University Intranet Research Articles

The Influence of Educational Technologies and Students‘ Academic Disposition on Their Study Success in the First Year at University

The paper presents the results of the research on student success in the first year at Faculty of Transport Engineering, University of Pardubice, Czech Republic. The research focused on the issue of students and their academic disposition as well as on the educational technologies used within the framework of teaching mathematics in the first semester at the university. The research included both full-time and part-time students. During the semester, the students had the opportunity to attend lectures, seminars and one additional seminar. The available study aids were in the form of printed textbooks supplemented by compact discs, which included video recordings of the procedures used to solve the problems and exercises discussed. Additionally, the video recording of the current lecture was published using the university intranet after every lecture. The research aimed to find out which educational technologies are convenient for different groups of students and how they affect the student attendance at lectures and seminars. The research was conducted using a questionnaire. The obtained data were statistically evaluated. The research proved that full-time students use their notes from lectures and especially from seminars to study. Part-time students use the multimedia textbooks and the video recordings of lectures the most. The publication of the lecture video recordings has a slightly negative effect on the student attendance, but they are beneficial for the majority of students.

The Perception of Premarital Sex Among Students in a Religious Moral Based University

Previous studies have shown that premarital sex is prevalent among youth in schools anduniversities. Most institutions use methods such as rules, seminars, or sex preventionprograms to help prevent students from engaging in premarital sex. Not many institutionshave used religious moral development activities to prevent premarital sex among youngpeople. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between religious moraldevelopment on perception of premarital sex among students in a religious based universityin Thailand, and to also explore the factors that shape students‟ perceptions of premarital sex.The research design of this study was quantitative, non-experimental and descriptive, usingthe survey method of data collection. Permission was granted from the university researchcommittee for distribution of the survey through the university intranet, and the data wasanalyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The total number ofparticipants was 103 undergraduate students from the international programme.The findings of the study suggest that most university students are against sex beforemarriage. Moral development activities taught them not to have premarital sex. Participantsresponses showed that the factor that most impacted perceptions of premarital sex was theinternet. The findings also suggested that movie/television viewing, is an important factorthat shapes perceptions of premarital sex. The result show that moral development activitiesand perceptions of premarital sex are related, however it was a weak correlation (r=.03).Moral development activities may have a small influence on students‟ perceptions ofpremarital sex.There is a need for improvement of moral development activities such as the implementationof more discussions on premarital sex to help students understand the value of sex. Futureresearch in this area could use qualitative approaches to examine the factors that impactperceptions of premarital sex, and regression analysis to investigate the influence of moraldevelopment on perceptions of premarital sex.

NTNU Academic Writing - developed with UX

In spring 2017, the University Library of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) launched VIKO, the redesigned tool for fostering information literacy and academic writing skills.
 The digital and technological development as well as new requirements for information literacy and academic writing skills have made it necessary to revise this tool.
 A working group at NTNU University Library developed and carried out an electronic survey to map specific needs of students, teachers, and researchers. We involved our users in developing our information literacy tool in order to give them a more useful user experience. We asked the following questions: Is information about academic writing something you need? Where do you go to find information about this? What kind of content do you desire? The answers suggested that “Yes!” this was something both students and teachers wanted. They were eager to get all the information they needed in their studies in one place.
 Results of this survey and additional depth interviews with students and staff have been the starting point for both the updated content and the new graphical design of VIKO. To accommodate the wish of having all information in one place, all content is now placed on the University Intranet together with all other information relevant for the students. A page listing relevant topics helps students navigate in the content relating to academic writing.
 The content of the redesigned tool is structured into four topics: defining a research topic, finding sources, structuring your text, and using and citing sources. We know that people have different ways of learning, so offering content for different learning styles like visual learning, auditory learning, and read/write learning will contribute to improving the learning outcomes.

Blended classroom versus traditional didactic lecture in teaching oral surgery to undergraduate students of dentistry program: A comparative study

Aims and Objectives: The objective of the study is to compare blended classroom methodology with the traditional didactic lecture for teaching dental undergraduate students. Methodology: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted on 45 year 5 bachelor of dental surgery students at a private university in Malaysia. Students were divided into two groups. One group was assigned for a traditional didactic lecture and the other group for blended classroom methodology using “flipped class.” Lecture notes containing a PowerPoint presentation and related videos on the topic “Odontogenic Infections” were uploaded 1 week before in the university intranet, which was made accessible to students of the blended group, followed by an interactive classroom session. For the other group, a traditional didactic lecture was arranged by an oral surgeon using the same PowerPoint and video. An assessment was conducted for students in both groups 1 week later, and scores were compared. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 21. Chi-square and Student's t-test were used. P

Analysis, Modeling, and Design of a Reliable Wide Area Network Case Study for Tikrit University Intranet

This work presents the analysis and modeling of communication network used for data transmission with multi-protocols in campus network. The designed network is based on the geographical location of communication nodes. (Colleges and centers). Network optimal backbone is first designed by Kruskal algorithm. It will be subject to reliability improvement by links addition. Tie-sets method is used to evaluate the network reliability. Communication nodes are modeled using local area network (LAN), server, links, router, switch, and Firewall. Intranet will be used as communication backbone mainly to connect different communication nodes with the Principal Communication Center (PCC) where the System Server (SS) is located. The connection of Intranet to the Internet is mad via the front-end system server (SS). Tikrit University Intranet (TUI) is taking as case study in the present research. Tikrit University sites are grouped into master communication nodes. Each node is composed from several colleges, centers, and administrative sections.

Project based learning or problems becoming learned

Project based learning is becoming widely accepted within engineering programmes across Australia. Supporters of this method of learning and teaching claim the method immerses the student in the subject and allows them to learn through hands on activities. Students are assessed based on their ability to complete a given project within a team environment. We examine the project based learning engineering programme at Central Queensland University and the students' opinions of its components. Present research and practice into authentic assessment and project based learning are investigated and comparison is made between these and the responses of the students. References H. Alessio. Student perceptions about and performance in problem-based learning. J. Scholar. Teach. Learn., 4(1):23–34, 2012. http://josotl.indiana.edu/article/view/1607 . Australian Bureau of Statistics. A comparison of the census and the labour force survey. Australian Labour Market Statistics, 6105.0, 2013. http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Previousproducts/6105.0Feature%20Article3July%202013?opendocumentandtabname=Summaryandprodno=6105.0andissue=July%202013andnum=andview= . M. J. Bezuidenhout and H. Alt. `Assessment drives learning': Do assessments promote high-level cognitive processing? S. Afr. J. High. Ed., 25(6):1062–1076, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC37738 . P. C. Blumenfeld, E. Soloway, R. W. Marx, J. S. Krajcik, M. Guzdial, and A. Palincsar. Motivating project-based learning: sustaining the doing, supporting the learning. Educ. Psychol., 26(3-4):369–398, 1991. doi:10.1080/00461520.1991.9653139 . M. Borrego, J. Karlin, L. D. McNair, and K. Beddoes. Team effectiveness theory from industrial and organizational psychology applied to engineering student project teams: A research review. J. Eng. Educ., 102(4):472–512, 2013. doi:10.1002/jee.20023 . Central Queensland University, Australia. Student demographics. Central Queensland University Intranet, 2015. Viewed 8 August 2015. Central Queensland University, Australia. Glossary, 2016. https://www.cqu.edu.au/about-us/structure/governance/glossary . D. Dunning, C. Heath, and J. M. Suls. Flawed self-assessment: Implications for health, education, and the workplace. Psych. Sci. Pub. Int., 5(3):69–106, 2004. doi:10.1111/j.1529-1006.2004.00018.x . Engineers Australia. Stage one competency standard for professional engineer, 2011. https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default/files/shado/Education/Program%20Accreditation/110318%20Stage%201%20Professional%20Engineer.pdf . M. Jollands, L. Jolly, and T. Molyneaux. Project-based learning as a contributing factor to graduates work readiness. Eur. J. Eng. Educ., 37(2):143–154, 2012. doi:10.1080/03043797.2012.665848 . J. S. Krajcik and P. C. Blumenfeld. Project-based learning. In R. K. Sawyer, editor, The Cambridge Handbook of the Learning Sciences, pages 317–334. Cambridge University Press, 2006. doi:10.1017/cbo9780511816833.020 . T. Litzinger, L. R. Lattuca, R. Hadgraft, and W. Newstetter. Engineering education and the development of expertise. J. Eng. Educ., 100(1):123–150, 2011. doi:10.1002/j.2168-9830.2011.tb00006.x . S. Male and R. King. Best practice guidelines for effective industry engagement in Australian engineering degrees. Australian Council of Engineering Deans, Engineers Australia, 2014. http://arneia.edu.au/_asset/doc/_file/Industry-Engagement-Guidelines-Final-27-June-2014.pdf . R. W. Marx, P. C. Blumenfeld, J. S. Krajcik, B. Fishman, E. Soloway, R. Geier, and R. T. Tal. Inquiry-based science in the middle grades: Assessment of learning in urban systemic reform. J. Res. Sci. Teach., 41(10):1063–1080, 2004. doi:10.1002/tea.20039 . J. E. Mills and D. F. Treagust. Engineering education: Is problem-based or project-based learning the answer? Austral. J. Eng. Educ., 3(2):2–16, 2003. http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/10589/20050128-0000/www.aaee.com.au/journal/2003/mills_treagust03.pdf . Queensland Study Authority. Mathematics B Senior Syllabus, 2014. https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/senior/subjects/mathematics/mathematics-b-2008 . L. R. C. Ribeiro and M. d. G. N. Mizukami. Problem-based learning: A student evaluation of an implementation in postgraduate engineering education. Eur. J. Eng. Educ., 30(1):137–149, 2005. doi:10.1080/03043790512331313796 . V. Richardson. Constructivist Teacher Education: Building a World of New Understandings, chapter 1, Constructivist Teacher Education: Theory and practice, pages 3–14. Taylor and Francis, 1997. A. E. Rivet and J. S. Krajcik. Achieving standards in urban systemic reform: An example of a sixth grade project-based science curriculum. J. Res. Sci. Teach., 41(7):669–692, 2004. doi:10.1002/tea.20021 . J. Strobel and A. van Barneveld. PBL effectiveness, tensions, and practitioner implications. In A. Walker, H. Leary, C. E. Hmelo-Silver, and P. A. Ertmer, editors, Essential Readings in Problem-based Learning, pages 355–372. Purdue University Press, 2015. http://www.thepress.purdue.edu/titles/format/9781612493688 . P. A. Tait. Assessment drives learning. J. Pharm. Prac. Res., 35(3):211–212, 2005. doi:10.1002/j.2055-2335.2005.tb00342.x . L. Torp and S. Sage. Problems as possibilities: Problem-based learning for K–12 education. 36(07):4042, 1998. doi:10.5860/choice.36-4042 .

A dynamic intranet-based online-portal support for Computer Science teaching

The paper is a suggested experiment in effectively teaching subjects in Computer Science. The paper addresses effective content-delivery with the help of a university intranet. The proposal described herein is for teaching a subject like Combinatorics and Graph Theory - the main idea is to supplement lectures with a teacher-moderated online forum against an associated intranet portal. Keywords and phrases -computer-assisted learning; learning portal; active learning; OEIS; intranet portal; undergraduate teaching; Combinatorics and Graph theory

Faut-il enseigner la bioéthique aux étudiants en odontologie dans le cadre de la discipline santé publique ? Une expérience à la faculté de chirurgie dentaire de l’université Paris Descartes

BackgroundThe dental student is committed to being an actor in public health and his/her mission must deal with the wishes of the patient and the ethical requirements of the society. In order to improve physical and mental health on an individual and collective level, the University has a responsibility to develop a real culture of public health early in the academic curriculum. This context raises the question of the usefulness of ethics education for students in dental school. MethodsThe Faculty of Dentistry at Paris Descartes University is engaged in a pilot process to reform dental studies, taking into account official and ministerial directives. An educational program on ethics delivered during the course of 10 semesters is broken down into lectures, practical lessons, and active training in one of four Paris hospitals. ResultsTeaching bioethics in the public health context puts the student at the center of an active process where each student is responsible for personal involvement in five proposed teaching methods: lectures, seminars, directed education, and reference research using the University's intranet portal. ConclusionThe result of 3 years of experience teaching bioethics in public health discipline is positive. The dental students are encouraged to develop skills to analyze an effective strategy for dental care where ethics becomes a cardinal value. In this sense, the teaching of bioethics that is at the heart of public debates is perfectly adapted to the public health discipline. Ultimately, it could be integrated into the teaching of all subjects.

IJARCCE - Computer and Communication Engineering

3 Abstract: This article focuses on attendance, performance and retention of first year of Math and Computer Department at the Foundation Program, Qatar University. A strategy has been developed to monitor attendance, performance and retention the students. To capture and analyse the data, a Monitoring system has developed and reported in this paper. Whenever student shows signs of absence with the poor performance then the Monitoring System start showing consequences with the aim of providing support for student at risk of failure or withdrawal at the early stage. Therefore, an intervention strategy assists to improve in attendance and performance with the dialogue among faculty, admin staff and who are experiencing difficulties. The physical attendance are most important factor to understand the learning material, to improve critical thinking and to elucidate problem solving based questions which leads to academic achievements in the research, learning system and to develop a knowledge base society. Data of each student is entered by the teacher in the Monitoring System from the day one of their classes. This Monitoring system is developed using Oracle and Java to cater both presence of and their achievements. Many faculties from Math and Computer department of Qatar University provided feedback to develop the system and still reinforce the on-going improvement. The developed Monitoring system is highly user friendly and easy to access within the university intranet. There are several reports that can be generating from the academic coordinator, HOD and system manager which give invaluable information about the students and teachers commitments. The attendance data can only be entered in the campus through intranet during the class hours which reduces the chance of errors, manipulations and biasness. If the teacher is unable to enter data then he/she has to explain the reasons for delay in entering data. Student can also monitor their earlier attendance percentage and outcome of the each result and can discuss if any discrepancy. This paper is very interesting to other tutors who want to use electronic attendance, control performance in each step and follow up at risk. The research found that attendance are highly correlated with the student overall academic performance and retention of the student.

Using the Choquet Integral to Improve Systems Usability: A Multicriteria Analysis

This paper proposes a methodology to help decision makers in deciding where to invest in order to improve systems usability. The methodology consists of a multicriteria analysis based on the use of the Choquet Integral. Alternatives and criteria to determine the usability of a product are approached in this paper relying on previous results by one of the authors and her collaborators. The alternatives are constructs related to each of the following metrics: Ease of learning; Ease of remembering; Error control; Efficiency; Effectiveness; and Satisfaction. The criteria are five and their valuations range from total disatisfaction to total satisfaction of users.The case study of the intranet of a Brazilian university illustrates the application of the proposed methodology. For this case study data on users’ preferences are surveyed. The resulting figures point out which are the most impacting metrics for the university's intranet system. Computations by using the Choquet Integral lead to the most relevant constructs (i.e., alternatives) that minimize the costs to improve the usability of the system. The paper closes with indications of the most important constructs for some major metrics.

Using Trigger That Instant Messaging to Improve Stakeholder Communications

This case describes the key issues when an instant messaging prototype called TriggerThat was piloted and reviewed in a university environment. Short Messaging Service (SMS) was a popular technology amongst students and had previously been used in the university sector to push information to students (McCrindle 2006). This prototype and pilot conducted provided a more flexible use of SMS technology, enabling two-way push-pull SMS information transfer between academics and students. The push facility was used by academics to send assessment reminders, marks and alerts to their classes. Students were given the option of registering into TriggerThat to enable receipt of SMS reminders for information available on the university intranet. Surveys and focus groups were used to provide a comprehensive description of student uptake and usage of the technology. Review data and project documentation was used to create models to predict uptake and usage costs. Through the use of role plays in focus groups, which included all stakeholders, upgrades to system features, such as trigger words, were recommended. This case describes the experience of piloting SMS in the university setting and includes the functionality and tested trigger words used.

Developing information architecture through records management classification techniques

Purpose – This work aims to draw attention to information retrieval philosophies and techniques allied to the records management profession, advocating a wider professional consideration of a functional approach to information management, in this instance in the development of information architecture.Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws from a hypothesis originally presented by the author that advocated a viewpoint whereby the application of records management techniques, traditionally applied to develop business classification schemes, was offered as an additional solution to organising information resources and services (within a university intranet), where earlier approaches, notably subject‐ and administrative‐based arrangements, were found to be lacking. The hypothesis was tested via work‐based action learning and is presented here as an extended case study. The paper also draws on evidence submitted to the Joint Information Systems Committee in support of the University of Abertay Dundee's...

Teaching the microscopic anatomy of the respiratory system to medical students

The talk will cover the approach of the author to (a) delivering a 1 hour lecture on the lower respiratory tract to a large (300+) class of UK medical students in the early part of their course (b) providing suitable support material that can be accessed by the students on a University intranet for self‐directed learning (c) designing a practical class that reinforces points made in the lecture and encourages student‐centred learning. The student lecture is illustrated throughout with points of functional and clinical significance and several examples will be given in the talk. Extensive use is made of simple line drawings of tracheal and lung histology, made by the author using a vector drawing package and a drawing tablet. Although some histological images are shown in the lecture as well, these are largely a feature of the practical class. Students can access all the line drawings used in the lecture on the intranet afterwards (with no copyright issues for the University). With ever increasing student numbers that place a strain on departmental microscope and slide resources (and staff time), our current preference is for developing a database of digital histology images for use in practicals. Students are required to make simple interpretative drawings of histology images, answer questions and screen‐capture and label images.

일개 대학교 5년간 인트라넷 건강상담 내용분석

Objectives: The research was aimed at analyzing the contents of university intranet for systematically execution of the healthy information provision and healthy consultation services from 2000 January to 2004 December. Methods: We have analyzed 300(28.3%) the instances of accomplished health consultation cases from the whole 1,059 instances which were the replied in a university intranet. Results: According to the contents of health consultation in ICPC code, a general symptom 91 cases(30.3%) was most, muscle-skeletal system 44 cases(14.7%), and digestive system 43 cases(14.3%) in order of cases of health counselling. The symptoms and complaint with 155 cases(51.7%) were most in the distribution of the health counselling contents by 17 charter of ICPC. The most common reason of counselling by 17 charter of ICPC were as follows; questions about the symptom and diagnosis(118 cases, 39.3%), the preventive and treatment methods(91 cases, 30.0%), and medical fee(20cases, 6.7%) in order. We mainly answer on the content of health counselling were as follows; make an offer of medical information and knowledge(48.3%), recommend visit clinic or hospital(23.7%), guide to treatment(12.7%), and so on. Conclusions: This research showed that the program of health counselling may not meet completely the high quality and adequate distribution of health counselling by the intranet in a university by content analysis. The finding suggests that health counselling by intranet in a university may be used to supplement of systemic improvement on the intranet Q/A format from current lack of essential health information and security for the quality of the health counselling.

Organizational anomie as moderator of the relationship between an unfavorable attitudinal environment and citizenship behavior (OCB)

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between an unfavorable attitudinal environment and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). The proposed model suggests that organizational anomie (OA) acts as a moderator of that link, and thus OA interacts with unfavorable attitudes and OCB by tightening their theoretical negative association.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 154 of the 758 non‐teaching staff at a Spanish public university. Accessibility of individual e‐mail accounts was similar for all employees. E‐mails asking for collaboration were sent in two phases. A questionnaire was posted on the university intranet and could be accessed by clicking on a link in the e‐mails.FindingsMultiple hierarchical regression results support the moderating role of OA of the unfavorable attitude‐OCB link because the unfavorable attitudes toward co‐workers and toward the boss as‐a‐person among employees with low, compared with high OA, have a stronger negative relationship with OCB. OA moderation existed, but to varying degrees, between attitude toward one's job and some dimensions of OCB (OCBI, and OCBI client). OA also intensified the unpredicted positive relationship between attitude toward boss's performance and OCB. No moderating influences were observed in the case of attitudes toward oneself and toward clients (students).Research limitations/implicationsThe researched employees have job conditions inherent to the peculiarities of the public sector which may limit the ability to extrapolate the findings in the private sector. Findings provide a more understandable mechanism of the influence of attitudes on OCB. The research may aid OA acceptance into organizations, providing an explicit justification for the OA distinctiveness with other variables in the existing OB literature.Practical implicationsThe findings contribute to a better understanding of the attitudes‐OCB link, and the ways to favor OCB through OA.Originality/valueThe use of OA as a moderator on this link is unprecedented.

Fear in organizations

PurposeThis study examines the relationship between interactional justice, which is a specific type of organizational justice perception that reflects how a person is treated by an authority, and workplace internet deviance (or Cyberloafing) as a category of deviant workplace behavior. The tested model suggests that interactional justice affects cyberloafing by influencing fear of formal punishment –as an intimidation construct– which, in turn, prompts employees to reciprocate with deviant workplace internet behaviors.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 147 (19.4 percent) of the 758 non‐teaching staff at a Spanish public university. Accessibility of individual e‐mail accounts was similar for all employees. E‐mails asking for collaboration were sent in two phases. A questionnaire was posted on the university Intranet and could be accessed by clicking on a link in the e‐mails.FindingsStructural equation modeling results support that interactional justice is an antecedent of fear of formal punishment that fully mediates the relationship between interactional justice and workplace internet deviance.Research limitations/implicationsThe researched employees have job conditions inherent to the peculiarities of the public sector which may limit the ability to extrapolate the findings in the private sector. The fear construct was assessed by a self‐supplied scale, and thus the presence of shades of other similar emotions could not be discounted. Findings provide a more understandable mechanism of the influence of supervisor disrespect on cyberloafing.Practical implicationsThese findings contribute to an understanding of the ways in which organizations can control cyberloafing and provide reservations about the intimidator strategy efficiency.Originality/valueThe use of fear of punishment as a mediator on this link is unprecedented.

Do current anti‐cyberloafing disciplinary practices have a replica in research findings?

PurposeThis study aims to test the extent to which current coercive control strategies receive research support in controlling deviant workplace Internet behavior, also called cyberloafing. Consequently, it examines the relationship between cyberloafing and three classic coercive variables: perceived organizational control (POC), fear of formal punishment (FFP) and physical leadership proximity (LPP) as sensed by the employee. The model tested suggests that perceptions of leader physical proximity (LPP) antecede both the organizational amount of control (POC) and FFP and these both ones, in turn, affect cyberloafing. Additionally, the model suggests that POC increases FFP.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 147 (19.4 percent) of the 758 non‐teaching staff at a Spanish public university. Accessibility of individual e‐mail accounts was similar for all employees. E‐mails asking for collaboration were sent in two phases. A questionnaire was posted on the university intranet and could be accessed by clicking on a link in the e‐mails.FindingsStructural equation modeling results show that LPP is a significant positively associated antecedent of POC and FFP. Moreover, POC, in turn, decreases cyberloafing, while FFP increases it.Research limitations/implicationsThe researched employees have job conditions inherent to the peculiarities of the public sector which may limit the ability to extrapolate the findings in the private sector. The fear construct was assessed by a self‐supplied scale, and thus the presence of shades of other similar emotions could not be discounted. Findings provide a more understandable mechanism of the influence of supervisor proximity on cyberloafing.Practical implicationsThese findings contribute to an understanding of the ways in which organizations can control cyberloafing and provide reservations about the intimidator strategy efficiency. Supervisor proximity through the employee's control senses appear as an effective strategy.Originality/valueThe study of the joint interaction of the cited coercive variables against cyberloafing is unprecedented.

Digitales Lehrarchiv

Film-based teaching files require a substantial investment in human, logistic, and financial resources. The combination of computer and network technology facilitates the workflow integration of distributing radiologic teaching cases within an institution (intranet) or via the World Wide Web (Internet). A digital teaching file (DTF) should include the following basic functions: image import from different sources and of different formats, editing of imported images, uniform case classification, quality control (peer review), a controlled access of different user groups (in-house and external), and an efficient retrieval strategy. The portable network graphics image format (PNG) is especially suitable for DTFs because of several features: pixel support, 2D-interlacing, gamma correction, and lossless compression. The American College of Radiology (ACR) "Index for Radiological Diagnoses" is hierarchically organized and thus an ideal classification system for a DTF. Computer-based training (CBT) in radiology is described in numerous publications, from supplementing traditional learning methods to certified education via the Internet. Attractiveness of a CBT application can be increased by integration of graphical and interactive elements but makes workflow integration of daily case input more difficult. Our DTF was built with established Internet instruments and integrated into a heterogeneous PACS/RIS environment. It facilitates a quick transfer (DICOM_Send) of selected images at the time of interpretation to the DTF and access to the DTF application at any time anywhere within the university hospital intranet employing a standard web browser. A DTF is a small but important building block in an institutional strategy of knowledge management.

The Psychometric Evaluation of Educational Intranets

A major determinant of the success of educational intranet sites is their usability. In addition to measures of task performance and navigation behavior, psychometric instruments are used to evaluate usability and the quality of human-computer interaction more generally. However, there is a lack of validated instruments for the evaluation of sites. The aim of the present study was to establish the psychometric properties of scales for measuring the quality of interaction with educational intranets. In two experiments, undergraduates ( n = 81 and n = 109, respectively) performed an information retrieval task using different versions of the same university intranet site. Psychometric properties of the instruments were analyzed. The quality of the scales is evaluated, recommendations for their use are given, and further research into the scales is outlined.

An Academic Performance Measurement System and its Impact on Quality of Engineering Faculty Work at Middle East Technical University

A system has been developed for measuring the performance of faculty members at Middle East Technical University (METU) in 1998. This system has been designed to provide feedback for improving the quality of academic work. It involves a separate set of criteria and measures for each college within the university. The criteria used for the College of Engineering include publications, editorial work and translation, professional and other research activities, educational activities, memberships and awards, and other activities. Faculty members are recruited based on these criteria. They report their activities and works annually as required by this system, and they can access their measurement results through the university Intranet. These results play a significant role in promotion of the faculty members. Awards are given to faculty members who demonstrate superior performance. This system has also been utilised to measure the efficiency of engineering departments, and guide and support departments in improving their efficiency. Since the beginning of implementation of this system, significant changes have been observed in preferences and activities of faculty members, and their performance. The paper discusses impact of this system on performance of the Engineering College.