Challenges of implementing the ethics through the use of information technologies in the university

Agni Dika, Mentor Hamiti (2011) Challenges of implementing the ethics through the use of information technologies in the university, Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, Vol.15, pp.1110–1114

Abstract

In university premises where we live, despite the social development which allegedly is compatible with the European one, the principles related to ethical use of Information Technologies (IT) differ in many cases. Therefore, often we find actions that are contrary to the code of ethics and legal infrastructure, during which some of the following dilemmas are posed:

• How ethical is to have installed a software without a license in our computers, justifying that it costs quite especially for students?


• Does this mean that avoiding the conflict with the code of ethics, the computer should not be used, or should be used partly only with the licensed software?


• In the other hand, are we going against the code of ethics if we buy licensed software and do not give its copy to the other students, when we know that in our computer we have installed copied software?

Students that use IT face other dilemmas, which are analyzed in this paper. Some of them are mentioned below.

• The case when our students or members of academic staff travel in Europe with computers that have installed unlicensed software, as well as facing the law.


• Another is the ethical dilemma that currently relates to the use of Facebook in the global space, when we know that through the same private content are published, without the consent of the persons involved?!


• We can state the same about the multimedia recordings that are posted on YouTube or in other sites with private or free access!

Case study was conducted at the SEE University (SEEU, 2010) in R. Macedonia, where students and academic staff discussed and debated issues regarding ethic dilemmas.

Keywords: Information Technology, University, Ethical Code, Software, License;

Effectiveness of using information technology in higher education in Saudi Arabia

Fahad N. Alfahad (2012) Effectiveness of using information technology in higher education in Saudi Arabia, Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, Vol.46, pp.1268 – 1278

Abstract
Information technology (IT) refers to “personal electronic devices such as laptops and handheld computers, smart phones, and institution’s computers and associated devices”. This study investigates the usefulness, efficiency and efficacy of information technology in higher education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted in the College of Education, King Saud University. The survey was distributed among 161 female college students selected randomly from a pool of 400 female students who were attending different courses in different areas. Results indicated that 61.5% of the participants used the electronic device in their course activities and 65.8% used IT for blogging. Interestingly, 72% of participants are often doing
online shopping and 88.6% of the students are often creating read, send e-mail and instant messages. A number of issues arising from this study were included in the conclusion and implications.

Keywords: higher education,educational technology,elearning,Saudi arabia

Identification of Six Socio-types of Internet Users and their Impact on the Interactivity of Tourism Websites

Francine Charest, Francois Bedard, Identification of Six Socio-types of Internet Users and their Impact on the Interactivity of Tourism Websites, www.springerlink.com/content/r08h801046242r8g/fulltext.pdf

Abstract

Many studies have shown that Internet users do not form a homogenous group in regard to the way in which they appropriate websites. Socio-demographic profiling (age, sex, education, social status) is the usual method for explaining the different website usages of Internet users. This article proposes a new approach - that of socio-types - to understand and manage the different usages. Laboratory observation sessions were conducted about Internet users and their appropriation of the website of a destination management organization. These sessions allowed to identify six socio-types among Internet users of tourism sites: (i) the "Explorer", (ii) the "Agenda Setter", (iii) the "Demanding Type", (iv) the "Party Type", (v) the "What To Do Type" and (vi) the "Google Addict". A good knowledge of each of those socio-types will prove very useful for managers in charge of building or redesigning a website. Moreover, that knowledge will make the managers more aware of the need to invest in the interactivity of their websites so that each visitor, whatever his/her socio-type, can find their area of interest.

Keywords: Internet user socio-types, appropriation theory, website design.