...JRTE, 40(3), 281–307 Benefits and Constraints of Distributed Cognition in Foreign Language Learning: Creating a Web-based Tourist Guide for London Susanne Narciss and Hermann Koerndle Dresden University of Technology Abstract This paper uses the framework of distributed cognition to discuss benefits and constraints of technology adoption and use in social-constructive language learning scenarios. The purposes of this paper are (a) to describe how the open-ended knowledge construction and communication tools TEE (The Electronic Exercise) and EF-editor (Exercise Format Editor) can serve socialconstructive language learning from a distributed cognition point of view, (b) to report how TEE and EF-editor have been used in a foreign language classroom with 25 seventh grade students for creating a Web-based tourist guide to London, and (c) to present the results of an evaluative study investigating the benefits and constraints the teacher and students experienced through this learning scenario. Finally, these results are discussed with regard to the heuristic value of distributed cognition for technology-enhanced social-constructive learning-scenarios. (Keywords: Distributed cognition, multimedia tool, social-constructive language learning, multimedia literacy.) INTRODUCTION Foreign language learning is crucial to students’ academic and personal education. In many domains, a person’s professional and individual success is related more or less to her ability to communicate...
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...needs for individuals and groups: SWOT, focus groups, self-assessment. SWOT The SWOT analysis is an easily applied tool, which asks the team to consider strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats relating to a specific situation. SWOT’s primary objective is to help organizations develop a full awareness of all the factors, positive and negative, that may affect strategic planning and decision making. Example: A small manifacturing company might decide to perform a SWOT analysis to review the activity of the company itself and find new approaches for the next two years: Strenghts: - we can offer a better service to the costumers and dedicate to them more time; - we are able to change our offers in a brief lack of time if we realize they do not fit well with the current marketing request; - we have just a small markup on our prices and for this reasons our products are not so expensive. Weaknesses: - our company is not well known; - our employee lack of skills and knowledge in some specific working field. This makes difficult a job rotation; - we are vulnerable in front of the request of days off and holidays. Opportunities: - our business sector is expanding and we have good opportunities to achive success; - the local administration department decided to help small companies giving funds and facilities. Threats: - the fear related to not have the right skills to adapt on the new technologies knowledge and tools. The...
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...Throughout the process of working with two different groups in this course, I noticed while working on our projects we encounter some similarities and differences. Now that I reflect back on my groups I realized we used some of the small group dynamics we discussed in class such as group development, we developed an effective team by incorporating complementary skills’, we demonstrated Communication Competence, and lastly, we also used technology. All of these group dynamics essentially contributed to our success as a small team. In both projects. Some of the similarities I encountered while working in both teams is right off the bat on our first meeting we started our group development, which is a model created by Bruce Tuckman. This model...
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...Chapter: 07 Telecommunications, The Internet and Wireless Technology 1. Question: What are the principal components of telecommunications networks and key networking technologies? Answer: The principal components of telecommunications networks: Telecommunications are the means of electronic transmission of information over distances. The information may be in the form of voice telephone calls, data, text, images, or video. Today, telecommunications are used to organize more or less remote computer systems into telecommunications networks. These networks themselves are run by computers. A telecommunications network is an arrangement of computing and telecommunications resources for communication of information between distant locations. A telecommunications network includes the following components: Figure: principal components of a simple computer network 1. Computer: Computers that process information and are interconnected by the network 2. Network Interface: Each computer on the network contains a network interface device called a network interface card (NIC). 3. A Connection medium: The connection medium for linking network components can be a telephone wire, Coaxial cable or radio signal in the case of cell phone and wireless local area networks. 4. Network operating System software: The network operating system (NOS) routes and manages communications on the network and coordinates network resources. ...
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...University of Technology, Sydney 49006- Risk Management in Engineering Risk Management Plan for a Small Business Rita Nusheiwat Autumn 2014 University of Technology, Sydney 49006 – Risk Management in Engineering Risk Management Plan for a Small Business Rita Nusheiwat | 11458039 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report presents the risk management strategy focused on the financial risks of running a fictional convenience store located in the suburb of Bella Vista in Sydney. This study is based on the AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 standard framework, shown in Figure 1 below. After starting with an overview of the project, the report establishes the context, which sets the groundwork on what risks to focus on. A communication and consultation plan of the risk management study is then set up. Subsequent sections include risk identification using techniques such as brainstorming and checklists, risk analysis using methods such as Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA), and risk evaluation using qualitative and quantitative techniques such as the ALARP chart. The last sections of this report consist of the risk treatment plan, which explores possible options if the identified risks come to realisation followed by the monitoring and review process to maintain the effectiveness of those treatments. The main highlights of this report are that, while there are many options for treating risks, the appropriate method will depend on factors such as number of treatments...
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...Part – VI : Organizational Design, Competences and Technology: # Technology: Technology is the making, modification, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems, and methods of organization, in order to solve a problem, improve a pre-existing solution to a problem, achieve a goal, handle an applied input/output relation or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, including machinery, modifications, arrangements and procedures. Hence, technology is the combination of skills, knowledge, abilities, techniques, materials, machines, computers, tolls, and other equipments that people use to convert or change raw materials into valuable goods and service. Inside an organization, technology exists at three levels: individual, functional or departmental, and organizational. At the individual level, technology is the personal skills, knowledge, and competencies that individual employee possess. At the functional or departmental level, the procedures and technique that the groups work out to perform their work create competences that constitute technology. The interactions of the members in a team, their cooperative efforts and techniques developed and used are technologies at functional level. Similarly, the way an organization converts inputs into outputs is used to characterize technology at the organizational level. Mass production is the organizational technology based on competences in using a standardized, progressive...
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...Implementing New Technology: Success or Failure Taira D. McJimson University of Phoenix Implementing New Technology: Success or Failure In an effort to make this company more competitive within our industry I have decided to implement a few new technology solutions to improve our communication, productivity, accountability and profitability. Through several steps I will insure that all parties involved are comfortable with this pending change. Tech research, group discussion, IT feed-back, tech implementation, training, and support all play a part. Know your Tech The first part of implementing any new technology is to research the technology. Often times managers or other administrative members go out and purchase technology without a full understanding of its uses or what benefit it has for their particular organization, I will not fall into this trap as I will do all the research necessary to determine the best course of action. Several factors are needed to determine the tech needs and the products ability to meet those needs. Accessibility is important due to the fact that no technology is viable if the people who need it cannot access it. Having a laptop on your desk does you no good if you’re on the road (Salvatore). The ability for important information to be correctly sent and received depends on the accessibility of the technology. In this respect I will look for lightweight portable devices that will be easy to carry and provide the connections that we need....
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...of Madrid. Spain. raquel.perez@ccee.ucm.es Clara Muñoz Colomina. Complutense University of Madrid. Spain. cimunnoz@ccee.ucm.es Abstract. This research study is aimed, based on empirical evidence, at measuring the relationship between the use of the Accounting Information Systems (AIS) by the Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Spain, and firms’ improved performance indicators and productivity. This empirical study is based on a survey carried out among small and medium-sized firms to ascertain the extent to which development and implementation of accounting information systems had taken place, and subsequently an analysis was made as to how much this introduction may impact on improvement in outcome indicators and productivity. As interesting results we have found that there is a positive relationship among the SMEs that use AIS for fiscal and bank management and better performance measures. This research provides value added in accounting literature given the scarcity of works dealing with the relationship between the application and use of AIS and performance and productivity indicators in SMEs in Spain. Keywords: Accounting Information Systems (AIS), Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), performance measures, productivity. 1 We would like to thank Professor Carlos Rivero, from the Statistics Department (UCM), for his valuable assessment. Also we would like to thank the anonymous reviewers of the journal for their contributions. DOI:...
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...P a g e Promoting Small Businesses through Using Social Media Abstract This research is an examination of how small businesses promoting their businesses through using social media. Now a day’s people are more dependent on social networking sites. People specially the young spent most of their times in the social media. At present the social media is not only the place of time pass, but also the place where, care and share out life style. Small businesses generate businesses through social networking sites where members share stories and recommend products and services. Social media gives small businesses a platform to increase their voice and visibility among prospective customers. For many small businesses, this is a big opportunity, to enhance their businesses. This research try to find to examine some key areas of social media and small businesses: Promotion structure, Development, Platform, Effects of using social media, why social media works better for small businesses, Social media usage, Social media adaption. Introduction Media is an instrument on communication, like a newspaper or a radio, so social media would be a social instrument of communication. Social media consists of the effort to use social media to influence consumers that one's company, products or services are valuable. Businesses use social media, because they want to sell their products or services to others. Social media is a type of marketing that many small businesses could benefit...
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...of these successful organizations is the Virtual Team. As a consequence, a growing number of organizations are implementing them or plan to implement them in the near future (Lipnack &Stamps, 1997; McDonough et al., 2001) and their use is expected to continue to grow (Carmel & Agarwal, 2001; McDonough et al., 2001). The increasing popularity of virtual teams has spurred a parallel growth in research examining various aspects of virtual team adoption and use. Recent research has studied virtual team inputs, socioemotional processes, task processes, and outcomes. Much of this literature focuses on comparisons of virtual teams and traditional teams. Virtual Teams Traditionally, both the terms “team” and “group” have been used to describe small collections of people at work. While the two terms are often used interchangeably in traditional and virtual team research (Cohen & Baily, 1997; Langfred, 1998; Sundstrom et al., 1990), this duality in terminology has increasingly been questioned (Fisher et al., 1997; Katzenbach & Smith, 1993). We accept this distinction and use the term “team” in its stricter sense adopting a widely accepted definition: “A team is a collection of individuals who are interdependent...
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...If anyone were having a conversation on mega industries, they should definitely mention coffee. This agricultural product is both grown and consumed on an international level. The market is so vast that any business with a hand in coffee has the potential to be profitable. I once worked at a small coffee shop which bought beans from a local coffee production company. Because of my experience at the coffee shop, I have become an avid coffee enthusiast. Since I am a management major, I have often thought about the business aspects behind the industry. Being on the management side of coffee production is definitely something that I see as a possibility in terms of my future career path. While scanning over all of the topics covered in chapter seven, my mind kept returning to Woodward's three different technology groups. This technology theory plays into the coffee production industry because as a coffee production company grows, its system of production sees changes that result in phases which are similar to Woodward's three different technology groups. By using a hypothetical coffee production company, I will explain the basics of the industry and how Woodward's three different groups can be seen throughout the company's development. Almost all coffee companies begin in a home oven when a person first takes a...
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...airlines as well as other substitute products for airlines. Other factors such as economic downturns and government regulations also prevent new entrant from entering the industry. Therefore new entrants are very hard to enter the industry in China. The major business in the airline industry is for passengers. However, there are a small portion of the airline are for shipping purposes. The shipping airlines are usually in a separate base and act as a subsidiary company of a big airline. There are three major airline companies that play the roles of oligopoly in the Chinese airline market. The “Big Three” are called China Eastern Airline, China Southern Airline and Air China Airline. Each of the airlines hold around 30% of the total market share in China and the remaining 10% belongs to all other small airlines. The majority of the “big three” shares are owned by the government and also some of the small airlines. There are very few private airlines in the industry. Many private and other small airlines are merged with the “big three” in the past years. Few factors had affected the Chinese airline industry in the past 10 years. The 9/11 had small impact on the airline industry around...
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...ECommerce Technologies 1 Defensive posture of Li & Fung to the Internet at the beginning “Would the Internet disintermediate us? Would we get Amazoned by someone who will put together all of the information about buyers and factories online?” Answer: The Internet facilitates supply chain management and Li & Fung were not going to be disintermediated Key: have the old economy know-how and yet be open to new economy ideas 2 2006/9/13 ECT 7010 Fundamental of E-Commerce Technologies Internet Issues August 2000, beta launch of the new Businessto-business(B2B) e-commerce portal Important issues: Was there any chance of channel conflict or cannibalization between the offline business and the start-up? How would the market reach to the start-up once it was launched the following year? How specifically would e-commerce ultimately transform his family’s century-old company? 2006/9/13 ECT 7010 Fundamental of E-Commerce Technologies 3 Company Background 2000 – Li & Fung a $2 billion global export trading company 3,600 staff worldwide Sourcing and managing the global supply chain for high-volume, time-sensitive consumer goods Product mix – hard and soft goods Soft goods – apparel, including woven and knit garments Hard goods – fashion accessories, festive or holiday products, furnishings, giftware, handicrafts, home products, furnishing, home products, fireworks, sporting goods, toys, and travel goods 2006/9/13 ECT 7010 Fundamental of E-Commerce Technologies 4 ...
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...MEMORANDUM Emerging solutions enabling consumers to finish group-buying using mobile phones are disrupting established payment models. Group-buying, started from the U.S, was one of the biggest web trends of 2010 in China and is now entering the stage of adjustment. The ‘mobile payment era’ is building on the success of e-commerce and the rising adoption of smartphones has become a significant force among customers. Define the change brought by mobile payment in group-buying Online group-buying is a new business model refers to a certain number of consumers join together as a group via Internet to buy a certain product or service with a discount. Before mobile payment was introduced in group-buying, customers can only browse the sites every day and buy the deals through online banking in advance. While after mobile payment became possible, customers can use the apps on smartphones buy movie tickets deals minutes before the movie start. According to the Apple stores’ statistic, more than 10 group-buying apps ranked top 50 under “lifestyle” category. Computer is no longer the only carrier in group-buying industry. Explain why mobile payment changed group-buying The concept of cnQianBao (China wallet) for group-buying was first raised by Lashou in 2011. Technology, rapid adoption of smartphones and customer’s increasing demand are the reasons. First of all, the mobile phone has been one of the fasted developing technologies ever seen. In little more than a decade it has evolved...
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...“Tuckman’s stages of group development". Tuckman’s theory is one of the most famous group development theories. His theory has been use for a lot further developments group theories including Belbin’s group theory, Fishers theory and Tubbs small group theory. Tuckman’s model is significant because it recognizes the fact that groups do not start such as a fully-formed and functioning group and finish like one whole. He suggests, that teams improve their performance through clearly defined stages, from their creation as groups of different people, to good organized, focused, task solving group. First developed in 1965, Tuckman’s model is worldly known as a basis for effective group building. The value of Tuckman’s model is, that it helps us to understand that the teams are development and improve themselves in different part of their work. According to Tuckman groups go through five stages, they are forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning. The first stage is the forming: this is where the group see each other for the first time and the task is given to them. The next phase is storming. This is the stage where the group is more open mind, give new ideas and searching for right decision to solve the task. The next stage is norming, it is occurring when the group begin what Tuckman calls ‘a”patching-up”phase’ (Tuckman 1965: 392). Next one is performing. This is the stage when the group is working together, they accepted each other and the group is concentrated to solve...
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