Software Skills Research Articles

Developing and Validating a Digital Literacy Assessment: Bridging the Digital Divide among Adolescents in Sabah, Malaysia

This study investigates the computer literacy of adolescents in Tawau, Sabah, challenging the notion that all "Digital Natives" are inherently proficient in technology. Despite growing up in a digital era, many youths in Tawau demonstrate limited skills in essential software like Microsoft Office, highlighting a significant digital divide. The study began by identifying key themes from existing instruments, leading to the development of a tailored assessment tool for Tawau, Sabah. This tool underwent rigorous validation through Rasch analysis, confirming its effectiveness in measuring various dimensions of computer literacy, including basic skills and Microsoft Office proficiency. The findings provided insights into the instrument’s performance and scoring, refining its items and confirming reliability and validity. Ultimately, the index quantifies computer literacy by aggregating scores across categories, offering a reliable measure of adolescents' digital competencies in Tawau. This research contributes to a broader understanding of the digital divide and informs strategies to improve computer literacy in similar contexts. The study’s implications underscore the importance of policy adjustments to bridge the digital gap, especially in underserved regions like Tawau.

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Distance Learning for Software Courses in Higher Education: Videos vs. Texts

This study investigates the effectiveness of video-based learning compared to traditional text-based methods in distance education for software courses. The research was based on two samples of students (n1=32, n2=30)  enrolled in the "Fundamentals of PSPP" distance course at the N.B. School of Design and Education (PSPP is a free alternative to SPSS). Students were asked to fill in a questionnaire at the end of the year indicating their views on the two methods of learning. Results indicate that students who utilized video content exhibited higher levels of understanding and satisfaction. Videos combining visual and auditory elements were found to significantly enhance learning outcomes by reducing cognitive load and providing clearer demonstrations of software procedures. The study highlights the advantages of video-based learning in fostering a sense of connection between instructors and students, which enhances motivation and engagement in asynchronous learning environments. The study concludes that video-based learning is a superior method compared to text-based learning for teaching complex software skills in distance education, promoting higher student achievement and engagement.

Impact of Plai-Zampen programs on librarians' professional development for technological advancement and management

The purose of this study is to assess the impact of the programs initiated by the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc.- Zamboanga Peninsula (PLAI-ZamPen) for the last 5 years on Librarians’ Professional Development for Technological Advancement and Management. It highlights librarians' adaptation to technological demands, emphasizing skills in software, systems, and data analysis. Employing a quantitative research design with a descriptive survey method, the study utilizes 86 librarian respondents to evaluate its profiles, program impact, and effectiveness variations based on library types, membership duration, and roles. Using tools like the Kruskal-Wallis H Test and Weighted Mean, the study provides a comprehensive analysis, emphasizing the importance of ongoing professional development for libraries to remain relevant and responsive in hybrid learning environments. The findings revealed a significant positive impact, with programs effectively equipping librarians with essential skills and fostering a culture of innovation. The analysis of membership demographics highlights a predominance of academic librarians and a mix of experienced and novice members, underscoring the inclusivity and effectiveness of PLAI-ZamPen's initiatives. In conclusion, this study this affirm that the programs initiated by PLAI-ZamPen significantly enhance librarians' professional development, particularly in the realms of technological advancement and management. The positive impact of the programs extend beyond individual skill enhancement; it also bolsters libraries' abilities to adapt to evolving community needs, thereby ensuring continued relevance and excellence in service delivery. It is recommended that continued innovation and expansion of professional development programs, focusing on emerging technological trends and management strategies will be taken into account. Thus, it will enhance librarians' proficiency in digital tools and foster global collaboration, ensuring that libraries remain essential hubs of knowledge and service excellence.

Research and Practice on Promoting the Comprehensive Quality and Multidimensional Ability Development of College Students through Physics Academic Competition

With the development of society, the cultivation of comprehensive qualities and multi-dimensional ability among college students has received increasing attention. The Physics Academic Competition as the most participated and largest debate-style Physics Academic Competition among undergraduate students nationwide plays a key role. This paper explores its competition questions and competition models and their roles and significance. Through the drive of interest and curiosity, it not only helps to cultivate the comprehensive practical ability of college students in analyzing and solving real-world situations based on physics knowledge but also contributes to the deep understanding, systematic and structuring of physics subject knowledge. At the same time, it also promotes college students’ independent thinking, independent inquiry, literature review, commonly used scientific research and office software skills mastering, collaborative innovation ability, interpersonal communication ability, and stimulates leadership among college students. In addition, it helps to improve the ability to express academic views, argue and comment smoothly. After the competition, the scientific research expansion training has further improved the coordinated development of students’ scientific research literacy and multi-dimensional ability. This research may boost the innovation and reform of physics teaching resources and modes in higher education under the background of digital intelligence.

Bridging the gap: assessing the person-organization fit between BIM education and industry expectations in Australia

PurposeA lack of suitably qualified Building Information Modelling (BIM) professionals is understood to be a major barrier towards higher uptakes of BIM in the Australian construction industry. In response, Australian universities have tried to integrate the teaching of BIM into construction-related curricula, but with limited success. The acknowledged impediment is the lingering mismatch between what universities offer and what industry actually needs. However, the exact nature of that mismatch has yet to be identified. This study addresses that knowledge gap. It assesses both the current status of BIM competencies among university graduates and explores how BIM education at Australian universities may be improved to deliver BIM work readiness, as required by the industry.Design/methodology/approachThis paper employed a qualitative research approach, utilizing 17 semi-structured interviews with experts in the Australian BIM industry. The Person-Organization (PO) fit theory, which emphasizes the congruence between individual and organizational characteristics, was utilized as a theoretical framework to examine the compatibility between “demand” and “ability” perspectives. The resulting data were analysed using this theoretical framework to gain insights into the PO fit perspectives in relation to BIM industry practices.FindingsFindings reveal that graduates are generally competent regarding the use of BIM software. However, employers require much more than software skills, and expect recruits to have the capability to implement BIM as a process according to information management standards. Specifically, graduates are significantly deficient in matters of BIM protocols, collaboration and coordination, information workflows as well as completion and handover procedures.Originality/valueThis study is the first of its kind that bridges the gap between industry expectations and university education, in the Australian context, moving beyond the common discourse in education literature, which is exclusively focused on assessing students’ perceptions about BIM.

Starter Steps as to the Importance of Keeping an Accurate Training Log

ABSTRACT Despite advances in strength and conditioning science, a gap exists in the optimal utilization of training logs for athlete monitoring. Accurate logs serve as a critical interface for player development, offering real-time evaluation and enabling long-term data analysis. This article addresses the reluctance among professionals to transition from traditional paper-based methods to digital platforms, citing this as a hindrance to correlating workout data with performance metrics. It emphasizes the individualized nature of training adaptation and the necessity of advanced technologies and software skills for effective program evaluation. The article also details critical variables to be captured in workout logs, both quantitative and qualitative, and underscores their role in decision-making, workout efficacy, and athlete safety. By embracing digital advancements, professionals can elevate the quality of strength and conditioning programs, ensuring they are executed as designed and achieve desired outcomes.

The technological imprinting of educational experiences on student startups

The literature suggests that the startups of de novo entrepreneurs are disadvantaged, but many of the world's leading firms have been founded by students and recent graduates. We hypothesize that academic and industry-based educational experiences shape the innovative activity of student startups and use patent data to measure technological proximity between the patent portfolios of influencers and startups. We find that indirect exposure to the research and development activities of the students' university departments and work term employers results in technological imprinting. Influencer and entrepreneur capabilities affect the magnitude of the imprinting effect: student ventures are technologically more proximate to highly ranked university departments and to more innovative work term employers, and the students' software skills impact their ability to invent in proximity to their work term employer. We also find that multiple layers of imprints are complements, not substitutes. Exposure to inventive activities, even when indirect and brief, results in multiple capabilities-moderated layers of imprints.

Students’ perception of non-placement work-integrated learning in chemical engineering: Work-related skills towards the post-pandemic future

Work-integrated learning (WIL) is a pedagogical activity designed to enhance the integration of theoretical knowledge and practical skills in an authentic context. WIL is typically accomplished through work placement, but a non-placement WIL is potentially promising. In this study, a non-placement WIL programme was incorporated into chemical engineering final year projects. The students worked on industrial problems without a work placement. The purpose of the study was to investigate work-related skills learned in a non-placement WIL programme. A qualitative dominant mixed-methods research approach was adopted. Data was collected using a quantitative questionnaire (n = 69) and a qualitative interview (n = 15). Quantitative findings revealed no significant difference between students working on non-placement WIL and academic projects. However, qualitative findings revealed seven insightful work-related skills in the non-placement WIL: (1) professional relationship with industrial experts and academic supervisors, (2) virtual communication and collaboration, (3) technology skills in the latest industrial software and tools, (4) motivation to undertake novel and challenging industrial problems, (5) creative and innovative strategies, (6) application of higher order thinking skills to model authentic problems, (7) inductive and deductive reasoning. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how engineers work. Today, it is a necessity to embrace creative problem-solving skills and adopt various types of modern technologies to work effectively and remotely.

Teaching parametric design: fostering algorithmic thinking through incomplete recipes

PurposeAlgorithmic and computational thinking are necessary skills for designers in an increasingly digital world. Parametric design, a method to construct designs based on algorithmic logic and rules, has become widely used in architecture practice and incorporated in the curricula of architecture schools. However, there are few studies proposing strategies for teaching parametric design into architecture students, tackling software literacy while promoting the development of algorithmic thinking.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive study and a prescriptive study are conducted. The descriptive study reviews the literature on parametric design education. The prescriptive study is centered on proposing the incomplete recipe as instructional material and a new approach to teaching parametric design.FindingsThe literature on parametric design education has mostly focused on curricular discussions, descriptions of case studies or studio-long approaches; day-to-day instructional methods, however, are rarely discussed. A pedagogical strategy to teach parametric design is introduced: the incomplete recipe. The instructional method proposed provides students with incomplete recipes for parametric scripts that are increasingly pared down as the students become expert users.Originality/valueThe article contributes to the existing literature by proposing the incomplete recipe as a strategy for teaching parametric design. The recipe as a pedagogical tool provides a means for both software skill acquisition and the development of algorithmic thinking.

Assessment of suicidal ideation via telemedicine: a case report and management suggestions

BackgroundNowadays, we find ourselves in very unexpected and challenging circumstances facing the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the new coronavirus pandemic probably affected everyone’s mental health, and people with pre-existing mental disorders may have an aggravated disease condition, leading to a suicide attempt. Pandemic also increased the use of direct-to-consumer telemedicine (TM) exponentially, and consequently, it was expected that cases of attempted suicide could be evaluated remotely. Some TM centers have adapted safety protocols from psychiatric guidelines for managing these patients. However, there is a lack of evidence of the effectiveness of follow-up by TM for patients at high risk for suicide, and there is no consensus on what action should be taken vis-à-vis the patient who requests immediate help remotely.Case presentationHere, we reported a case of a TM evaluation of a patient’s suicidal ideation in a direct-to-consumer telemedicine emergency center, describing the conduct taken in the face of this situation. We also discuss the importance of planning the emergency telemedicine center for situations of risk of suicide.ConclusionsTelemedicine centers should be prepared for direct consumer assessment of suicidal ideation. Current management suggestions include recognizing the risk profile through institutional training and software skills and immediate referral for face-to-face assessment, encouraging continuous monitoring until the admission and active recruitment of family members or closest friends.

Pengaruh Pemahaman Akuntansi Dasar, Computer Attitude Dan Computer Anxiety Terhadap Keahlian Pemakaian Software Akuntansi Pada Siswa Jurusan Akuntansi Di Smk Dwijendra Denpasar

This study aimed to determine the impact of basic accounting understanding, computer attitudes, and computer fears on their expertise in using accounting software among accounting students at SMK Dwijendra Denpasar. is. The population used in this study was all active students in SMK Dwijendra Denpasar's accounting program, a total of 130 students. The sample size for this study was 41 individuals identified by a targeted sampling technique and tested using multiple linear regression analysis techniques. The results of this study show that understanding basic accounting has a positive and significant effect on accounting software proficiency. Computer settings do not affect the use of accounting software. Fear of computers does not affect your ability to use accounting software. Looking at the results of this research, I hope that accounting students will continue to study without being satisfied and improve their skills and abilities using accounting software. world. Not only can students make effective use of their study time at school, but they can also improve their accounting software skills by reading books about accounting software and watching YouTube at home. make it possible. accounting software. 
 

Systems' Librarians: Unidentified but Essential in Nepalese Libraries

Digital library dealt with information communication technology (ICT) infrastructures that is different from manual library infrastructure. Digital library is the growing demand in contrast to manual library, which demanded for systems' librarians or digital librarians. The collected data from seven libraries in Nepal to examine the availability of Systems' librarian manpower provided no light of hope. Those libraries were selected using convenient judgmental sampling through a short interview with currently available librarians about the concept of a Systems' librarian. Digitally skilled and responsible for digital data management personnel was defined as systems' librarians who have the necessary knowledge and skills in library software, networking, data entry, and troubleshooting of ICT-related issues. The study found that out of the seven libraries, only two had systems' librarians, yet their designation was not pin-pointedly named as' systems' librarian'. While others lacked the required manpower. The study also revealed that there were no Systems' Librarians in any of the libraries. The respondents' attitudes and perceptions towards the Systems' Librarian concept varied, with some accepting it as adaptable, acceptable, and appreciable. The study recommended for the recruitment of Systems' Librarians in Nepal as the library’s resources adopted the concept of paperless and library-without-wall. The lack of concerned manpower to look after electronic resources could lead to serious problems, and it's time for the Nepal Library Association and stake holders to advocate for the specialized manpower for the post of Systems' Librarian (also called digital librarian) and generate skilled manpower.

A regional comparison of the skills sought by employers for entry-level data scientists, data analytics, business analytics, marketing analytics and digital analytics professionals

Fact-based decision making is changing job functions within organisations more than any other technology. Analytics, once the purview of the data scientist, is now spread throughout organisations. No longer is there a single job title, job function or set of required skills and credentials for an analytics career. Companies now recruit analytics talent based on required skill sets. Part 1 of this research1 focused on a cross-region comparison of the demand and employer requirements in job ads posted on LinkedIn for entry-level marketing analytics professionals. In Part 1, the authors reviewed the skills employers seek when hiring entry-level marketing analytics professionals in three geographic regions. The authors presented evidence of the growth in marketing analytics worldwide and how it has become a global phenomenon. Using job postings scraped from LinkedIn, Part 1 of the study extended previous research by focusing only on entry-level marketing analytics professionals' skills, knowledge and abilities in the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union. The authors presented findings across the three regions, clearly noting where distinct differences were identified in job postings by employers seeking entry-level marketing analytics professionals. Finally, the authors provided emerging and creative methods for recruiting analytics talent in a very complex and dynamically changing environment. This paper, Part 2 of the research project, focuses on a cross-region comparison of demand and employer requirements in job ads posted on LinkedIn for entry-level data scientist, data analytics, business analytics, marketing analytics and digital analytics professionals. The authors examined the similarities and differences in employer expectations by region across requirements for hard skills, soft skills, software skills and credentials.

Coding Skills in the Automation of Accounting Processes

Abstract Research background The evolution of technologies nowadays gives a higher impact on all sectors, including accounting. With rapidly growing volumes of data available, coding can be a valuable skillset for accountants to derive insight and value for organizations from accounting data. Purpose The objective of this paper is to identify the benefits of coding skills among accounting professionals, especially in the area of the automation of processes. In addition, the paper discusses some barriers to developing coding abilities. Research methodology The research study analyzed a sample of 160 respondents from around the world. The study used a questionnaire. A principal axis factor analysis with the Promax rotation was conducted to assess the underlying structure for the points of the questionnaire. Results The results showed that accountants should possess at least some basic skills in coding. The top benefit of coding skills by accountants, as perceived by the respondents, was the possibility to automate repetitive tasks, data reporting, and visualization. The top barrier to coding skills by accountants, as perceived by the respondents, was a lack of time and knowledge of what software skills to acquire and how. Novelty This research contributes to the literature by exploring the benefits of and barriers to coding in the accounting field. The findings can be useful for financial professionals and adepts to understand the benefits of coding skills in accounting.

Visual skills essential for rugby.

Keen vision is one of the most important qualities required of athletes. It enables players to perform sports-related drills and apply decision-making skills. To accurately measure the visual ability of athletes, it is important to first identify the variety of visual skills involved in the particular sport. The objectives of this novel review are to identify the most important visual skills required for rugby, and to create a reference point for further studies to include visual skills essential to rugby players. We conducted an electronic search with various combinations of relevant keywords using the following databases: Sport Discuss, Ovid's Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews, PubMed/MEDLINE, Current Contents, Science Direct, the National Research Council's Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Google Scholar, and international electronic catalogues to assess the scientific literature related to the visual skills required for rugby. Only the records published in English were included. We extracted data on the relationship between vision and match performance, the defined problem or purpose of the study, and the inclusion of theoretical definitions of tactical behaviors. Our search yielded 80 records, 51 of which fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The most important visual skills in rugby are classified based on whether they meet the requirements for visual hardware or visual software skills. Visual hardware skills include visual acuity, depth perception, fusion flexibility, and contrast sensitivity; visual software skills include eye tracking, hand-eye coordination, eye focusing, peripheral vision, speed and span of recognition, visual response time, and visual memory. Rugby players must use both visual hardware and software skills to reliably observe their teammates' positions, understand their opponents' actions and tactics, handle the ball, analyze the immediate circumstances, and anticipate what will occur. Further studies are needed to verify the significance of each visual skill in actual competition to determine a relationship between vision and the results of a championship.

On students learning experience of fluid power engineering – Impact of simulation software

The School of Engineering and Technology of Central Queensland University focuses on the continuous development and innovation of best learning and teaching practices to increase student retention and improve their learning experiences. Face to face and distance learning (teaching delivery models) are fundamental aspects of providing quality support to the students’ learning. One incredibly important aspect of students’ learning is to provide relevant industry-related projects and applications of relevant simulation software to mimic the systems. This paper develops students’ essential problem-solving skills and control strategies of fluid power systems in mechanical engineering through the Master of Engineering programs by employing Simulink, SimScape Fluid applications in Matlab software and Energy Plus with Design Builder. The main focus is to ensure that the students achieve the required skills of building fluid circuit models based on physical connections that directly integrate with appropriate symbols and modelling paradigms in fluid power applications to model the appropriate physical models to mimic the industrial fluid power projects selected. The basic ideas and content are to be delivered through weekly lectures and tutorial sessions, and the students’ skills in fluid power systems and software are developed and monitored through weekly workshops scheduled for all projects. The key outcomes of this study are the level of understanding of fluid power systems, development of simulation skills using the software indicated, interpretation of the results the students have obtained and validations of those results. The students must show they have developed appropriate problem-solving skills using simulation software, professional presentation and effective team-building skills. As the students develop appropriate problem-solving and engineering practice skills, their satisfaction and feedback rates improve significantly.

Infrastructure and Software Skills in the Expanded Program on Immunization at Commune Health Centers in Central Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Mixed-Methods Study.

The application of the National Immunization Information System at primary health facilities is crucial in improving the quality of medical examinations as well as collecting and reporting immunization information. This study aimed to describe the infrastructure for the Expanded Program on Immunization's software at communes/wards/towns health centers (CHCs) of a province in central Vietnam and to evaluate the capacity of using immunization software of health officers. Another objective was to identify factors associated with skills in using the software of participants. A cross-sectional study combined with qualitative and quantitative methods was conducted, including 237 health officers from 50% (76/152) CHCs of Thua Thien Hue Province. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a developed questionnaire and observation via checklists. The results showed that most CHCs had sufficient infrastructure for the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). Health officers proficient in using the National Immunization Information System accounted for 74.7%. The CHCs should be equipped with more devices serving the immunization information management system and regularly maintain the equipment and the internet connection. Training health officers at CHCs in the data management of the vaccination system and record tracking ability using the National Immunization Information System is needed.

Student satisfaction with R vs. Excel in Data Mining and Business Analytics: A Herzberg's motivation‐hygiene theory perspective

AbstractApplying Herzberg's motivation‐hygiene theory, we studied the determinants of student satisfaction in using R in a Decision Support Systems course that previously used Excel to teach Data Mining and Business Analytics (DMBA). The course is a degree requirement, and prior programming experience is not a prerequisite. We hypothesized that motivators for student satisfaction with R would include: (i) an intrinsic interest in DMBA, (ii) a perception that R is a better tool than Excel for DMBA, and (iii) a favorable view of R as a facilitator of career advancement. We postulated that the hygiene factor was the compulsory course requirement to learn R, a new and challenging language to students in this study. Data from 120 students, analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Generalized Additive Modeling (GAM), showed that motivators were positively related to satisfaction while hygiene factors were neutral. Students showed willingness to take on a harder challenge in exchange for intrinsic and future career benefits. The model can be useful in curriculum design or career advisement to increase student satisfaction in learning new software skills while meeting market demands.

Software Training in High Energy Physics

Among the upgrades in current high energy physics (HEP) experiments and the new facilities coming online, solving software challenges has become integral to the success of the collaborations. The demand for human resources skilled in both HEP and software domains is increasing. With a highly distributed environment in human resources, the sustainability of the HEP ecosystem requires a continuous effort in the equipment of physicists with the required abilities in software development. In this paper, the collective software training program in HEP and its activities led by the HEP Software Foundation (HSF) and the Institute for Research and Innovation in Software in HEP (IRIS-HEP) are presented. Experiment-agnostic, open, and accessible modules for training have been developed, focusing on common software material with ranges from core software skills needed by everyone to advanced training required to produce high-quality sustainable software. A basic software curriculum was built, and an introductory software training event has been prepared to serve HEP entrants. This program serves individuals with transferable skills that are becoming increasingly important to careers in the realm of software and computing, whether inside or outside HEP.

Awareness and perception of cybersecurity among librarians in federal universities in South-West, Nigeria

This study investigated awareness and perception of cybersecurity among librarians in federal universities in South-West, Nigeria with the aid of descriptive survey research approach. Questionnaire was used to elicit information from 179 librarians and system librarians, out of which 167 (93.3%) copies of the questionnaire were duly completed and returned. The data collected were analyzed using frequency count, percentages and Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis to test for the significant relationship between awareness and perception of cybersecurity among librarians tested at 0.05 level of significance with the aid of SPSS Version 21. The study revealed that the level of awareness of cybersecurity among librarians in Federal Universities in South-West, Nigeria is moderate. The findings also revealed that to a high extent are librarians in federal universities in South-West, Nigeria are aware of the potential cyber threats and attacks to library resources. The study showed that librarians perceived that deliberate attack to destroy sensitive data in the library database is unjust (mean=1.62), the use of the computer in committing crimes is unjust (mean=1.61) and that having an unauthorized access to data and other computerized systems (hacking) is considered unjust (mean=1.56). The study revealed that hardware skill (mean= 3.21), software skill (mean=3.10), operating system skills and programming language skills (mean=3.01) were the main librarians’ information technology skills to secure library resources. The study further showed that librarians make use of technical security measures in the libraries through access control and password security (mean=3.26), through video surveillance (CCTV system) (mean=3.25) and through installation of updated software (mean=3.11); and the use of non-technical security measures in libraries are through burglary protection and fire extinguishers (mean=3.16) and architectural considerations (mean=3.07). The study also showed that crashing of a computer due to virus, malware, hackers etc (mean=2.99), lack of fund (mean=2.94) and lack of trained information technology (IT) manpower (mean=2.91) were the main challenges encountered in securing information resources against cyberattacks by librarians. There is no significant relationship between awareness and perception of cybersecurity among librarians in Federal Universities in South-West Nigeria. The study recommended that Government should provide adequate fund for universities to run their library effectively. Many universities experiences lack of fund to improve their library. Meanwhile, to provide appropriate security measures in libraries, there is a need of availability of funds.