Technology-Enhanced Conceptual Instruction: Design Principles and First Steps

Digital health technology use among people aged 55years and over: Findings from the 45 and up study.

Digital Technology Use in US Community-Dwelling Seniors With and Without Homebound Status

Rapid digitisation of health occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. In October 2020, we conducted a survey on digital health technology use in Germany. This study aimed to conduct a second survey to investigate in more detail the internet use in health context and digital technology use for health promotion and disease prevention in Germany. A cross-sectional, nationwide telephone survey was conducted in November 2022. Anonymous data on internet and digital technology use, digital health literacy, and sociodemographic characteristics were analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regressions. The 1020 participants were aged 18-92 years, 53% were male, 62% completed primary or secondary education, 71% resided in large cities, and 45% reported a country-average net household income. Overall, 61% reported internet use in health context via 1-4 devices. Among those, more than 50% used the internet and apps to obtain general health information and less than 50% used digital technologies for physical activity promotion or cancer prevention. Overall, 34% were confident in using the internet for health decisions and 71% preferred to receive health information non-digitally (e.g. on paper). Internet, app, and digital technology use were associated with higher digital health literacy and income, and residence in larger cities. Digital technologies were used for physical activity promotion by younger and for cancer prevention by older participants. The internet and digital technologies were predominantly used to obtain health information, but less often for health promotion and disease prevention in 2022 in Germany. While health app and digital technology use for physical activity promotion increased, the confidence in using online information for health decisions decreased in 2022 relative to 2020. Factors that promote confidence in online health information and digital technology use for health promotion and disease prevention need to be investigated in future studies.

The study investigated a group of mathematics in-service teachers' conceptions of problems and problem solving in the subject. Such conceptions were premised to have a mediatory role on the teachers' pre-disposition to implement problem solving strategies in their instructional practices. It was motivated by the observation that problem solving was not being implemented effectively in mathematics instructional situations in most schools.The study subjects were 34 mathematics in-service teachers enrolled for the Bachelor of Education degree at Midlands State University in Zimbabwe in 2006. The research instrument was a questionnaire designed to find out what they perceived to be mathematics problems and problem solving. Data was collected during their residential tutorial session in August 2006.The results indicated that the teachers had a view of mathematics problems which was limited to the standard drill exercises and translation tasks which are common in most mathematics textbooks. Such tasks were also rated as having a lot of mathematics content, were useful in teaching, and would be used very often in the subject's instruction. This was found to be a view which was likely to militate against effective implementation of problem solving as an instructional mode.The study recommended the re-examination of mathematics teacher preparation courses so that they make problem solving a more central and critical component of the programme. Availing literature on problem solving to school libraries and mathematics departments could also motivate teachers to utilise this instructional strategy. In-service workshops for practising teachers could be adopted mainly for advocacy purposes.

The effective use of digital technologies in the organization of distance education plays an important role in the rapid assimilation of new information introduced into science. It will also be possible to quickly enter additional information within the virtual subject being studied. Therefore, the study of methods for introducing digital technologies and their effective use in distance learning processes, the creation of distance learning courses belongs to the group of topical scientific and technical problems. At present, the importance of using digital technologies in improving the quality of education is very high. The purpose of the research work is the effective use of digital technologies in distance education and the theoretical basis for testing its effectiveness. The article mentions the possibilities of the Moodle system, the advantages of course elements, effective methods of teaching science. The use of modern digital technologies and means of communication in distance education will also be discussed. The article outlines the stages of development of digital technologies, defines the meaning and content of the concepts “Digital technologies”, “Digital educational technologies”. Description of information about the Kahoot and Quizizz software platforms for an interesting organization of the educational process. The advantages of this platform in developing the intellectual and creative abilities of students and increasing their enthusiasm for learning are emphasized. Regardless of whether the educational process is traditional or distance learning, it is necessary to increase students’ interest in the lesson, encourage them to work on themselves, and form independent learning skills. Organization of the educational process on gaming platforms, creation of a set of electronic tests and its use in teaching, increasing the effectiveness of the lesson and increasing the independence of thinking of students, interest in the lesson, and a high level of mastery of the subject being taught. It is advisable to use digital technologies in the educational process to develop students’ interest, to develop the skills and abilities to use additional literature outside the textbook, to direct students to scientific research, as well as to constantly transfer knowledge to students.

The article attempts to identify the difficulties associated with the use of digital learning technology at a technical university in the context of a pandemic. The research is based on the use of such methods as content analysis of modern publications on the problem under study, their logical analysis, generalization and systematization of published information, as well as understanding the experience of using digital technology at the technical university. A survey of polytechnic students was conducted regarding the timely identification of problems related to the use of digital learning technology. The findings revealed that awareness of the thoughtful use of digital learning technology, as well as thoughtful regulations in the access of students to digital equipment can open up new opportunities for their application. The relevance of digitalization for the technical university is shown. Prospects for further research of problems related to the use of digital technology of education at a technical university are outlined in order to identify its further directions and features of their development in domestic and foreign educational institutions. The novelty of the study consists in substantiating the relevance of analyzing the experience of using digital learning technology at the technical university, identifying problematic aspects of its use. The limitation of the study is that all the responses are from just one educational institution and, in future studies, it is necessary to take into account the experience of using digital learning technologies on a more global scale.

Background Older persons’ use of digital technology is becoming more prominent due to society’s heavy reliance on mobile and web applications. A positive attitude has been detected among older persons regarding the use of mobile solutions. Digital technology is increasingly used in the provision of health and social care, which can help older persons continue to be independent, and in turn can contribute to older persons’ overall well-being and sense of safety. However, current digital technology has been found to be difficult for older persons. Additional explorations into older persons’ experiences using digital technology are therefore relevant. Method A qualitative design was used with data collected using semi-structured interviews with 17 older persons in the age span 72–101, living in 12 different municipalities. The older persons were admitted to municipality health care. Interviews were conducted in the older persons home, and were audio recorded. The recordings were transcribed and analyzed through a qualitative conventional content analysis. The study method was compliant with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist. Results The analysis resulted in two main categories; Enrichment, dependance and mixed feelings of using digital technology in daily life and Divided preferences and use of digital technology in contact with health and social care. The first is divided into three sub-categories; divided usage and feelings about digital technology, enriching daily life with digital technology, and need for support when using digital technology. The second is divided into two; divided experiences regarding digital communication with health and social care and a longing for information about healthcare through digital technology. Conclusion The diversity showed how older persons cannot be seen as a homogeneous group regarding the use of digital technology. Individual preferences of older persons should be acknowledged by health care professionals and policy makers prior to deciding whether the use of digital technology is preferable, and in which situations. Support and education for older person in using digital technology is essential, as is involving older persons in designing the digital technology that is developed for them to use. Otherwise, older persons may become more dependent on others to manage their everyday life.

Chapter Nine - Conceptual Problem Solving in Physics

The article reveals the specifics of the use of digital technologies in political campaigns. In particular, based on a comparative analysis, the experience of using these technologies in the political process of the USA, the EU and the Russian Federation is compared. It is noted that artificial intelligence technologies are most often used in political campaigns, namely targeted advertising, Big Data and the use of cryptocurrency based on blockchain technology to finance political campaigns. It is in this direction that the development of regulatory legal acts regulating the use of digital technologies is also underway. Insufficient elaboration of the issues of the use of digital technologies in the political sphere provides significant opportunities for research. The purpose of the article is to identify the main directions of using digital technologies in political campaigns. The following general scientific methods were used to analyze the results obtained: description, analysis, synthesis. An important role was played by the method of comparative analysis, which allows comparing the use of digital technologies in the USA, EU countries and Russia, as well as obtaining the most representative indicators. The authors have developed criteria and indicators for comparing the use of basic digital technologies by different countries and evaluated them on a 5-point scale. The article also used SWOT analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the introduction of digital technologies in political campaigns, as well as to demonstrate the opportunities and threats of their use. The results of comparative and SWOT analysis showed that the use of digital technologies in the Russian Federation and the European Union are approximately at the same level, with the exception of the introduction of Big Data - it is much higher in the EU. The highest degree of implementation of digital technologies is typical for the United States. The article reveals a direct relationship between the degree of regulatory regulation of end-to-end technologies and the level of their dissemination, which indicates the need to maintain a reasonable balance in the legislative regulation of innovative technologies. There is also a tendency to increase the use of digital technologies in Russian political practice, which increases the responsibility of political actors for ensuring the security of personal data of citizens. The article concludes that the development and implementation of digital technologies in modern Russian political life requires the development of a regulatory framework to protect the privacy of citizens and ensure the ethics and transparency of their application. The state should act as a coordinating intermediary between political actors and IT campaigns in order to develop and integrate digital technologies into political campaigns at various levels.

This study examines smallholder farmers’ perception of digital agricultural technology and factors that shape the smallholders’ adoption of it in South Central Vietnam. A sample size of 202 smallholder farmers was randomly chosen from a total population of 407 smallholder farmers. Descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression were used to analyse the data. The results show that the internet and connectivity/wireless, mobile applications and digital platforms are the common digital technologies used by smallholder farmers and these are also the most effective digital technologies for dealing with agricultural production and marketing issues. It can be concluded that younger smallholder farmers who had higher education levels, who interacted with scientists and possessed large farms are in a better position to adopt digital technologies of the internet and connectivity/wireless, mobile applications and digital platforms than older smallholder farmers who had lower education levels, did not interact with scientists and owned small farms. Smallholder farmers who participated in training programs, was member of community-based organisations and contacted with extension workers tend to be digital technology users of the internet and connectivity/wireless and mobile applications. Smallholder farmers who live far from local markets tend to be digital technology users of digital platforms compared to those who live close to one. The provision of training courses on the use of digital technologies in agriculture that consider demographic, socio-economic and institutional characteristics of smallholders when designing and delivering, is a proper agricultural extension strategy which can foster the smallholder farmers to adopt digital technologies for managing agricultural production and marketing systems.

Interorganizational collaboration and the use of new digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, internet of things (IoT), or blockchain technology, are regarded as key enablers in implementing sustainability and circular economy‐oriented practices. While this is reflected in a few conceptual and case studies, statistical analyses on the topic are rare. No study so far has focused on collaboration, and digital technologies have only been studied in isolation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of interorganizational collaboration practices on a firm's circular economy practices and on outcomes (sustainability performance and economic performance), as well as the potentially facilitative role of new digital technologies on both. The research is based on a deductive approach, using a random sample of 112 Austrian manufacturing companies. The study employs partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS‐SEM), features a multiple‐respondent design, and uses the dynamic capabilities view as a theoretical foundation. The study finds that interorganizational collaboration practices have a strong positive effect on the implementation of sustainability and CE practices, while the use of new digital technologies and general dynamic capabilities do not. The use of digital technologies positively affects only interorganizational collaboration, while general dynamic capabilities serve as an antecedent for both the use of digital technologies and interorganizational collaboration. Regarding the outcomes of CE implementation, the study finds a positive impact on firm‐level sustainability and economic performance. From a theoretical point of view, the study provides a new perspective on the prerequisites for successful CE implementation, highlights the importance of collaboration, and contextualizes the role of new digital technologies and dynamic capabilities. From a practical point of view, based on the positive outcomes found, the study supports arguments in favor of company engagement in CE activity. It also serves to motivate purposive digitization and systems thinking in order to create efficient CE collaboration networks.

BACKGROUNDCancer is a rising cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Individuals diagnosed with cancer in LMICs often have limited access to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services. Social support after a cancer diagnosis is associated with positive health outcomes in the long term. Digital technologies, such as the Internet and mobile phones, could be used to provide support to individuals with cancer in a more accessible way. This scoping review aims to understand how digital technology is currently being utilized by individuals with cancer for social support in LMICs.METHODSFour electronic databases were searched up to June 2024 to identify studies that reported on the use of digital technology for cancer social support in LMICs. Articles were included if they were published in English, included adults diagnosed with any type of cancer, and reported the use of digital technology for social support. Study characteristics, population demographics, and technological interventions reported were extracted.RESULTSIn all, 15 articles from 12 studies were included in the scoping review. The results were centralized in four countries, and the most common cancer type reported was breast. Online health communities, Internet-based resources, mobile applications, and telecommunication were the four digital technologies reported. Overall, the articles demonstrated that the use of digital technology for social support can be beneficial for individuals diagnosed with cancer in LMICs.CONCLUSIONThere is a limited understanding of how digital technology can be used to support individuals with cancer in LMICs. Future research is needed to explore how digital technology can be utilized by underrepresented regions to offer avenues of support for regionally common cancer types such as cervical. Fundamentally, this scoping review highlights the need for additional research on the use of digital technology to support individuals with a cancer diagnosis in LMICs.

The article highlights the ways of the use of digital technologies in the higher education system of Ukraine in the professional training of future teachers in the context of modern social challenges. The importance of digital resources in the organization of distance and blended learning under martial law is substantiated. It is emphasized that the informatization of society and the activities of educational institutions significantly affects the formation of content, organizational forms, teaching and management methods. It is emphasized that the digital culture of a teacher implies a high level of digital competencies, i.e. the ability to work with modern digital technology and master modern information and communication technologies. The article presents the results of an experimental study on “Use of digital technologies in the educational process of a higher education institution” conducted at the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University. It was conducted with the aim of identifying the level of students’ awareness of the possibilities of using modern digital tools in the course of bachelor’s education, substantiating and developing methods for using digital resources in the process of distance and blended learning, promoting the formation of digital competence of future teachers and improving the preparation of students for professional activities. It is emphasized that the experimental study made it possible to identify and specify the didactic and practical prospects for the use of digital technologies in the process of students’ professional development. It is concluded that in the process of digitalizing the professional training of future teachers, special attention should be paid to the creation of interactive educational environments, the use of digital methods and innovative pedagogical teaching technologies, the formation of digital competence of students, as well as the development of networking between participants in the educational process in the context of global challenges.

The purpose of this research is to get the opinions of future mathematics teachers on the development of logical thinking skills through the use of digital educational technologies. This research was created by using the qualitative research method. The participant group of the research consists of 50 teacher candidates studying in the mathematics teaching department of various universities in Kazakhstan in the 2021–2022 academic year. Research data were collected with a semi-structured interview form developed by the researchers. As a result of the research, it was determined that the majority of pre-service mathematics teachers had moderate logical thinking skills. The majority of pre-service mathematics teachers stated that they found the use of digital technologies effective in the development of logical thinking skills. The suggestions of the majority of pre-service mathematics teachers regarding the use of digital education technologies in the development of logical thinking skills are creating and developing logical thinking skills through digital education technologies, developing logical thinking skills through digital education technologies and providing complex problem-solving skills through digital education technologies. Effective course content should be created in order to enable pre-service mathematics teachers to gain logical thinking skills through digital education technologies.
 Keywords: Digital education technologies, logical thinking, pre-service mathematics teachers;

This paper investigated the perception of Nigerian lecturers on usefulness, ease of use and adequacy of use of digital technologies for research based on university ownership. The use of digital technologies for research in the 21st century for ease and access of information cannot be underscored irrespective of lecturers’ university ownership. The study was descriptive of survey type using structured questionnaire to elicit response from the respondents. A total of 742 respondents were drawn purposively from 13 public comprising state and federal universities in South-west, Nigeria. The research instrument was validated by 3 educational technologists and the reliability indices of r=0.92, 0.85 and 0.83 using Cronbach Alpha was attained on perceived usefulness, ease of use and adequacy of use of digital technologies respectively for research at 0.05 level of significance. Frequency counts, means and percentages were used to answer research questions 1-3, while 3 research hypotheses were tested using independent t-test statistical instrument. The finding revealed that lecturers in the federal government owned universities exemplified high perception on the usefulness and ease of use of digital technologies. However, lecturers from state government owned universities perceived adequacy of use of digital technologies for accomplishing research task effectively with minimum error. The study among others provision of institutional support, procurement of needed digital technologies and internet facilities, seminars, workshops and trainings to all university lecturers on usefulness, ease of use of newer digital technologies and skills to possess in accomplishing research task effectively with minimum error; irrespective of university ownership.