Technological Preparedness Research Articles

Technological Preparedness and Flexible Learning of Pangasinan State University Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Any form of flexible learning necessitates an assessment of technological preparedness of the stakeholders. This study aimed to assess the technological preparedness of Pangasinan State University (PSU) as it implements flexible learning modality (FLM). Participated in by nearly 20,000 students through a survey conducted during the School Year 2020-2021, findings showed a general technological preparedness of the students for online learning. Main challenges found included intermittent power interruptions in various municipalities in Pangasinan, Philippines during the early phase of FLM, as well as poor internet connection. Issues found included costly purchase of mobile data, stress on multiple online submissions of requirements, preference of printed study guides, no learning spaces at home, and technical difficulties on the use of the online learning platform used by PSU. Recommendations include re-alignment of unused funds on printing services for the purchase of mobile data for qualified students, synchronous submissions of requirements online per college, and task-based orientation on the use of the platform.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Its Effect on Teaching and Learning Process in the Higher Educational Institutions

In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, most of the higher education institutions (HEIs) across the globe have replaced conventional teaching with online teaching. However, the technological preparedness of countries of varied nature differs significantly. In this context, the purpose of the study is to answer the following research question: how are the HEIs mitigating the difficulties that have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate online teaching–learning process? The study is carried out based on a cross-sectional study from 281 academic professionals who are employed in HEIs in India and Ethiopia. The findings from this comparative study highlight that digital divide and lack of institutional preparedness are found to be major problems that constrained the effective implementation of online teaching/learning. Besides, this study also found that training programmes for the faculty members to utilize web resources and facilitate online teaching were found to be limited in both the countries. The article concludes by offering suggestions and policy advice to minimize the digital divide and for successful implementation of online teaching in HEIs.

Sustainable Technologies for the Transition of Auditing towards a Circular Economy

This study examines the relationships between sustainability technologies, auditor transition, and circular economy models. Circular economy (CE) has been visited in recent studies as a matter of necessity to procure answers to pressing issues that befalls our society, aimed at the survival of the human species. While doing so, there has been little emphasis placed on sustainable technologies that will usher auditors into the new era. Data were constructed from a symposium organized by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), where scholars and practitioners addressed the future of auditing technology, regarding, in particular, the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labeling (ISEAL) database official website and also interviews with experts dealing day to day with sustainability and circular economy. Discourse analysis assisted in working with these groups of data. Our findings identified 12 different relational types in our analysis, thus signaling upward trends in the preparedness of auditors in boosting sustainable technologies towards a circular economy environment. Additionally, our findings demonstrate the significant uptake of innovative tools implemented for new-generation technologies in order to enhance auditing. The findings of this study have implications for academia and practice which are aimed at technological preparedness for the transition of auditing towards CE. Finally, this paper contributes by summarizing the debate and speculations around the technologies that are driving auditing to CE.

Changing Worship Practices in American Congregations

AbstractWorship is the core activity of American congregations and the primary way people experience religion collectively in the United States. We use data from the National Congregations Study (NCS), notably including data from the fourth wave, collected in 2018–19, to examine two key trends in worship practices among American religious congregations. First, the trend toward more informal and enthusiastic worship identified in earlier NCS surveys continues into 2019. Showing no signs of having reached a plateau, a more informal worship style has increased in prevalence across every major American religious tradition. Second, recently developed communication technologies have permeated congregations’ worship services in ways that change the collective experience. Collected on the eve of the COVID‐19 pandemic, NCS‐IV data on worship and technology provide a baseline for future examinations of worship changes caused by the pandemic, and a window into congregations’ technological preparedness for a world in which it is not safe to gather.

Pandemics and Education in Sub-Saharan Africa: Invest in Education Technology

The current outbreak of COVID19 has reflected unanticipated dynamics in the learning programs and a shift in the delivery of learning both in developed and developing countries. It has also depicted the existence of limited preparedness in most countries to confront the effects of global pandemics, especially in teaching and learning. The COVID19 pandemic has occasioned significant negative effects in the learning systems, a factor which calls for long term measures to ensure that the educational programs should not or never be severely disrupted during pandemics. The overall objective of learning programs during disease outbreaks is to ensure that the transmissibility of the disease pathogen is curtailed within the population and continuity of learning. This will subsequently enrich a healthy learning environment that will promote the achievement of the intended goals and learning outcomes. This study intends to investigate the impacts of pandemics in primary and secondary school learning in Sub-Saharan Africa countries, technological preparedness in schools, and suggest remedial measures.

Digital contact-tracing and pandemics: Institutional and technological preparedness in Africa.

Several countries in Africa have either deployed or considering using digital contact-tracing (DCT) as part of their Covid-19 containment strategy, amidst calls for the use of technology to improve the efficiency of traditional contact-tracing. We discuss some of the complexities entailed in using DCT in Africa. Adopting a socio-technical perspective, we argue that if DCT design and deployment are not well thought out, it can lead to unintended consequences, particularly in a continent like Africa with disproportionate levels of digital divides and other structural inequalities. We suggest that any adoption of DCT by African countries must take account of their compatibility with local resources, values, social structure, and domestic political factors. Accordingly, we propose a process of translation whereby DCT adaptation is made to accommodate the unique institutional and technological characteristics of African countries by leveraging local practices learned from previous pandemics like Ebola to develop a blended epidemiological approach to (digital) contact-tracing.

Система профилактики девиантного поведения обучающихся в профессиональных образовательных организациях с использованием средств физической рекреации

We raise the problem of preventing deviant behavior of students in secondary professional educational organizations. The relevance of the research topic is due to the need to resolve the contradiction between the society’s need for training healthy specialists in physical, mental and moral aspects and the high level of deviant prevalence among adolescents and students, as well as insufficient study of the potential of physical and recreational activities as a way to prevent students’ deviant behavior. The purpose of the study is the justification of the prevention system of deviant behavior of students in secondary professional educational institutions using means of physical recreation. We use theoretical and empirical research methods, the leading place among which is occupied by the analysis of the state of the problem in pedagogical theory and practice, as well as a pedagogical experiment. It is established that the proposed system should include tar-geted, substantive, operational, criteria and evaluative, resultative components and be implemented with the inclusion of the main participants in the educational process. All forms of motor activity of students in the educational process, contributing to the constructive development of their personality, were classified as means of physical recreation. A significant place in the developed system is reserved for training complexes, differentially used depending on the level of manifestation of students’ deviation. It is proved that the effectiveness of the prevention system of deviant behavior of students in secondary vocational educational institutions using means of physical recreation is achieved by implementing a set of pedagogical conditions: organizational, stimulating, methodic and the conditions of the theoretical, psychological and technological preparedness of teachers for this kind of activity.

The perceived effectiveness of online social work education: insights from a national survey of social work educators

ABSTRACTDespite rapid growth in online learning in social work and a growing body of research showing comparable levels of effectiveness and student satisfaction, concerns about online social work education remain among faculty. This is important given that faculty acceptance can play a pivotal role in the success and failure of online education. The current study aimed to compare levels of perceived effectiveness of online and on-the-ground education across nine social work competencies, as well as examine the association between experience with online education and perceived effectiveness of online education. The sample included 376 faculty recruited from schools of social work in the United States. Results suggest that online education is consistently perceived as being less effective than on-the ground education in helping students to meet Council on Social Work Education competencies. Furthermore, perceptions of effectiveness of online education are lowest for practice-oriented competencies. Regression analyses showed that tenure status, years of full-time teaching, technological preparedness, and level of exposure to online education were significantly associated with perceived effectiveness of online education. It is critical that schools develop more opportunities for faculty to engage in direct teaching experience online as well as enhance their levels of comfort and proficiency with technology.

Assessment of technological preparedness coal deposits to a rational industrial development

In order to ensure the rationality, saving of mineral resources and to encourage subsoil users to improve production and processing technologies, it is proposed to involve deposits estimated as technologically prepared in the industrial development. This assessment, which is understood to be the compliance of industrial production technologies with mining and geological conditions of the deposits, is proposed to be included in the geological materials for the development of the deposits. As an indicator of determining the technological readiness of the site, use the coefficient of technological readiness-the ratio of the volume of outside-balance resource to the total geological reserves.

Software education and digital economy development in Serbia

The concept of digital transformation, or the use of technology to improve performance, is analysed in the context of sustainable economic development and technological preparedness of Serbia. The authors further focus on the role of software engineering education. Software developers are key enablers of new information technologies, providing programming services behind the adapted and new business models. The first assessment of current technical competencies, educational background and working conditions of software developers in Serbia was the subject of an empirical study conducted in October 2015, which is discussed in this article. The findings concur with global research, which discerns a shift away from formal education, in part as a result of a gap in the classic curricula and the market demand for agile programming and project management. This gap needs to be supplemented with nontechnical skills in addition to teaching innovative programming, and this could be a subject of further study. Additional research is required to understand the low level of digital adoption by the business sector in Serbia, as well as to investigate the impact that European integration and foreign investments produce on this process. In Serbia, one important positive trend is a high level of openness to entrepreneurship among software developers, and this may be the source of new innovations. A further challenge is to link developers as technical enablers with the traditionally organised businesses in Serbia to facilitate a wider digital transformation and creation of a true digital economy.

Investigations Concerning E-Government Adoption in Transition Economies

The implementation of efficient cross-border digital public services for a connected Europe, a developed e-government represents a priority for the European Union. There are big differences in the way e-government is adopted. Transition economies lag behind developed economies. This paper explores the e-government adoption in its multidimensionality within the EU member states. It uses 22 variables, which highlight: technological preparedness, the ability to access and absorb information and information technology, the ability to generate, adopt and spread knowledge, the social and legal environment, the government policy and vision, and consumer and business adoption and innovation. Barriers to efficient e-government adoption in transition economies are identified. Multicriteria decision analysis is used for the prioritisation of the factors with the highest overall impact on efficient implementation. The authors use the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP method) for prioritisation and the numerical results are obtained with Expert Choice software.

Climate Change, Water Supply and Sanitation: Risk Assessment, Management, Mitigation and Reduction

Climate Change, Water Supply and Sanitation: Risk Assessment, Management, Mitigation and Reduction pulls together the final outcomes and recommendations from the PREPARED project that originated from the WSSTP (Water Supply and Sanitation Technology Platform) thematic working group Sustainable Water Management in Urban areas. The PREPARED project confirms and demonstrates the technological preparedness of water supply and sanitation systems of ten cities in Europe and also Melbourne and Seattle to adapt to the expected impacts of climate change. It shows that the water supply and sanitation systems of cities and their catchments can adapt and be resilient to the challenges of climate change; and that the technological, managerial and policy adaptation of these PREPARED cities can be cost effective, carbon efficient and exportable to other urban areas within Europe and the rest of the world. The book: ISBN: 9781780405001 (eBook) ISBN: 9781780404998 (Print)

Managing strategic supplier relationships: antecedents and outcomes

Purpose– The purpose of this paper was to examine the antecedents of strategic supplier relationships in conjunction with outcomes of product and service quality and financial performance. The management of strategic supplier relationships involves the selection and development of suppliers that share common goals and strategies of the partnering organization.Design/methodology/approach– Structural equation modeling using partial least squares is used to verify and test these relationships.Findings– Top management support, technological preparedness and trust were found to have significant positive influences on the management of strategic supplier relationships. Strategic supplier relationships were found to have a positive influence on product and service quality outcomes and financial performance.Research limitations/implications– The results provide new and original empirical evidence on the relationship between the antecedents and outcomes of strategic supplier relationships.Practical implications– The findings can contribute to the management of supplier relationships, resulting in improved product and service quality outcomes and financial performance.Originality/value– The research adds empirical evidence to the literature on the factors that contribute to effective supplier relationships and the customer- and firm-related outcomes of this process.

Network Security Assessments for Integrating Large-Scale Tidal Current and Ocean Wave Resources Into Future Electrical Grids

Marine energy, especially tidal current and ocean wave resources, bear immense potential for generating renewable power toward meeting global electricity needs. A number of conversion technologies have been successfully demonstrated worldwide and precommercial/commercial deployments are expected to appear in the near future. While electric power utilities foresee renewable technologies as a viable alternative to fossil fuels, marine energy technologies are generally excluded in their energy planning processes. Lack of technological preparedness and unavailability of device information are two major obstacles in that regard. This article provides an insight on how such novel schemes of power generation can be analyzed under conventional network planning exercises using generic information. The first study focuses on wave power integration along the coasts of Oregon, USA for the year 2019 and analyzes the Northwest electrical network. The second study considers both tidal current and ocean wave resources in South Korea for the years 2017 and 2022. The primary objective of these high-level grid scenario analysis is to identify the practical potential for longer term large-scale wave and/or tidal power generation, particularly focusing on the transmission networks. Steady-state (overloading and voltage deviations/collapses), time-domain (angular stability and dynamic voltage recovery characteristics), and small-signal (eigenvalue) stability analysis are carried out for these systems. Subsequent to establishing a number of study scenarios, N-1 contingencies and various suitable violation criteria are prepared, which are used in identifying the underlying network bottlenecks, especially within the coastal areas. Simplified generic dynamic models of tidal current and ocean wave devices are developed for the time-domain analysis. It is expected that similar studies, once conducted by the interested utilities, will equip them better toward considering marine energy in their future portfolios. In addition, device manufacturers and project developers will have greater confidence in the emerging marine energy market.

Online Marketplace for Indonesian Micro Small and Medium Enterprises based on Social Media

Abstract Indonesian Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have particular characteristics that distinguish them from general business and thus require treatments that are different from those aimed for general businesses. In general, Indonesian MSMEs consist of various categories: micro enterprise, small enterprise, and medium enterprise. Each has different characteristics. The category that has the highest number of participant is micro enterprise. However, micro enterprises still experience problem in marketing realm. Marketing itself may be supported with the E-Commerce. But most MSMEs have not been able to fully adopt the E-Commerce due to lack of technological preparedness. Technological adjustments in the E-Commerce need to be made. In addition, the development of social media in Indonesia cannot be dismissed. This paper describes the problems encountered in the adoption of E-Commerce in Indonesia, and presents the analysis of Indonesian MSMEs condition and needs for the development of Online Marketplace for MSMEs. This analysis suggest the system design that resolves the issues in technological preparedness and technological adoption of Indonesian MSMEs marketplace or MSMEs in developing countries. The use of social media in the form of Facebook Commerce is provided as the basis of interaction on the Marketplace. This is done in order to improve trust in the interaction and accelerate word of mouth marketing via the internet and social networks.

E-Health preparedness assessment in the context of an influenza pandemic: a qualitative study in China

ObjectiveTo assess the preparedness status of a hospital in Beijing, China for implementation of an e-Health system in the context of a pandemic response.DesignThis research project used qualitative methods and...

Graduate Nursing Online Orientation Course: Transitioning for Success

Graduate nursing students beginning their graduate education often lack technological preparedness when beginning the journey in a virtual e-learning environment. These gaps in preparedness include lack of understanding course delivery, accessing resources remotely, participating in asynchronous course activities, and use of emerging health care technologies. This article describes an educational innovative online orientation course that simulates course activities so that students get a true perspective of what e-learning entails. With enhanced education through the accelerated learning modules, students became proficient with distance education, which promotes success in an online master's of science in nursing program.

TDCP: a scale to measure technological dimensions of crisis preparedness

Global crisis scenario world over has motivated researchers and practitioners to explore the area. The rapid advances in the technology domain have gained further attraction owing to its dynamically changing nature and the tangibles involved. The present paper attempts to explore the subject of assessing technological dimensions of crisis preparedness in the context of banking. Using proven research methodological tools and practices, 14 items were identified for technological crisis preparedness assessment. Data was collected from different bank branches across India from 339 respondents. Factor analysis finally resulted in a three factor structure to measure technological dimensions of crisis preparedness (TDCP). Results were validated using content, contrast and criteria validity tests. Finally, this paper draws implications for researchers and practitioners.

Unlocking the Barriers to Women and Minorities in Computer Science and Information Systems Studies: Results from a Multi-Methodolical Study Conducted at Two Minority Serving Institutions

Literature Review It is projected that from 2008 to 2016 there will be a 29% increase in workforce demands for computer system analysts, a 37% increase in demand for jobs for database administrators, and a 38% increase in the availability of jobs for software engineers (U.S. Department of Labor, 2005). Despite increasing demands, women and minorities remain underrepresented in computing fields. This has become a cause for significant concern echoed by a study of corporate executives (Delos, 2008) that found that the lack of minorities and women in computing professions is causing a talent deficit. The executives surveyed blamed the pre-college school system for contributing to the low representation of women and minorities in science and technology fields by not exposing learners to computing through course offerings and/or career counseling. Furthermore, Young (2004) reported that our perception of student computer skills may be inflated. Young's charge was echoed by Wallace and Clariana (2005) who found that incoming college students lack the necessary computer knowledge, skills, and abilities to pursue undergraduate degree programs that are dependent on strong computing skills. The National Science Foundation (NSF) examined the population of students who earned computing and/or technology degrees in 2005. According to the NSF (Chute, 2009), only 25% of the 2005 graduates nationwide were women while 75% were men. When race was considered, only 10% of the 2005 graduates were Black. Further, the enrollment of underrepresented groups in CS and IS programs continues to decline at a significant rate (Clinging, 2006). Clinging (2006) explains that this is influenced by a bias where low expectations foster diminished confidence and reduced success for women and minorities considering and/or attempting to study computing. Compounding the problem is the lack of technology professionals acting as role models and limited exposure to computing professions. Chute (2009) explained that female and minority students who have not been exposed to family members who are successful in technology-related fields are unlikely to be scheduled for math or computer science classes in high school. This was echoed at a 2005 conference held by the NSF (National Science Foundation [NSF], 2005) that reported that many current science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professionals had family connections or other points of contact in STEM fields that helped to influence and support their decision to select and persist in STEM studies. The result is that underrepresented minority learners who lack family connections and other points of contact are at a disadvantage due to the lack of role models and support. The digital divide remains a significant concern in the United States, with race/ ethnicity, income level, and education contributing to inequalities with the use of computers and reliable and expedient access to the internet (Morgan & VanLegen, 2005). Sax, Ceja, and Teranishi (2001) conducted a nationwide survey of college freshmen and found that level of technological preparedness varied significantly by race, class, and academic background. They explained that these technological disparities are a hindrance to students' academic success. Further, a 2007 study of 748 freshmen students at two public HBCUs, (Buzzetto-More & Sweat-Guy, 2007) found that while the number of students having studied computers had grown it was still significantly lower than what had been reported in the studies conducted at majority serving institutions. Another problem is that when female and minority students arrive on college campuses they find a lack of women and minority faculty in STEM areas. Between 2002 and 2007, the number of underrepresented faculty in the top 100 departments for science and engineering increased by only 0.5 percent rising to 5 percent (Nealy, 2007). Nealy explains that Underrepresented minorities are projected to constitute almost 32 percent of the American population by 2020; therefore, proactive steps should be taken now in order to insure that the proportionate inclusion of such a large part of the population in science and engineering, throughout all levels of academia, (Nealy, 2007, p. …

Net knowledge: Performance of new college students on an Internet skills proficiency test

This article reviews recent data on computing and information literacy (research) skills of new college students and describes results from an Internet skills proficiency test administered to several groups of freshmen during the 2000 summer orientation at The Ohio State University. While students often self-report a high level of skill, tests as well as anecdotal evidence may not support this assertion. Further, technological preparedness varies by race, class, gender, and academic background. Only 9% of the Ohio State freshmen taking a three-part proficiency test achieved a passing score of 70% on the entire test. More of these students (30%) passed the first part on use of Internet tools; their performance was poorest (16%) on the second part, searching skills. College administrators must not assume student competence, but rather, should systematically assess incoming students and provide a variety of learning opportunities. Appendix provides most difficult test questions.