DIMITRIOS VLACHOPOULOS - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by DIMITRIOS VLACHOPOULOS
INTED2022 Proceedings, 2022
Despite their academic tradition, university departments of Classical Studies have, in the last d... more Despite their academic tradition, university departments of Classical Studies have, in the last decades, started to make use of new technologies of information and communication (IT) in learning activities. We can presently point out a considerable number of technological applications of multimedia resources made available by several universities around the world, even though humanities are still far from keeping pace with the new didactic trends pertaining to the use of IT. This study looks into the change of the teaching culture and reviews the most relevant technological resources for the field of Classical Studies. Introducción: los estudios clásicos en la sociedad actual En el nuevo milenio del siglo XXI, un nuevo sistema cultural está creado. Nuestra cultura digital contemporánea se basa en un uso cada vez mayor del ordenador como instrumento para la comunicación, la creatividad y almacenaje, quizás el instrumento más potente creado por el ser humano hasta ahora. Todos los sec...
In recent years there has been a surge of interest in how games and simulations might be applied ... more In recent years there has been a surge of interest in how games and simulations might be applied to higher education learning. Dimitrios Vlachopoulos and Agoritsa Makri have reviewed the literature on the subject and here outline the positive learning effects of games and simulations; from cognitive outcomes such as improved critical thinking and problem-solving skills, to behavioural outcomes such as improved social and communication skills.
EDULEARN19 Proceedings, 2019
ICERI2018 Proceedings, 2018
African Educational Research Journal, 2013
Since the beginning of the use of the e-learning concept in the 1990s, in the context of the info... more Since the beginning of the use of the e-learning concept in the 1990s, in the context of the information and knowledge society, there has been an explosion of different interpretations and approaches in Higher Education. This range of different interpretations and approaches can lead to a confusing and even contradictory situation given the many different perspectives that give rise to these attempts to explain the concept. Open and face-to-face Universities apply different e-learning models according to their goals, mission and national legislation. The aim of this paper is to present the model chosen by the European University Cyprus, a face-to-face university, which has recently started the implementation of autonomous distance learning master degree programs. The presentation and analysis of different case studies about the e-learning models can create the concept’s roadmap in Higher Education and help policy makers to decide which model corresponds better to the characteristics...
ICERI2018 Proceedings, 2018
Information
The COVID-19 pandemic affected many nations around the globe, including Ghana, in the first quart... more The COVID-19 pandemic affected many nations around the globe, including Ghana, in the first quarter of 2020. To avoid the spread of the virus, the Ghanaian government ordered universities to close, although most of them had only just begun the academic year. The adoption of Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) had adverse effects, such as technostress, notwithstanding its advantages for both students and academic faculty. This study examined two significant antecedents: digital literacy and technology dependence. In addition, the study scrutinized the effects of technostress on two relevant student qualities: academic achievement and academic productivity. A descriptive correlational study method was used to discern the prevalence of technology-induced stress among university students in Ghana. The technostress scale was used with a sample of 525 students selected based on defined eligibility criteria. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed to calculate the measurement models ...
In the age of globalization, the concept of learning has been gaining great importance among indi... more In the age of globalization, the concept of learning has been gaining great importance among individuals, communities, companies, non-profit organizations and educational institutions. Especially in the field of Higher Education worldwide, the evolution of information and communications technologies has significantly affected the way students learn, communicate and interact. This mode of learning, known as e-learning is considered as a methodological approach that uses different interactive and collaborative tools and technologies to achieve better learning outcomes. Due to these technologies, constraints of time and space have been eliminated and make it easier for educators and learners to facilitate the learning process and carry out the learning tasks and activities more easily and effectively. Among other e-learning technological tools, Learning Management Systems (LMS) are well-known available software systems that can be widely utilized for the management of e-learning processes in higher educational institutions. A plethora of systems, either open course LMS or proprietary LMS is chosen to meet the different needs of institutional organizations, faculty, and individual learners. The key to choosing the right e-learning platform is initially to understand the criteria of evaluating the online platforms and then deciding on the appropriate LMS according to the nature of the e-learning courses or programs that are provided. This conceptual paper primarily aims to study the relevant academic literature of the field regarding LMS in online contexts. Initially, an approach to the meaning of e-learning platforms and LMS will be presented, as regarded in related literature. In the next section, the capabilities and main functions of the e-learning systems will be examined. In the last section, the most significant criteria and benchmarking features of LMS are going to be presented and discussed on the basis upon which an educational organization or institution could be guided in choosing one or more of the existing systems available in the market. The findings of this article may have certain implications for those who decide to use an LMS to provide e-learning programs or for those who design and develop interactive online modules and courses. In addition, it could be useful for the professional development of faculty who teach elearning courses and deliver online lessons with a view to exploiting the various potentials of LMS and better prepare their online learners. Keywords: Learning Management Systems (LMS), online education, Distance Education, e-learning, e-learning tools, e-learning platforms.
Student satisfaction is the pinnacle upon which any effective online learning hinges. It is for t... more Student satisfaction is the pinnacle upon which any effective online learning hinges. It is for that reason, educators design course activities that allow students to effectively practice, work together on relevant projects to personalize their learning. In emerging institutions like the Colleges of Education in Ghana that are traditionally inclined toward teachers’ professional development through conventional face-to-face interaction, online education became the medium of interaction for the first time to promote social distancing in response to COVID-19 pandemic while enhancing access and continuous professional development of the human resources for the education sector. This basic qualitative study examined the conduct of online teaching in a traditional face-to-face educational system in Ghana. The analysis of the semi-structured interviews revealed that the basic infrastructure for online teaching and learning is absent. Specifically, student trainees are saddled by poor inte...
Si be les declaracions de missio (DM) s’inclouen en les escoles sovint a causa de la politica de ... more Si be les declaracions de missio (DM) s’inclouen en les escoles sovint a causa de la politica de govern, la investigacio actual subratlla que els liders continuen subutilitzant-les. El present estudi qualitatiu fenomenologic explora la mesura en que les DM i el desenvolupament professional influeixen en la practica diaria de les escoles tant per als liders escolars com per al professorat. L’estudi es basa en entrevistes a sis persones que dirigeixen o ensenyen en dues escoles internacionals diferents. Els resultats proporcionen informacio valuosa sobre com els liders i el professorat experimenten les DM. L’article conclou amb una discussio sobre les possibles implicacions per als responsables de les politiques educatives que desitgen protagonitzar la cultura escolar i el desenvolupament professional.
This study investigated perceptions of organizational change management among executive coaches w... more This study investigated perceptions of organizational change management among executive coaches working with British higher-education leaders and factors that make leaders effective when managing change. This basic qualitative research used semi-structured interviews with eight executive coaches selected through purposeful sampling. As main challenges to efficient, inclusive change management, participants mentioned leaders’ lack of a strategic vision or plan, lack of leadership and future leader development programs, and lack of clarity in decision-making. They recognized that leaders’ academic and professional profiles are positively viewed and said that, with coaching and support in leadership and strategic planning, these people can inspire the academic community and promote positive change. Additional emphasis was given to the role of coaching in the development of key soft skills (honesty, responsibility, resiliency, creativity, proactivity, and empathy, among others), which a...
BMC Nursing
Background Our transition to an “information society” means that Information and Communication Te... more Background Our transition to an “information society” means that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become integral to our lives. ICT has also become an essential aspect of medical institutions and healthcare settings. Healthcare professionals, especially nurses are required to use ICT in their daily work. In Lebanon, however, due to political factors, many universities have not introduced technology or any form of ICT in their curricula. Institutions of higher education do use technology in various ways, however, successful incorporation of ICT in education requires acceptance by instructors who are expected to use ICT in teaching practices. Although international findings reveal that ICT should be used in nursing education, some faculty members experience difficulty integrating it. Method A mixed methodological research approach was used to investigate the attitudes of nursing teaching staff toward the use of ICT in nursing education. Results Our findings revealed ...
Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy
Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the characteristics and potential effects of teac... more Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the characteristics and potential effects of teaching and learning through audio teleconferencing (dial-in) with a cell phone. In addition, the study aims to identify the associations between the audio teleconferencing and video teleconferencing in a 12-week postgraduate course. Design/methodology/approach The study is a cross-sectional survey conducted at the Department of Educational Innovations at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology from March to June 2020. The purposive sampling technique was used to sample 100 postgraduate students who registered for a course in the department. The data for the study were collected using the System Usability Scale (SUS) and 17-item self-administered eQuestionnaire. Multiple Linear Regression analysis, ANOVA, Independent sample T-test and Mann–Whitney U-test were used to estimate the differences in course achievements of students who experienced education through audio teleconfer...
Sustainability
This paper aims to present a systematic literature review on state-of-the-art Educational Escape ... more This paper aims to present a systematic literature review on state-of-the-art Educational Escape Rooms (EERs) with the use of digital technologies. More specifically, the focus of the study is to present the current developments and trends concerning Digital Educational Escape Rooms (DEERs) and investigate how they foster learning outcomes for online learners. Additionally, the present study provides insights into the design process of such technology enhanced EERs. This review is attributed to identifying and covering research gaps since the current literature has focused on the pedagogical aspects of Escape Rooms (ERs) in education, but no studies seem to have been conducted in regard to the pedagogical implications of Digital Escape Rooms (DERs) in educational environments. Based on the exhaustive literature review, an agenda for future research is promised and the implications for designing innovative ER approaches have been highlighted. The anatomy of the fundamental components...
INTED2022 Proceedings, 2022
Despite their academic tradition, university departments of Classical Studies have, in the last d... more Despite their academic tradition, university departments of Classical Studies have, in the last decades, started to make use of new technologies of information and communication (IT) in learning activities. We can presently point out a considerable number of technological applications of multimedia resources made available by several universities around the world, even though humanities are still far from keeping pace with the new didactic trends pertaining to the use of IT. This study looks into the change of the teaching culture and reviews the most relevant technological resources for the field of Classical Studies. Introducción: los estudios clásicos en la sociedad actual En el nuevo milenio del siglo XXI, un nuevo sistema cultural está creado. Nuestra cultura digital contemporánea se basa en un uso cada vez mayor del ordenador como instrumento para la comunicación, la creatividad y almacenaje, quizás el instrumento más potente creado por el ser humano hasta ahora. Todos los sec...
In recent years there has been a surge of interest in how games and simulations might be applied ... more In recent years there has been a surge of interest in how games and simulations might be applied to higher education learning. Dimitrios Vlachopoulos and Agoritsa Makri have reviewed the literature on the subject and here outline the positive learning effects of games and simulations; from cognitive outcomes such as improved critical thinking and problem-solving skills, to behavioural outcomes such as improved social and communication skills.
EDULEARN19 Proceedings, 2019
ICERI2018 Proceedings, 2018
African Educational Research Journal, 2013
Since the beginning of the use of the e-learning concept in the 1990s, in the context of the info... more Since the beginning of the use of the e-learning concept in the 1990s, in the context of the information and knowledge society, there has been an explosion of different interpretations and approaches in Higher Education. This range of different interpretations and approaches can lead to a confusing and even contradictory situation given the many different perspectives that give rise to these attempts to explain the concept. Open and face-to-face Universities apply different e-learning models according to their goals, mission and national legislation. The aim of this paper is to present the model chosen by the European University Cyprus, a face-to-face university, which has recently started the implementation of autonomous distance learning master degree programs. The presentation and analysis of different case studies about the e-learning models can create the concept’s roadmap in Higher Education and help policy makers to decide which model corresponds better to the characteristics...
ICERI2018 Proceedings, 2018
Information
The COVID-19 pandemic affected many nations around the globe, including Ghana, in the first quart... more The COVID-19 pandemic affected many nations around the globe, including Ghana, in the first quarter of 2020. To avoid the spread of the virus, the Ghanaian government ordered universities to close, although most of them had only just begun the academic year. The adoption of Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) had adverse effects, such as technostress, notwithstanding its advantages for both students and academic faculty. This study examined two significant antecedents: digital literacy and technology dependence. In addition, the study scrutinized the effects of technostress on two relevant student qualities: academic achievement and academic productivity. A descriptive correlational study method was used to discern the prevalence of technology-induced stress among university students in Ghana. The technostress scale was used with a sample of 525 students selected based on defined eligibility criteria. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed to calculate the measurement models ...
In the age of globalization, the concept of learning has been gaining great importance among indi... more In the age of globalization, the concept of learning has been gaining great importance among individuals, communities, companies, non-profit organizations and educational institutions. Especially in the field of Higher Education worldwide, the evolution of information and communications technologies has significantly affected the way students learn, communicate and interact. This mode of learning, known as e-learning is considered as a methodological approach that uses different interactive and collaborative tools and technologies to achieve better learning outcomes. Due to these technologies, constraints of time and space have been eliminated and make it easier for educators and learners to facilitate the learning process and carry out the learning tasks and activities more easily and effectively. Among other e-learning technological tools, Learning Management Systems (LMS) are well-known available software systems that can be widely utilized for the management of e-learning processes in higher educational institutions. A plethora of systems, either open course LMS or proprietary LMS is chosen to meet the different needs of institutional organizations, faculty, and individual learners. The key to choosing the right e-learning platform is initially to understand the criteria of evaluating the online platforms and then deciding on the appropriate LMS according to the nature of the e-learning courses or programs that are provided. This conceptual paper primarily aims to study the relevant academic literature of the field regarding LMS in online contexts. Initially, an approach to the meaning of e-learning platforms and LMS will be presented, as regarded in related literature. In the next section, the capabilities and main functions of the e-learning systems will be examined. In the last section, the most significant criteria and benchmarking features of LMS are going to be presented and discussed on the basis upon which an educational organization or institution could be guided in choosing one or more of the existing systems available in the market. The findings of this article may have certain implications for those who decide to use an LMS to provide e-learning programs or for those who design and develop interactive online modules and courses. In addition, it could be useful for the professional development of faculty who teach elearning courses and deliver online lessons with a view to exploiting the various potentials of LMS and better prepare their online learners. Keywords: Learning Management Systems (LMS), online education, Distance Education, e-learning, e-learning tools, e-learning platforms.
Student satisfaction is the pinnacle upon which any effective online learning hinges. It is for t... more Student satisfaction is the pinnacle upon which any effective online learning hinges. It is for that reason, educators design course activities that allow students to effectively practice, work together on relevant projects to personalize their learning. In emerging institutions like the Colleges of Education in Ghana that are traditionally inclined toward teachers’ professional development through conventional face-to-face interaction, online education became the medium of interaction for the first time to promote social distancing in response to COVID-19 pandemic while enhancing access and continuous professional development of the human resources for the education sector. This basic qualitative study examined the conduct of online teaching in a traditional face-to-face educational system in Ghana. The analysis of the semi-structured interviews revealed that the basic infrastructure for online teaching and learning is absent. Specifically, student trainees are saddled by poor inte...
Si be les declaracions de missio (DM) s’inclouen en les escoles sovint a causa de la politica de ... more Si be les declaracions de missio (DM) s’inclouen en les escoles sovint a causa de la politica de govern, la investigacio actual subratlla que els liders continuen subutilitzant-les. El present estudi qualitatiu fenomenologic explora la mesura en que les DM i el desenvolupament professional influeixen en la practica diaria de les escoles tant per als liders escolars com per al professorat. L’estudi es basa en entrevistes a sis persones que dirigeixen o ensenyen en dues escoles internacionals diferents. Els resultats proporcionen informacio valuosa sobre com els liders i el professorat experimenten les DM. L’article conclou amb una discussio sobre les possibles implicacions per als responsables de les politiques educatives que desitgen protagonitzar la cultura escolar i el desenvolupament professional.
This study investigated perceptions of organizational change management among executive coaches w... more This study investigated perceptions of organizational change management among executive coaches working with British higher-education leaders and factors that make leaders effective when managing change. This basic qualitative research used semi-structured interviews with eight executive coaches selected through purposeful sampling. As main challenges to efficient, inclusive change management, participants mentioned leaders’ lack of a strategic vision or plan, lack of leadership and future leader development programs, and lack of clarity in decision-making. They recognized that leaders’ academic and professional profiles are positively viewed and said that, with coaching and support in leadership and strategic planning, these people can inspire the academic community and promote positive change. Additional emphasis was given to the role of coaching in the development of key soft skills (honesty, responsibility, resiliency, creativity, proactivity, and empathy, among others), which a...
BMC Nursing
Background Our transition to an “information society” means that Information and Communication Te... more Background Our transition to an “information society” means that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become integral to our lives. ICT has also become an essential aspect of medical institutions and healthcare settings. Healthcare professionals, especially nurses are required to use ICT in their daily work. In Lebanon, however, due to political factors, many universities have not introduced technology or any form of ICT in their curricula. Institutions of higher education do use technology in various ways, however, successful incorporation of ICT in education requires acceptance by instructors who are expected to use ICT in teaching practices. Although international findings reveal that ICT should be used in nursing education, some faculty members experience difficulty integrating it. Method A mixed methodological research approach was used to investigate the attitudes of nursing teaching staff toward the use of ICT in nursing education. Results Our findings revealed ...
Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy
Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the characteristics and potential effects of teac... more Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the characteristics and potential effects of teaching and learning through audio teleconferencing (dial-in) with a cell phone. In addition, the study aims to identify the associations between the audio teleconferencing and video teleconferencing in a 12-week postgraduate course. Design/methodology/approach The study is a cross-sectional survey conducted at the Department of Educational Innovations at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology from March to June 2020. The purposive sampling technique was used to sample 100 postgraduate students who registered for a course in the department. The data for the study were collected using the System Usability Scale (SUS) and 17-item self-administered eQuestionnaire. Multiple Linear Regression analysis, ANOVA, Independent sample T-test and Mann–Whitney U-test were used to estimate the differences in course achievements of students who experienced education through audio teleconfer...
Sustainability
This paper aims to present a systematic literature review on state-of-the-art Educational Escape ... more This paper aims to present a systematic literature review on state-of-the-art Educational Escape Rooms (EERs) with the use of digital technologies. More specifically, the focus of the study is to present the current developments and trends concerning Digital Educational Escape Rooms (DEERs) and investigate how they foster learning outcomes for online learners. Additionally, the present study provides insights into the design process of such technology enhanced EERs. This review is attributed to identifying and covering research gaps since the current literature has focused on the pedagogical aspects of Escape Rooms (ERs) in education, but no studies seem to have been conducted in regard to the pedagogical implications of Digital Escape Rooms (DERs) in educational environments. Based on the exhaustive literature review, an agenda for future research is promised and the implications for designing innovative ER approaches have been highlighted. The anatomy of the fundamental components...