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Recently, researchers have proposed to leverage technology-supported data (log files) to investigate temporal and sequential patterns of interaction behaviors in learning processes. There are two major challenges to be addressed: clarifying the positioning of interaction levels and identifying the evolution of the interaction action patterns in learning processes, particularly for students with differing achievements. This paper explores the use of sequential pattern mining to address the evolution of student action patterns in Massive Private Online Courses (MPOCs) and compare these patterns between different achievement groups. The study was conducted with first-year undergraduate computer science students enrolled in a computer application course at a traditional open university in one of the Chinese provinces (N = 1375). The results showed the development of various action patterns in each phase of the course and the distinct action patterns for high-achieving and low-achieving students. The findings of study provide a new perspective for instructors and students to understand interaction patterns at the fine-grained level, and can help instructional designers develop learner-cantered courses and platforms to improve online learning.

Microteaching techniques have been used for teacher training since the mid 1960s. Despite its usefulness, as affirmed by pre-service teachers, in-service teachers, and graduate teaching assistants (GTAs), there are numerous criticisms on the shortcomings of microteaching activities. Specifically, it (a) oversimplifies the classroom learning and teaching nature, (b) encourages skill modelling on one or only few technique(s) demonstrated during training sessions, (c) involves costly human and technical resources for implementation, and most critically, (d) fails to provide instant and reusable feedback to improve classroom teaching skills. Addressing the inadequacies of traditional microteaching practice, this paper proposes an Extreme-Teaching-2 (XT[superscript 2]) framework based on the computer science literature. Originating from Extreme Programming (XP) methodology, XT[superscript 2] preserves the agility on teaching-feedback-teaching cycles with heavy peer and instructor involvement. With strong technological support, XT[superscript 2] allows specific, personalized, incremental, and constructive formative feedback to be given by peers and instructors during and after two classroom observation sessions. Through the XT[superscript 2] framework, teacher candidates are able to reuse feedback instantly (feedforward) and rapidly improve (a) confidence in identifying their weaknesses and strengths, (b) and their facilitating skills, while the administrative workload on instructors is significantly reduced.

Purpose: The declining participation of young American females in computing fields negatively impacts diversity in the computing-related workforce. While computing in China is also dominated by men, career prospects are positively perceived by Chinese women. The purpose of this paper is to investigate both countries' female gender perceptions toward computing and two influencing psychological factors, computer anxiety and computer self-efficacy (CSE). To better understand American females' perception toward computing, these factors are compared to those of Chinese women. Design/methodology/approach: The paper tried to understand gender perception toward computing, which is believed to be one factor influencing female participation in computing. The paper examined 137 American female students and 145 Chinese female students. All students were non-IT-related business majors. The survey contained the following scales: gender typing scale, CSE scale, and computer anxiety rating scale. The paper used the model comparison technique in structural equation modeling to develop the proposed model demonstrating the relationship among the three psychological factors. Findings: It is found that American females perceive that computing is for females, but Chinese females perceive that computing is for both males and females. Computer anxiety has a direct influence on gender perception toward computing for both groups. CSE, however, does not have a direct influence on gender perception toward computing for both groups. CSE also has a direct relationship with computer anxiety. The extent to which each factor influences other factors is different between both groups and this reveals interesting implications. Social implications: The authors believe that to properly encourage female participation in computing, it is important to emphasize two areas in education. In order to lower computer anxiety and increase CSE, educators need to promote basic computer skills and provide a fundamental knowledge of computers and information technologies. A more positive perception by females could be created through a stronger awareness of female roles in computing. Classroom discussions including more examples of positive female role models in computing is necessary. Female professionals need to support each other and encourage young females to pursue computing-related education fields and careers. Originality/value: There is an important need to understand the decline of American female participation in computing. Few researchers have investigated gender perception toward computing with computer anxiety and CSE. Furthermore, a model explaining the relationship of the three factors previously had not been presented. This paper not only investigated how computer anxiety and CSE influences gender perception toward computing, but also compared these results between American and Chinese females. A suggested guideline to improve gender perception of American females was developed. (Contains 1 note, 6 tables, and 2 figures.)

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to consider the under-representation of women in computing, information technology (IT) and information systems in most Western countries. This under-representation can only be detrimental to society. Design/methodology/approach: The authors discuss recently published studies on the under-representation of women in this field, and the lack of career progression for women, particularly in positions of senior responsibility. The results of a survey conducted in the UK, Greece, Malaysia and China are presented, and similarities as well as differences are identified. Malaysia and China are included as the under-representation is much less in the Asian countries. Findings: The authors identify the main reasons for the under-representation and lack of career progression, and study the effect of national culture on the formation of strategy and of practice in the four countries. Research limitations/implications: The survey respondents are mainly female students studying computing/IT at degree level. In the next phase of the research, the survey will include both male and female students, lecturers and employees within the IT sector. The research will be extended into a longitudinal study, in order to monitor trends. Originality/value: The UK Government is currently undertaking a number of initiatives to improve the representation of women in information and communication technologies. For those initiatives to be successful, the cultural issues identified in the paper need to be considered. (Contains 7 tables.)

The computer science classes in China's institutions of higher education often have large numbers of students. In addition, many institutions offer "blended" classes that include both on-campus and online students. These large blended classrooms have long suffered from a lack of interactivity. Many online classes simply provide recorded instructor lectures to which distance students listen after downloading. This format only reinforces the negative effects of passive nonparticipatory learning. At a major university in Shanghai, researchers and developers actively seek technological interventions that can greatly increase interactivity in blended classes. They have developed a cutting-edge mobile learning system that can deliver live broadcasts of real-time classroom teaching to online students with mobile devices. Their system allows students to customize their means of content-reception, based on when and where the students are tuning into the broadcast. The system also supports short text-messaging and instant polls. Through these features, students can ask questions and make suggestions in real time, and the instructor can respond immediately. This paper describes this system in detail and also reports results from a formal implementation of the system with a blended classroom of 562 students (of whom 90% were online). (Contains 5 tables and 2 figures.)

Purpose — The aims of this article are to describe the current status, usage, and acceptance of domestic preprint servers in mainland China by investigating three integrated preprint servers in mainland China. These are the Qiji e-print archive (Qiji), the Chinese Preprint Server (CPS), Chinese Science Papers Online (CSPO)., Design/methodology/approach — This research gives a quantitative analysis of the submission numbers to three preprint servers, the subject distribution and citations. An investigation of university websites and their policies was also carried out. Findings — Preprint submissions have a strong correlation with official promotion and policies. The preprints communication pattern in mainland China concentrates on the disciplines of physics, mathematics and computer science which reflects international preprint communication behaviour. As yet the domestic preprint servers in mainland China attract little attention from excellent scholars and have a low impact on scientific communication. Research limitations/implications — No author survey was conducted. Originality/value — This is the first paper to characterize the usage and acceptance of domestic preprint servers in mainland China using a quantitative method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper draws attention to the specific aspect of institutional environments in international matchmaking for innovation. While technology is largely global this exploratory study of 18 cross-border cases between Europe and China points to the impact of distant institutional environments on the success and structure of cross-border collaborative innovation. Addressing differences in governance, market regulation, policy, IPR protection, language and culture like the Chineseguanxiare specific services based on dedicated capabilities of international innovation intermediaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the script crisis that emerged in China during the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the old ideology of state phonocentrism and the new wave of computer science demanded the abandoning of Chinese characters altogether. Under the project of establishing new human-machine interfaces, national debates over such technical issues as the statistical properties of Chinese according to Claude Shannon's information theory took place in various venues, challenging the conventional language ideologies. As linguists and engineers rallied to collaborate on the scriptal modernization project on the basis of the discursive space opened up by critiques of the 1977 Simplification Scheme, efforts to integrate Chinese script into computer data-storage formats ended up destabilizing the understanding of Chinese writing that conventionally takes "zi" as opposed to "ci" as its basic unit. The shifting foci of script reform discourses during the period demonstrate that the rise of information technology and resumed debates over script reform jointly instigated a retheorization of written Chinese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]