Abstract

Abstract
This paper presents a novel descriptive model for agency in videogames as communication. Literature pertaining to interactive works including videogames has identified the need to overcome dyadic perspectives of communication in such works. Research specifically to do with agency has called for agency to no longer be confused with freedom of action, for an integrated perspective of the player and the system, and for that relationship to be viewed as a conversation. The transactional model in this paper achieves this by proposing a nested hierarchy of levels of communication that operate as an implicit contract, negotiated between the system and the player, where the object of the transaction is bio-costs, effected through the signalling of the attainability of understandings. The paper describes research antecedents, a research agenda, the basis for the model, the model itself, examples of how the model can be used to describe videogame designs, and future research.

Abstract
Higher education students exhibit difficulties in learning computer programming, particularly transitioning from initial programming to advanced programming, so it’s necessary to develop effective teaching strategies. We developed the SimProgramming approach to help students overcome learning difficulties transitioning from entry-level to advanced computer programming, by developing appropriate learning strategies. The students perform a specific set of tasks in a learning environment that simulates business operations, developing a problem-based learning assignment. One of those tasks is filling biweekly individual self-reflection and co-reflection forms. This approach was implemented at the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (Portugal), in a 4th semester course of two bachelor programmes: Informatics Engineering and ICT. The students provided 37 biweekly forms, on which we conducted thematic analysis to identify their strategies for co-regulation of learning during the assignment. Students are adopting different strategies in each phase of the approach. Early phases are devoted to organization, planning, and transformation of information, and later phases focus on applying theoretical knowledge and hands-on programming. We recommend including this type of pedagogical task (biwekly self-reflection and co-reflection forms) in educational practices, in view of their contribution to improving self- and co-regulation learning strategies. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019.

Abstract

Abstract
Higher education is a complex business including very different process. At its core are the teaching and research processes and along the edge of the business model are the administrative processes, targeted to the students and alumni. Some of these processes translate into services that must be available during the whole life of the users and the institutions. For example, a higher education institution is expected to issue diplomas during the whole lifetime of its former students. In this context, we've been working in order to use the current e-government infrastructure of electronic services as building blocks for some of the features of the higher education institution electronic services. This work proposes the adoption of a set of those services. We've concluded a successful testing stage and expect to deploy a full production system very soon. Copyright

Abstract
In this work we reviewed the current state-of-the art regarding the usage of robots, in particular telepresence robots, on educational related activities. We also researched the current consumer and corporate grade telepresence robotic equipment and tested three of these devices. Lastly, we reviewed the problem of disabled students, including students with special education needs, which fail at accessing and staying on higher education. One of the reasons for such problem is the impossibility to physically attend all the classes due to temporary or permanent limitations. As a conclusion of this work, and considering the ongoing positive cases with robotics and the current equipment availability, we propose the creation of telepresence services on the higher education institutions as a solution for those students that can’t attend classes. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019.