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ABSTRACT This paper addresses the challenge of improving the effectiveness and innovativeness of online teaching in higher education. It presents a blended learning course designed for faculty development and discusses the findings of surveying the opinions of participants. The course integrates synchronous sessions with digital learning tools and platforms to equip educators with essential skills for online teaching. A mixed‐methods design has been applied for evaluating the educational activity, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative data collection. The course had a completion rate of 91.13%. The opinions of 72 higher education members have been surveyed, and the findings revealed that the blended learning course enhanced instructors' ability to design and deliver online content that is both pedagogically sound and engaging. The necessity for such learning activities is strongly emphasised. The paper concludes by discussing the implications for future course design and faculty development programs in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Scientific workflow systems are increasingly popular for expressing and executing complex data analysis pipelines over large datasets, as they offer reproducibility, dependability, and scalability of analyses by automatic parallelization on large compute clusters. However, implementing workflows is difficult due to the involvement of many black-box tools and the deep infrastructure stack necessary for their execution. Simultaneously, user-supporting tools are rare, and the number of available examples is much lower than in classical programming languages. Results To address these challenges, we investigate the efficiency of large language models (LLMs), specifically ChatGPT, to support users when dealing with scientific workflows. We performed 3 user studies in 2 scientific domains to evaluate ChatGPT for comprehending, adapting, and extending workflows. Our results indicate that LLMs efficiently interpret workflows but achieve lower performance for exchanging components or purposeful workflow extensions. We characterize their limitations in these challenging scenarios and suggest future research directions. Conclusions Our results show a high accuracy for comprehending and explaining scientific workflows while achieving a reduced performance for modifying and extending workflow descriptions. These findings clearly illustrate the need for further research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eHealth Service Desk is a key component of the eHealth system in Slovenia, which is intended for the all users of the system. The Service Desk performs three main tasks. General support for all users of eHealth solutions addresses health care professionals, administrative staff, information technology specialists, software solution providers, patients and all other users of eHealth solutions who wish to report malfunctions, need assistance or require information related to the functioning of the eHealth solutions. The electronic appointment for health care services helps patients to make an eAppointment for health care services. The zNET Connection Support offers help to health care providers in the process of joining the zNET network. Assistance can be accessed in several ways: via an online form, email, FAQs or phone. The Service Desk publishes notifications related to the eHealth solutions on its website and maintains a simple indicator that displays the status of eHealth solutions. During the last two years, several new eHealth solutions have been added to the Service Desk portfolio. The use has been growing rapidly in recent years, namely in 2021 we recorded a more than sevenfold increase compared to 2020. The paper analyses the operation of the eHealth Service Desk through the dynamics and content of the requests handled or services provided. The Service Desk is an important component for the successful use of eHealth solutions in Slovenia, which was particularly evident during the COVID-19 epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valid models are central for credible simulation studies. If those models do not exist, they need to be developed. In fact, entire simulation studies are often aimed at developing valid models. Thereby, successive model refinement and execution of diverse simulation experiments are closely intertwined. Whereas software-based support for individual simulation experiments exists, the intricate interdependencies and the diversity of tasks that govern simulation studies have prevented a more comprehensive support. To achieve the required flexibility while adhering to the constraints that apply between individual tasks, we adopt a declarative, artifact-based workflow approach. Therefore, central products of these simulation studies are identified and specified as artifacts: the conceptual model (with a focus on formally defined requirements), the simulation model, and the experiment. Each artifact is characterized by stages the artifact moves through to reach certain milestones and which are guarded by conditions. Thereby, the relations and constraints between artifacts become explicit. This is instrumental to check and ensure the consistency between conceptual model and simulation model, to automatically execute simulation experiments to probe the specified requirements, and to develop plans to provide goal-directed guidance to the user. We demonstrate the approach by using it to repeat an existing simulation study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Online user networks are important points of contact for users who seek help from their peers rather than documentation.Literature review:The appeal of online user networks coincides with and seems connected to growing user interest in topicalized and tailored content, the production of which is inconsistent with the “craftsman” model of technical communication. Studies of online user networks indicate that community members may be practicing a different kind of technical communication.Research questions:This study examines an online user network for an open-source software product and asks how we can study online user networks, with the aim of identifying important people, practices, and relationships associated with the kind of technical communication practiced in those settings.Research methodology:Social network analysis is used to visualize the structural properties of an online user network, in order to identify central figures and their relationships to others. Verbal data-analysis techniques are used to find themes in their contributions.Results/discussion:People who are central to the structure of online interaction are important figures in the distribution of the technical communication effort. They engage users in reciprocal exchanges of information and they influence user practices. They are also important as brokers who link users and developers. Broadly, their conversational exchanges are a kind of distributed technical communication.Implications for practice:We learn what the practice of technical communication looks like in an online user network. By observing the work of participants, technical communicators can understand what it means to do technical communication and make user networks a more integral part of a broader documentation strategy. We see promising ways in which technical experts (e.g., software developers) can engage with users as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Earth System Grid Federation (ESGF), a well-known e-infrastructure provides open data to study the future anthropogenic climate change. Data are accessed by the research communities to produce sophisticated simulations of the earth system and to study the impact of climate change. Although these e-infrastructures provide relevant data, little is known about the User eXperience (UX) and the issues that users face during their interaction with these infrastructures. Aim: This article presents an investigation about the issues that researchers (end-users) may face while interacting with an e-Science infrastructure and consequently, it elucidates obstacles to access required data. Method: Supported by Action Research (AR) methodology, this study was carried out in the context of ESGF by analysing different types of stakeholders especially users and the help desk. Based on Grounded Theory (GT), in a deeply qualitative analysis, we examined 655 e-mail threads that were sent to ESGF help desk as there were questions asked by end-users to access the data served by the e-infrastructure. Results: The outcomes revealed that questions related to workflow in the e-infrastructure were the bottlenecks that mostly impact the UX. Based on the classification scheme of the barriers that is derived as a result, after applying GT, we classified such bottlenecks and made suggestions to improve UX in e-Science infrastructure. Conclusions: According to our knowledge, this is the first study focused on discussing UX in e-Science infrastructure as it explains the barriers that limit and delay the research process of scientists while they interact with the e-infrastructure. Henceforth, the full benefit of the data projects hosted by the e-infrastructure is not realized. If these barriers would be treated using a joint-strategy initiated by the stakeholders of an e-infrastructure, the research process for the users will be faster and they will have a better UX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this era of ubiquitous information, patient record exchange among hospitals still has technological and individual barriers including resistance to information sharing. Most research on user attitudes has been limited to one type of user or aspect. Because few analyses of attitudes toward electronic patient records (EPRs) have been conducted, understanding the attitudes among different users in multiple aspects is crucial to user acceptance. This proof-of-concept study investigated the attitudes of users toward the inter-hospital EPR exchange system implemented nationwide and focused on discrepant behavioral intentions among three user groups. Methods: The system was designed by combining a Health Level 7-based protocol, object-relational mapping, and other medical informatics techniques to ensure interoperability in realizing patient-centered practices. After implementation, three user-specific questionnaires for physicians, medical record staff, and patients were administered, with a 70 % response rate. The instrument showed favorable convergent construct validity and internal consistency reliability. Two dependent variables were applied: the attitudes toward privacy and support. Independent variables comprised personal characteristics, work characteristics, human aspects, and technology aspects. Major statistical methods included exploratory factor analysis and general linear model. Results: The results from 379 respondents indicated that the patients highly agreed with privacy protection by their consent and support for EPRs, whereas the physicians remained conservative toward both. Medical record staff was ranked in the middle among the three groups. The three user groups demonstrated discrepant intentions toward privacy protection and support. Experience of computer use, level of concerns, usefulness of functions, and specifically, reason to use electronic medical records and number of outpatient visits were significantly associated with the perceptions. Overall, four categories of independent variables were associated with the mean difference in the perceptions. Conclusions: Discrepant attitudes toward privacy and support among the three user groups are identified. Patients may require further education and communication regarding the system. Culturally fit e-Consent should be incorporated into the system to fully utilize the computing power of the Internet when also considering workload. The concern for misuse of EPRs might lead to low support among physicians. Highly readable EPR documents and managerial incentives for information exchange may improve system use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research and industry increasingly make use of large amounts of data to guide decision-making. To do this, however, data needs to be analyzed in typically nontrivial refinement processes, which require technical expertise about methods and algorithms, experience with how a precise analysis should proceed, and knowledge about an exploding number of analytic approaches. To alleviate these problems, a plethora of different systems have been proposed that "intelligently" help users to analyze their data. This article provides a first survey to almost 30 years of research on intelligent discovery assistants (IDAs). It explicates the types of help IDAs can provide to users and the kinds of (background) knowledge they leverage to provide this help. Furthermore, it provides an overview of the systems developed over the past years, identifies their most important features, and sketches an ideal future IDA as well as the challenges on the road ahead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable statistical information is essential for describing social phenomena and development. In addition to producing reliable, relevant, coherent, timely and understandable statistical information, national statistical institutes should pay special attention to user support, statistical awareness and statistical literacy. Increase in statistical literacy and awareness also enhances the influence of statistical information, and builds and maintains the legitimacy of official statistics in society. This article provides two insights into statistical literacy: what kinds of platforms and arenas do statistical offices have for increasing statistical literacy, and what kinds of connections are there between statistical literacy in society and the legitimacy of official statistics. First, the concepts of publicity, legitimacy and statistical awareness are discussed from the perspective of a national statistical office. Second, the general idea of releasing statistical data as well as some examples of co-operation with various user groups - the media, educational institutes, members of parliament and citizens - are also described. The benefits gained and topics for future development are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Open and Distance University (Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia, --UNAD--) is the biggest one in Colombia because of its number of venues and students. Its sixty campus are spread over the Colombian territory; in some cases, separated among themselves by thousands of kilometers. This paper describes how UNAD's innovation and technological management office prepared and developed a solution to resolve a typical problem into the geographically separate organizations, namely the access to web services. This solution includes the access and communication levels, and it warrants the features related to the configuration, security and availability of the web elements for all the users, independently of their mobility among its facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH) is a prominent longitudinal study on family life in the United States. NSFH has been funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and National Institute on Aging (NIA). The total amount of federal grant money for NSFH is 14.5 million dollars. Three waves of surveys were conducted in 1987-1988, 1992- 1994 and 2001-2003. According to the ICPSR Related Literature database, there are 1,051 publications based on the NSFH data. Researchers continue to use NSFH to study family living arrangements, marriage, cohabitation, fertility, parenting relations, kin contact and economic and psychological well-being. When the NSFH funding ended in 2006, the Center for Demography of Health and Aging (CDHA) took over providing user support for NSFH. The decision was made because it is important to continue the stewardship of this prominent study. Without the expertise of the original NSFH project team, CDHA staff needs to learn the rich content of NSFH quickly to help NSFH researchers. This paper describes the challenges and rewards we have in the last few years as we play the custodial role for the complex NSFH study. Also, our effective online analysis tool for disseminating NSFH data is explained. And finally, a future plan for repurposing NSFH data is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to technical documentation, face-to-face helpdesks and telephonic helplines are a powerful means for supporting users of technical products and services. This study investigates the factors that determine user satisfaction with helpdesks and helplines. A survey, based on the SERVQUAL framework and questionnaire, shows that the SERVQUAL dimensions of customer satisfaction are not applicable in these contexts. Three quality dimensions were found instead: solution quality, the experience of the consultation, and, in the case of a physical environment, the so-called tangibles. Helpdesk customers base their overall quality perceptions mainly on their experiences during a consultation, while helpline customers focus strongly on the quality of the solution offered. The study also found a connection between the perceived helpline quality and the appreciation of the primary service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many interactive systems offer assistance when users have difficulties in operating or using them. in spite of the overwhelming variety of assistance techniques available, it is often unclear what type of assistance is really needed and how special assistance functions should be designed. The first step towards theoretically solid design decisions is a conceptual framework and a comprehensive taxonomy of assistance. This paper proposes to define assistance as access to machine functions and provides a taxonomy based mainly on action stages to be assisted. These stages are: (I) motivation, activation and goal setting; (2) perception; (3) information integration, generating situation awareness; (4) decision-making, action selection; (5) action execution; and (6) processing feedback of action results. In analogy to social assistance, various types of technical assistance are assigned to the six action stages. As additional dimensions to classify assistance, we also discuss adjustment, initiative, presentation media and input modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of end-user computing and the trend toward the use of packaged software have focused greater attention on issues related to user support. A varied user population is requiring more tailored support, yet vendor-supplied software with a generic interface is increasingly being used. Four case studies illustrate ways in which organizational forms of support can enhance or overcome the limitations of the software interface. A framework called the organizational interface incorporates these organizational mechanisms by integrating the computer-human interaction (CHI), management information systems (MIS), and end-user computing (EUC) approaches to user support. This framework can be used in the design of end-user systems developed with packaged software and for retrofitting outdated user interfaces for an end-user computing environment. The organizational interface provides IS and end-user managers with a means to consider alternative methods of providing support for systems based on purchased software with fixed user interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes an approach for managing the introduction of information technologies in organizations which we have called "implementation by cultural infusion." The approach was developed and successfully used in response to the necessity of setting up a low-overhead, high-growth computer services function for a small research organization of about 200 non-technical users. The article first describes how the organization established the infrastructural mechanisms to make such an implementation method successful. It then describes the concepts and dynamics of the cultural infusion approach to implementing information technologies, how it was used in the organization, what successes and failures were encountered, and what the impacts were after four years. Finally, the possibility of using the cultural infusion approach in larger organizations and different settings is examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]