• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.71-84
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• 2024

This paper presents a critical analysis of the current application of big data in higher education and how Learning Analytics (LA), and Educational Data Mining (EDM) are helping to shape learning in higher education institutions that have applied the concepts successfully. An extensive literature review of Learning Analytics, Educational Data Mining, Learning Management Systems, Informal Learning and Online Social Networks are presented to understand their usage and trends in higher education pedagogy taking advantage of 21st century educational technologies and platforms. The roles of and benefits of these technologies in teaching and learning are critically examined. Imperatively, this study provides vital information for education stakeholders on the significance of establishing a teaching and learning agenda that takes advantage of today's educational relevant technologies to promote teaching and learning while also acknowledging the difficulties of 21st-century learning. Aside from the roles and benefits of these technologies, the review highlights major challenges and research needs apparent in the use and application of these technologies. It appears that there is lack of research understanding in the challenges and utilization of data effectively for learning analytics, despite the massive educational data generated by high institutions. Also due to the growing importance of LA, there appears to be a serious lack of academic research that explore the application and impact of LA in high institution, especially in the context of informal online social network learning. In addition, high institution managers seem not to understand the emerging trends of LA which could be useful in the running of higher education. Though LA is viewed as a complex and expensive technology that will culturally change the future of high institution, the question that comes to mind is whether the use of LA in relation to informal learning in online social network is really what is expected? A study to analyze and evaluate the elements that influence high usage of OSN is also needed in the African context. It is high time African Universities paid attention to the application and use of these technologies to create a simplified learning approach occasioned by the use of these technologies.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.327-337
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• 2023

Objectives: Considering the importance of social determinants of health (SDHs) in promoting the health of residents of informal settlements and their diversity, abundance, and breadth, this study aimed to identify, measure, and rank SDHs for health promotion interventions targeting informal settlement residents in a metropolitan area in Iran. Methods: Using a hybrid method, this study was conducted in 3 phases from 2019 to 2020. SDHs were identified by reviewing studies and using the Delphi method. To examine the SDHs among informal settlement residents, a cross-sectional analysis was conducted using researcher-made questionnaires. Multilayer perceptron analysis using an artificial neural network was used to rank the SDHs by priority. Results: Of the 96 determinants identified in the first phase of the study, 43 were examined, and 15 were identified as high-priority SDHs for use in health-promotion interventions for informal settlement residents in the study area. They included individual health literacy, nutrition, occupational factors, housing-related factors, and access to public resources. Conclusions: Since identifying and addressing SDHs could improve health justice and mitigate the poor health status of settlement residents, ranking these determinants by priority using artificial intelligence will enable policymakers to improve the health of settlement residents through interventions targeting the most important SDHs.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.401-414
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of Korean older adults' use of Social Network Service (SNS) and text messages with frequency of contact with 1) non-coresident adult children, 2) siblings and relatives, or 3) friends, neighbors, and acquaintances. Data were drawn from the 2017 Survey of Living Conditions and Welfare Needs of Korean Older Persons 65+ (N=8,392), and older adults were categorized into 4 groups depending on their familiarity with use of SNS and text messages. Ordinary Least Squares regression models were estimated for analyses. Results revealed that older users of both types of communication media reported frequent exchanges of calls, text messages, etc. with both family and friends. However, using SNS and text messages was consistently related to more face-to-face contact with non-family members. To conclude, older adults' familiarity with communication media could be key to exchanges of emotional and instrumental support with informal social network members and quality of life in the community. Overall, our results highlight the importance of information communication education targeting older adults for continued involvement with their informal social network members.

• Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.242-262
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• 2015

The relationship between geographical proximity and academics' formal and informal knowledge-transfer activities in the network is analyzed with a mixed research method. With social network analysis as a basis, we have explored the networks between academics and firms in the 16 regions of South Korea. The result shows Seoul and Gyunggi are identified as central nodes, meaning that the academics in other regions tend to collaborate with firms in these regions. An econometric analysis is performed to confirm the localization of knowledge-transfer activities. The intensity of formal channels measured by the number of academic papers is negatively, but significantly associated with the geographical proximity. However, we have not found any significant relationship between the formality of the channels and geographical proximity. Possibly, the regional innovation systems in South Korea are neither big enough nor strong enough to show a localization effect.

• The Journal of Information Systems
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.147-169
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• 2011

In organizations, evaluating the competency of individuals through the position or status has many limitations. To overcome these limitations, this study analyzes the organization's informal network using social network analysis. We measured out-degree centrality and in-degree centrality by making use of social network analysis technique. Out-degree centrality is interpreted as 'madangbal' in that actors actively help other people, while in-degree centrality is interpreted as 'prestige' in that other people want to have a relationship with. This research examines the effects of individual's 'prestige' and 'madangbal' in the instrumental network and communication network on IT competency. We carried out empirical analysis using social network data that were collected from undergraduate students. The result reveals that relationship between IT competency and centrality in the instrumental network is statistically significant, while relationship between IT competency and centrality in the communication network does not show significant results.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.13-24
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• 2012

Unlike the traditional belief that knowledge flows along the formal reporting procedures, recent social network research has reported the importance of informal social networks which may play a critical role as the real knowledge conduits. In fact, as a complementary approach of utilizing knowledge management systems (KMSs), many firms have focused on managing informal knowledge flow through which to acquire and transfer valuable knowledge in a fast and effective way. In a case of global companies that have newly developed foreign branches or subsidiaries, due to cultural or institutional differences and lack of understanding of knowledge management and its benefits, they often have difficulties in activating knowledge sharing in local branches. In these situations, diagnosing organizational knowledge flow through SNA can be a first step to solve the problems. Therefore, in this paper, I report on the result of case study on a foreign branch of "A" global company by identifying organizational knowledge paths. Based on the results of the diagnosis, some implications and insights for building knowledge management (KM) strategy specified for a newly developed foreign branch will also be discussed.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.1-18
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• 2012

This article describes how attributes of social network contribute to enhance innovativeness of corporation which is considered to be one of the competitive factors in this global market. The study especially focused on employees' formal and informal communication that is expected to play a mediating role between the factors. 211 employees were randomly selected to participate in an online survey. The result has shown that the static correlation exists between social network, communication, and innovativeness. Closeness of social network was the only influencing factor on communication and innovativeness, and had a partial mediated effect between social network and innovativeness. Based on the suggested contribution for HRD intervention, various communication channels should be developed and supported in order to enhance innovation among social networks in organizations.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.713-726
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• 2004

This paper aims to investigate the characteristics of innovation activities and informal networks of venture companies in Daegu region. The most important knowledge source of them for innovation is in house. The next are customers, competitors, and public supporters. And it was investigated that regional venture companies have participated in 1-5 informal network organizations. They primarily achieve such knowledges as, technologies, new business opportunities, and marketing information, through participation in informal networks. The reasons why they have taken part in informal networks are to get new informations and acquire new business opportunities. Particularly The informal networks between ventures companies and other regional economic actors have helped the regional venture companies to obtain more economic performance and to establish social capital, such as faith, with other economic actors.

• Educational Technology International
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.39-56
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• 2008

This paper investigates the relationship between the structural characteristics of a virtual CoP and the measures of social network analysis. Several implications were developed by the results of the study First, the study, based on reviews of both the CoP and SNA literature, identified specific structural measures of SNA; connectedness, geodesic distance, and density. Second, the formal CoP investigated in this study showed greater development that the classic, informal CoP in terms of the structural dimension of a CoP. The results show that those measures of social network analysis provide an illuminating way to better understand the structural properties of CoP's. Implications of the study with some suggestions for future research are provided.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.315-332
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relative effects of human capital and social capital on the economic well-being of late middle-aged Koreans. The data from the first wave of KLoSA (Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging) aged 50-64 were used (n=4,040). The major findings were as follows: First, human capital and social capital are both resources that can contribute to increasing the economic well-being of the middle-aged. Second, the relative contribution of human capital to the economic well-being of the middle-aged varied by the level of social capital, including formal network and informal network. Third, the relative contribution of social capital to the economic well-being of the middle-aged varied by the level of human capital, including employment type and educational attainment. Based on empirical results, the implications for social investment in human capital and social capital were provided.