Transformation On Institutional Growth. A Case Of Zimbabwean Universities, Vusumuzi Maphosa

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

The pressure for institutions to digitally transform has been building, and COVID-19 accelerated the transition in developing countries. The study evaluated the impact of digital transformation on Zimbabwean universities. The Microsoft digital transformation framework guided the study. Thematic analysis was used to extract meaning and generate themes from qualitative data from university ICT Directors. Results show that digital transformation positively impacted institutional growth and efficiency. Most universities invest in digital technology to increase service reliability and availability. Digital transformation teams were bolstered to support student processes and create personalised learning journeys. The digital transformation led to the adoption of several …

Digital Transformation Of Smes Through Social Media, Georgette Eugenia Otoo, Raphael Amponsah, Eric Afful-Dadzie, Emmanuel Awuni Kolog

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

This research paper explores the strategic integration of social media platforms by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) beyond marketing. Drawing from Resource-Based View and Dynamic Capabilities theories, the study investigates how social media enhances management, coordination, and control functions. Through five diverse case studies from Ghana, findings reveal SMEs’ innovative use of platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, Slack, and Trello. These platforms foster efficient internal communication, customer engagement, project management, and talent acquisition. Challenges such as technical expertise and dynamic digital landscapes are identified.

Internet Of Things Affordance For Open Educational Resources In A Comprehensive Open Distance E-Learning, Lancelord Mncube

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

The Internet of Things (IoT) space has dual dimensions of affordance to support open educational resources (OER). The duality of affordance has little or not been well articulated in relation to OER, particularly in a Comprehensive open distance e-learning (CODEL) institution. Such an institution is a mega open distance in South Africa and beyond the continent to accommodate students globally and rely on information and communication technology (ICT) in the provision of tuition. In the CODEL institution, there is a recognizable shift as the institution encourages the appropriation of OER and phasing out the prescription of the prescribed textbooks. The …

Benefits Of Adopting Micro-Credentials For Skills Development, Oyena Nokulunga Mahlasela, Adriana A. Steyn

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

Micro-credential providers are increasing both in diversity and volume. However, employers are still concerned about their role in skill development. This study aimed to understand how micro-credentials can assist employees in skills development. A systematic literature review was conducted for studies published between (2016 to 2023). Thirty-two sources were included in the final review. After that, five recommendations for employers when adopting micro-credentials were constructed first by (1) defining the value of formal and informal education. (2) exploring micro-credentials as a tool for skills development. (3) encouraging organisations to collaborate with other institutions. (4) encouraging continuous personalised learning, known as …

Experiences Of African Women In Stem Careers: A Systematic Literature Review., Kaluwa Siwale, Gwamaka Mwalemba, Ulrike Rivett

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

The discourse on women's underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) mainly centres on the global north, leaving a gap in understanding the perspectives of African women in STEM. To address this, a systematic literature review was conducted to explore African women's experiences in STEM careers and education. After applying inclusion and criteria, 18 published articles were analysed. 8 key issues emerge: work environment, education system, work-life balance, gender-based stereotypes, racial bias, sexual harassment, inadequate support/mentorship, and self-imposed limits. These themes intertwine, with some aspects influencing others. Grasping the complexities and interactions of these factors provides insights into challenges …

Information Technology Decision Makers’ Readiness For Artificial Intelligence Governance In Institutions Of Higher Education In South Africa, John Mangundu

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

Artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance the educational experience for academics and students. However, research has inadequately examined AI ethics and governance, particularly in the higher education sector of developing economies such as South Africa. AI governance ensures that envisioned AI benefits are realized while reducing AI risks. Against this backdrop of huge research deficit, the current study reports on a qualitative exploratory study that investigates the state of readiness for AI governance and AI governance maturity in South African higher education institutions. Informed by the combination of the TOE framework, the traditional IT governance model and the adapted IT governance …

Effect Of Virtual Dementia Tour On Prelicensure Student Nurses’ Attitudes Towards Dementia Care: A Quantitative Study Protocol, Kevin Alton

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: With over six million Americans currently living with dementia, it is crucial for prelicensure nursing programs to prepare registered nurses to provide quality care to individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Due to the challenges associated with providing face-to-face clinical experiential learning, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual simulation approaches are now being used as alternative or complementary clinical experiential teaching/learning methods.

Design: Quantitative Research

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Virtual Dementia Tour on prelicensure student nurses' attitudes towards dementia care.

Methods: This study is nested in a larger ongoing multisite, mixed-methods crossover-experimental designed study that investigates …

Employee Attrition: Analyzing Factors Influencing Job Satisfaction Of Ibm Data Scientists, Graham Nash

Symposium of Student Scholars

Employee attrition is a relevant issue that every business employer must consider when gauging the effectiveness of their employees. Whether or not an employee chooses to leave their job can come from a multitude of factors. As a result, employers need to develop methods in which they can measure attrition by calculating the several qualities of their employees. Factors like their age, years with the company, which department they work in, their level of education, their job role, and even their marital status are all considered by employers to assist in predicting employee attrition. This project will be analyzing a …

Korean Dual Language Immersion Programs: Perspectives Of Parents, Students And Teachers As Stakeholders, Bridgett Stafford, Nicole Rivera

Symposium of Student Scholars

While dual language immersion (DLI) programs are relatively new in the United States, they have been heavily researched. However, the majority of the research focuses on Spanish and Mandarin programs. Korean, as a less commonly taught language (LCTL) and a language with a different typography as English has not been thoroughly researched. Being a LCTL, there are possible cultural and social factors that influence the program. There are also concerns that because Korean has a different typography as English, it would take more time to learn and maintain, causing differing results from programs that share the English typography. Despite Korean …

The Interactive Research Methods Lab: An Open Innovation, Olga Koz, Ivan Jorrin Abellan, Jim Wright

All Things Open

An open innovation model eliminates traditional barriers between practitioners, universities, and other sources of innovation, research, and development. Open innovation also eliminates boundaries inside a university, including interdisciplinary and interdepartmental ones. The Interactive Research Methods Lab team members will share a short video about the IRML submitted for the Sage Innovators Award and will answer the following questions:

1. Why do we consider the IRML an open innovation?
2. How does the IRML adhere to open access, educational resources, science, and source principles?

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