Abstract This paper present a case study report on the findings of an empirical study conducted at the Central University College (CUC) in Ghana on the use of “OUTSTART” mobile learning (m-learning) application for authoring m-learning content. The system use the familiar Microsoft power point with an added features which comes with authoring tools which is simple to use by teachers... This paper present a case study report on the findings of an empirical study conducted at the Central University College (CUC) in Ghana on the use of “OUTSTART” mobile learning (m-learning) application for authoring m-learning content. The system use the familiar Microsoft power point with an added features which comes with authoring tools which is simple to use by teachers for creating m-learning content. The main objective of the study is to make m-learning content authoring very easy and simple for the teacher with easy to use tools so as to boost their stake in the use of mobile learning platform (MLP) for teaching and learning anywhere anytime. The result shows that the success of m-learning implementation and acceptance is partly dependent on the user friendliness, simplicity and easy to use applications by teachers. In all 90 lecturers participated in the project. The study describes and explains the implications of the findings, which have significant importance in relation to the issues of developing user centered mobile learning tools. Read More Read Less

Abstract This paper focuses on measuring information overload within the private university system since management of private universities depends mainly on Heads of Departments (HODs) unlike public universities where there are clear defined structures for proper management of various departments. The method uses time as a measurement unit and describes five information load situations that may be encountered by Heads of... This paper focuses on measuring information overload within the private university system since management of private universities depends mainly on Heads of Departments (HODs) unlike public universities where there are clear defined structures for proper management of various departments. The method uses time as a measurement unit and describes five information load situations that may be encountered by Heads of Departments. These situations are identified in an information load matrix (ILM) representing key principals in private universities and distinct stages of a semester. Data for the ILM was gathered using a questionnaire, which was sent to one hundred and fifty (150) Heads of Departments of private universities. A weight scale is introduced for each situation in order to calculate information load points (ILP). A graphical representation of the ILP suggests that there are three distinct information load areas in a semester. Area 1 is an information overload free area. In area 2, information overload is normally at an acceptable level, but sometimes the circumstances in this area can easily rise to area 3, where information overload is at its highest. The method sets a numeric norm on identifying the degree of information overload. Some implications of the results and potential applications of the method are discussed, and suggestions, based on time management principles, for managing information overload are made. Read More Read Less

Abstract Thermodynamics, a concept thought of two centuries ago, refurbished and elaborated since, assimilated and transposed to distinctive disciplines stretching from neuroscience to economics but still lacks in-depth exploration of its impact on social networks. The aim is to model thermodynamic principles after social networks, to understand how different variables of the system such as entropy, temperature, energy and pressure steers... Thermodynamics, a concept thought of two centuries ago, refurbished and elaborated since, assimilated and transposed to distinctive disciplines stretching from neuroscience to economics but still lacks in-depth exploration of its impact on social networks. The aim is to model thermodynamic principles after social networks, to understand how different variables of the system such as entropy, temperature, energy and pressure steers the communication between agents at a broader sense. These innate synthetic variables of social thermodynamics can expose; varied and difficult to analyze dynamics in a network with higher order of approximation. Quantifying these variables in this context has promising applications in business intelligence, information diffusion and network analysis. This paper casts light on distinct attempts to measure social entropy and other social thermodynamic variables, while presenting methods to construct various thermodynamic processes to study these variables in a restricted environment. We further discuss our observations, findings and challenges in modeling social network as a thermal gaseous system. The paper focus on how these variables behave and what the standard relations signify in social context, more detailed analysis of Isochoric and Adiabatic process equivalents are studied while addressing roadblocks encountered by theorists in the past. Our models are experimented with sample sets collected over a period of 6 months from an enterprise social network for 250K users with over 860M connections. We aim to extend the scope of social interaction analysis beyond today’s limitation, thus benefiting from many wide-established principles in thermodynamics. Read More Read Less

Abstract In order to make software assessment focused on object oriented principals, we propose a classification based on ISO model using properties of the object-oriented design such as: abstraction, inheritance, encapsulation etc. In this paper we present some quality models, then we make the relationship between sub-characteristics of ISO model and properties of both the object-oriented design and the quality. At... In order to make software assessment focused on object oriented principals, we propose a classification based on ISO model using properties of the object-oriented design such as: abstraction, inheritance, encapsulation etc. In this paper we present some quality models, then we make the relationship between sub-characteristics of ISO model and properties of both the object-oriented design and the quality. At the end we present a classification for the most popular oriented object metrics based on design and quality properties. Read More Read Less