Yoram Eshet | The Open University of Israel (original) (raw)

Papers by Yoram Eshet

Research paper thumbnail of Learning with Technology: The Way We Think in the Digital Era

ABSTRACT Operating modern digital environments, as computer software and digital instruments requ... more ABSTRACT Operating modern digital environments, as computer software and digital instruments require users to master a large variety of cognitive, motor, sociological, and emotional skills, in order to perform effectively with them. The tasks required in this context include, for example,“reading” instructions from graphical displays in user interfaces; utilizing digital reproduction to create new, meaningful materials from existing ones; constructing knowledge from a nonlinear, hypertextual navigation, evaluating the quality ...

Research paper thumbnail of Inter-relative aspects of nannofossil and palynomorph biostratigraphy and paleoecology at the K/T boundary, Hor Hahar section, Southern Israel

Research paper thumbnail of Recycled Lower Paleozoic Microfossils (Chitinozoa) in the Carboniferous of Sinai (Egypt) and Permo-Triassic of the Negev (Israel): Paleogeographic considerations

Newsletters on Stratigraphy, 1995

Ordovician-Silurian microfossils (chitinozoans, scolecodonts, acritarchs) and graptolite frag men... more Ordovician-Silurian microfossils (chitinozoans, scolecodonts, acritarchs) and graptolite frag ments are found within continental Carboniferous strata of Central Sinai (Egypt) and marine Permian and Triassic strata in the subsurface of southern Israel. Palaeocurrent measurements indicate that these Lower Paleozoic organic fragments must have been redeposited, since marine Ordovician-Silurian sediments are not found between the Gulf of Suez and the Dead Sea Rift. They were redeposited either as the result of the primary recycling, during Carboniferous Triassic times, from Paleozoic rocks exposed along a semi-circular belt from Syria, through Jordan and Saudi Arabia to Egypt, or as the result of the secondary recycling of a Ordovician-Silurian deposition in Israel and Sinai prior to its Late Paleozoic uplift and removal to an eastward depocenter.

Research paper thumbnail of A new palynologic evidence for the Permian-Triassic boundary in southern Israel

Pollen et spores, 1984

RefDoc Refdoc est un service / is powered by. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Obtaining rich nannofossil assemblages from 'barren' samples: processing organic-rich rocks in nannofossil investigations

Journal of Nannoplankton Research

Campanian-Maastrichtian carbonate and marl successions in Israel are rich in organic matter (OM) ... more Campanian-Maastrichtian carbonate and marl successions in Israel are rich in organic matter (OM) of marine algal origin. Samples from these sections, which were originally processed for nannofossil study by standard techniques, were found to be almost completely devoid of nannofossils. However, removal of the OM by approximately 10 hours of controlled bleaching with sodium hypochlorite (household bleach) yielded extremely rich and diverse nannofossil assemblages. It is suggested that, by selectively bleaching the OM, calcareous nannofossils which were incorporated within the intricate organic debris were released. The fact that, after bleaching, both abundance and species diversity were clearly increased, and the preservation of the nannofossils had not changed significantly, suggests that the bleaching agent did not 'attack' the nannofloras and did not produce a biased assemblage. The proposed preparation method enables rich and diverse calcareous nannofossil assemblages to be recovered from samples which would have provided poor, or even barren, assemblages with the deployment of standard processing

Research paper thumbnail of Changes Over Time in Digital Literacy

CyberPsychology & Behavior, 2009

The current study is a follow-up on the 2002 empirical study by Eshet-Alkalai and Amichai-Hamburg... more The current study is a follow-up on the 2002 empirical study by Eshet-Alkalai and Amichai-Hamburger, which investigated digital literacy skills among different age groups. This study explores changes through time in digital literacy among the same participants 5 years later, and their performance is compared to new matched control groups. Results indicate an improvement over time among all age groups, but especially for the adults, in the tasks that require proficiency and technical control in using technology (e.g., photovisual and branching literacy skills). On the other hand, results indicate a drop in the skills that require creative and critical thinking (e.g., information and reproduction literacy skills), especially for the younger participants. Results show two major patterns of change over time: (a) closing the gap between younger and older participants in the tasks that emphasize proficiency and technical control and (b) widening the gap between younger and older participants in tasks that emphasize creativity and critical thinking. Based on the comparison with the matched control groups, we suggest that experience with technology, and not age, accounts for the observed lifelong changes in digital literacy skills.

Research paper thumbnail of Beersheba–A Gateway Community in Southern Arabian Long-Distance Trade in the Eighth Century BCE

Tel Aviv: Journal of the Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University, Mar 1, 1999

A study of the ceramic assemblage of Beershebal Stratum II reveals that along with pottery types ... more A study of the ceramic assemblage of Beershebal Stratum II reveals that along with pottery types that are well known from Judea and the Beersheba Valley, are several ceramic groups atypical to the region. Besides the group of vessels typical of sites in Judea, there are vessels characteristic of sites in southern coastal plain, and a small group whose origins may be traced to Edom, Egypt and the kingdom of Israel. The group of vessels with coastal characteristics was found in Beersheba in large quantities as an integral and typical part ...

Research paper thumbnail of How do medium naturalness, teaching-learning interactions and Students' personality traits affect participation in synchronous E -learning?

The Internet and Higher Education, 2018

How do medium naturalness, teaching-learning interactions and Students' personality traits affect... more How do medium naturalness, teaching-learning interactions and Students' personality traits affect participation in synchronous E-learning?. The address for the corresponding author was captured as affiliation for all authors. Please check if appropriate. Inthig(2018),

Research paper thumbnail of Analyzing Associations between the Different Ratings Dimensions of the MERLOT Repository

Interdisciplinary Journal of e-Skills and Lifelong Learning, 2011

As the dissemination of digital learning resources is continuously growing over the internet, the... more As the dissemination of digital learning resources is continuously growing over the internet, the existing repositories are enabled to search for different alternatives to assess the quality of their materials. MERLOT, one of the most recognized learning object repositories available nowadays, has adopted the peer-review approach as the cornerstone for the quality evaluation of their learning objects. In that evaluation, experts on specific areas rate resources according to three predefined dimensions, and, after an extensive edition process, these ratings are published and used for the recommendation of materials among the community of users. In addition, MERLOT allows users to write comments and provide ratings for the learning resources, complementing its evaluation strategy with this more informal mechanism. The present work analyzes associations between the ratings given by the users and the experts with the aim of discovering whether or not these two groups have similar impressions about the quality of the materials, as well as to explore the usefulness of this twofold strategy towards the establishment of learning resources quality inside MERLOT.

Research paper thumbnail of Development and Validation of a Model to Investigate the Impact of Individual Factors on Instructors’ Intention to Use E-learning Systems

Interdisciplinary Journal of e-Skills and Lifelong Learning, 2010

E-learning is becoming an increasingly important part of higher education institutions. However, ... more E-learning is becoming an increasingly important part of higher education institutions. However, instructors' use of e-learning systems in community colleges in the United States is relatively sparse. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate some individual factors that may affect instructors' intention to use e-learning systems in community colleges. In this study, we proposed a theoretical model predicting instructors' intention to use e-learning systems in community colleges based on their resistance to change, perceived value of e-learning systems, computer selfefficacy, and attitude toward e-learning systems. The sample for this study included 119 (over 41% response rate) full-time, part-time, and adjunct instructors in different academic departments at a community college. Our findings indicate that the theoretical model developed was able to predict instructors' intention to use e-learning systems. All four predictive variables have significant effects on intention to use e-learning systems. Two statistical methods were used to formulate and test predictive models: Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) and Ordinal Logistic Regression (OLR). Results of both models were consistent on resistance to change as having the greatest weight on predicting instructors' intention to use e-learning systems, while computer self-efficacy in both analyses was found to have the least weight. We conclude the paper with a discussion, which includes a summary of the results, limitations of this research study, as well as implications for practice and future research.

Research paper thumbnail of Digital Gaming: A Comparative International Study of Youth Culture in a Peaceful and War Zone Country

Eludamos: Journal for Computer Game Culture, 2008

This paper reports an exploratory survey in Australia and Israel of the leisure habits, attitudes... more This paper reports an exploratory survey in Australia and Israel of the leisure habits, attitudes and preferences of 716 teenagers aged 13-14 years who are part of the international digital games culture. The rationale was threefold: (a) this age group is not singled out in other surveys; (b) examination of gaming across five platforms would contribute new insights; and (c) the premise that a comparison between eGamers in a war zone and a peaceful country would produce striking contrasts. Virtually all participants played digital games for an average of 10-12 hours per week, the majority using all gaming platforms daily. Notable country differences were identified, particularly game genre preferences but there was also commonality as digital gamers. Digital games remain “boys’ games”, with males devoting more time to playing across five game platforms than did the females who, however, demonstrated a narrowing gap. Isolation and unfitness due to digital gaming proved contrary to pop...

Research paper thumbnail of Does the medium affect the message? The effect of congruent versus incongruent display on critical reading

Human Systems Management, 2010

With the expansion of digital information resources and the increasing amount of books and articl... more With the expansion of digital information resources and the increasing amount of books and articles that are available online, people frequently read texts in incongruent reading conditions. That is, text, which was designed to be read from paper, is read online, and vice versa. This study investigated the effect of incongruent reading conditions on critical reading. A group of 80 11th graders were asked to read news items in congruent and in incongruent reading situations. Results show a negative effect of incongruent reading, in which text is converted from one display to another without adjustment. The effect was strongest for reading from a computer screen text that was designed to be read in print. Findings demonstrate the importance of format-specific text design, and suggest that universities, information repositories and other text providers should consider format adjustments in making their texts accessible for readers.

Research paper thumbnail of Challenges of Integrating Technologies for Learning: Introduction to the IJELLO Special Series of Chais Conference 2010 Best Papers

Interdisciplinary Journal of e-Skills and Lifelong Learning, 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Learning and Teaching in the Technological Era: Introduction to the IJELLO Special Series of Chais Conference 2011 Best Papers

Interdisciplinary Journal of e-Skills and Lifelong Learning, 2011

This preface presents the mission and activities of the Research Center for Innovation in Learnin... more This preface presents the mission and activities of the Research Center for Innovation in Learning Technologies at the Open University of Israel. It describes the objectives and themes of the Chais Conference 2011, explains its synergies with IJELLO and the Informing Science Institute, and introduces the papers included in this special issue. This paper collection emphasizes the importance of teachers' training, and reflects the growing understanding of their major role in integrating innovative technologies in education.

Research paper thumbnail of Introduction to the IJELLO Special Series

Interdisciplinary Journal of e-Skills and Lifelong Learning, 2009

This Interdisciplinary Journal of E-Learning and Learning Objects (IJELLO) inaugural issue of spe... more This Interdisciplinary Journal of E-Learning and Learning Objects (IJELLO) inaugural issue of special series is based on selected best papers presented in the

Research paper thumbnail of How is the ethical dissonance index affected by technology, academic dishonesty type and individual differences?

British Journal of Educational Technology, 2019

Academic dishonesty has been growing in both digital and analog settings. The present study aimed... more Academic dishonesty has been growing in both digital and analog settings. The present study aimed to generalize the ethical dissonance index (EDI), which was established in a sample of Israeli school students as the gap between the pervasiveness of academic dishonesty and its perceived legitimacy. Furthermore, the study examined how technology, dishonesty type and individual differences affect these factors. The study employed a scenario‐based approach – an indirect strategy for deducing academic dishonest behaviors. Participants were 1055 school students from various grade levels, geographic locations and religious/ethnic sectors. Results regarding the role of technology revealed that, overall, digital academic dishonesty was less pervasive and deemed more legitimate compared to analog dishonesty. However, this relationship varied as a function of dishonesty type. Findings confirmed that students experienced some level of ethical dissonance, generalizing the EDI. Notably, individual differences did not affect the relationship between media, dishonesty type and the EDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research paper thumbnail of You Can Teach Old Dogs New Tricks: The Factors That Affect Changes over Time in Digital Literacy

Journal of Information Technology Education: Research, 2010

The expansion of digital technologies and the rapid changes they undergo through time face users ... more The expansion of digital technologies and the rapid changes they undergo through time face users with new cognitive, social, and ergonomic challenges that they need to master in order to perform effectively. In recent years, following empirical reports on performance differences between different age-groups, there is a debate in the research literature concerning the nature of these differences: whether they reflect age-related cognitive abilities of the users, or that they are related to the usability and experience of users with the technologies. This study attempts to establish whether changes in digital literacy, through a period of five years, are age-dependent or the result of experience with technology. The study is based on empirical findings from two independent studies of Eshet-Alkalai & Amichai-Hamburger (2004), which investigated digital literacy skills among different age groups, and of Eshet-Alkalai and Chajut (2009), which investigated changes over time in these digital literacy skills among the same participants five years later. In order to distinguish between the age-related and the experiencerelated factors, the present study reports on findings from control groups of a similar age and demographic background, which were tested with tasks similar to Eshet-Alkalai & Chajut (2009). Results show two major patterns of change over time: (1) closing the gap between younger and older participants in tasks that emphasize experience and technical control (photo-visual and branching tasks); (2) widening the gap between younger and older participants in tasks that emphasize creativity and critical thinking (reproduction and information tasks). Based on the results from the control groups, we suggest that experience with technology, and not age-dependent cognitive development, accounts for the observed lifelong changes in digital literacy skills. Results, especially the sharp decrease in information skills, suggest that the ability to find information or use digital environments does not guarantee an educated or smart use of digital environments.

Research paper thumbnail of Thinking in the Digital Era: A Revised Model for Digital Literacy

Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology, 2012

Having digital literacy requires more than just the ability to use software or to operate a digit... more Having digital literacy requires more than just the ability to use software or to operate a digital device; it includes a large variety of complex skills such as cognitive, motoric, sociological and emotional skills that users need to master in order to use digital environments effectively. Unfortunately, the research on digital literacy lacks a well-established theoretical framework. This paper presents an updated version of the skills-based theoretical framework, published by Eshet-Alkalai in 2004-adding to it a sixth skill (real-time thinking skill), and discussing the model in light of the recent literature on digital literacy. The updated model of digital literacy consists of the following skills: photo-visual skills (understanding messages from graphical displays), reproduction skills (utilizing digital reproduction to create new, meaningful materials from preexisting ones), branching skills (constructing knowledge from non-linear, hypertextual navigation), information skills (critically evaluating the quality and validity of information), socio-emotional skills (understanding the "rules" that prevail in the cyberspace and applying this understanding in virtual communication), and real-time thinking (the ability to process large volumes of stimuli at the same time, as in video games or in online teaching). The present paper presents results from performance-based studies of the author, that investigated the application of the above digital literacy skills conceptual model among different groups of users. Results clearly indicate that the younger participants performed better than the older ones, with photo-visual and branching literacy tasks, whereas the older participants were found to be more "digitally-literate" in reproduction and information literacy tasks. The paper presents findings from recent studies that examined change over time in digital literacy skills. It sheds light on the cognitive skills that users utilize in performing with digital environments, and provides educators and software developers with helpful guidelines for designing better user-centered digital environments.

Research paper thumbnail of The ethical dissonance in digital and non-digital learning environments: Does technology promotes cheating among middle school students?

Computers in Human Behavior, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Pedagogical and Design Aspects of a Blended Learning Course

The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 2009

Based on recent research reports, the blended learning model, which combines face-to-face and onl... more Based on recent research reports, the blended learning model, which combines face-to-face and online learning, is now the preferred model for online course design. Its superiority over online learning, which lacks face-to-face interaction, is evident from studies that examined both student achievement and satisfaction. Nevertheless, there is ambiguity in the literature and in the field regarding the proper implementation of blended learning and the optimal proportions between online and F2F components in various learning scenarios. The range of contradictory reports in recent literature on the potential of different blended learning models shows the need for more research on specific blended learning courses in order to establish proper standards for effective course design and implementation. The present evaluation study focuses on students’ perceptions of pedagogical and design issues related to a new model for blended learning that was used in a graduate-level course at the Open ...

Research paper thumbnail of Learning with Technology: The Way We Think in the Digital Era

ABSTRACT Operating modern digital environments, as computer software and digital instruments requ... more ABSTRACT Operating modern digital environments, as computer software and digital instruments require users to master a large variety of cognitive, motor, sociological, and emotional skills, in order to perform effectively with them. The tasks required in this context include, for example,“reading” instructions from graphical displays in user interfaces; utilizing digital reproduction to create new, meaningful materials from existing ones; constructing knowledge from a nonlinear, hypertextual navigation, evaluating the quality ...

Research paper thumbnail of Inter-relative aspects of nannofossil and palynomorph biostratigraphy and paleoecology at the K/T boundary, Hor Hahar section, Southern Israel

Research paper thumbnail of Recycled Lower Paleozoic Microfossils (Chitinozoa) in the Carboniferous of Sinai (Egypt) and Permo-Triassic of the Negev (Israel): Paleogeographic considerations

Newsletters on Stratigraphy, 1995

Ordovician-Silurian microfossils (chitinozoans, scolecodonts, acritarchs) and graptolite frag men... more Ordovician-Silurian microfossils (chitinozoans, scolecodonts, acritarchs) and graptolite frag ments are found within continental Carboniferous strata of Central Sinai (Egypt) and marine Permian and Triassic strata in the subsurface of southern Israel. Palaeocurrent measurements indicate that these Lower Paleozoic organic fragments must have been redeposited, since marine Ordovician-Silurian sediments are not found between the Gulf of Suez and the Dead Sea Rift. They were redeposited either as the result of the primary recycling, during Carboniferous Triassic times, from Paleozoic rocks exposed along a semi-circular belt from Syria, through Jordan and Saudi Arabia to Egypt, or as the result of the secondary recycling of a Ordovician-Silurian deposition in Israel and Sinai prior to its Late Paleozoic uplift and removal to an eastward depocenter.

Research paper thumbnail of A new palynologic evidence for the Permian-Triassic boundary in southern Israel

Pollen et spores, 1984

RefDoc Refdoc est un service / is powered by. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Obtaining rich nannofossil assemblages from 'barren' samples: processing organic-rich rocks in nannofossil investigations

Journal of Nannoplankton Research

Campanian-Maastrichtian carbonate and marl successions in Israel are rich in organic matter (OM) ... more Campanian-Maastrichtian carbonate and marl successions in Israel are rich in organic matter (OM) of marine algal origin. Samples from these sections, which were originally processed for nannofossil study by standard techniques, were found to be almost completely devoid of nannofossils. However, removal of the OM by approximately 10 hours of controlled bleaching with sodium hypochlorite (household bleach) yielded extremely rich and diverse nannofossil assemblages. It is suggested that, by selectively bleaching the OM, calcareous nannofossils which were incorporated within the intricate organic debris were released. The fact that, after bleaching, both abundance and species diversity were clearly increased, and the preservation of the nannofossils had not changed significantly, suggests that the bleaching agent did not 'attack' the nannofloras and did not produce a biased assemblage. The proposed preparation method enables rich and diverse calcareous nannofossil assemblages to be recovered from samples which would have provided poor, or even barren, assemblages with the deployment of standard processing

Research paper thumbnail of Changes Over Time in Digital Literacy

CyberPsychology & Behavior, 2009

The current study is a follow-up on the 2002 empirical study by Eshet-Alkalai and Amichai-Hamburg... more The current study is a follow-up on the 2002 empirical study by Eshet-Alkalai and Amichai-Hamburger, which investigated digital literacy skills among different age groups. This study explores changes through time in digital literacy among the same participants 5 years later, and their performance is compared to new matched control groups. Results indicate an improvement over time among all age groups, but especially for the adults, in the tasks that require proficiency and technical control in using technology (e.g., photovisual and branching literacy skills). On the other hand, results indicate a drop in the skills that require creative and critical thinking (e.g., information and reproduction literacy skills), especially for the younger participants. Results show two major patterns of change over time: (a) closing the gap between younger and older participants in the tasks that emphasize proficiency and technical control and (b) widening the gap between younger and older participants in tasks that emphasize creativity and critical thinking. Based on the comparison with the matched control groups, we suggest that experience with technology, and not age, accounts for the observed lifelong changes in digital literacy skills.

Research paper thumbnail of Beersheba–A Gateway Community in Southern Arabian Long-Distance Trade in the Eighth Century BCE

Tel Aviv: Journal of the Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University, Mar 1, 1999

A study of the ceramic assemblage of Beershebal Stratum II reveals that along with pottery types ... more A study of the ceramic assemblage of Beershebal Stratum II reveals that along with pottery types that are well known from Judea and the Beersheba Valley, are several ceramic groups atypical to the region. Besides the group of vessels typical of sites in Judea, there are vessels characteristic of sites in southern coastal plain, and a small group whose origins may be traced to Edom, Egypt and the kingdom of Israel. The group of vessels with coastal characteristics was found in Beersheba in large quantities as an integral and typical part ...

Research paper thumbnail of How do medium naturalness, teaching-learning interactions and Students' personality traits affect participation in synchronous E -learning?

The Internet and Higher Education, 2018

How do medium naturalness, teaching-learning interactions and Students' personality traits affect... more How do medium naturalness, teaching-learning interactions and Students' personality traits affect participation in synchronous E-learning?. The address for the corresponding author was captured as affiliation for all authors. Please check if appropriate. Inthig(2018),

Research paper thumbnail of Analyzing Associations between the Different Ratings Dimensions of the MERLOT Repository

Interdisciplinary Journal of e-Skills and Lifelong Learning, 2011

As the dissemination of digital learning resources is continuously growing over the internet, the... more As the dissemination of digital learning resources is continuously growing over the internet, the existing repositories are enabled to search for different alternatives to assess the quality of their materials. MERLOT, one of the most recognized learning object repositories available nowadays, has adopted the peer-review approach as the cornerstone for the quality evaluation of their learning objects. In that evaluation, experts on specific areas rate resources according to three predefined dimensions, and, after an extensive edition process, these ratings are published and used for the recommendation of materials among the community of users. In addition, MERLOT allows users to write comments and provide ratings for the learning resources, complementing its evaluation strategy with this more informal mechanism. The present work analyzes associations between the ratings given by the users and the experts with the aim of discovering whether or not these two groups have similar impressions about the quality of the materials, as well as to explore the usefulness of this twofold strategy towards the establishment of learning resources quality inside MERLOT.

Research paper thumbnail of Development and Validation of a Model to Investigate the Impact of Individual Factors on Instructors’ Intention to Use E-learning Systems

Interdisciplinary Journal of e-Skills and Lifelong Learning, 2010

E-learning is becoming an increasingly important part of higher education institutions. However, ... more E-learning is becoming an increasingly important part of higher education institutions. However, instructors' use of e-learning systems in community colleges in the United States is relatively sparse. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate some individual factors that may affect instructors' intention to use e-learning systems in community colleges. In this study, we proposed a theoretical model predicting instructors' intention to use e-learning systems in community colleges based on their resistance to change, perceived value of e-learning systems, computer selfefficacy, and attitude toward e-learning systems. The sample for this study included 119 (over 41% response rate) full-time, part-time, and adjunct instructors in different academic departments at a community college. Our findings indicate that the theoretical model developed was able to predict instructors' intention to use e-learning systems. All four predictive variables have significant effects on intention to use e-learning systems. Two statistical methods were used to formulate and test predictive models: Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) and Ordinal Logistic Regression (OLR). Results of both models were consistent on resistance to change as having the greatest weight on predicting instructors' intention to use e-learning systems, while computer self-efficacy in both analyses was found to have the least weight. We conclude the paper with a discussion, which includes a summary of the results, limitations of this research study, as well as implications for practice and future research.

Research paper thumbnail of Digital Gaming: A Comparative International Study of Youth Culture in a Peaceful and War Zone Country

Eludamos: Journal for Computer Game Culture, 2008

This paper reports an exploratory survey in Australia and Israel of the leisure habits, attitudes... more This paper reports an exploratory survey in Australia and Israel of the leisure habits, attitudes and preferences of 716 teenagers aged 13-14 years who are part of the international digital games culture. The rationale was threefold: (a) this age group is not singled out in other surveys; (b) examination of gaming across five platforms would contribute new insights; and (c) the premise that a comparison between eGamers in a war zone and a peaceful country would produce striking contrasts. Virtually all participants played digital games for an average of 10-12 hours per week, the majority using all gaming platforms daily. Notable country differences were identified, particularly game genre preferences but there was also commonality as digital gamers. Digital games remain “boys’ games”, with males devoting more time to playing across five game platforms than did the females who, however, demonstrated a narrowing gap. Isolation and unfitness due to digital gaming proved contrary to pop...

Research paper thumbnail of Does the medium affect the message? The effect of congruent versus incongruent display on critical reading

Human Systems Management, 2010

With the expansion of digital information resources and the increasing amount of books and articl... more With the expansion of digital information resources and the increasing amount of books and articles that are available online, people frequently read texts in incongruent reading conditions. That is, text, which was designed to be read from paper, is read online, and vice versa. This study investigated the effect of incongruent reading conditions on critical reading. A group of 80 11th graders were asked to read news items in congruent and in incongruent reading situations. Results show a negative effect of incongruent reading, in which text is converted from one display to another without adjustment. The effect was strongest for reading from a computer screen text that was designed to be read in print. Findings demonstrate the importance of format-specific text design, and suggest that universities, information repositories and other text providers should consider format adjustments in making their texts accessible for readers.

Research paper thumbnail of Challenges of Integrating Technologies for Learning: Introduction to the IJELLO Special Series of Chais Conference 2010 Best Papers

Interdisciplinary Journal of e-Skills and Lifelong Learning, 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Learning and Teaching in the Technological Era: Introduction to the IJELLO Special Series of Chais Conference 2011 Best Papers

Interdisciplinary Journal of e-Skills and Lifelong Learning, 2011

This preface presents the mission and activities of the Research Center for Innovation in Learnin... more This preface presents the mission and activities of the Research Center for Innovation in Learning Technologies at the Open University of Israel. It describes the objectives and themes of the Chais Conference 2011, explains its synergies with IJELLO and the Informing Science Institute, and introduces the papers included in this special issue. This paper collection emphasizes the importance of teachers' training, and reflects the growing understanding of their major role in integrating innovative technologies in education.

Research paper thumbnail of Introduction to the IJELLO Special Series

Interdisciplinary Journal of e-Skills and Lifelong Learning, 2009

This Interdisciplinary Journal of E-Learning and Learning Objects (IJELLO) inaugural issue of spe... more This Interdisciplinary Journal of E-Learning and Learning Objects (IJELLO) inaugural issue of special series is based on selected best papers presented in the

Research paper thumbnail of How is the ethical dissonance index affected by technology, academic dishonesty type and individual differences?

British Journal of Educational Technology, 2019

Academic dishonesty has been growing in both digital and analog settings. The present study aimed... more Academic dishonesty has been growing in both digital and analog settings. The present study aimed to generalize the ethical dissonance index (EDI), which was established in a sample of Israeli school students as the gap between the pervasiveness of academic dishonesty and its perceived legitimacy. Furthermore, the study examined how technology, dishonesty type and individual differences affect these factors. The study employed a scenario‐based approach – an indirect strategy for deducing academic dishonest behaviors. Participants were 1055 school students from various grade levels, geographic locations and religious/ethnic sectors. Results regarding the role of technology revealed that, overall, digital academic dishonesty was less pervasive and deemed more legitimate compared to analog dishonesty. However, this relationship varied as a function of dishonesty type. Findings confirmed that students experienced some level of ethical dissonance, generalizing the EDI. Notably, individual differences did not affect the relationship between media, dishonesty type and the EDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research paper thumbnail of You Can Teach Old Dogs New Tricks: The Factors That Affect Changes over Time in Digital Literacy

Journal of Information Technology Education: Research, 2010

The expansion of digital technologies and the rapid changes they undergo through time face users ... more The expansion of digital technologies and the rapid changes they undergo through time face users with new cognitive, social, and ergonomic challenges that they need to master in order to perform effectively. In recent years, following empirical reports on performance differences between different age-groups, there is a debate in the research literature concerning the nature of these differences: whether they reflect age-related cognitive abilities of the users, or that they are related to the usability and experience of users with the technologies. This study attempts to establish whether changes in digital literacy, through a period of five years, are age-dependent or the result of experience with technology. The study is based on empirical findings from two independent studies of Eshet-Alkalai & Amichai-Hamburger (2004), which investigated digital literacy skills among different age groups, and of Eshet-Alkalai and Chajut (2009), which investigated changes over time in these digital literacy skills among the same participants five years later. In order to distinguish between the age-related and the experiencerelated factors, the present study reports on findings from control groups of a similar age and demographic background, which were tested with tasks similar to Eshet-Alkalai & Chajut (2009). Results show two major patterns of change over time: (1) closing the gap between younger and older participants in tasks that emphasize experience and technical control (photo-visual and branching tasks); (2) widening the gap between younger and older participants in tasks that emphasize creativity and critical thinking (reproduction and information tasks). Based on the results from the control groups, we suggest that experience with technology, and not age-dependent cognitive development, accounts for the observed lifelong changes in digital literacy skills. Results, especially the sharp decrease in information skills, suggest that the ability to find information or use digital environments does not guarantee an educated or smart use of digital environments.

Research paper thumbnail of Thinking in the Digital Era: A Revised Model for Digital Literacy

Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology, 2012

Having digital literacy requires more than just the ability to use software or to operate a digit... more Having digital literacy requires more than just the ability to use software or to operate a digital device; it includes a large variety of complex skills such as cognitive, motoric, sociological and emotional skills that users need to master in order to use digital environments effectively. Unfortunately, the research on digital literacy lacks a well-established theoretical framework. This paper presents an updated version of the skills-based theoretical framework, published by Eshet-Alkalai in 2004-adding to it a sixth skill (real-time thinking skill), and discussing the model in light of the recent literature on digital literacy. The updated model of digital literacy consists of the following skills: photo-visual skills (understanding messages from graphical displays), reproduction skills (utilizing digital reproduction to create new, meaningful materials from preexisting ones), branching skills (constructing knowledge from non-linear, hypertextual navigation), information skills (critically evaluating the quality and validity of information), socio-emotional skills (understanding the "rules" that prevail in the cyberspace and applying this understanding in virtual communication), and real-time thinking (the ability to process large volumes of stimuli at the same time, as in video games or in online teaching). The present paper presents results from performance-based studies of the author, that investigated the application of the above digital literacy skills conceptual model among different groups of users. Results clearly indicate that the younger participants performed better than the older ones, with photo-visual and branching literacy tasks, whereas the older participants were found to be more "digitally-literate" in reproduction and information literacy tasks. The paper presents findings from recent studies that examined change over time in digital literacy skills. It sheds light on the cognitive skills that users utilize in performing with digital environments, and provides educators and software developers with helpful guidelines for designing better user-centered digital environments.

Research paper thumbnail of The ethical dissonance in digital and non-digital learning environments: Does technology promotes cheating among middle school students?

Computers in Human Behavior, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Pedagogical and Design Aspects of a Blended Learning Course

The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 2009

Based on recent research reports, the blended learning model, which combines face-to-face and onl... more Based on recent research reports, the blended learning model, which combines face-to-face and online learning, is now the preferred model for online course design. Its superiority over online learning, which lacks face-to-face interaction, is evident from studies that examined both student achievement and satisfaction. Nevertheless, there is ambiguity in the literature and in the field regarding the proper implementation of blended learning and the optimal proportions between online and F2F components in various learning scenarios. The range of contradictory reports in recent literature on the potential of different blended learning models shows the need for more research on specific blended learning courses in order to establish proper standards for effective course design and implementation. The present evaluation study focuses on students’ perceptions of pedagogical and design issues related to a new model for blended learning that was used in a graduate-level course at the Open ...