Articles and studies
Abstract: The importance of promoting interdisciplinary educations is recognized, however, initiating collaborative interdisciplinary educational projects is challenging. In this paper, we will present the Digital HealthLab (DHLab), an educational optional, yearly educational module developed to define systematic support for students who wished to work with interdisciplinary projects in their bachelor or master thesis. The students were from computing and from health and social care, and their projects influenced by issues regarding technology development and use. By presenting DHLab, we aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of challenges and benefits with initiating interdisciplinary education at universities. Data was collected during the initiation and evaluation of DHLab from observations and group interviews. Our experiences are important to highlight since there is limited knowledge on starting and running interdisciplinary educational modules in areas without already established collaboration traditions, even if actors from the areas are geographically close to each other. Our results showed that using processes for planning educational activities was essential to understand needs, requirements, and possibilities from the different types of educators. However, future research is needed to determine key activities systematically supporting the start of interdisciplinary student projects with a focus on the role of the different participating environments.
Keywords: Interdisciplinary education; technology development; technology use; engineering; health and social care; processes; collaboration.
Abstract: In this paper the authors present how they implemented Project-Based Learning (PBL) at Subotica Tech - College of Applied Science and how they measure the individuals‟ performance in team work. Given that PBL takes place in group work, the students‟ marks were formed on a group level depending on how well the project was realized. Experience has shown that the “one mark fits all” approach may not be adequate for the majority of the students, because they strive for feedback so as to help them grow and improve. This motivated the authors to study the functioning of the group and individuals, and identify suitable metrics for measuring performance in the group at the level of the individual. Data collection about the topic was conducted via questionnaire. By analyzing the feedback from students and the results of developing the applications, it can be stated that the PBL approach in teamwork is accepted by the students. Authors suggest metrics for measuring individuals performance, but also state that three years after the implementation of this approach there is still no ideal way to be objective towards every team member individually.
Keywords: project based learning; measuring team performance; agile development.
Abstract: The Department of Mathematics of the University of Dunaújváros is devoted to the success of their students. It results in a deep understanding of the students’ needs. Appropriate course material including video lectures, notes, handbook, practice tests, detailed study guide, consultations personally and via email, chat using social networks make this approach fruitful. Modern learning methods are also introduced. Several studies show that changing the learning environment (LE) of higher education courses increases student success. In this work the improvement of the LE applied for the Mathematics course of the University of Dunaújváros is introduced. Using this LE the education is much more effective than in the traditional ways.
Keywords: teaching mathematics; education; learning environment.
Abstract: Nowadays industrial solutions in the field of mechatronics often integrate the actuators with sensors and control units. This integration creates complex mechatronic devices. The complexity of these devices is evident, because this integration asks for communication between sensors, actuators and their control units, and communication with external control units and sensors, as well as other actuators, and often humans. To be able to prepare the students to the professional challenges they will face after finishing their studies, the teaching process at Universities and Colleges must adapt to this shift in the concept of what the industry is today, i.e. tomorrow. This research deals with the problem of developing a telepresence system at Subotica Tech as part of the project-oriented teaching process, which introduces the main aspects of modern industry, which are known as Industry 4.0. The problem is discussed by presenting a case study.
Keywords: telepresence system; industry 4.0; product development; mechatronics.
Abstract: Early school leaving is a considerable problem both for the individual and the family, as well as for the school and the whole society. Students who leave school without qualification have much worse opportunities in the future, regarding career, income, promotion, health conditions, etc. In Hungary, secondary school dropout is a current problem; however, its ratio must be under 10% by 2020 according to an EU strategy. There are several causes leading to school dropout, such as, family background, conflict between family and school, absenteeism from school, bad school achievements, weak school contacts, school failures, etc. The purpose of the research was to find the main causes of early school leaving – according to teachers’ opinion. The research was carried out in a Vocational Centre among teachers in the form of self-administered questionnaire in 2017. In the questionnaire, five categories were identified (students’ features, family, peers, teachers, and institution) that may contribute to dropout. The result showed that out of the five categories teachers think that mostly students and least the institution is responsible for dropout.
Keywords: vocational education; school dropout; contributing factors.
Abstract: Generally speaking the contemporary modern innovations in information and communication technologies (ICT) on the one hand foster the development of operation processes and marketing of products and services, and, on the other hand, provide a model of the use of information technology, which reduces the initial investment in IT and moderate the operational cost of ICT. Higher educations are organizations that offer services and are interested in the benefits of contemporary ICT. The new buzzword „Digital transformation‟ refers to the business approach implementing the latest ICT technologies (cloud computing, Internet of Things-IoT, big data, blockchain, artificial intelligence-AI and machine learning-ML), adjusting these to the users in terms of their ability to use these novel ICT technologies. The paper includes a proposal of a possible and applicable ICT Ecosystem model for higher education, which can further enhance and accelerate the digital transformation in higher education.
Keywords: digital transformation, cloud computing, internet of things.
Abstract: The purpose of the research was to analyse details in the application of operational amplifiers in precision analog circuits. Special attention was given to deviations caused by common mode rejection ratio, not thoroughly analysed in the literature. The research is started with theoretical analysis. Composite amplifier circuits are proposed to achieve better performances than with a single operational amplifier could be achieved. Benefits of the proposed circuits are shown by simulations based on the simulation models and measurements on the real model. The theory and practice introduced below could be well included in undergraduate course in analog electronics.
Keywords: operational amplifier; composite amplifier; high common mode rejection ratio (CMRR).