Media Tools Research Articles

The role of digital technologies in higher education institutions: The case of Kazakhstan

The ways of education development are changing, which is largely determined by the introduction of digital technologies and the desire to improve the efficiency of management of educational processes at universities. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the challenges and opportunities in universities related to the use of digital technologies (social media tools, digital online platforms, digital learning platforms) in higher education institutions in Kazakhstan. A sample included respondents (N = 69) from 16 educational institutions in Kazakhstan that combined teaching (conducting training courses or working with students) and administrative management (management or planning of the educational process). The data were obtained using an offline questionnaire and processed using SWOT methodology. Representatives from 16 public and private universities responded to the questionnaire: the rector (2%) and two vice-rectors (3%), deans of faculties (23%), directors, and heads of various departments of universities (71%) were interviewed (managers are engaged in teaching). As a result, six thematic outcomes demonstrated the opportunities for technology application in education: enhancing management quality, motivation, access to electronic resources and materials, transparency and objectivity in grading, the possibility of implementing distance learning, and simplification of routine tasks. It is also noteworthy to mention five thematic outcomes as challenges, which encompassed issues with security, technical errors, reduced communication, dependency, and complexities in grading. AcknowledgmentsThe study was carried out within the framework of grant funding by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan “Modernization of the system of distribution relations and reduction of income inequality of the population of the Republic of Kazakhstan” BR21882165.

Analysis of Digital Media Usage in Promoting Communication Skills in Early Childhood

Digital media has become an omnipresent element in the lives of young children. This study aims to analyze the usage of digital media in promoting communication skills in early childhood. The proliferation of smartphones, tablets, and other digital devices has revolutionized how children interact with information and communicate with others. However, concerns have been raised regarding the potential impact of excessive screen time on children's development, particularly in areas such as language acquisition and social skills. This research employs a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with parents and educators of children aged 2 to 6 years. Quantitative data will be gathered to examine the frequency and duration of digital media usage among young children, while qualitative insights will delve into the perceived benefits and drawbacks of digital media on communication skills development. Additionally, observations of children's interactions with digital media tools will provide contextual understanding. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to a nuanced understanding of the role of digital media in early childhood communication development. By identifying effective usage patterns and potential pitfalls, educators and parents can make informed decisions regarding the integration of digital media into early childhood education and upbringing. Ultimately, this research aims to inform strategies that leverage digital media to enhance rather than hinder communication skills in young children, ensuring their holistic development in today's digital age.

Artistic creativity, digital technologies and theatrical sustainability: Integrating new media in theatre practice

Arts and technology have continually been inter-related. Artistic expressions have been facilitated by technological innovations that enable artists either to adapt technologies meant for other purposes, or to invent them as a way to foster the creative process. The evolution of digital technologies in the knowledge era has had a huge impact on the theatre profession, in which digital transformation has influenced the ways theatrical contents are created, presented, distributed and circulated to audiences. This article examines technological advances of the digital era and their impact on the performing arts/the theatre. Relying on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this study argues that new technologies and media enable the creation of new forms of arts that stimulate radical changes in the distribution channels of cultural and creative products (CCPs) based on their digitalisation and dematerialisation. The study finds that digitalisation provides creative artists with new tools and means of artistic expression. Indeed, digitalisation enhances and inspires not only the creation of new art forms but also the presentation of traditional arts by enabling multimedia experiences and interactivity. The paper recommends that, given the reality of globalisation and its concomitant emergence of virtual communities, theatrical performances must adopt new media tools in terms of content creation, exhibition and distribution, to remain functional.

The Development of Augmented Reality As English Learning Media in Junior High School

The existence of learning media on various platforms provides variety and assistance for teachers in delivering learning materials. Not much has been developed in educational media compared to entertainment media such as gaming, films, songs, dance, and music. Educational media need to be packaged in a simple, effective, and efficient manner and respond to the needs of today’s students. In the context of the world of learning English at the junior high school level, learning media is needed as an effort to provide real experience in terms of honing English communication skills. Augmented Reality is one of the media that is able to bridge the needs of students, namely making abstract learning experiences feel concrete. Therefore, this research aims to design learning media for junior high school English on the basis of Augmented Reality with content containing stories from North Sumatra. The research method applied in this study is Research & Development. Data acquisition techniques used were documentation, questionnaires, interviews, and tests which were applied in accordance with nine research stages, namely: (1) identification and analysis of media needs; (2) collection of media materials and tools; (3) development of media prototype designs; (4) implementation media prototype; (5) media prototype validation; (6) media prototype revision; (7) media trial on junior high school students; (8) final revision; and (9) media prototype that has been tested. The final result of this study contains AR in the form of flash cards. AR markers are printed on cards and students only focus their smartphone cameras on markers that have been printed in card form. After the camera has successfully scanned the marker, a learning video will appear. There are five cards (markers) in this study, and each card will play a different learning video.
 Keywords: augmented reality, media, English, junior high school

Lark: As a Medium of Interpersonal Communication for TNS Employees to Manage Work Stress Amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic

Working from home (WFH) during the community activity restrictions period (PPKM), such as those imposed by Indonesia’s government, leaves employees with little choice in dealing with work stress. Lark is a collaborative working media tool, during work from home all communication in TNS department took place in Lark. This study's importance is to see how Lark basically a formal working media tool can form an interpersonal communication between woman employees that help them to manage work stress during WFH and PPKM period. Since the trend of working from home is likely to continue even after pandemic, this research provides contribution and information related to communication tools and work from home consequences.The theory for this research is Computer-mediated Communication and Social Information Processing Theory (SIPT). This research method employs a qualitative approach through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and library study. This study finds that implementing WFH during the Covid-19 period resulted in heightened work stress among female employees in TNS Department. It was observed that sharing work-related burdens with coworkers proved to be effective in reducing work stress. Interestingly, sharing witha coworker was considered more beneficial than sharing with a spouse or family. Lark application which serves as a working media tool turns out can facilitate interpersonal communication among female employees. The application's instant messenger, phone call, and expressive emoji make it convenient for employees to share their concerns and stress, as compared to using video conferences.

Multimodal Anthropology

In recent years, there has been an enthusiastic call for the use of multimodal methods in anthropological research, largely inspired by the democratization of media production technologies. This initial excitement for multimodal methods has been closely followed by an ambivalence when digital media tools often fall short of creating the hoped-for social and political change. This entry deals with the potentials and limits of multimodal methods in anthropology, focusing in particular on the contributions of feminist anthropologists.

Student Skills in Operating CorelDraw 2020 Application on Class XI DKV SMKN 4 Samarinda

This research is descriptive qualitative in nature and was conducted during the 2023/2024 academic year on the topic of operating CorelDraw 2020. The subjects of this study were 34 students from class XI DKV 2. The object of the research was the students' skills in operating CorelDraw 2020, categorizing them as very skilled, skilled, or less skilled. The research activities included observation, practical tests, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis techniques involved data reduction, data presentation, and triangulation. Based on the research results and discussions, it can be concluded that the skills of class XI students at SMK Negeri 4 Samarinda in practicing exercises related to operating CorelDraw 2020 are generally skilled. Specifically, it was found that 11 students were very skilled, 13 students were skilled, and 10 students were less skilled in operating CorelDraw 2020. Factors contributing to the less skilled performance of some students include a lack of active participation in lessons, not following the teacher's demonstration steps, and not actively asking questions or taking notes on the material. On the other hand, the factors contributing to the skilled performance of students include regularly reviewing lesson materials at home and using tutorial videos for learning. Generally, students struggled with tasks such as managing outlines, combining objects, inserting objects using PowerClip Inside, positioning objects with shortcuts, using the Artistic Media tool, trimming objects using other objects, and using LiveSketch.

The Effect of Emotional Intelligence on Social Media Advertising Perception

Changing technological conditions are reflected in our lifestyles and online shopping has become more common day by day. In this case, social media tools used sparingly have become a powerful marketing tool. The combination of advertising is the theory of communication and is done with the aim of making them take the purchasing action. The motivation that forms the beginning of purchasing is heavily influenced by emotions. The concept of emotional intelligence, which is becoming more important day by day, has achieved the success it deserves within the discipline.
 The purpose of this study is to measure whether emotional intelligence has an impact on marketing or prospective customers' perceptions of advertisements they have observed on social media. Depending on the situation of the study, it has been observed that emotional intelligence has a statistically significant effect on social media advertising perception.

Design of Split AC-Based Central Equipment as a Learning Media Tool in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineering Courses

Education is a humanistic process, and its implementation increases students’ competence in higher education. The emphasis on increasing competence is explained through the performance of the Kurikulum Merdeka (Independent Curriculum). This research highlights the need for effective learning media, especially in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineering courses, which include an understanding of Air Conditioning Systems (ACS). This course curriculum aims to provide a sense of Air Conditioning (AC), including Central AC. However, a lack of learning media in the laboratory requires cadets to visit the nearest airport for practicum. This research aims to design an innovation in creating central equipment learning media designs based on Split AC. This quantitative research method was conducted, with data collection through observation, literature study, questionnaires, and Likert scale analysis. The author determined the population of the Airport Engineering Technology Study Program cadets at the 3rd Batch of the Politeknik Penerbangan Palembang, totaling 22 cadets. This research uses purposive judgment sampling or sampling with purpose or consideration because cadets are considered to understand the problem to be studied. The questionnaire results showed a high need for learning media development, with a mark of 82.3%. Therefore, developing this learning medium is needed to increase cadets’ understanding and competence in refrigeration and air conditioning engineering courses.

Followers' Reception of Anies Baswedan's Image on the @pinterpolitik Social Media Account

Instagram has developed into a media tool in political dynamics. Political content on Instagram can build opinions for media audiences (followers) who access it, so followers become strategic targets for receiving political messages through constructed content. This study aims to describe the followers' reception of Anies Baswedan's image as a 2024 presidential candidate on the @pinterpolitik account. This research method uses a qualitative approach with an interpretative paradigm. Data analysis is used to conclude the reception of @pinterpolitik account followers. The data collection technique uses the in-depth interview method. Informants were selected based on the @pinterpolitik followers who are university students. Reception analysis is used to determine the implications of research subjects for messages in mass media. Stuart Hall's decoding and encoding theory divides followers' positions into three categories to find reception patterns: dominant-hegemonic, negotiation, and opposition. The results of this study show that informants who are followers are in a dominant hegemonic position in receiving information about Anies Baswedan on the @pinterpolitik account. This tendency to gather information from the account is based on their trust in the independence of the @pinterpolitik account in disseminating information. Moreover, every information disseminated has valid and accountable sources and data. Based on the assessment based on information on the @pinterpolitik account, Anies Baswedan's image is positively assessed as an intellectual individual, organized rhetoric, narrating according to data, and a religious individual.

#Fail: the quality and accuracy of nutrition-related information by influential Australian Instagram accounts

BackgroundSocial media is a popular source of information about food and nutrition. There is a high degree of inaccurate and poor-quality nutrition-related information present online. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality and accuracy of nutrition-related information posted by popular Australian Instagram accounts and examine trends in quality and accuracy based on author, topic, post engagement, account verification and number of followers.MethodsA sample of posts by Australian Instagram accounts with ≥ 100,000 followers who primarily posted about nutrition was collected between September 2020 and September 2021. Posts containing nutrition-related information were evaluated to determine the quality and accuracy of the information. Quality was assessed using the Principles for Health-Related Information on Social Media tool and accuracy was assessed against information contained in the Australian Dietary Guidelines, Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition database, Nutrient Reference Values and Metafact.ResultsA total of 676 posts were evaluated for quality and 510 posts for accuracy, originating from 47 Instagram accounts. Overall, 34.8% of posts were classified as being of poor quality, 59.2% mediocre, 6.1% good and no posts were of excellent quality. A total of 44.7% of posts contained inaccuracies. Posts authored by nutritionists or dietitians were associated with higher quality scores (β, 17.8, CI 13.94–21.65; P < 0.001) and higher accuracy scores (OR 4.69, CI 1.81–12.14, P = 0.001) compared to brands and other accounts. Information about supplements was of lower accuracy (OR 0.23, CI 0.10–0.51, P < 0.001) compared to information about weight loss and other nutrition topics. Engagement tended to be higher for posts of lower quality (β -0.59, P = 0.012), as did engagement rate (β -0.57, P = 0.016). There was no relationship between followers or account verification and information quality or accuracy and no relationship between engagement and accuracy.ConclusionsNutrition-related information published by influential Australian Instagram accounts is often inaccurate and of suboptimal quality. Information about supplements and posts by brand accounts is of the lowest quality and accuracy and information posted by nutritionists and dietitians is of a higher standard. Instagram users are at risk of being misinformed when engaging with Australian Instagram content for information about nutrition.

Short-Form Videos as an Emerging Social Media Tool for STEM Edutainment

Short-Form Videos as an Emerging Social Media Tool for STEM Edutainment

The usefulness of computer skills for enhanced teaching and learning among lecturers in an open distance e-learning (ODEL) environment

This study reports on the usefulness of computer skills for enhanced teaching and learning among lecturers in an open-distance e-learning (ODEL) environment. Computer skills have become fundamental due to increasing new technological tools of web-based management systems, laptops, digital tablets, learning management systems, webinars, and the applications of Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and WhatsApp manufactured daily. The quantitative research approach was employed in this study where data was collected through an online questionnaire from respondents in two ODEL institutions. The purposive and snowball sampling technique was applied to enable reaching out to lecturers with whom the author has contact in the two ODEL institutions. First, the author purposively approach those in his contacts, before requesting those lecturers he contacted to help spread the good news of his research investigation to other of their contacts. The study sampled 80 lecturers from both countries’ ODEL institutions leading to sending out 80 copies of the online questionnaire to the lecturers. Of the 80 online questionnaires sent, only 50 were received. The results obtained were analyzed using Microsoft Excel presented in frequency and percentage. Findings reveal that the purpose of computer skills is to enhance teaching and learning among Lecturers in the ODEL environment between the country’s institutions. Exposition to programming languages and applications, ability to navigate within the online platform, use of communication/networking tools of social media of Facebook, Twitter, and teleconferencing tools of Zoom, Skype, Webinar, Webcast, Teams, WhatsApp) were profoundly enabled through computer skills. Findings further indicate that computer skills have influenced lecturers for personal development in multifarious ways, user experience, memory usage, and storage of information, ease students grading, and developing course materials, facilitate instructional delivery of courses/modules taught at a geometric progression, and support lecturers using the asynchronous and synchronous method in teaching and learning. Based on the findings, the study recommends upskilling lecturers to advance their knowledge in computer skills through continual use of new technologies for better and quality services in teaching and learning to meet students’ information needs.

Exploring the Most Effective Mass Media Tools for Creating Awareness of Climate Change: A Study

In the twenty-first century, climate change is one of the most challenging issues for humanity, and mass communication channels, particularly radio and television, play a vital role in creating awareness of climate change among people in third-world countries. This study aimed to explore the more effective mass media tools for creating awareness of climate change. Data for the current study were collected through in-depth interviews with media experts and climate change authorities in Afghanistan. The study revealed that there are many ways to communicate with the public. Still, the most effective is through the mass media, because the mass media can communicate with millions of people at a time, everywhere. Furthermore, low literacy rates and poor socioeconomic conditions are the main reasons that most Afghans turned to radio and television. Besides, access to print media and the Internet in Afghanistan is limited. Radio and television are the best sources in the first place to create awareness of climate change.

Challenges and opportunities of Facebook during bereavement: experiences from Taung in South Africa

Bereavement is something that we experience in one way or another. It involves many steps from one culture to the other. Many scholars have documented the role of social media tools in bereavement processes. In this study, I look at the challenges and opportunities offered by Facebook during bereavement, especially in a community that is still traditional and has yet to fully comprehend the importance of social media, particularly in matters considered sacred. The study used interviews with residents from Taung to collect data. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the collected data from the interviews. The study findings indicate some challenges associated with bereavement on Facebook: emotional shock, lack of sensitivity, misinformation, and cultural dilution. There are also opportunities: fast news sharing, ongoing emotional support, and sharing of memories. The study argues that the findings should expand our understanding and knowledge of bereavement in some African cultures and use social media tools to complement and not destroy African beliefs and practices.

A general-purpose tool for modeling multifunctional thin porous media (POREnet): From pore network to effective property tensors

POREnet, a novel approach to model effective properties of thin porous media, TPM, is presented. The methodology allows the extraction of local effective property tensors by volume averaging from discrete pore networks, PNs, built on the tessellated continuum space of a TPM. The gradient theorem is used to describe 3D transport in bulk tessellated space, providing an appropriate metric to normalize network fluxes. Implemented effective transport properties include diffusivity, permeability, solid-phase conductivity, and entry capillary pressure and contact angle under two-phase conditions, considering multi-component materials with several solid phases and local contact resistances. Calculated property tensors can be saved on 3D image stacks, where interfacial and sub-CV scale features can be added before exporting data to CFD meshes for simulation. Overall, POREnet provides a general-purpose, versatile methodology for modeling TPM in an ample range of conditions within a single CFD framework. Among other advantages, coupling of PN and continuum models at TPM-channel interfaces is simplified, interfacial contact resistances can be included using robin boundary conditions, and transient multiphysics simulations can be implemented more easily using CFD. The code is tested against a miscellaneousness of examples extracted from electrochemical applications.

Preventing Dropouts in Tuberculosis Treatment with “Griya Bebas TBC”

Tuberculosis, a major public health issue, has received international attention and is included in the Sustainable Development Goals. With 969,000 recorded cases in 2021, Indonesia ranked second in the world for TB cases, after only India. This is a 145,000-case increase, or 17%, from 2020, creating a significant obstacle to achieving TB eradication by 2030. Dropout cases exacerbate this challenge, impeding progress toward tuberculosis elimination. Indonesia’s treatment success rate currently stands at 83%, falling short of the 90% target. Dropouts are linked to several issues, such as patient education about tuberculosis, lost motivation, drug side effects, and access to healthcare facilities. This situation underlined the importance of comprehensive support for patients, particularly from families, government entities, and healthcare facilities, to ensure consistent motivation for continuing treatment. The main solution is the provision of patient education, psychological support, and physical condition forming the foundation for the “Griya Bebas TBC” program. This study employed a literature review to outline the program’s framework. Griya Bebas TBC establishes a supportive environment to sustain patient motivation and deliver accurate information about tuberculosis, drug side effects, and treatment procedures. The primary objective of Griya Bebas TBC is to reduce the tuberculosis patient dropout rate by offering comprehensive information and fostering a supportive environment. The program adopts two complementary approaches: group interaction via popular social media platforms such as WhatsApp or Telegram and community-based approach, and individualized engagement through online health consultation applications. WhatsApp, a globally prevalent social media tool, offers a conducive platform for disseminating information to patients. Utilizing social media platforms and applications addresses issues surrounding information dissemination and healthcare facility accessibility. Health workers engaged through these platforms can provide recommendations if a patient’s condition warrants further intervention beyond consultation.

Framing bilingual parenting as market advantage: the neoliberal discourses of ‘grassroots’ media

ABSTRACT Little research has examined media dimensions of family language policy. This project addresses this gap by analysing marketing efforts targeted at media consumers seeking ‘grassroots’ advice on bilingual parenting. Here, we refer to ‘grassroots media marketing’ as purposeful attempts to target, inform or persuade a niche demographic with ‘grassroots’-style media methods and tools. We did Google Searches to identify 40 high-profile corporate media, non-profit, and independent bilingual parenting blogs written for Spanish- and for English-language readers. We found English- and Spanish-language keyword searches generated distinct blog-style texts (i.e. advice sites). While English-language searches were more likely to generate returns from small-owned blogs, Spanish-language searches tended to yield corporate news and non-profit sites. Frame analysis of multimodal media blog content revealed gaps and contradictions regarding how bilingual parenting in the U.S is portrayed in Spanish and in English, as well as a neoliberal framing across texts. We describe three neoliberal ideologies: (1) ‘bilingual parenting as individual choice’, (2) ‘bilingual parenting as competitive edge’, and (3) ‘bilingual parents as consumers’. Analysis reveals that documented racist, anti-immigrant discourses widely circulating in U.S. society are absent from these neoliberal framings, resulting in public contradictions of what it means to be a ‘good’ bilingual parent.

The reliability and quality of YouTube videos as a source of breath holding spell

BackgroundBreath holding spells (BHS) are an important non-epileptic condition that is common in childhood and causes concern to families. YouTube is a powerful social media tool for accessing diseases and information such as BHS in child health. The aim of the study was to measure of the quality and reliability levels of the videos published in English on BHS uploaded on YouTube.MethodsThe key words “infant”, “cry”, “breath holding spells”, holding spells” and “breath spells” were searched on the YouTube on November 14, 2022, in this study. Along with the general features of the videos, their quality and reliability were evaluated according to the global quality score (GQS), mDISCERN score.ResultsFifty-five videos were evaluated. The mDISCERN and GQS scores of the videos in the useful group were higher than those in the misleading group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). In the useful group, 87.5% of academic institutions and 93.3% of medical doctors (MDs) uploaded high-score GQS videos, while this rate was 16.7% in independent users (p = 0.005). The positive correlation was found between mDISCERN and GQS scores (p < 0.001).ConclusionThe majority of YouTube videos on BHS contained useful information with sufficient quality. Professional associations such as universities and academic institutes need to produce better quality videos to provide families/users with more accurate and up-to-date information about BHS. We emphasize that YouTube should analyse videos published in the field of health, especially in the field of pediatrics, such as BHS, with committees consisting of expert health professionals, and publish them after evaluation. YouTube should consider collaborating with professional pediatrics health organizations such as American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), academic institutes and universities in the field of BHS to produce high-quality videos.

Development of Interactive Teaching Materials Based on Articulate Storyline Software

This development research aims to analyze learning media to create Islamic education teaching media with interactive media with the help of Articulate Storyline Software. Using research and development methods with qualitative and quantitative approaches, this research was conducted at SMAN 12 Berau as a subject and a test tool for the teaching media. The use of ADDIE as a procedure and guideline for developing teaching media. Data collection techniques by distributing surveys to test subjects and a series of formative assessments. The analysis technique uses qualitative and statistics. The results of the analysis of the development of these teaching materials are in the form of software products or Electronic Student Book (BSE) applications. The teaching material is suitable for use based on test results and analysis, which explains the survey results of design experts are 86%, media experts give a percentage of 87%, and materials experts consider 80%. Due to the development of teaching materials, Articulate Storyline Software can be easily used via a cellphone or laptop with an attractive appearance so that students will efficiently operate and learn by utilizing the application.