Helen Donelan

Social media for professional development and networking opportunities in academia

The research reported on in this article explores the use of social media for work-related or professional purposes. In particular, it focuses on the perceptions and use of social media by academics in the UK. The purpose of the research was to explore the potential social media has to facilitate the changing landscape of higher education and support the individual academic in their role. Of particular interest is how specific social media tools are being used to enhance networking opportunities and contribute to career progression. The use of social media was explored in detail through interviews and a survey. Typical activities that are currently being undertaken were identified and user group profiles developed that articulate different levels of engagement with these tools and the motivations that each group of users have for using social media. The study found that, with increasing levels of activity, the number of motivations for using social media increase, as does the perceived number of successful outcomes, including contributions towards career progression. The main barriers to using social media were identified as a lack of time and skills to undertake these activities, as well as a negative perception of social media. Recommendations for increasing participation are to provide practical training, including the sharing of good practice, and to initiate dialogues within institutions regarding the potential career progression opportunities that social media may afford.

Patterns of online networking for women’s career development

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how women working in science, engineering and technology use online networking, for career and professional development purposes.Design/methodology/approach – A combined qualitative and quantitative approach is taken, using interviews for the first phase of the research and online surveys for the second. The findings are discussed and presented with reference to theories on career development and in the context of recent work on womens networks and online social networking.Findings – The paper defines a typology of online networks and identifies the motives women have for engaging with the different types. The data imply that women are successfully using online networks to find support, advice and collaboration from women working in similar environments. However, the data only identify a few examples where the use of online networks has led to a specific new job opportunity.Research limitations/implications – The findings are limited by the samples us...

Large families of ternary sequences with aperiodic zero correlation zones for a MC-DS-CDMA system

A new method for generating families of ternary spreading sequences is presented. The sequences have aperiodic zero correlation zones and large families are created for a specific sequence length. The sequences are proposed as spreading sequences to provide high capacity and cancel multipath and multiple access interference (MAI) in a single carrier (SC) or multicarrier (MC) direct-sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) system. A multicarrier DS-CDMA system is simulated that employs the new sequences as spreading sequences in a multipath channel. Bit error rates (BER) and frame error rates (FER) for a range of E/sub b//N/sub 0/ values are presented and it is demonstrated that the proposed sequences improve the BER and FER performance when used in place of masked Walsh codes for the frequency selective fading channel evaluated, when a single correlator receiver is used on each sub-carrier.

A New Method for Generating Sets of Orthogonal Sequences for a Synchronous CDMA System

A new, systematic method of generating orthogonal sets of sequences with good correlation properties is described. An orthogonal set is defined as a collection of n sequences, of length n chips, that are mutually orthogonal. Although there are many possible combinations of sequences forming orthogonal sets of a specified length, few have been identified with a structured method of generation such as Walsh codes and orthogonal Gold codes. The application of the new sequences discussed is orthogonal spreading codes in a synchronous code division multiple access (CDMA) system and their correlation properties are considered accordingly.

Virtualization for computer networking skills development in a distance learning environment

Virtualization is a core technology for teaching networking and operating system skills. In a distance learning, or e‐learning, environment, the use of virtualization presents different challenges—both technical and pedagogical. In the initiative presented here, distance learning students studying a module on computer networking and server technologies were required to install virtual machines on their own computers in order to carry out practical labs originally designed for a classroom environment. This research explores and evaluates the strategies developed to support students via a survey of students completing the module. The findings show that the majority of students found it a valuable learning experience and developed practical skills relevant to computer networking careers. Recommendations are made to inform the future development of courses considering the use of virtual machines installed on students’ machines to enable practical labs to be undertaken at a distance.