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Used Web (used + web)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

Dental undergraduate expectations and opinions of Web-based courseware to supplement traditional teaching methods

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DENTAL EDUCATION, Issue 3 2003
R. Eynon
The rapid growth of Internet for the delivery of information has enabled teaching materials to be placed on websites allowing student access to course material. It is the aim of this paper to evaluate a cohort of dental undergraduate students who have used Web-based courseware in prosthetic dentistry for a semester. A questionnaire was distributed to clinical undergraduate students prior to the use of the prosthetics course to determine their experience of using the World Wide Web (WWW) and their expectations of an online course. A second questionnaire was distributed at the end of 6 months which asked about their usage and opinions of the prosthetics Web-based courseware. The main concerns raised at the beginning of the course were related to computer access, the ability to use computers, the time involved and their conception that the e-course would be an additional burden. The main potential benefits were perceived to be convenience, availability of information and the ability to reinforce or catch up on aspects of the module they did not understand or had missed. Feedback at the end of the year showed that most students had accessed the Web-based courseware site at least once a month and, generally, their comments were favourable, dispelling some of the initial perceived fears. They felt that the website was a quick and convenient way to access information and was a good additional resource. Access to the site and printing information were the main problems raised by the students who had to use a shared cluster. In conclusion, Web-based courseware was felt to be a useful additional resource for students. However, this research showed that sufficient computers and printers must be available for such a resource to become an integrated part of the dental course. [source]

The nature of middle school learners' science content understandings with the use of on-line resources

JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE TEACHING, Issue 3 2003
Joseph L. Hoffman
Early research on using the World Wide Web indicated that middle school students did not explore much and used Web tools naively. In response to these challenges, an on-line research engine, Artemis, was designed to provide a permanent workspace and allow students access to preselective on-line resources. This study investigated the depth and accuracy of sixth-grade students' content understandings as well as their use of search and assess strategies when they used on-line resources via Artemis. Eight student pairs from two science classes experienced support from teachers and used scaffolded curriculum materials while completing four on-line inquiry units during 9 months. Multiple sources of data were collected, including video recordings of students' computer activities and conversations, students' artifacts and on-line postings, classroom and lab video recordings, and interview transcripts. Analyses of data showed that students constructed meaningful understandings through on-line inquiry, although the accuracy and depth of their understandings varied. The findings suggest that students might develop accurate and in-depth understandings if they use search and assess strategies appropriately, if resources are thoughtfully chosen, and if support from the learning environment is extensively provided. This research lends evidence to questions regarding the value of students engaging in on-line inquiry. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 40: 323,346, 2003 [source]

Market Perceptions and Opportunities for Native Plant Production on the Southern Colorado Plateau

RESTORATION ECOLOGY, Issue 2010
Donna L. Peppin
Increases in revegetation activities have created a large demand for locally adapted native plant materials (NPM) in the southwestern United States. Currently, there is a minimal supply of local genotypes to meet this demand. We investigated the potential for the initiation of a native plant market in the southern Colorado Plateau. Through a literature search, interviews, and site visits, we identified existing native plant markets outside of the region as useful models to help initiate a regional market. We used web-based surveys to identify and analyze current and future NPM needs and concerns. Survey results indicate that management policy strongly drives decisions regarding the use and purchase of NPM. From a demand perspective , lack of availability and cost of NPM has kept purchasing minimal, despite policy changes favoring the use of natives. For suppliers, further development of NPM is limited by inconsistent and unreliable demand and lack of production knowledge. The knowledge and tools necessary to initiate an NPM market are available, but inadequate funding sources and insufficient information sharing hinder its development. Communication among producers, land managers, buyers, and researchers, as well as partnerships with local growers, appear to be vital to initiating a functional market. [source]

Web-based consultations for parents of children with atopic dermatitis: results of a randomized controlled trial

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 2 2009
Trine S Bergmo
Abstract Aim: To analyse how web-based consultations for parents of children with atopic dermatitis affect self-management behaviour, health outcome, health resource use and family costs. Methods: Ninety-eight children with atopic dermatitis were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received remote dermatology consultations through a secure web-based communication system. The control group was encouraged to seek treatment through traditional means such as general practitioner visits and hospital care. Both groups received an extensive individual educational session prior to the intervention. Results: Thirty-eight percent of the intervention group used web-based consultations 158 times ranging from 1 to 38 consultations per patient. We found no change in self-management behaviour, health outcome or costs. The intervention group tended to have fewer visits to practitioners offering complementary therapies than the control group, and we found a positive correlation between emergency visits at baseline and messages sent. Both groups, however, reduced the mean number of skin care treatments performed per week and had fewer total health care visits after the intervention. Conclusion: We found no effect of supplementing traditional treatment for childhood dermatitis with web-based consultations. This study showed that web consultations is feasible, but more research is needed to determine its effect on self-management skills, health outcome and resource use. [source]