Deciding to teach online: Communication,opportunities and challenges for educators in distance education

ABSTRACT

Adopting technology in support of educational programmes brings about self-evident changes and challenges both for students and educators (faculty members/facilitators), as well as for teaching and learning in distance education. The participatory culture of online learning and teaching demands new skills and competencies that pose challenges for existing teaching and learning pedagogies. The purpose of this literature review is to identify and exemplify facilitator roles in e-learning, to argue that there is a need for facilitators to undergo e-learning-related training, and to consider certain other challenges that result from using an online platform for teaching and learning. The results of the literature survey confirm that the roles of the educator change in a digital environment, while communication also enables him/her to maintain a degree of control over computer-mediated learning. It is argued that training in phases can enhance mentors' personal development and encourage positive attitudes towards accepting responsibilities in e-learning, while ensuring continued support and back-up for educators and novice facilitators.     

Expert systems and the law

ABSTRACT

The project discussed here involved an online debating activity between intellectual property (IP) law students in Egypt and the UK, using a closed group on Facebook. The aim was to harness freely available online social media technology to create a space in which valuable discussions and learning could take place. We showed that Facebook can be a powerful educational tool to encourage active learning and usefully connect learners across continents. In enabling the exchange of views between students in different jurisdictions, Facebook provides exposure to different cultures and different perspectives as well as different legal cultures and different legal systems, while also, importantly, enabling participants to identify commonalities. This debate focused on IP law, which is of increasing international importance, and specifically on the topic of access to medicines, which is highly contentious. Through the activity, students learned that they need not only to learn the law, but also to appreciate the socio-cultural and political complexity underlying policy issues in different jurisdictions. On reflection, the Facebook debate definitely enhanced the study of IP law through an interesting and enjoyable international, intercultural activity, led by staff and students, which successfully extended the classroom experience.     

纪检监察机关查询存款的实践难题及解决路径

纪检监察机关查询存款具有时效性、连续性、关联性和保密性。纪检监察机关在实际查询中遇到诸多困难,主要是:纪检机关不能以自己名义查询,查询境外存款缺乏具体制度安排,查询存款的时间滞后,金融机构协助查询部门不统一,个别金融机构拖延反馈查询结果,人民银行的协助查询义务不明确,被调查对象有意规避银行查询等。解决纪检监察机关查询存款难题,需要适当扩大查询权限,细化明确金融机构的协助义务,探索建立网络快速查询机制,逐步完善金融账户实名制,建立查询被调查对象开户银行机制,强化对查询存款信息的安全保障。     

论纪检监察学科人才队伍建设

经过多年的探索和实践,我国纪检监察学科人才队伍建设在依托平台构造、提高研究实力等方面已取得了比较显著的成绩和进步,学科人才发展环境也得到了较大改善。但是,由于纪检监察学科建设整体起步较晚,导致学科人才队伍在数量、结构、分布等方面仍存在着不同程度的短板现象,严重影响着纪检监察学科建设的成效。因此,必须结合实际,充分调动内外力量,从政策导向、制度机制等方面进一步加大支持和创新的力度,激发人才队伍建设的活力,为加强纪检监察学科建设提供坚实的智力支撑。     

网络反腐的利弊及对策研究

网络信息技术的不断发展,不仅为网络反腐提供了技术土壤,也为网络反腐创造了一定的政治环境。尽管网络反腐使一批腐败官员戏剧性落马而彰显出其在反腐斗争中的作用,但网络反腐也存在着夸大事实、虚假舆论、恶意举报等问题。具体分析网络反腐的利弊,有针对性地提出相应的对策,利用网络积极引导大众舆论,增强网络在反腐斗争中的实用性,对加强党风廉政建设具有重要的意义。     

未成年人网络游戏引发暴力犯罪的控制路径

近年来,因网络游戏而诱发的未成年人犯罪案件呈日益上升趋势,如何有效地预防和控制未成年人暴力犯罪,已成为全社会关注的热点问题。从实证分析角度,考量域外国家防控机制,为了实现对未成年人网络游戏暴力犯罪的控制,应当建立未成年人涉网相关的专门法律规范,强化行政执法权,推行网络游戏相关规控制度,开展社会管控,对未成年人健康用网进行综合引导。     

Teaching Negotiations in the New Millennium: Evidence‐Based Recommendations for Online Course Delivery

Traditional methods for teaching negotiation have required both instructor and student to be physically present in the same location. With the advent of the Internet and associated technological advances, however, instructors may now transcend geographical barriers and effectively deliver the same content virtually. In this article, we present an exploratory study comparing two masters‐level negotiation courses: one taught using a traditional in‐person method and the other taught online. Results showed no significant difference in knowledge acquisition as quantified by objective measures, including mean grades. In addition, self‐report data indicate that, although students' skill and mastery of negotiation improved in both courses, online students reported that they experienced less interaction and social engagement with their classmates and instructor. Several course development strategies and best practices are discussed.     

Gambling on compliance with the new 2005 Act: Do organisations fulfil new regulations?

Gambling is not a new phenomenon. Indeed gambling has been seen to be omnipresent throughout history and culture. However gambling has taken a new path. Online gambling is fast becoming a major pastime for many of society. The ease of access and convenience of play has led to an increase in the numbers of people gambling, and not just online. Within the increase of online gambling there has also been an increase in the regulation surrounding this industry. This paper explores the regulatory approach to online gambling within the UK. The researchers explore the Gambling Act 2005 (UK) and provide an empirical analysis of the UK major gambling organisation to determine what regulatory aspects they adopt and what safety measures they have in place to protect minors and to protect against financial crime. The researchers finally looks at policy implications for UK governments when regulating future online gambling.     

Online protection of the child within Europe

This article discusses the online protection available to children and young people within Europe. Children and young people are significant users of information technology and they must be able and comfortable to safely use this technology. The European Union and the Council of Europe have been at the vanguard of attempts to regulate the information society in order to protect young netizens.     

无碳复写字迹的化学消退特征初探

无碳复写消退变造文书案件近年呈增多趋势。采用多种常见有机溶剂对无碳复写字迹进行化学消退实验,并比较消退效果及消退特征,为化学消退无碳复写字迹的检验提供基础性研究数据,具有重要的现实意义。