Month: January 2025
Enhancing Cross-Cultural Teaching and Learning: An Instructor’s View on Africanization
Abstract
Research has indicated that learners who receive education in a context they can relate to are more successful in acquiring knowledge and skills. For this reason, educators in Africa often explore the concept of Africanization as part of cross-cultural teaching and learning efforts. Africanization includes local and indigenous cultural considerations to instill African culture and identity in teaching and learning environments. This qualitative study investigates the perceptions of academic staff, focusing on the effectiveness of using an African case study to explain important theoretical constructs in an undergraduate Business Analysis and a Human-Computer Interaction course at a higher-educational institution. Thematic analysis performed on the results of in-depth semi-structured interviews involving academic instructors reveals seven main themes, with the theme on the relevance and interpretation of practical examples occurring most frequently. The findings suggest that the Africanization of content, using local and Afrocentric examples, can assist learners in acquiring relevant knowledge and skills and be useful in cross-cultural teaching and learning, as learners can relate the theory to their local context. However, the concept should be presented to learners before introducing new academic content.
The Technological and Societal Landscape
Abstract
This chapter explores the technological landscape, focusing on three topics: information security, encryption and quantum computing. With regard to information security, it highlights the ongoing struggle between creating secure systems and finding their weaknesses. It further underlines that the current state of information security is notably poor, with the complexity of IT systems providing ample opportunities for attackers. The chapter also touches on the dilemma faced by researchers who discover vulnerabilities on how to responsible disclose their findings. It finally examines the relationship between encryption technologies and quantum computing, suggesting that the development of quantum-resistant technologies is crucial. The discussion intertwines technology and human rights, seeking a balance between government access to encrypted information and protecting individual rights.
Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Global Economy and Technology Advancements
Abstract
The profound impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the global economy spans a diverse spectrum of consequences, with Cognitive Computing emerging as a catalyst for significant economic advancement. This transformative force notably augments productivity nurtures innovation, and contributes to worldwide economic expansion. Its influence is conspicuous across healthcare, finance, and manufacturing sectors, where intelligent systems optimize processes and ignite imaginative thinking. Moreover, AI plays a pivotal role in globalization, fortifying international competitiveness and enabling seamless worldwide economic integration. This chapter embarks on a journey to elaborate on the extensive economic impact of AI advancements, deftly navigating the intricate implications of cutting-edge technologies. We unravel AI’s role as a catalyst for heightened productivity and enhanced decision-making, skillfully addressing ethical and regulatory challenges. Shifting focus to economic growth and productivity, our exploration delves deeply into AI’s transformative influence in improving operational efficiency and fostering innovation on a global scale. The narrative then seamlessly transitions to labor market dynamics, unveiling evolving employment patterns and emphasizing the collaborative potential between humans and AI while thoughtfully integrating ethical considerations. Adopting a sector-specific lens, our narrative investigates AI’s pervasive influence across diverse industries, showcasing its impact from manufacturing automation to healthcare innovations and sustainable practices. This chapter is a holistic guide, offering nuanced insights into the multifaceted dimensions of AI’s economic impact. It ensures a comprehensive understanding of the evolving economic landscape shaped by artificial intelligence in this scientific survey.
Climate Change Effects on Characteristic Values of Temperature Loadings
Abstract
The assessment of existing reinforced concrete structures is currently a critical task to be dealt with by engineers and practitioners. Specifically, bridges and viaducts, that are composing important links in the infrastructure system, are subjected to changes in both the structural capacity and the demand over time, e.g., due to aging and structural deterioration processes as well as the evolution over time of intensity and frequency of climatic actions. In fact, climate change may have a significant impact on this evolution of both resistance and solicitations. In this context, assessing existing structures should be sustained by properly characterizing the actual loadings. In this paper, the impact of climate change on the evolution of climatic loadings is studied. The minimum and maximum temperatures are evaluated for the case of a cable-stayed viaduct located in France. The obtained results are eventually compared with the uniform temperature considered during the original design phase, and the ones proposed by the current Eurocodes regulations, with a discussion on the benefits and the limitations of the analysis, with emphasis on future developments.