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Multi-agent Highway Toll Collection System
Journal_Saša MladenovićAutomatika : Časopis za automatiku, mjerenje, elektroniku, računarstvo i komunikacije (0005-1144) 50 (2009), 1-2; 5-15
This article describes Highway Electronic Toll Collection (HETC), technologies and interoperability issues, and suggests possible solution to interoperability issues based on multi-agent technology and newly defined HETC ontologies. The RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) technology is used as a foundation for a HETC system user identification. The unique HETC standards are not defined yet so the problem of HETC systems interoperability related to vehicle class definition and user identification is still unresolved issue. The problem of interoperability is emerging from the implementation of different tolling models among different highway operators. There is a need to define the structure of an adaptable system implementing newly defined HETC ontologies that can be used for toll calculation based on different business solutions. The proposed method results in clear specification and realisation of interoperable HETC.
Keywords:
Highway Electronic Toll Collection, Interoperability, Multi-agent system, Ontology
Neuro System Structure for Vehicle Recognition and Count in Floating Bridge Specific Conditions
Journal_Saša MladenovićPromet-Traffic-Traffico (0353-5320) 9 (1997), 3; 113-120
The paper presents the research of the sophisticated vehicle recognition and count system based on the application of the neural network. The basic elements of neural network and adaptive logic network for object recognition are discussed.
Keywords:
neural network, vehicle recognition
Teaching Basic Programming Skills to Undergraduate Students
Conference paper_Divna Krpan_Marko Rosić_Saša MladenovićProceedings of CIET 2014 / Plazibat, Bože ; Kosanović, Silvana (ur.). - Split : University of Split , 2014. (ISBN: 978-953-7220-15-0).
Learning programming is difficult and it presents great challenge for educators. It is a complex intellectual activity which is learned by a lot of practice. The goal is to increase success rate of introductory programming courses. First year students have problems with understanding basic abstract programming concepts resulting in low success rates of introductory programming courses. Most of undergraduate students at Faculty of Science are novice programmers interested in different major subjects having to cope with limited time available for learning. Students lose their confidence and motivation when they encounter difficulties such as programming environment, language syntax knowledge, problem understanding and debugging. Large groups of students prevent teachers from giving appropriate individualized feedback. In order to address problems properly, students’ background had to be investigated to establish influence of prior education to introductory programming courses realisation. Students’ background taken into account begins with primary and high school computer science courses which are supposed to prepare them for university. Instead of expected, we get many students with no programming knowledge and skills. It is also common knowledge that adults have more difficulties with learning programming than children. In order to make the difference, we mediated at the university level by introducing different programming languages and technologies while monitoring students’ results and satisfaction rate. Our faculty is also educating computer science teachers which make our task more demanding. Both learning and teaching programming are difficult tasks. Teachers with a strong understanding of the subject matter they teach are more likely to produce successful students.
Keywords:
undergraduate novice programmer, higher education, introductory programming course
Framework for development of physical models and simulations
Conference paper_Goran Zaharija_Saša MladenovićProceedings of CIET 2014 / Plazibat, Bože ; Kosanović, Silvana (ur.). - Split : University of Split , 2014. (ISBN: 978-953-7220-15-0).
Numerous scientific studies that have been, conducted in the field of physics over the last few decades suggest the necessity of departing from traditional ways of learning and teaching of physics in schools. Therefore, there is an increased resorting to the use of modern media in teaching by which it is possible to visualize the physical phenomena and situations. Researches in the field of teaching have shown that simulations can encourage students to greater involvement in class and more effective acquisition of knowledge and skills through active learning. Creating simulations for teaching physics can be a very demanding job, and sometimes, depending on the programming tool, you need to have a great knowledge and experience in the field of programming. The subject of this paper is to present a framework for development of physical models with which doesn’t require prior knowledge in the field of programming, and can quickly and easily be used to create a simulation of certain physical phenomena. To demonstrate the efficiency of the frame, a new physical model is created and it represents the particle oscillation on the spring. In addition, experimental study was conducted in order to evaluate the usefulness and ease of use of this framework. Results of the study are presented and discussed.
Keywords:
physics, computer simulations, framework, visualisation, learning
System for automatic generation of algorithm visualizations based on pseudocode interpretation
Conference paper_Andrina Granić_Saša MladenovićITiCSE '14 Proceedings of the 2014 conference on Innovation & technology in computer science education / Åsa Cajander ; Mats Daniels ; Tony Clear ; Arnold Pears (ur.). - New York, NY, USA : Assocation for Computing Machinery (ACM) , 2014. 27-32 (ISBN: 978-1-4503-2833-3).
Algorithm visualization systems have not been as widely adopted by computer science educators as it might be expected from the firm belief that they can enhance computer science education. Two key impediments for widely adopting AV technology in mainstream computer science are: effectiveness and enhancements of learning with visualization and effort needed to create algorithm visualizations. In this paper, we present the interpretation based system capable of automatic creation of algorithm visualizations by interpreting unmodified algorithms written in pseudocode. Although system is interpreting unmodified source code (code without any annotations for triggering appropriate visualization routines), due to the ability to automatically detect interesting events system is able to create visualizations at a sufficiently high level of abstraction so that the emphasis is on algorithmic conceptually relevant principles. Providing users with full control over input data set and by accompanying animation with explanatory messages, highlighting currently executing pseudocode line and providing possibility to inspect variable values at any step visualizations created by our system that can enhance learning and help students mastering algorithms basic concepts.
Keywords:
Algorithm visualization ; code interpretation ; pseudocode ; automatic animation generation ; automatic interesting event detection
The method of knowledge distribution and use in public administration
Conference paper_Saša MladenovićIEEE Proceedings of MIPRO 2012 Jubilee 35th International Convention / Petar Biljanović (ur.). - Croatian Society for Information and Communication Technology, Electronics and Microelectronics - MIPRO , 2012. 2056-2061 (ISBN: 978-953-233-069-4).
Public administration business system can be classified as a hierarchical system where the development of suitable information system has to allow data collection, business processes integration, and knowledge distribution and usage. Public administration hierarchical structure enjoins data and information flow from the end user to the management in business plan and the realization domain, and in the reverse direction in the tasks distribution and related information domain. Each autonomous organizational structure (state, local and regional governments) should provide an unambiguous and transparent data management by defining criteria (called classification) carrying information. Business areas should interconnect within a single organization (horizontal integration), or among the entities in the hierarchy (vertical integration). The information system as a whole and its subsystems enable high quality knowledge creation and its application through knowledge management at all hierarchical levels. This paper emphasizes data, business processes modeling and design in the general conceptual knowledge model using ontology. A method to identify and design a model at the entity level, to compare these models and create a general model at public administration individual units level, and develop meta-level model on the number of independent units is presented. Ontology is an integral part of the domain process and data modeling at the meta-information level. Applying ontology enables the conceptual knowledge design and the use of formal knowledge.
Power low distribution of student's achievement in STEM : indication of ability or failure
Journal_Ivica BoljatProcedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences (1877-0428) 106 (2013); 2093-2101
Analyses of results on recent state matura examination in Croatia suggest power law distribution in physics similar to corresponding examination on Advancing physics in G. Britain. Same distribution has been observed in some other STEM subjects (e.g. informatics and mathematics) in Croatian matura examination. Interpreting results through the lens of Gauss distribution (traditionally prevailing in educational community) lead to wrong conclusions. Grounded on heuristic argument that nature of school knowledge differ, we justify choice of power law distribution as more appropriate for analyzing STEM subjects, not questioning suitability of Gauss distribution for analyzing achievement in humanities and arts.
Keywords:
state examination ; distribution ; power law ; nature of knowledge
Intelligent Tutoring Systems in E-Learning Environments: Design, Implementation and Evaluation
Book_Marko RosićInformation Science Reference, 2011.
As a special class of e-learning systems, intelligent tutoring systems support and improve the learning and teaching of domain-specific knowledge, respecting learner individuality as in traditional one-to-one tutoring. Intelligent Tutoring Systems in E-Learning Environments: Design, Implementation, and Evaluation presents the e-learning community with innovative research concerning the background of intelligent tutoring systems in the new educational era. This scholarly reference provides researchers and e-system developers with a survey of the latest trends and practical experiences in student modeling. Topics covered include: affective tutoring systems, computerized tutors for learning, conventional intelligent tutoring systems, E-learning systems, intelligent tutoring systems, optimized learning pathway planning, personalized learning systems, semantic authoring of learning paths, student modeling, and topic maps.
Keywords:
e-learning systems, intelligent tutoring systems, student modeling, system evaluation
Controlled experiment replication in evaluation of e-learning system's educational influence
CCJournal_Marko RosićComputers and Education (0360-1315) 53 (2009), 3; 591-602
We believe that every effectiveness evaluation should be replicated at least in order to verify the original results and to indicate evaluated e-learning system’ s advantages or disadvantages. This paper presents the methodology for conducting controlled experiment replication, as well as, results of a controlled experiment and an internal replication that investigated the effectiveness of intelligent authoring shell eXtended Tutor– Expert System (xTEx-Sys). The initial and the replicated experiment were based on our approach that combines classical two-group experimental design and with factoral design. A trait that distinguishes this approach from others is the existence of arbitrary number of checkpoint-tests to determine the effectiveness in intermediate states. We call it a pre-and-post test control group experimental design with checkpoint-tests. The gained results revealed small or even negative effect sizes, which could be explained by the fact that the xTEx-Sys’ s domain knowledge presentation is rather novel for students and therefore difficult to grasp and apply in earlier phases of the experiment. In order to develop and improve the xTEx-Sys, further experiments must be conducted.
Dynamic test generation over ontology-based knowledge representation in authoring shell
CCJournal_Marko RosićExpert Systems with Applications (0957-4174) 36 (2009), 4; 8185-8196
Intelligent tutoring systems are kind of asynchronous e-learning systems designed to support and improve learning and teaching process in particular domain knowledge. Authoring shells are kind of e-learning systems that feature authoring environments for system users. Domain knowledge in such systems can be represented by using different knowledge representation specifications and presentation of tests mainly depends on the type of domain knowledge. We propose templates for dynamical generation of questions as a test over previously formalized domain knowledge. In our approach we encourage expressiveness of ontology for describing domain knowledge. Tests described in this paper entails declarative knowledge formalized by Web Ontology Language (OWL) and are realized as a dynamic quiz. By pronouncing OWL ontology as domain knowledge formalism we deal with the problem of generating tests and understanding presentation of the tests
TEx-Sys model for building intelligent tutoring systems
CCJournal_Marko RosićComputers and Education (0360-1315) 51 (2008), 3; 1017-1036
Special classes of asynchronous e-learning systems are the intelligent tutoring systems which represent an advanced learning and teaching environment adaptable to individual student’ s characteristics. Authoring shells have an environment that enables development of the intelligent tutoring systems. In this paper we present, in entirety, for the first time, our approach to research, development and implementation related to intelligent tutoring systems and ITS authoring shells. Our research relies on the traditional intelligent tutoring system, the consideration that teaching is control of learning and principles of good human tutoring in order to develop the Tutor– Expert System model for building intelligent tutoring systems in freely chosen domain knowledge. In this way we can wrap up an ongoing process that has lasted for the previous fifteen years. Prototype tests with the implemented systems have been carried out with students from a primary education to an academic level. Results of those tests are advantageous, according to surveys, and the implemented and deployed software satisfies functionalities and actors’ demands.
Intelligent tutoring interoperability for the new web
CCJournal_Marko RosićTelecommunication Systems (1018-4864) 32 (2006), 2-3; 193-207
Interoperability of systems based on knowledge is a very important element for reducing their development cost and enabling an easy-to-perform service enrichment. Intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs) may be described as distant learning systems, which base their work on the simulation of the “ real” teacher in the learning and teaching process. ITSs base their interoperability on the interchange of domain knowledge, knowledge about learning and teaching process and knowledge about students. This paper describes DiSNeT, a distance learning system we designed based on the intelligent tutoring paradigm, on knowledge presentation using distributed semantic networks and on using agents in the learning and teaching process. We also present a methodology for ensuring interoperability between DiSNeT and other ITSs.
Experimental examination of structured-modular instruction
Conference paper_Ivica BoljatProceedings International Conference on Information Technology and Development of Education, ITRO 2014 Zrenjanin, June 2014 / Pavlović, Milan (ur.). - Zrenjanin : Univerzitet Novi Sad, Tehnički fakultet Mihajlo Pupin , 2014. 186-91 (ISBN: 978-86-7672-225-9).
The experimental examination of the efficiency of constructivism based structured-modular approach was done on the example of Anemometer module at Electro-technical school. The starting hypotheses were confirmed, i.e. the level of factual knowledge doesn’t depend on the treatment of the group but their size, namely, the ability of using the knowledge is significantly better with structured-modular teaching. The transfer of cognitive skills gained by this approach is expected, but didn’t happen. The students consider that the structured-modular teaching is better and more interesting. It enables them to problem solving independently and the knowledge is better related to the needs of practice. From the taxonomy of educational contents is easy to designate modules of the lowest hierarchical level. These modules become relevant to students by gradual grouping from the simplest to more complex intentional modules. They are constructed by experts and skilled teachers, on the basis of student’s interests and affinity. The development of abilities to apply knowledge, independent learning and employing sophisticated resources is more important than accumulation of factual knowledge. This demand sees a role of teacher as coordinator, teaching materials as guide through the modules and assessment as confrontation of student with problem situation.
Using Effect Size for Group Modeling in E-Learning Systems
Book chapter_Divna KrpanIntelligent Tutoring Systems in E-Learning Environments: Design, Implementation and Evaluation, Information Science Reference, IGI Global, Hershey, New York, 2010, p. 237-257
Educational Data Mining for Grouping Students in E-learning System
Conference paper_Divna KrpanProceedings of the ITI 2012 34th Int. Conf. on Information Technology Interfaces / Luzar-Stiffler, Vesna ; Jarec, Iva ; Bekic, Zoran (ur.). - Zagreb : University Computing Centre, University of Zagreb , 2012. 207-212 (ISBN: 978-953-7138-25-7).
The popularity and the use of elearning systems increased through last decades. Students produce a lot of data through their interactions with the system, which is often not exploited. Since there is a vast amount of such data, data mining techniques were used as the appropriate solution. In this paper we show practical experience with specific e-learning system and applied data mining technique for the analysis which served as a tool for grouping students with similar characteristics.
Keywords:
educational data mining, learning management system, group modeling
Standards and Specifications for E-Learning Systems
Conference paper_Divna KrpanProceedings ELMAR - 2009 / Grgić, Mislav ; Božek, Jelena ; Grgić, Sonja (ur.). - Zagreb : Croatian Society Electronics in Marine - ELMAR , 2009. 189-192 (ISBN: 978-953-7044-10-7).
This paper presents a brief description of Shareable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM), a set of standards and specifications intended to be used in e-learning for the purpose of sharing content across different e-learning systems. SCORM has gone through changes since its origin to keep up with technology development and growing demands on e-learning systems. Since these standards are being used in practice, practical issues arose which finally led to the divergence of developmental directions for the two new future versions of SCORM.
Exploring the Adaptation to Learning Styles: The Case of AdaptiveLesson Module for Moodle
Journal_Andrina Granić_Jelena NakićLecture Notes in Computer Science (0302-9743) 7946 (2013); 534-550
Understanding learners and acknowledging diversities in their learning behavior is the key to design effective e-learning systems. This paper presents an innovative solution focused on adaptation to learning styles in the context of the learning management system Moodle. A new activity module named AdaptiveLesson has been developed as an extension of the Lesson module. It simplifies the interface for teachers who are creating lesson content while on the other hand provides students with individually adapted on-line courses in respect to their learning styles. Modifications in adaptive lessons with respect to regular lesson are described and the mechanism for adaptation to learning styles is presented. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed solution, a pilot evaluation of an on-line course developed by the AdaptiveLesson module has been conducted. The experiment is based on the comparison of an adaptive and an equivalent regular course. Results are discussed and guidelines for further research are established.
Learning Styles and Navigation Patterns in Web-Based Education
Journal_Andrina Granić_Jelena Nakić_Nikola MarangunićLecture Notes in Computer Science (0302-9743) 6768 (2011); 587-596
Researchers agree that it is possible to diagnose student’s learning style and that learners with a dominant preference for certain learning style may have difficulties in knowledge acquisition in conditions where teaching strategy is not compatible with it. This paper presents an experimental work conducted in order to determine if students with different learning styles have different navigational needs while using web-based learning environment. Correlations between learning styles and students’ learning performance are also observed and discussed. A group of 102 graduate and postgraduate students were involved in the study. Learning styles according to Felder-Silverman learning style model have been explored in the context of an e-learning course delivered through a Learning Management System. The main results show that the course supports global learners to some extent. The methods for meeting the needs of sequential learners are proposed.
Enhancing the Learning Experience: Preliminary Framework for User Individual Differences
Journal_Andrina Granić_Jelena NakićLecture Notes in Computer Science (0302-9743) 6389 (2010); 384-399
A system able to adapt to different user characteristics may increase user’s learning outcome and advance her/his personal learning experience. This paper reports on research identifying and appraising user personal differences employed in user modelling for adaptive educational systems. A preliminary set of individual characteristics relevant for adaptation is proposed, along with a framework for their categorization. The framework is derived on the basis of empirical studies and survey papers reviewing the usage of these variables in adaptive and adaptable systems. Each variable is addressed from the perspective of its definition, implementation in existing systems and relevance for adaptation. Methods for variable detection and quantification are discussed as well. Suggested framework represents authors’ perspective of the state-of-the-art in analyzing user individual differences and adds to the body of knowledge related to the user analysis as an essential part of an adaptive system development process.
User Individual Differences in Intelligent Interaction: Do They Matter?
Journal_Andrina Granić_Jelena NakićLecture Notes in Computer Science (0302-9743) 5615 (2009); 694-703
Designing an intelligent system, as confirmed by research, must address relevant individual characteristics of users. This paper offers a brief review of individual differences literature in the HCI field in general and e-learning area in particular. Research suggests that using adaptive e-learning systems may improve user learning performance and increase her/his learning outcome. An empirical study presented in this paper encompasses a comprehensive user analysis regarding a web-based learning application. Statistically significant correlations were found between user intelligence, experience and motivation for e-learning with her/his learning outcome accomplished in an e-learning session. These results contribute to the knowledge base of user individual differences and will be considered in an estimation of possible benefits from enabling the system adaptivity.
Designing Intelligent Interfaces for e-Learning Systems: The Role of User Individual Characteristics
Journal_Andrina Granić_Jelena NakićLecture Notes in Computer Science (0302-9743) 4556 (2007); 627-636
In order to advance personal learning experience it is crucial to overcome the one-size-fits-all approach in user interface design and increase the e-learning systems intelligent behavior. Recent research has confirmed that user individual characteristics must be taken into account to accomplish that goal. This paper identifies user features relevant for system’s adaptation in general. Aiming to investigate affect of those features on users’ learning outcomes in e-learning environment in particular, an empirical study along with obtained results is reported as well.
Designing Intelligent Tutors to Adapt Individual Interaction
Journal_Andrina Granić_Jelena NakićLecture Notes in Computer Science (0302-9743) 4397 (2007); 137-153
Present-day efforts in designing technologies to serve and adapt to human needs rather than forcing humans to adapt, embrace intelligent user interfaces as one of ambient intelligence key technologies. This paper elaborates on the design of an adaptive individual interaction in a type of computer-based educational system whose operation is supported by intelligent methods, an emulation of human teacher in the process of learning and teaching. In order to design interaction simple and effortless as well as to adjust learning process and teaching material to individual student, a mechanism for monitoring student’ s interaction and generating related adaptive interface based on student model is developed. Furthermore, a classification of adaptive hypermedia systems with regard to employed adaptation technology is offered.
Personalized Education: Adaptation to Learning Styles
Conference paper_Andrina Granić_Jelena NakićProceedings of the 10th Learning and Technology Conference, Learning and Technology 2013: Tenth Conference on Cloudscaping the Global Learning Environment, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Research in education confirms that adaptation to learning styles brings many benefits to students’ learning activities. The ease of use of adaptive learning systems is increased, student enjoy more comfortable learning experience and achieve higher learning performance. The paper presents an adaptive on-line course on Moodle learning management system. The course is consisted of lessons, a series of HTML pages, while each lesson is developed by a new Moodle module called AdaptiveLesson. The module is built as an extension of the Lesson module, so it upgrades the Lesson module functionality with new adaptivity features. With respect to Felder-Silverman learning style model (FSLSM) adaptivity mechanisms implement several techniques to provide content adaptation and adaptive navigation support. In order to evaluate the AdaptiveLesson module, an evaluation approach with complementing usability techniques was proposed. The methodology brings together end-user testing and expert inspections, additionally providing insight into module’s technical and pedagogical usability.
Adapting to Student’ s Individual Differences: A Step to Better Learning Performance
Conference paper_Andrina Granić_Jelena NakićProceedings of the 31th International Conference on Information Technology Interfaces : ITI 2009 / Luzar-Stiffler, Vesna ; Jarec, Iva, Bekić, Zoran (ur.). - Zagreb : SRCE University Computing Centre, University of Zagreb , 2009. 431-436 (ISBN: 978-953-7138-15-8).
An e-learning system able to adapt to different learning characteristics of users may improve their performance and increase their learning outcome, as suggested by the research. However, the development of adaptive systems addresses major research questions, identifying and appraising relevant user characteristics as the starting point. Conducted empirical study reveals statistically significant correlations of user intelligence, experience and motivation with her/his learning outcome in an e-learning environment. This contribution adds usefully to the body of knowledge on individual differences and will be considered in an estimation of possible benefits from system adaptive behavior.
Meeting User Individual Characteristics through Adaptive Interface of an e-Learning System: an Empirical Study Design
Conference paper_Andrina Granić_Jelena NakićProceedings of the ITI 2007. 29th International Conference on Information Technology Interfaces - ITI 2007 / Luzar-Stiffler, Vesna ; Hljuz Dobric, Vesna (ur.). - Zagreb : SRCE University Computing Center, University of Zagreb , 2007. 333-338 (ISBN: 1330-1012).
Recent research in the field of human-computer interaction puts the user at the centre of all developments, stressing the significance to design technologies for human needs. In such context intuitive and transparent interaction is crucial and the role of adaptive user interface becomes unquestionable. This paper presents the methodology for conducting empirical study meant to investigate the impact of user individual characteristics on her/his interaction as well as knowledge acquisition through an e-learning system.
Introductory Programming Languages in Higher Education
Conference paper_Divna KrpanMIPRO, Pages 375-380, 2011
A growing number of students enrolled in introductory programming courses is experiencing difficulties grasping the basic concepts and algorithms, which in turn manifest themselves in their poor exam results. While determining the cause of these difficulties, we found that they are not unique to Croatian universities, but rather a worldwide phenomenon. Focusing on, in our findings the leading cause: the choice of the introductory programming language, we have perceived that today’s students require constant motivation which tends to be absent in languages having a complex syntax. In this paper we describe our experiences in using the C, QBasic and Python programming languages in introductory programming courses. In order to better examine the problems, we conducted a two part research with the students. The first part focused on group work with programming assignments using the three aforementioned languages, and the second part was a follow up research where we examined students’ experiences and knowledge retainment after a relatively short period of time.
Visual Programming Languages in Higher Education
Conference paper_Divna Krpan_Goran Zaharija_Saša Mladenović16. CARNet users conference - CUC 2014, Zagreb (ISBN: 978-953-6802-29-6).
Visual programming languages in higher education (in Croatian)
Towards a Cost-effective Evaluation Approach for Web Portal Interfaces
Book chapter_Andrina Granić_Nikola MarangunićInformation Systems Development, Song, W.W. ; Xu, S. ; Wan, C. ; Zhong, Y. ; Wojtkowski, Wita ; Wojtkowski, Gregory ; Linger, Henry (eds.), Springer Science ; Business Media, LLC, New York, 2011, Pages 175-186
A cost-effective approach for web portal usability evaluation is presented in this paper. Due to specifics of portals as web sites, mainly referring to their structure and media specificities along with diversity of users, tasks and workflows, distinct assessment approaches should be employed. Methodology brings together laboratory-based testing along with experts’ inspection and produces valuable results for users and developers at a low-cost. Compared to our first study, user assessment applied a faster and less expensive procedure, providing stability of measures with reduced sample size, while inspection employed fewer specialists with higher expertise and a simpler evaluation form. Directions of future work are identified.
Web Portal Design : Employment of a Range of Assessment Methods
Book chapter_Andrina Granić_Nikola MarangunićInformation Systems Development : Towards a Service Provision Society, Papadopoulos, George Angelos ; Wojtkowski, Wita ; Wojtkowski, Gregory ; Wrycza, Stanislaw ; Zupancic, Joze (eds.), Springer Science ; Business Media, LLC, New York, 2009, Pages 131-139
The paper reports on the experience regarding usability evaluation of web portals. The study is placed in Croatian web sphere where the most visited portals are the broad-reach web ones. Consequently, such a research may be of interest to the communities with comparable user population and market characteristics. The evaluation methodology advocates a number of usability test methods along with specialists’ inspection. The results of the first study indicated that the chosen research instruments, measures and methods for usability testing were consistent. Conversely, the results of the second study, which employs the guideline-based inspection, did not agree with those obtained through the end-user testing. Although showing significant potential, the methodology needs to be improved.
Keywords:
usability evaluation, web portals, guideline inspection, user testing, discount approach
Usability Inspection of Web Portals: Results and Insights from Empirical Study
Journal_Andrina Granić_Nikola MarangunićInternational Journal of Computer Science Issues, IJCSI (1694-0814) 10 (2013), 2; 234-241
Web portals are a special breed of web sites, providing a large and diverse user population with a blend of information, services and facilities. Whether they reach their aim of facilitating users’ access to diverse resources and to which extent, remains an open question. In the paper this issue is addressed with usability inspection of horizontal information (news) portals. The reported experiment was targeted to establish whether expert reviews can be performed with a reasonable level of performance by non-usability experts with some training. An empirical study of four web portals was used to support the statement, and the results appear to support this claim. Although the findings from a single experience cannot be generalized, we believe that the results of this study could contribute to improve the general understanding of the field. However, in order to draw general sound conclusions and to examine the robustness and validity of the findings, more studies should be conducted.
Keywords:
usability, inspection methods, horizontal information web portals
Development of the Evaluation Form for Expert Inspections of Web Portals
Journal_Andrina Granić_Nikola MarangunićLecture Notes in Computer Science (0302-9743) 6757 (2011); 383-386
Web portals are a special breed of web sites, providing a large and diverse user population with a blend of information, services and facilities. Due to the lack of heuristics for the design and evaluation of general portals, we have conducted an experimental work to create research instrument for expert inspections. A set of 36 equally-levelled guidelines was developed to measure the hypothetical usability categories which reflect the four most distinctive elements of the contemporary web design process. The Portal Guidelines for expert inspections prove valuable to both novice inspectors and HCI experts, but further research will be required to validate the findings of this study.
Keywords:
usability, expert inspection, Portal Guidelines, web portal
Introducing basic Programming Concepts to Elementary School Children
Journal_Goran Zaharija_Ivica Boljat_Saša MladenovićProcedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 106, 1576–1584, 2013
This paper discusses an approach to teaching programming that would allow elementary school children to adopt basic problem solving concepts. Adopting those concepts should help them in their further education, not only in programming but also in other areas that require logical thinking and problem solving. Elementary school children are too young for traditional approach to teaching programming so in this paper we describe an approach appropriate for their age designed to avoid problems associated with young children such as short attention span. Preliminary experiment with 30 elementary school children was conducted and details and results are presented in this paper.
The Influence of Cognitive and Personality Characteristics on User Navigation: An Empirical Study
Journal_Andrina Granić_Nikola MarangunićLecture Notes in Computer Science (0302-9743) 5616 (2009); 216-225
An empirical study aiming to investigate the influence of cognitive and personality characteristics on user web navigation is presented in this paper. Individual cognitive abilities and personality dimensions were identified and validated, and expected correlations with results of objective variables were postulated. Effectiveness, efficiency and orientation within a web site were the measured objective variables. Measures of spatial ability and extraversion were correlated with objective accomplishment measures and orientation. A high statistically significant correlation was found between spatial ability measure and orientation measure. Conversely, no other correlations were supported. Future work will be significantly improved by employing new variables, measures and instruments, especially for user personality dimensions.
Keywords:
spatial ability, extraversion, user navigation, orientation, empirical study
Information System User Interface Complexity
Journal_Marko Rosić_Saša MladenovićHCI in Work and Learning, Life and Leisure, Pages 509-512, 2010
This paper examines problems and solutions related to the integration of the HCI perspective in software engineering and production. The goal is to bridge the gap between software engineers and HCI professionals by improving mutual understanding of their respective fields of interest. An information system is a complex system that can be modelled by means of the multilevel theory. The user interface design is a design problem without a single proper solution. There is no standard user interface look and feel, so that a multilevel user interface model is proposed. The user interface design is approached through hierarchical levels making it possible to choose between multiple developments methodologies. Case study: A highway automatic toll collection system user interface design proves that the multilevel approach can bridge the gap between developers and designers making team members use their respective strong points.
Technology Acceptance: Why is so Important to Understand?
Conference paper_Andrina Granić_Nikola MarangunićProceedings of the 20th International Conference on Software, Telecommunications and Computer Networks, SoftCOM 2012
With the ever-increasing development of technology, particularly Information and Communication Technology and its impact on users’ private and professional life, the question regarding an acceptance or rejection of the technology still remains an important research issue in the field. In the last few decades an interest of a science community in addressing this question has resulted in a development of a number of theories and models of technology acceptance and its effective usage. The article presents a brief literature review related to Technology Acceptance Model introduced a quarter century ago along with gained related understanding and future research directions identified during this study.
Keywords:
Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Literature Review
Experience With Usability Testing of Web Portals
Conference paper_Andrina Granić_Nikola MarangunićProceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Web Information Systems and Technologies : WEBIST 2008 ; Vol. 2 : Web Interfaces and Applications / Cordeiro, José ; Filipe, Joaquim ; Hammoudi, Slimane (ur.). - Portugal : INSTICC Press , 2008. 161-167 (ISBN: 978-989-8111-27-2).
The paper reports on the experience regarding usability evaluation of broad-reach web portals. The designed methodology advocates a number of usability test methods along with specialists’ inspection and provides a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative assessment feedback. Our experience accords with the claim that we should not rely on isolated evaluations, but instead on combine assessment methods. In this paper we present and discuss mainly the results obtained through user-based usability evaluation. The results indicate that chosen research instruments, measures and methods for usability testing were consistent. Conversely, the results of the designed guideline inspection did not conform to the ones obtained through the end user testing. Although proved promising, some of the guideline-based evaluation aspects need improvement.
Keywords:
end user testing, guideline inspection, methodology for web portal usability evaluation, broad-reach web portals
An Approach to Guideline Inspection of Web Portals
Conference paper_Andrina Granić_Nikola MarangunićProceedings of Tenth International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems : ICEIS 2008 ; Vol. : Human-Computer Interaction / Cordeiro, José ; Filipe, Joaquim (ur.). - Portugal : INSTICC Press , 2008. 401-404 (ISBN: 978-989-8111-40-1).
Overall research is aiming to design discount evaluation methodology for web portal assessment. A number of problems was identified during testing user tasks in scenario-based usability testing while others were detected through tasks mentally simulated by HCI experts using an inspection method. This paper reports on the experience regarding the latter one. Designed inspection has proved very promising, although obtained comprehensive quantitative and qualitative data revealed the need for some improvements. Revision of the evaluation form along with subsequent assessment with adequate expert sample is needed.
Keywords:
usability evaluation, guideline inspection, evaluation form, broad-reach web portals
Learning from Each Other: An Agent Based Approach
Journal_Andrina Granić_Goran Zaharija_Saša MladenovićLecture Notes in Computer Science (0302-9743) 8514 (2014);475 - 486
This paper presents an agent based approach to knowledge representation and learning methods. Agent architecture is described and discussed, together with its advantages and limitations. Main purpose of the proposed approach is to gain further insight in current teaching methods with a foremost aspiration for their improvement. Two different experimental studies were conducted;the first one addressing knowledge representation and the second one regarding knowledge transfer between agents. Obtained results are presented and analysed.
Keywords:
learning, artificial intelligence, machine learning, agent based systems
Highway toll collection information system redesign
Conference paper_Saša MladenovićProceeding on KOREMA, Automation in transportation 2009 / Šakić, Željko (ur.). - Zagreb: KoREMA, 2009. 52-55.
Toll collection system is complex system including business information and equipment control system characteristics. Information system evolutionary development model implies re-usage of part or complete existing system. The need for evolutionary approach to toll collection information system development is emphasized in Croatia since highways are still in construction phase and number of toll stations and concessionaires are increasing, different technological solution to required functionality can be expected. It is implied that the new system will work in conjunction with the existing one to achieve higher level of service. Ontologies, based on some type of logical formalism, are introduced to facilitate toll collection system evolution. User requirements as evolution request can be checked for consistency in existing systems.
Keywords
highway toll collection, system redesign
Virtual learning environment based on general CMS
Conference paper_Saša MladenovićInternational Conference ICL "Interactive Computer Aided Learning, The Future of Learning, Globalizing in Education": proceedings / Auer, Michael E. (ur.). - Villach: Kassel University Press, 2008. 1-6 (ISBN: 978-3-89958-353-3).
This paper describes a way to ease interaction between interested parties in elementary and high school education process. Recognized interested parties are teachers, parents and pupils. The idea is to create educational virtual environment that would attract engagement of all parties. Initial engagement would be motivated with the e-grade book. After initial involvement of seeing grades, the users would be motivated for further involvement using forums, blogs, and chats to interact with each other in one place. This would lead to creating groups of pupils or parents with similar problems and interests. For example, why is mathematics so hard to some pupils, and for other not? The created virtual environment will enable teachers to additionally inform parents of existing e-learning materials.
e-learning, CMS, social networks, learning participants’ communication
Anatomy of student models in adaptive learning systems: A systematic literature review of individual differences from 2001 to 2013
Journal_Andrina Granić_Jelena NakićJournal of Educational Computing Research (0735-6331) 51 (2014), 4;203 - 234
This study brings an evidence-based review of user individual characteristics employed as sources of adaptation in recent adaptive learning systems. Twenty-two user individual charac-teristics were explored in a systematically designed search procedure, while 17 of them were identified as sources of adaptation in final selection. The content analysis of 98 selected pub-lications that include evidence of adaptation efficiency is conducted. The quantitative repre-sentation of the findings shows current trends in the research of individual differences, as well as the tendencies of their further employment in student modeling. The paper contributes to the body of knowledge on user individual differences and consequently to the research and development of adaptive learning systems. Additional contribution of the study is in- depth description of development and evaluation of the search strategy which makes the method easily replicable as well as suitable for modification and employment in systematic literature review in any research field.
Keywords
individual differences, student model attributes, adaptive learning system, learning performance, learning experience, evaluation studies
Adapting to Student’ s Individual Differences: A Step to Better Learning Performance
Conference paper_Andrina Granić_Jelena NakićProceedings of the 31th International Conference on Information Technology Interfaces: ITI 2009 / Luzar-Stiffler, Vesna;Jarec, Iva, Bekić, Zoran (ur.). - Zagreb: SRCE University Computing Centre, University of Zagreb, 2009. 431-436 (ISBN: 978-953-7138-15-
An e-learning system able to adapt to different learning characteristics of users may improve their performance and increase their learning outcome, as suggested by the research. However, the development of adaptive systems addresses major research questions, identifying and appraising relevant user characteristics as the starting point. Conducted empirical study reveals statistically significant correlations of user intelligence, experience and motivation with her/his learning outcome in an e-learning environment. This contribution adds usefully to the body of knowledge on individual differences and will be considered in an estimation of possible benefits from system adaptive behavior.
Keywords
adaptive systems, e-learning, individual differences, empirical study
Web Portal Design: Employment of a Range of Assessment Methods
Book chapter_Andrina Granić_Nikola MarangunićInformation Systems Development: Towards a Service Provision Society, Springer Science;Business Media, LLC, New York, 2009, Pages 131-139
The paper reports on the experience regarding usability evaluation of web portals. The study is placed in Croatian web sphere where the most visited portals are the broad-reach web ones. Consequently, such a research may be of interest to the communities with comparable user population and market characteristics. The evaluation methodology advocates a number of usability test methods along with specialists’ inspection. The results of the first study indicated that the chosen research instruments, measures and methods for usability testing were consistent. Conversely, the results of the second study, which employs the guideline-based inspection, did not agree with those obtained through the end-user testing. Although showing significant potential, the methodology needs to be improved.
Keywords
usability evaluation, web portals, guideline inspection, user testing, discount approach
Exploring the Usability of Web Portals: a Croatian Case Study
Journal_Andrina Granić_Nikola MarangunićInternational journal of information management (0268-4012) 31 (2011), 4;339 - 349
Web portal acts as a single point of access to information and services relevant to person’s work or personal interests. Market research findings related to Croatian web context report that nowadays horizontal information portals are the most visited sites. Whether they reach their aim of facilitating users’ access to diverse resources and to which extent, remains an open question. In this paper, this issue is addressed by two case studies conducted for summative assessment of Croatian horizontal information portals. Approach assembled expert inspection and user assessment that integrated a number of empirical methods into laboratory-based testing. We report that the results of inspection method were not in agreement with the ones obtained from user test methods. Although differences of this kind have been reported elsewhere, there were not as evident as in these studies. What is very interesting and represents a main contribution of the research is that in both rounds of evaluations this outcome is very sharp and clear. This suggests that we should conduct both kinds of assessments as they seem to be complementary. Evaluation provided some general findings and know-how from the experience and we believe that many readers, both practitioners and researchers, can learn from it.
Keywords
usability;user testing;guideline inspection;horizontal information web portals;case study
Usability Evaluation of Web Portals
Conference paper_Andrina Granić_Nikola MarangunićProceedings of the 30th International Conference on Information Technology Interfaces: ITI 2008 / Luzar-Stiffler, Vesna;Hljuz-Dobrić, Vesna, Bekić, Zoran (ur.). - Zagreb: SRCE University Computing Centre, University of Zagreb, 2008. 427-432 (ISBN: 978-953
The paper reports on the experience concerning the design of a “discount evaluation” of broad-reach web portal usability. The methodology employs a range of assessment methods, providing a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation feedback. It advocates a number of usability test methods along with specialists’ inspection. The results indicate that chosen research instruments, measures and methods for usability testing were consistent. Conversely, the results of the guideline inspection did not conform to the ones obtained through the user testing. Although showing respectable potential, it raised some concerns.
usability evaluation, guideline inspection, end user testing, broad-reach portals
Power low distribution of student's achievement in STEM: indication of ability or failure
Journal_Ivica BoljatProcedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences (1877-0428) 106 (2013);2093 - 2101
Analyses of results on recent state matura examination in Croatia suggest power law distribution in physics similar to corresponding examination on Advancing physics in G. Britain. Same distribution has been observed in some other STEM subjects (e.g. informatics and mathematics) in Croatian matura examination. Interpreting results through the lens of Gauss distribution (traditionally prevailing in educational community) lead to wrong conclusions. Grounded on heuristic argument that nature of school knowledge differ, we justify choice of power law distribution as more appropriate for analyzing STEM subjects, not questioning suitability of Gauss distribution for analyzing achievement in humanities and arts.
Keywords
state examination;distribution;power law;nature of knowledge
Predictors of novices programmers' performance
Conference paper_Ivica BoljatICERI2014 Proceedings / L. Gómez Chova, A. López Martínez, I. Candel Torres (ur.). - Seville, Spain: IATED AInternational Academy of Technology, Education and Development, 2014. 1536-1545
Despite the awareness of the important role of programming in today’s technological lifestyle and the fact that programming jobs are among the most sought after professions today, computer science students consider programming contents overly demanding and often avoid them. This paper aims to provide an overview of the relevant literature and studies that examine factors that may significantly affect the performance of programming. We will give an overview of good and bad predictors of success in programming and factors that, so far, have not shown the predictions’ strength or their impact on the performance of programming hasn’t been sufficiently explored. Knowledge of these factors is extremely important for computer science teachers in order to apply the appropriate teaching model for novices that emphasizes the development of the ability to anticipate and understand what happens when a specific computer program performs. Factors like mathematical knowledge, attribution of success, good spatial maps sketching have proved to be good predictors of programming success while surface learning approach showed strong negative impact on novices’ programming performance. On the other hand, despite the expectations, student’s gender, number of years of programming, number of familiar programming languages, haven’t show any significant impact on programming performance.
Keywords
programming, novices, predictors, teaching
Strategies for teaching programming - the state of the art
Conference paper_Ivica BoljatContemporary issues in Economy & Technology CIET 2014Split: University of Split University Department of Professional Studies, 2014. S-248-S-258 (ISBN: 978-953-7220-15-0).
Computer programming is responsible for every interaction between humans and computers whether it is about creating web applications, optimizing the GPS software, processing document in a text editor, using various social networks, Internet banking, etc. Computer programming shouldn’t be looked just as a tool, but as a way of seeing the world based on the idea of dividing tasks into smaller subtasks. In general wave of unemployment and the constant search for employment, according to business requirements, employers’ requirements for computer programmers are one of the few constant. It is easy to notice that many of the job competitions, such as for computer programming jobs, are often repeated because the need for programmers exceeds market supplies. This paper provides an overview of the relevant literature and research on new trends and strategies concerning initial teaching of programming.
Keywords:
programming, beginners, teaching strategies
Teaching of Novice Programmers: Strategies, Programming Languages and Predictors
Conference paper_Ivica BoljatProceedings International conference on information technology and development of education ITRO 2014 / Pavlović, Milan (ur.). - Zrenjanin: Univerzitet Novi Sad, Tehnički fakultet, 2014. 180-185 (ISBN: 978-86-7672-225-9).
Research on the challenges of teaching novice programmers has long been a subject of interest of all the factors involved in the study of introductory programming objects. Novice programmers often try to understand too soon what really programming means. Such approach is usually superficial and can lead to frustration and withdrawal. The problem is reflected in the low passing grades and high dropout rates in subject of introductory programming at various universities. The aim of this study was to review the relevant literature and research on strategies for teaching novice programmers that have proven to be successful. The factors that can significantly influence the success in learning programming are identified as well as experiences about the impact of the first programming language election to the overall success of students in introductory programming subject.
Keywords:
predictors, novices, programming, programming languages, teaching strategies
Students motivation for competition in computer science
Conference paper_Ivica BoljatINTED2014 ProceedingsValencia: International Academy of Technology, Education and Development IATED, 2014. 288-295 (ISBN: 978-84-616-8412-0).
In the last few years, student competitions in knowledge of certain area have become very common in elementary schools. Students can compete in one or more school subjects depending on their interest and abilities. One of the goals of every competition is to raise the motivation in learning particular area. Very often, that motivation, in great deal, depends on the teacher himself and his characteristics as well. Some subjects are very interesting and teachers have easy job in motivating them in additional work that is required so students can accomplish level of knowledge needed for competing. Subjects that are demanding and challenging for students, very often have fewer competitors than subjects that are easier. In the Republic of Croatia, Computer Science is one of the elective subjects in elementary school therefore it has a smaller number of students involved in the teaching process. Students can compete in the knowledge of the basic concepts of Information Technology and various application programs or solving algorithms in a variety of programming languages. In the curriculum of the elective subject Computer Science, solving algorithms is represented approximately with 10% of the content, which is not enough to achieve success in this competition. The competition requires a lot of effort, creativity and perseverance of the students and his teachers. This paper explores the motivation of students to participate in the Computer Science competition. For this purpose, a survey was conducted among 139 participants of the competition in elementary schools as a special form of non-experimental research. As the primary source of data in the study is used a personal statement about the opinions, beliefs, attitudes and behavior, obtained with the corresponding series of standardized questions. The questions are designed to test the importance which students assign to the teacher as one of the factors, and other factors that significantly affect the increase in their motivation to learn Computer Science. At the end, the results of the survey are interpreted and provide guidance for further research.
Keywords:
motivation, competition, computer science, survey, teachers
Processing centres diagnosing and maintenance by means of fault-tree analysis method
Conference paper_Ivica Boljat3rd International Conference on Advanced Manufacturing Systems and Technology: ProceedingsUdine: University of Udine, Faculty of Engineering, 1993. 159-164.
In the course of processing systems diagnosing and maintenance it is very important to define undesired events-faults that may cause the loss of systems function what may consequentl lead to the significant financial losses. The carried out diagnosing enables the identification and ranking of components or frameworks to their contribution to the safety of the system itself. Together with a short review of the possible application of the fault-tree analysis method, this paper gives the fault – tree, based on the processing center model.
Keywords:
processing centres, diagnosing, fault-free
A forward reasoning algorithm
Conference paper_Ivica BoljatProceedings of the 14th International Conference on Information Technology InterfacesZagreb: University computing centre, 1992. 159-165.
When defining operating environment for experimentation in the domain of expert systems, one of basic modules is inference engine. On the basis of the predefined knowledge representation an inferenc3e engine algoritm is suggested. A programming module and the reasoning illustrated by examples have been implemented.
Keywords:
knowledge base, forward reasoning, inference engine
Generation of causal model in second generation expert system
Conference paper_Ivica BoljatProceedings of the 12th International Symposium Computer at the University / Lužar, Vesna (ur.). - Zagreb: University Computing Centre, SRCE, 1990. 8.15.1-8.15.6.
Second generation expert systems are able to combine reasoning based on heuristic rules with reasoning based on system models. The paper outlines a graph form of a causal model of a technical syste. The problem solving algorithms as well as deep reasoning based on the model are outlined.
Keywords:
deep reasoning, heuristic rules, top-bottom examination
An experiment with a knowledge base
Conference paper_Ivica BoljatComputer at the university: proceedings of the 11th International Symposium Computer at the Universit / Čerić, Vlatko;Lužar, Vesna (ur.). - Zagreb: University computing centre SRCE, 1989. 8.10.1-8.10.8..
The work discusses the knowledge base based on a relational database. The knowledge base is organized so as to store both facts and rules and to provide the application of inference mechanisms based on forward and backward chaining.
Keywords:
expert systems, inferencing, relational database
Some Observations on the Possibility of Implementing Distance Education in Transition Countries
Conference paper_Andrina Granić_Marko RosićZbornik radova (Proceedings) s Međunarodnog simpoziuma
Technologies for developing distance education processes are progressing at an extremely rapid pace. These developments have made the computer a dynamic force in distance education, providing a new and interactive means for overcoming time and distance in order to reach students. Each country has developed its own model of distance education in accordance with local resources, the audience targeted, and the philosophy of the organizations providing instruction. Successful distance education systems involve interactivity between teacher and students, between students and the learning environment, and among students themselves, as well as active learning and teaching in the classroom. Rich history of evolution is found as each form of instructional media evolved from print, to instructional television, up to modern interactive computer technologies. In this paper we analyze the development and realization of some projects of distance education for different educational levels in developed Western countries. We especially consider the Internet as a place to talk, to get organized information as well as to organize and put information. We propose a model for building a distance education system and substantiate it with our experience in developing both on-site and distributed versions of an intelligent hypermedia authoring shell.
Keywords:
distance education, computers network, Internet, telementoring, intelligent hypermedia authoring shell
Intelligent tutoring systems for the new learning infrastructure
Book chapter_Marko RosićIntelligent Learning Infrastructures for Knowledge Intensive Organizations: A Semantic Web Perspective, Idea Group Inc./InfoSci, Information Science Publishing, Hershey, 2005, Pages 225-246
Intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) are a generation of computer systems which provide students with learning and teaching environments adapted to their knowledge and learning capabilities. In this chapter we analyze the conceiving of intelligent tutoring systems in the new learning infrastructure environment encompassing technologies like the Semantic Web and the Web Services.
Keywords:
DiSNeT (Distributed Semantic Network Tutor), e-learning, intelligent tutoring systems, Semantic Web, Web Services
Personal Agents in Distance Learning Systems
Book chapter_Marko RosićIntelligent Systems at the Service of Mankind, Volume I, Ubooks, Augsburg, 2004, Pages 271-281
Personal agents are proactive and adaptable intelligent agents that meet the demands of individuals. This kind of agents develops a user’s profile and, basing on that profile, performs tasks instead of the user. The usage of personal agents can be a high quality solution for solving the problem of heterogeneity of information systems users and for avoiding information overload, and hence offers itself as an appropriate paradigm for distant learning systems conceptualization and implementation. This paper describes one possible direction in the development of distance learning systems based on personal agents.
Keywords:
distance learning systems, personal agents, personal profiles, Web based intelligent tutoring systems
Intelligent Provision of Semantic Web Services in Educational Systems
Journal_Marko RosićLecture notes in computer science (0302-9743) 6768 (2011);670 - 679
The developed adaptation techniques in adaptive educational systems can be quite efficient;however, the systems’ learning resources are usually stored in closed environments. This seems insufficient considering that the present-day learning environment encompasses large volumes of data and services on the Web. Our research focuses on the development of open, dynamic and adaptive systems that provide universal access to knowledge. This paper presents a novel unifying architecture for e-learning systems that enables intelligent provision of semantic Web services pertinent to the field of e-learning. The SWEA architecture enables the complete automation of the learning process by using a set of different agent types that perform semantic matchmaking of the required services.
Keywords:
Semantic Web, semantic Web services, agent technology, e-learning systems
Leveraging the Semantic Web for Intelligent and Adaptive Education
Journal_Marko RosićLecture Notes in Computer Science (0302-9743) 6389 (2010);497 - 500
Knowledge is considered a foundation of all aspects of society and economy in general, and the need for fast, relevant and just-in-time learning is more important than ever. However, current educational systems face difficult challenges when it comes to interoperability, reusability, adaptivity, as well as knowledge sharing and management. This paper presents a novel approach to the development of educational systems based on the integration of Semantic Web technologies and the agent technology through an open e-learning architecture named SWEA. SWEA is to provide a distributed, dynamic and adaptive learning environment.
Keywords:
educational systems, Semantic Web, agent technology, adaptivity
TEx-Sys model in the Semantic Web and Web 2.0 environments
Journal_Marko RosićInternational Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning (IJTEL) (1753-5255) 1 (2009), 3;241 - 252
The paper presents an approach in solving problems pertinent to intelligent tutoring in the Semantic Web/Web 2.0 environments within the Tutor-Expert System (TEx-Sys) model, an evolving series of ITSs that our group has been developing for the last 15 years, following all web technology generations being used in this period. We describe the way in which contemplating the system as a multi-agent system functioning over the common information space enables solving the problems, additionally extending intelligent tutoring through the mobile, collaborative and social dimensions in the Semantic Web and Web 2.0 environments.
Keywords:
intelligent tutoring systems, ITS, semantic web, web 2.0, mobile learning, m-learning, agent-based systems, multi-agent systems, MAS
Extending Intelligent Tutoring Systems to Mobile Devices
Journal_Marko RosićLecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence, Subseries of Lecture Notes in Computer Science (0302-9743) 5177 (2008), 1;244 - 252
Developments in the wireless infrastructure have paved the way to a new e-learning paradigm named mobile learning (m-learning). M-learning systems aim to improve the quality of learning by providing mobile learners with an easy, contextualized and ubiquitous access to knowledge. Our discussion focuses specifically on mobile intelligent tutoring systems. Based on our previous work in the field of intelligent tutoring systems as well as agent technology we have outlined a multi-agent architecture for our intelligent tutoring system xTEx-Sys to be extended to mobile devices. Given the present absence of relevant literature and referent material we think that this paper provides software developers with some valuable guidelines.
Keywords:
agents, intelligent tutoring systems, m-learning, agent-based systems, mobile intelligent tutoring systems
Intelligent Tutoring in the Semantic Web and Web 2.0 Environments
Journal_Marko RosićCommunications in Computer and Information Science (1865-0929) 19 (2008);172 - 177
The paper presents an approach to solving problems pertinent to intelligent tutoring in the Semantic Web/Web 2.0 environments within the TEx-Sys (Tutor Expert System) model, an evolving series of ITSs our group has been developing for the last 15 years, following all Web technology generations being used in this period. We describe the way in which assigning intelligent tutoring tasks to personal agents enables solving the problems, additionally extending intelligent tutoring through the mobile, collaborative and social dimensions in the Semantic Web and Web 2.0 environments.
Keywords:
intelligent tutoring systems, Semantic Web, Web 2.0, mobile learning, agents
Agents in m-Learning Systems Based on Intelligent Tutoring
Journal_Marko RosićLecture Notes Computer Science (0302-9743) 4556 (2007);578-587
Intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs) represent a particular kind of e-learning systems, which base their operation on the simulation of a human teacher in the learning and teaching process. With the advent of the mobile computing paradigm, m-learning systems, as the “portable and personal” fashion of e-learning, paved the way to the introduction of mobile intelligent tutoring. Mobile intelligent tutoring systems (MITSs) are targeted to fit into a mobile learner’s daily routine without disrupting her/his other activities, but conversely enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of learning in the context of handheld terminals of restricted capabilities. As in the non-portable ITS counterparts, MITSs’ tasks are taken over by agents, making them agent-based systems. In this paper we discuss the mobile intelligent tutoring paradigm, as well as the agent types to be used in the m-learning environment along with the presently affordable agent infrastructure enabling MITS implementation, and corroborate this with the description of a mobile intelligent tutoring model we are developing.
Keywords:
agents, intelligent tutoring systems, m-learning, agent-based systems, mobile intelligent tutoring systems
Meaningfull learning in the Tutoring System for Programming
Conference paper_Marko RosićProceedings of the ITI 2008 / Luzar-Stiffler, Vesna;Hljuz-Dobrić, Vesna;Bekić, Zoran (ur.). - Zagreb: University of Zagreb, University Computing Centre, 2008. 483-488 (ISBN: 978-953-7138-12-7).
Tutoring systems for programming helps students to understand features of target programming language, and develops their general problem solving skill. Our system guides novices in learning syntax and semantics of programming language, problem decomposition, program design and testing. The notional machine defined by programming language and its verbal description of instruction actions helps students to understand semantics of instructions. Advancement through the course material controlled by computer teacher supports connection of new concepts to the present student’ s knowledge.
Keywords:
Programming teaching, Intelligent Tutoring Systems, TEx-Sys model
Analysis of an Agent-based m-Learning System
Conference paper_Marko RosićProceedings of the 14th IEEE Mediterranean Electrotechnical Conference - MELECON 2008 / Capolino, Gérard-André;Santucci, Jean-François (ur.). - Piscataway, NJ, USA: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., 2008. 1-6 (ISBN: 978-1-4244-1633-
M-learning, as the “portable and personal” fashion of e-learning, is enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of learning in the context of handheld terminals. Mobile intelligent tutoring systems are a particular kind of m-learning systems which base their work on simulation of a human teacher in the learning and teaching process. The systems should be able to provide intelligent support to the learners as well as adapt to different networks and mobile devices. Consequently this implies the use of an agent-based solution as architectural basis. The immediate problem is the lack of agent-based software development methodologies as well as common scenarios and templates for building multi-agent systems. This paper presents an analysis of an agent-based m-learning system. The purpose of the paper is to provide a roadmap for designers of m-learning systems based on agent technology.
Keywords:
agents, agent-based methodologies, agent-based systems, m-learning, mobile intelligent tutoring systems
Prototype Model of Tutoring System for Programming
Conference paper_Marko RosićITI 2006 Proceedings of the 28 International Conference on Inforamtion Technology Interface / Luzar-Stiffler, Vesna;Hljuz Dobric, Vesna (ur.). - Zagreb: University Computing Centre SRCE, University of Zagreb, 2006. 41-46.
Computerized tutor for programming learning helps students to understand program constructs, and syntax of specific programming language. Also, it helps to improve problem-solving skill, and ability to evaluate program solution. In this paper we propose a model concept and architecture prototype of Tutoring System for Programming. It is based on our age-long research and development of the Tutor– Expert System, a model of hypermedia authoring shell for building intelligent tutoring systems. Paper focuses on student-system dialogue, error classes in student’ s program and mechanism to detect correctness of student’ s program.
Keywords:
Programming teaching, Intelligent Tutoring Systems, TEx-Sys model
Multi-Agent Systems on Mobile Devices
Conference paper_Marko RosićProceedings of the International Conference CEEPUS Summer School 2006. Modern trends in Control / Hladký, Vratislav;Paralič, Ján;Vaščák, Ján (ur.). - Košice, Slovakia: EQUILIBRIA, s.r.o., 2006. 319-323 (ISBN: 80-969224-6-7).
Progress of wireless network technologies and mobile devices changes the way people access information. Mobile data services are reaching users worldwide at anytime. This environment represents a new challenge for application developers. While the software agent technology may solve many problems related to the mobile environment, the agents require support from the underlying infrastructure. In this paper we give an overview of the framework for implementing distributed agent-based systems which can seamlessly work and interoperate both in wired and wireless environment.
Keywords:
agents, agent-based systems, mobile systems
Intelligent Authoring Shell Based on Web Services
Conference paper_Marko RosićProceedings INES 2004 / 8th International Conference on Intelligent Engineering Systems / Nedevschi, Sergiu;Rudas, Imre J. (ur.). - Cluj-Napoca: Faculty of Automation and Computer Science, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 2004. 50-55.
E-learning took place between information and communication technology on one side and education on the other. Intelligent authoring shells are kind of e-learning systems capable for generating intelligent tutoring systems. Web services, as standard for describing, publishing, discovering and binding application interfaces, could raise e-learning systems into a higher level enabling communication between learning systems regardless of used application platforms. xTEx-Sys is intelligent authoring shell completely oriented on Web services. This paper describes functional requirements and architecture of xTEx-Sys system.
Keywords:
courseware, intelligent authoring shells, intelligent tutoring systems, Web services, xTEx-Sys
Distance Learning System based on Distributed Semantic Networks
Conference paper_Marko RosićThe IEEE Region 8 EUROCON 2003 Computer as a Tool, Proceedings, Volume B / Zajc, Baldomir;Tkalčič, Marko (ur.). - Piscataway, NJ, USA: IEEE Press, 2003. 26-29.
Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) are a generation of Computer Aided Instruction (CAI) systems enabling human teacher emulation in the process of learning and teaching. Distributed Semantic Networks Tutor (DiSNeT) is a distance learning system that enables intelligent tutoring within a distributed semantic networks environment. Distance learning and teaching in DiSNeT is based on user interplay, meaning the interplay of personal agents assigned to each user. DiSNeT users are involved in the process of learning and teaching by creating, transforming and using knowledge in the form of expert knowledge and courseware.
Keywords:
distance learning system, distributed semantic networks, personal agents, Semantic Web
Personal Agents in Distance Education Systems
Conference paper_Marko RosićProc. 6th International Conference on Intelligent Engineering Systems - INES 2002 / Lovrenčić, Alen;Rudas, Imre J. (ur.). - Zagreb: Faculty of Organization and Informatics, University of Zagreb, 2002. 351-355.
Personal agents are proactive and adaptable intelligent agents who meet the demands of individuals. That kind of agents develop a user’s profile and based on that profile perform tasks instead of the user. The personal agents’usage can be a high quality solution for solving the problem of information systems users’heterogeneity and for avoiding information overload. This paper describes one possible direction of the development of distance learning systems based on personal agents.
Keywords:
distance education, intelligent tutoring systems, personal agents
Application of Semantic Web and Personal Agents in Distance Education System
Conference paper_Marko RosićProc. 11th Mediterranean Electrotechnical Conference MELECON 2002 / Younis, Mohamed;Elkhamy, Said (ur.). - Piscataway, NJ, USA: IEEE Press, 2002. 542-546.
Personal agents are proactive and adaptable intelligent agents, which meet the demands of individuals. The use of personal agents will become fully prominent when the intelligent agents are provided with mechanisms for understanding the contents of document they access. Making it possible for the intelligent agents to understand semantics of the documents published on the Web is the central task in the development of the Semantic Web. Possibility of application of Semantic Web and the personal agents through distance education systems is elaborated in this paper. We also present adaptation of our distance education system DTEx-Sys (Distributed Tutor Expert System) for the use in environment of Semantic Web and personal agents.
Keywords:
Semantic Web, personal agents, distance education systems, Web oriented intelligent tutoring systems
New Generation of Intelligent Tutoring Shell Designed through Unified Modeling Language
Conference paper_Marko RosićProceedings of 5th IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Engineering Systems INES 2001 / Pátkai, Béla;Rudas, Imre J. (ur.). - Tampere, Finland: Tampere University of Technology, Finland, 2001. 235-240.
Intelligent tutoring systems are computer systems, which provide students with hypermedia learning environments adapted to their knowledge and learning capabilities. In the last five years we have designed and implemented for the learning and teaching process for the academy study an intelligent hypermedia authoring shell Tutor Expert System, which is an intelligent tutoring system generator. At the present moment we have designed the new generation of an intelligent tutoring shell through Unified Modeling Language (UML). In this paper we elaborate that new approach.
Keywords:
intelligent tutoring systems, modeling, UML, Tex-Sys, client-server model
Using Quizzes in an Intelligent Tutoring System
Conference paper_Marko RosićProceedings of the International Summer School of Automation, CEEPUS CZ_103 / Tovornik, Boris;Muškinja, Nenad (ur.). - Maribor, Slovenija: Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2001. 87-91.
Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) are a new generation of computer systems for support and improvement of learning and teaching. One of the most important functions of ITSs is student’s knowledge evaluation. Quiz is implementation of the test, in which student gets set of questions and attached answers, which can be correct or incorrect. Student solves the test by marking the answers he assumed correct. In this paper we present developed dynamically problem generators for Tutor Expert System (TEx-Sys) and Distributed Tutor – Expert System (DTEx-Sys), mechanism for presenting quizzes to the student as well as mechanisms for evaluating student’s knowledge.
Keywords:
intelligent tutoring systems, TEx-Sys, DTEx-Sys, student testing and evaluation, problem generators
Intelligent Tutoring Systems for Asynchronous Distance Education
Conference paper_Marko RosićProceedings of 10th Mediterranean Electrotechnical Conference MELECON 2000, Volume 1: Regional Communication and Information Technology / Economides, Costas;Pattichis, Constantinos S.;Maliotis, Gregor (ur.). - Piscataway, NJ, USA: Institute of Electrical
Asynchronous distance education delivery systems do not require real-time student-human teacher interaction thus enabling students to use tutoring resources anytime and anywhere. Among various possibilities for implementing asynchronous distance education delivery computer supported ones are nowadays the most popular. Categories thereof are intelligent tutoring systems that are used for supporting and improving the process of learning and teaching in arbitrary domain knowledge. In such education models the role of human teacher is replaced with a computer tutor basically consisting of a domain knowledge base as well as of both a student module with an appropriate student model and a teacher strategy guiding the learning and teaching process. The paper describes an authoring shell Distributed Tutor-Expert System (DTEx-Sys) developed for asynchronous distance education purposes, as a secondary knowledge source for teachers and their students in secondary and primary schools.
Keywords:
asynchronous distance education, authoring shells, intelligent tutoring systems
On Knowledge Representation in an Intelligent Tutoring System
Conference paper_Marko RosićProceedings of INES'2000 2000 IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Engineering Systems / Žlajpah, Leon;Rudas, Imre J. (ur.). - Ljubljana, Slovenija: Institute "Jožef Stefan", 2000. 381-384.
Intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) are a new generation of computer systems for support and improvement of learning and teaching. The usual definition of an ITS characterizes it as a system based on some kind of knowledge which includes domain, teachers’ and students’ knowledge. In the paper we elaborate on the representation of knowledge in an intelligent authoring shell which is an ITS generator system Tutor-Expert System. Within TEx-Sys knowledge is represented through semantic networks with frames and production rules. Nodes are used for representation of domain knowledge objects, while links show relations among them. Besides, TEx-Sys supports properties and frames, as well as property inheritance and frames containing a conclusion-making mechanism.
Keywords:
intelligent tutoring systems, domain knowledge, student knowledge representation
An Approach to Universal Interaction on the Case of Knowledge Transfer
Journal_Andrina Granić_Goran Zaharija_Saša MladenovićLecture Notes in Computer Science (0302-9743) 8010, Pages 604-613, 2013
This paper presents an approach to universal interaction which can be used for robot knowledge acquisition and transfer of acquired knowledge between different robots. There are similarities between human and machine learning techniques so learning by demonstration and conceptual learning were used as a basis for demonstrating our proposed type of interaction. Advantages and limitations of proposed interaction are described and discussed. Also, empirical study to test our approach was carried out and results are presented and analyzed.
Keywords:
learning ; artificial intelligence ; machine learning ; universal interaction ; knowledge transfer
Use of robots and tangible programming for informal computer science introduction
Conference paper_Goran Zaharija_Ivica Boljat_Saša MladenovićProcedia - Social and Behavioral SciencesElsevier Ltd , 2014
Children are exposed to technology, computer programs and games quite early but they only possess surface understanding about requirements for their realization. Children in 1st and 2nd grade (ages 7 – 9) are already familiar with basic computer science concepts, mainly through experience with more or less intelligent toys (robots). Taking mentioned into account introducing concepts of programming and behavior is required in early education. Results of the research based on specially made set of cards and robots used to encourage deep logical thinking and provide more immersive experience are presented in this paper.
Group Modeling in Social Learning Environments
Journal_Divna KrpanInternational Journal of Distance Education Technologies (IJDET) (1539-3100) 10, 2, Pages 39-56, 2012
Students’ collaboration while learning could provide better learning environments. Collaboration assumes social interactions which occur in student groups. Social theories emphasize positive influence of such interactions on learning. In order to create an appropriate learning environment that enables social interactions, it is important to carefully choose group members. In this paper, a group modeling process designed both to help students learn better and to face problems in introductory programming courses together is described. The group model is supported by graph theory and used in a popular social network environment. The authors conducted action research, analyzed students’ activities and the social environment, all of which provided us with helpful experiences for further research.
Keywords:
e-learning, group model, social learning, social network tool, Web 2.0
Technology acceptance model: a literature review from 1986 to 2013
CCJournal_Andrina Granić_Nikola MarangunićUniversal Access in the Information Society (1615-5289) 14 (2014), 1; 1-15
With the ever-increasing development of technology and its integration into users’ private and professional life, a decision regarding its acceptance or rejection still remains an open question. A respectable amount of work dealing with the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), from its first appearance more than a quarter of a century ago, clearly indicates a popularity of the Model in the field of technology acceptance. Originated in the psychological Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), TAM has evolved to become a key model in understanding predictors of human behaviour towards potential acceptance or rejection of the technology. The main aim of the paper is to provide an up-to-date, well researched resource of past and current references to TAM-related literature and to identify possible directions for future TAM research. The paper presents a comprehensive concept-centric literature review of the Technology Acceptance Model, from 1986 onwards. According to a designed methodology, 85 scientific publications have been selected and classified according to their aim and content into three categories: (i) TAM Literature Reviews, (ii) Development and Extension of TAM and (iii) Modification and Application of TAM. Despite a continuous progress in revealing new factors with significant influence on TAM’s core variables, there are still many unexplored areas of Model potential application that could contribute to its predictive validity. Consequently, four possible future directions for TAM research based on the conducted literature review and analysis are identified and presented.
Evaluating the Perceived and Estimated Quality in Use of Web 2.0 Applications
CCJournal_Andrina GranićJournal of systems and software (0164-1212) 86 (2013), 12; 3039-3059
Web 2.0 refers to a new generation of web applications where individuals are able to participate, collaborate, and share created artefacts. Despite the fact that Web 2.0 applications are widely used for both educational and professional purposes, a consolidated methodology for their evaluation is still not available. This paper presents and discusses the results of two empirical studies on the case of mind mapping and diagramming Web 2.0 applications. Both studies employed logging actual use method to measure the estimated quality in use, while the retrospective thinking aloud method and an online questionnaire were applied to assess the perceived quality in use. Achieved analytical results showed that the results of the estimated and the perceived quality in use match partially, which indicates that quality in use should be measured with both subjective and objective instruments. The work presented in this paper is the first step towards a comprehensive methodology for evaluating the quality in use of Web 2.0 applications. Consequently, the usage of the proposed quality in use model for other types of Web 2.0 applications as well as contexts of use needs to be investigated in order to draw generalizable conclusions.
User Sensitive Research in e-Learning : Exploring the Role of Individual User Characteristics
CCJournal_Andrina GranićUniversal Access in the Information Society (1615-5289) 10 (2011), 3; 307-318
The increasing need for active and accessible learning in the inclusive knowledge society drives the demand for e-learning that engages users much more effectively than ever before. In this context, it is crucial to conduct research that embraces innovation in user sensitive design, or else influential individual user differences may be overlooked. The objective of this paper is to explore the creation of successful e-learning systems that are able to increase users’ learning performance and enhance their personal learning experiences. The paper reports two converging and complimentary approaches, namely case studies and experimentation. First, case studies are used to explore the extent to which effective e-learning systems comply with eight specific factors. Of the eight, accessibility, individual differences and student modeling turn out to be the weakest points in current practice. Second, an empirical study investigates the influences of user individual user differences on users’ learning outcomes in an e-learning environment. The experiment found that individual differences in motivation to learn and expectations about e-learning significantly impacted users’ learning achievements. Third, based on these studies, improvements in research methodology are identified towards greater consideration of user sensitive research issues, thus enabling us to outline improved experimental procedures. Further experiment results should provide us with better insights into the arguments needed to carefully assess benefits of developing and involving a user model in an e-learning application. Consequently, evaluation and justification could now encompass both system performance as well as user performance.
Usability Testing and Expert Inspections Complemented by Educational Evaluation: A Case Study of an e-Learning Platform
CCJournal_Andrina GranićEducational technology & society (1436-4522) 14 (2011), 2; 107-123
This paper presents a comprehensive usability study conducted within the context of a Europe-wide project. The design of the evaluated e-learning platform is based on an innovative approach to the education of young Europeans by integrating into the curricula of a Europe-wide network of 14 schools different state-of-the-art technologies in e-learning. The evaluation methodology brings together end-user assessments and expert inspections, thus providing a detailed students’, teachers’ and experts’ feedback. User testing integrates six empirical methods into a laboratory-based test. Usability inspection ascertains usability problems by means of recognized heuristics and enables an “educational evaluation” of the platform by means of three sets of criteria. The paper aims to present the effectiveness of the engaged evaluation methods as applied to e-learning platforms. It offers implications from the empirical findings of the user-based methods together with a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the employed inspection methods. Special attention is given to the aspect of educational evaluation. The conducted critical usability examination of a large-scale e-learning system across several countries in Europe revealed which of the chosen assessment methods should be combined to provide constructive and valuable improvement suggestions. A more significant contribution of this research is that the used evaluation approach proved successful, providing some general findings and know-how from the experience and could be reused by other researches because of its thorough structure. As there are relatively few existing accounts of usability assessment in the e-learning context, this paper adds to the body of knowledge.
Design, Implementation and Validation of a Europe-wide Pedagogical Framework for e-Learning
CCJournal_Andrina GranićComputers & education (0360-1315) 53 (2009), 4; 1052-1081
Web portal acts as a single point of access to information and services relevant to person’s work or personal interests. Market research findings related to Croatian web context report that nowadays horizontal information portals are the most visited sites. Whether they reach their aim of facilitating users’ access to diverse resources and to which extent, remains an open question. In this paper, this issue is addressed by two case studies conducted for summative assessment of Croatian horizontal information portals. Approach assembled expert inspection and user assessment that integrated a number of empirical methods into laboratory-based testing. We report that the results of inspection method were not in agreement with the ones obtained from user test methods. Although differences of this kind have been reported elsewhere, there were not as evident as in these studies. What is very interesting and represents a main contribution of the research is that in both rounds of evaluations this outcome is very sharp and clear. This suggests that we should conduct both kinds of assessments as they seem to be complementary. Evaluation provided some general findings and know-how from the experience and we believe that many readers, both practitioners and researchers, can learn from it.
e-Learning process management and the e-learning performance : Results of a European empirical study
CCJournal_Andrina GranićComputers & education (0360-1315) 55 (2010), 2; 554-565
The aim of this paper was to design and assess a comprehensive model for managing the e-learning process and to define the relationship between systematic implementation of the model, outcomes of certain e-learning aspects and subject of e-learning. The validation of the model was performed by using two questionnaires sent via e-mail to teachers and field experts from the chosen sample of 14 European schools participating in an EU-funded project. Research results imply the existence of a clear link between planning and controlling of the e-learning process and its learning outcomes. On the other hand, no empirical relationship between the e-learning outcomes and the subject of learning has been established. It is believed that the model and its practical implications can be used by institutions engaged in e-learning, or as a process model for introducing e-learning related activities.
Exploring the Usability of Web Portals : a Croatian Case Study
CCJournal_Andrina Granić_Nikola MarangunićInternational journal of information management (0268-4012) 31 (2011), 4; 339-349
Web portal acts as a single point of access to information and services relevant to person’s work or personal interests. Market research findings related to Croatian web context report that nowadays horizontal information portals are the most visited sites. Whether they reach their aim of facilitating users’ access to diverse resources and to which extent, remains an open question. In this paper, this issue is addressed by two case studies conducted for summative assessment of Croatian horizontal information portals. Approach assembled expert inspection and user assessment that integrated a number of empirical methods into laboratory-based testing. We report that the results of inspection method were not in agreement with the ones obtained from user test methods. Although differences of this kind have been reported elsewhere, there were not as evident as in these studies. What is very interesting and represents a main contribution of the research is that in both rounds of evaluations this outcome is very sharp and clear. This suggests that we should conduct both kinds of assessments as they seem to be complementary. Evaluation provided some general findings and know-how from the experience and we believe that many readers, both practitioners and researchers, can learn from it.
Virtual Learning Environment
Book chapter_Saša MladenovićIntelligent Tutoring Systems in E-Learning Environments: Design, Implementation and Evaluation, Information Science Reference, IGI Global, Hershey, New York, 2010
This paper describes a mathematical model of virtual learning environment considering both technology and users. Recognized interested users are teachers, parents and students. Interaction between interested parties in elementary and high school education process is presented by using complexity science. The idea is to model and create educational virtual environment that would attract engagement of all parties. Initial engagement would be motivated with the e-grade book. After initial involvement of seeing grades, the users would be motivated for further involvement using forums, blogs, and chats to interact with each other in one place. This would lead to creating groups of students or parents with similar problems and interests. For example, why is mathematics so hard to some students, and for other not? The created virtual environment will enable teachers to additionally inform parents of existing e-learning materials. Virtual environment is modelled as multilevel, multidimensional educational environment, considering communication of all participants, and every aspect of technology that could improve that communication.
Cognitive Maps in Qualitative Modeling Techniques
Journal_Saša MladenovićInternational Journal of Advancements in Computing Technology (2233-9337) 6 (2014), 3; 120-131
This paper presents knowledge representation and formalization in different qualitative modeling techniques. Qualitative reasoning, bond graphs, system dynamics, Petri nets and fuzzy cognitive maps are described and compared. They have also been compared with knowledge representation using semantic networks. The conclusion drawn in the paper is that all modeling approaches, observed in the paper, at some phase of a model development use some kind of a cognitive map presented with a directed graph. A cognitive map represents a system by identifying main concepts and relations among concepts them. There are a lot of different cognitive map types representing different kinds of knowledge. Some maps, like fuzzy cognitive maps and causal loops in system dynamics, include knowledge about cause-effect relationships among concepts. Other maps, like envisionment in qualitative reasoning and Petri nets, include knowledge about possible transitions among concepts representing system states variables. Use of cognitive maps in qualitative modeling techniques has been expected because humans use mental cognitive maps to deal with complexity in the surrounding world. That is probably the reason why cognitive maps are widely used in different areas of modeling and simulation to formally represent different type of knowledge.
Using Games to Help Novices Embrace Programming: From Elementary to Higher Education
CC_Divna Krpan_Saša MladenovićInternational journal of engineering education, Volume 32, Issue 1, 2016, 521-531.
Learning programming is difficult and it presents a great challenge for both students and teachers. The goal is to increase success rate for novice programmers. Students lose their confidence and motivation when they encounter difficulties such as programming environment, language syntax knowledge, problem understanding and debugging. Programming languages are artificial and require high level of abstraction, which is not easy for young students. It is also common knowledge that many adults have more difficulties with learning programming than children. In order to make the difference, we introduced game making course for university undergraduate novice programmers and examined the effect of making games on attitude and motivation for elementary and high school children as well. The objective of using games in this context is to make students learn something serious and difficult like programming while doing something fun like making and playing games. Teachers with a strong understanding of the subject matter they teach are more likely to produce successful students.
Introducing basic programming concepts to elementary school children
Journal_Goran Zaharija_Ivica Boljat_Saša MladenovićProcedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences (1877-0428) 106 (2013); 1576-1584
This paper discusses an approach to teaching programming that would allow elementary school children to adopt basic problem solving concepts. Adopting those concepts should help them in their further education, not only in programming but also in other areas that require logical thinking and problem solving. Elementary school children are too young for traditional approach to teaching programming so in this paper we describe an approach appropriate for their age designed to avoid problems associated with young children such as short attention span. Preliminary experiment with 30 elementary school children was conducted and details and results are presented in this paper.
Keywords:
education, primary school, programming, robot, simulation, basic concepts
Fraud Detection in Interoperable Information Systems
Journal_Marko Rosić_Saša MladenovićComputer Technology and Application (1934-7332) 2 (2011), 7; 530-538
Interoperability is broad and complex subject being the most critical issue facing businesses that need to access information from multiple systems. The concept of unwanted interoperability can result in fault decision making based on counterfeit data produced by hostile interoperable system. Research in this paper is based on highway toll collection system analysis as representative of hierarchical heterogeneous systems where integration becomes more important than development due to the short time in disposal between the contract signature and implementation. Unwanted interoperability detect mechanism is presented using information collected from different information system levels.
Keywords:
Unwanted interoperability, hierarchical system, toll collection, fraud