ICT Specialists Research Articles

Unequal wage of men and women in ICT in the Czech Republic?

This article analyzes inequality in the remuneration of ICT professionals in the Czech Republic during its evolution from 2000 to 2014. Data are analyzed by means of linear regression and the method of least squares for the entire period 2000–2014, and two periods 2000–2008 and 2009–2014, where we analyze de facto trends that emerged in the wages of ICT professionals after the economic crisis. We explore the evolution of wages and hence inequality between men and women from four perspectives: profession (ICT specialist – CZ ISCO 25 a ICT Technician CZ ISCO 35), education (secondary with maturita, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree), sphere of activity (wage sphere and salary sphere) and age (categories under 30 years, 30–50 years, and over 50 years). We find out that the trends in the equalization of wages between men and women are positive – a gradual equalization is taking place. What, however, we cannot regard as positive is the pace of equalization. The process is very slow and protracted. Another positive finding in terms of ICT professionals is the fact that the average amount of wage difference between men and women is approximately 17%, which is lower than in the entire Czech economy.

Vývoj mezd a příjmové nerovnosti u ICT odborníků v české republice

This article analyses wages development in the Czech Republic since 2000 to 2014. Analysis is principal focused on ICT Professional's (this group of employees in the economy is split into two sub groups ICT Specialists and ICT technicians) wages and its comparison to the wages in the whole Czech economy. Used data sources were collected by Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic, in the "Information System of Average Earnings" which is harmonized with the "Structure of Earnings Survey" provided by Europen Union. Analysis is provided by ICT sub groups and by gender. For more detail analysis, is also the percentile analysis of ICT job groups in comparison to the whole Czech economy presented. Contribution of ICT Professional's average wage to the average wage of the Czech economy increased from 0.43% in 2000 to 1.32% in 2014. The long term trend in wages of ICT Professionals in permanently increasing. Wages for ICT Specialists are significant higher then wages of ICT Technicians. The non-equality in wages is analysed by method of Gini index. This method is demonstrated by the development of GINI index for ICT Professionals and its comparison to Gini index of the whole Czech economy. Comparison shows that non equality is lower by ICT Professionals then in the Czech economy and from two job groups in ICT is the lower non equality for ICT Technicians group then for ICT Specialists.

Development of HOTS Test in Microbiology Course using Microsoft Office and Visual Basic for Application

<p class="5abstrak">This research aims to develop higher-level thinking tests on microbiology using computer assisted to measure high-level thinking skills of students who attended the Microbiology Course. The instrument was developed on Microsoft Office Power Point and Visual Basic for Application. The research stages followed the ten steps of Borg and Gall's R and D, done from February to July 2016. To test the validity of the instruments, the following steps were done: (1) expert validation involving microbiologists, ICT specialists, expert in research and evaluation of education; (2) small trial involved 12 students who took micobiology at Department of Biology Education of Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS); (3) Test involves 20 students who took the same courses; and (4) external validity test involving 20 students who took the same courses. Pearson correlation analysis was applied for analysis the external validity test. The findings were the instruments were valid, reliable with high coefficient of 0.872> 0.456 (r table), level of difficulty with difficulty index of 0.3 to 0.7, and discriminant power either with index of 0.3 to 0.7. External validity was 0.757 (Strong). Conclusion of the study is a test instrument is feasible and effective to measure high-level thinking skills of students in microbiological related content. </p><p class="5abstrak"> </p>

The Peculiarities of ICT Students‘ Drop-Out because of Academic Arrears

Lack of ICT specialists is a big problem in Lithuania for many years. Even ICT specialists are prepared both by universities and colleges, need of those specialists is increasing every year. Students’ enrolment to the ICT related study programmes is increasing a little every year, but only around 51% of them complete their studies. There are very different reasons of students drop-out: health problems, characteristics of personality (lack of responsibility, self-doubts, etc.), socio-economic factors, organisation of study process (Barkauskaitė & Gudžinskienė 2006). In this article a different approach is used to academic arrears – using statistical calculations, academic arrears of students of Vilnius University, Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics from 1991 till 2012 are analysed. At the end of the article, justification of a theoretical model is presented, using which students’ drop-out peculiarities in different study programmes can be observed. DOI: 10.15181/csat.v3i2.1114

Fair Use Rights in the Digital World: A Phenomenological Study of Instructional Technology Specialists

The aim of this study is to reveal an insight into the awareness and experiences of IT specialists about fair use in Turkey. A phenomenological design was employed and the criterion sampling method was used in this study. A total of nine specialists volunteered to participate. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Information seeking behaviors of the participants in this study displayed the transformation in knowledge acquisition activities. Although ICT specialists have the ability to develop, operate and maintain ICT systems and tools, they are not required to develop e-content. The findings indicated that they actively use web repositories for the needs of digital content and a group of IT tools (e.g. LMS and CMS) for learning and learning management. On the other hand, the findings revealed that, even if they are qualified staff in educational technology and implementing effective policies regarding the technology integration into classroom, the majority of those interviewed had low level of awareness about fair use principles. These results provide potentially important implications for educational institutions developing efficient in-service programs to raise the awareness among faculty members and undergraduate students about copyright and fair use in higher education.

Identification and Classification of Factors Affecting ICT Knowledge Workers' Turnover in Iran's Mobile Communications Industry

The purpose of the present research is identification and classification of factors affecting ICT knowledge workers’ turnover in Iran’s mobile communications industry. After reviewing research literature, seeking experts’ opinions and doing statistical analyses, 11 variables were identified as the main turnover precedents; then using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, the aforementioned factors were classified in three categories. Results of the research suggest that the personal, job-related and internal/extra-organizational aspects, respectively, explain ICT specialists’ and knowledge workers’ turnover in Iran’s mobile communications industry.

Philip Griffin

School: Radstock Primary School, Reading. Philip, an ICT specialist, has been teaching at Radstock for 28 years. In 2009 he won the prestigious Becta Award for Next Generation Learning, Southern Region, and the GTC Carol Adams Award for excellence in professional development, equalities and diversity.

Requirements of Companies on the Knowledge ICT Specialists for the ICT Administrator Role

The aim of this paper is to compare differences among requirements for the ICT Administrator role according to the company size. Relevant research is in the Czech Republic based on the sample of 1011 companies. Collected requirements could be used by universities to update their study programs to better fit the business needs. We have found out that there is almost no difference in requirements on the ICT Administrator role according to the company size. Comparing these results with knowledge provided by universities we have found out that graduates don’t receive appropriate level of knowledge.

Envisioning new post-scientific Europe through culturally balanced use of technology in learning

An envisioned post-scientific, mobile and networked society of the European Union depends on new organisational and intercultural practices as well as techno-cultural innovations. If Europe is to become politically (re)enabled and innovative through multi-level participation, e-learning can also provide the necessary social communication realms. Through the analysis of current research and own findings, the paper discusses the possibility of introducing a Web-2.0-inspired, lifelong-oriented and culturally inclusive e-learning curriculum at the master level. Addressing teachers, trainers and managers as well as ICT specialists, the curriculum-development project partnered by Slovenia, Poland and Bulgaria exemplifies some of the most promising trends in learning.

Determining the privacy policy deficiencies of health ICT applications through semi-formal modelling

To ensure that patient confidentiality is securely maintained, health ICT applications that contain sensitive personal information demand comprehensive privacy policies. Determining the adequacy of these policies to meet legal conformity together with clinical users and patient expectation is demanding in practice. Organisations and agencies looking to analyse their Privacy and Security policies can benefit from guidance provided by outside entities such as the Privacy Office of their State or Government together with law firms and ICT specialists. The advice given is not uniform and often open to different interpretations. Of greater concern is the possibility of overlooking any important aspects that later result in a data breach. Based on three case studies, this paper considers whether a more formal approach to privacy analysis could be taken that would help identify the full coverage of a Privacy Impact Analysis and determine the deficiencies with an organisation's current policies and approach. A diagrammatic model showing the relationships between Confidentiality, Privacy, Trust, Security and Safety is introduced. First the validity of this model is determined by mapping it against the real-world case studies taken from three healthcare services that depend on ICT. Then, by using software engineering methods, a formal mapping of the relationships is undertaken to identify a full set of policies needed to satisfy the model. How effective this approach may prove as a generic method for deriving a comprehensive set of policies in health ICT applications is finally discussed.

The use of Smartboards and bespoke software to develop and deliver an inclusive, individual and interactive learning curriculum for students with ASD

NORSACA (Nottingham Regional Society for Adults and Children with Autism) provide specialist education and support for children with autism under the title of Sutherland House Children's Services. This is a ‘non‐maintained’ (ie. independent) special school with 84 students ranging from four to 19 years of age, which is set across five sites in Nottinghamshire. There has been significant investment by the school in its ICT infrastructure, implementation and support including the introduction of a specialist ICT role in 2005. The author of this article (and ICT specialist at the school) has developed the use of ICT hardware and software across the whole school as well as developing schemes of work, designing and creating bespoke software for students and producing a number of student developmental tracking systems alongside his teaching commitment to all key stages.Fundamental to the success of the sessions has been the introduction of Smartboards into the classroom setting and the individualisation of software so that it is relevant to the scheme of work and appealing to each student. This article gives an overview of how ICT sessions are planned and structured for children at the school, explores the software that has been developed and presents key design guidelines for developing ICT for children with autism, recommended by the author.

Student teachers go online; the need for a focus on human agency and pedagogy in learning about ‘e-learning’ in initial teacher education (ITE)

This paper argues that student teachers' developing pedagogical approaches achieve expression within the virtual classroom in much the same way as they would in the `real' classroom; that is to say through language as the primary tool of mediation. Whilst the advent of new communications technologies affords new arenas in which learning can take place--Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs), online communities, Managed Learning Environments--the importance of human agency and the significance of language remains pivotal to the effective use of such technologies. As such it is argued that student teachers need opportunities to engage in authentic online dialogue with children as they endeavour to find their online pedagogical voice. The key findings emerge from a case study carried out with a group of Year 3 ICT specialists on an undergraduate initial teacher education (ITE) degree course in the UK, leading to qualified teacher status (QTS) in the primary and lower secondary phases of education. Funding from the University of Brighton, Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP), was used to design and resource a module, which facilitated opportunities for student teachers to engage in online learning dialogues with children from a local primary school, having initially met with the children face-to-face. Fourteen student teachers participated in the study. Interviews were carried out and their online dialogues with the children were analysed to establish both the issues and potential advantages of such a situated approach to learning about the educational use of new communications technologies with children.

Extended ICT

Steve Smith, an experienced ICT specialist and a former deputy head in a technology college, discusses the technological challenges and opportunities of the extended schools programme