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Learning Objects and E-Learning: an Informing Science Perspective

This papers provides an overview of e-learning from its fundamentals (what is knowledge, what is teaching) through how e-learning is being implemented using campus-wide Learning Content Management Systems (LCMS). While others, such as MacDonald et al. (2005), detail the transformation of education in light of changing technologies, this paper attempts from a variety of perspectives to make sense of the transformation. E-learning can be difficult to understand because different authors use the term differently. Still, beyond these apparent differences lies agreement on basics that this paper explores. E-learning can best be understood in the broader context of using technology to meet society’s needs for learning. It also requires us to understand that adult learners have psychological needs that e-learning must address. The Informing Science framework helps us understand that teaching in higher education involves a cast of roles that might best be performed by different specialists. One of the most important aspects of e-learning are Learning Objects and the various software tools that aid in their development, storage, use in teaching, and administration. This is because elearning is often delivered using specialized software that assists teachers to create their courses, the student to use coursework, and the administrator to make previously developed coursework available for re-use. Learning Objects are the raw material of such systems. E-learning can be delivered by a sole teacher or as part of a campus-wide effort. Campus-wide LCMSs make it possible for technologists, content specialists, instructional specialists, and students to work seamlessly to create and refine e-learning.

Intelligent Support for Decision-Making: A Conceptual Model

This article presents a model of intelligent decision support using combined system that consists of two parts. The first part is responsible for classification of incoming cases into appropriate decision group, the second one realizes the inferring process in a deductive way. As an exemplary decisional situation we have considered situations when an unemployed persons claim for benefits.

Distance education as a way to meet the challenges of the XXI century

Fast economic progress generates for societies the necessity of quickly learning new skills and, in consequence, the need for permanent education. The paper deals with some challenges in education as a result of globalization in todays world. It presents the organization of distance education, knowledge delivery problems, as well as the advantages, especially for countries such as those in Central Europe, where the need for new, well-educated workers is still growing.

The cyber security in SMEs in Poland and Tanzania

This paper analyses the security of the ICT model based on Cloud Computing (CC) in SMEs in Tanzania and Poland. Small and medium enterprise are very significant in the economy of any country. With the fast growth of technology, SMEs significance in all countries have even become more important. Through the rapid spread of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and ever decreasing prices for communication, markets in different parts of the world have become more integrated and helping the SMEs to be more effective and efficient. The research described is based on the security of these ICT models adopted by the SMEs. The methods used in this paper were mainly observation and literature study on the role of ICT models based on Cloud Computing in SMEs. The main method was experiment concerning verification of the secured model ICT in reality. The papers end with conclusions on findings obtained during this research.

Validation of website accessibility, a case study of DIMBI project

The World Wide Web network, with its ubiquitous nature, a multitude of functionalities, and a broad range of benefits seems to require proper care and maintenance in support of its continued development. This responsibility lies largely in the hands of web designers and those involved in the administration of individual pages as fundamental units of the entire virtual reality of the WWW system. It is therefore advisable for any designer to emphasize not only the high quality of the distributed content but also its proper presentation and its adjustment to the technical standards of the profession.

Business Intelligence as a Modern IT Supporting Management of Local Government Units in Poland

The paper has been devoted to Business Intelligence seen as a modern information technology that can support local government units. Ensuring order and consistency in the functioning of local government units communes, districts and provinces is now one of the most important problems the authorities of each agglomeration are facing. Attempts to achieve it are determined by the current investment decisions and already done upgrades. That is why it is so important to make commune transformation including the use of information technology and communication systems operating in harmony and in favor of the environment, and sustainable city development based on knowledge. The paper, aiming to show the necessity to further explore the Business Intelligence usefulness and efficiency, whereas this issue is still not appreciated enough, consists of six parts. After a short introduction into the subject, knowledge seen as a most valuable asset in modern economy has been characterized. Part three consists of a presentation of local government units in Poland and the challenges they face in information systems. Part four consists of BI characteristics in the management of local government units. Part five has been devoted to some examples concerning BI and ERP in decision-making process. Brief conclusions end the paper.

Cloud Computing in Government Units

The paper contains a brief description of activities concerning the problem of Cloud Computing (CC) in government units in Poland, especially from the perspective of models of Software as a Service (SaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Significant aspects of CC have been discussed, e.g.: using CC systems in Poland at present and legal aspects and limitations to the use of CC. It is assumed that CC may be useful to reduce the cost of developing and maintaining IT systems in public institutions. The research described is based on an extensive review to identify relevant studies published in literature recently. Examples of solutions resulting from them are characterized, and analyzed. It may be observed that, despite some advantages, CC systems are not in common use. Also, security issues in CC are an important element, taken into account by the authors of this paper. The main methods used in this study were interviews, observation, literature study on CC but the most important part of the article is a description of an analysis of CC systems available in Poland in public institutions and experiment conducted to test selected IaaS solutions. In addition, the work contains assumptions regarding further development of the models of CC in Poland and trends in this field especially in Business Intelligence (BI) in a CC context.

The ERP system as a basic system for business analyses

The paper contains a brief description of activities concerning the problem of implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems in selected water parks in Poland. Examples of existing solutions are characterized and analyzed. The most important part of the article is a description of the research of ERP systems fully integrated with hardware components able to manage the complete daily operation of a water park. In addition, the work contains assumptions regarding the further development of models of ERP systems in Poland. However, to deliver managerial information to support business decisions taken by managers, apart from the information provided by the ERP system, it is necessary to analyze selected business information from other systems implemented in a given water park. Such tasks can be performed by the Business Intelligence (BI) system. This issue is also discussed within the paper. The paper ends with short conclusions.

Innovation Transfer Management in the Medical Sector

This paper is devoted to the transfer of the innovative knowledge from those who possess it to those who could implement it into production (first of all the small and medium size enterprises SME) and then deliver these innovative products into hospitals/clinics. It consists of 6 parts. After a brief introduction into the issue of the paper, we present concepts of information society and knowledge based economy, then we underline the role and importance of innovative knowledge diffusion within the medical sector. Part three has been devoted to the types of innovations. In part four we discuss the structure of innovation transfer management from medical staff to SME. The short conclusions end the paper.