Channel choice and public service delivery in Canada: Comparing e-government to traditional service delivery

This study examines channel choice and public service delivery in Canada, comparing e-government to traditional service delivery channels such as the phone or visiting a government office. Factors studied include the digital divide, the nature of the citizen interaction with government, public service values, and satisfaction with services received by citizens. These factors are used to determine whether they impacted choice of channel and satisfaction with that channel. This study, through logistic regression of a public opinion survey of Canadian residents, found indications suggesting a digital divide in accessing e-government; found that government websites were most commonly used for information purposes, while the phone was most commonly used to solve problems. In regards to citizens' satisfaction, the apparent digital divide was bridged when females and older Canadians were more satisfied with their contact with a government website. In addition, a positive experience with service delivery and positive public service values lead to greater website satisfaction. The results of this study imply that the phone is a more effective service channel for solving problems, and the website is more effective for getting information. Therefore, governments need to provide multiple contact channels for citizens, depending upon their task at hand, while ensuring consistency of information and service response across channels. Creating a positive experience for citizens when they received a service translates into a more satisfied experience with e-government.     

奥运会视觉形象系统的符号学审视简

运用文献资料、逻辑分析等研究方法,将奥运会的视觉形象作为研究对象,从符号学的视角来分析奥运会视觉形象的内涵和指示意义,探讨奥运会举办国的民族文化在奥运会视觉形象中的表现及与设计的关系;运用符号学理论加创新是我国大型运动会视觉形象设计与国际接轨的最好途径;总结奥运会视觉形象的发展规律并分析未来的发展趋势,以期丰富奥运会视觉形象系统的理论研究,从而开拓奥运会视觉形象研究的新领域.     

高职院校《市场调查与预测》教学一体化模式探索

本文首先对一体化教学模式进行了阐述,然后对一体化教学模式的意义进行了分析,最后在结合《市场调查与预测》课程性质的基础上提出了一体化教学模式方案。     

透视美国教育技术学专业设置与人才培养

美国是教育技术的发源地。立足于美国教育技术的发展历史来探究教育技术学的专业设置和人才培养状况是一个全新的视角。美国教育技术在60年代受到视听媒体、70年代受到传播学和图书馆学的影响,在80年代受到教学设计理论与实践、90年代受到学习科学的影响。相应地,美国教育技术学的专业设置和人才培养目标与规格的关注重点也发生了对应的变化。总体而言,美国教育技术学的专业名称非常多样化,所属院系主要设在教育学院之下,且以独立的系、专业、研究方向等形式开设。人才培养层次、方向和形式具有自主性、多样性和灵活性。这不仅与各院校对教育技术学人才的培养定位、学者们对教育技术的理解、学校的师资及资源建设等因素休戚相关,而且深受整个美国社会文化和教育体制的影响。     

西方世界中国翻译理论研究概况

不论在中国还是在西方,翻译活动大约都有两千年左右的历史。在长期的翻译实践活动中,不论在中国还是在西方世界,都产生过各式各样的理论。自20世纪50年代以来,我国引介了大量西方译论。然而,几千年来的中国翻译史,在西方研究者笔下,不过寥寥数笔。作为中国学者,在研究西方翻译理论的同时,有必要了解西方世界的中国译论研究概况,以便加深我们对中国译论的认识。基于此,笔者将对西方世界的中国翻译理论研究进行较为系统地梳理,以期中国学者对此有一个简单的认识。     

关于“优化大学英语教学的多维模式和评价体系”的调查报告及对策

针对目前我国部分高校大学英语教学现状,通过问卷调查的形式,对高校师生、大学英语教学手段、教学模式以及教学评价体系等多个角度进行调查研究,指出大学英语教学只有加强创新性思维能力的多维培养模式、进一步优化教育评价体系,才能推进大学英语教育现代化,培养出社会急需的复合型人才,以小教学的综合效能促进大时代的进步。     

Perception of Aquaculture Education to Support Further Growth of Aquaculture Industry in Victoria,Australia

Abstract

Purpose: The central aim of this study was to determine the perception of aquaculture educational provisions in the state of Victoria, and whether they are sufficient to ultimately support further growth of the industry.

Design/methodology/approach: Questionnaires were formulated and distributed to participants in a variety of ways, including via mail and in person. Responses were recorded and all results analysed. Participants in this study included farm and enterprise owners and managers, as well as students and careers teachers. A wide demographic was covered, and ages of participants ranged from 17 years to over 50 years of age.

Findings: Many farm owners held a relatively negative view of academia, and were quite critical of graduates and seemingly unaware of the potential benefits of educated and trained employees. The survey data also revealed substantial inadequacies in public aquaculture knowledge, a critical factor in the further development of the industry.

Practical implications: It is proposed that while the tertiary sector is the most appropriate place for the preparation of skilled graduates, the inclusion of aquaculture study within the existing secondary school curriculum has genuine potential, and would serve to encourage interest in and awareness of the industry among adolescents.

Originality/value: No prior studies on the perceptions of aquaculture industry have been conducted in Victoria, and very minimal work has been conducted in Australia on this topic in what is the most rapidly growing primary industry in the country.     

Editorial Commentary on Publications and Documents Received

Abstract

Development information science is a discipline that was proposed by the author in an earlier article. It is a new way of looking at how the education and training of information professionals may be handled with the interests of developing countries in mind. It was suggested that educators especially in developing countries should devise a new course entitled "Development Information Science". The purpose of the article is to continue the discourse of the discipline and suggest an approach for laying its theoretical foundation. Among the topics covered are: the generalized universe of theories; perceptions of information science theory in the west; domains of development information science; and its canons and paradigms. In addition, cognate disciplines; relevance of technology transfer; need for theoretical stringency; and a search for validation of the discipline are discussed.