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- Data Engineering Roadmap for Implementing Business Intelligence in Higher EducationPublication . Sequeira, Romeu; Reis, Arsénio; Branco, Frederico; Alves, PauloThis article addresses the implementation of Business Intelligence (BI) systems in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), focusing on developing an appropriate data architecture that meets the specificities and requirements of this sector. With the rapid advance of information technologies, HEIs face the growing challenge of managing a considerable volume of data, making it essential to implement BI systems that support informed and efficient decision-making. Using the Design Science Research methodology, this study proposes a BI architecture model that aligns technologies with HEIs' academic and administrative needs and facilitates their integration and ongoing maintenance. The model is designed to be flexible and scalable, allowing adaptations as institutional needs evolve. The article describes the architecture development process, from initial planning to implementation, and discusses how this framework can significantly improve data management and the quality of decision-making processes in educational institutions. The research offers practical and theoretical insights for academics and managers seeking to optimize the use of BI in educational contexts.
- Abordagens da matemática no ensino superior com o geogebra e sua relação com os estilos de aprendizagemPublication . Cordeiro, Edite; Miranda, Luísa; Morais, Carlos; Alves, PauloNa perspetiva de inovar e de ir ao encontro das formas de aprender dos estudantes do ensino superior, avaliou-se a conjugação da utilização de abordagens suportadas por recursos digitais no contexto de ensino e aprendizagem de Matemática com as suas formas de aprender. Neste sentido, desenvolveu-se um estudo apoiado pelo software GeoGebra. Os objetivos que orientaram esta investigação foram: identificar os estilos de aprendizagem dos sujeitos participantes no estudo; averiguar a importância atribuída pelos sujeitos à utilização do GeoGebra em competências a adquirir; relacionar as perceções com os estilos de aprendizagem dos estudantes. Em termos de metodologia, a investigação pode ser considerada exploratória seguindo uma abordagem de natureza mista. A recolha de dados relativa à avaliação da utilização do GeoGebra foi efetuada por questionário construído pelos autores do estudo e pelo questionário Honey-Alonso de estilos de aprendizagem. No desenvolvimento do artigo são apresentados os resultados em função dos objetivos definidos.
- Motion sensors for Knee angle recognition in muscle rehabilitation solutionsPublication . Franco, Tiago; Oliveira, Leonardo Sestrem de; Henriques, Pedro Rangel; Alves, Paulo; Pereira, Maria João; Brandão, Diego; Leitão, Paulo; Silva, AlfredoThe progressive loss of functional capacity due to aging is a serious problem that can compromise human locomotion capacity, requiring the help of an assistant and reducing independence. The NanoStim project aims to develop a system capable of performing treatment with electrostimulation at the patient’s home, reducing the number of consultations. The knee angle is one of the essential attributes in this context, helping understand the patient’s movement during the treatment session. This article presents a wearable system that recognizes the knee angle through IMU sensors. The hardware chosen for the wearables are low cost, including an ESP32 microcontroller and an MPU-6050 sensor. However, this hardware impairs signal accuracy in the multitasking environment expected in rehabilitation treatment. Three optimization filters with algorithmic complexity O(1) were tested to improve the signal’s noise. The complementary filter obtained the best result, presenting an average error of 0.6 degrees and an improvement of 77% in MSE. Furthermore, an interface in the mobile app was developed to respond immediately to the recognized movement. The systems were tested with volunteers in a real environment and could successfully measure the movement performed. In the future, it is planned to use the recognized angle with the electromyography sensor.
- Performance indicators in higher education with learning analyticsPublication . Morais, Carlos; Alves, Paulo; Miranda, LuísaThe regular use of virtual learning environments by educational institutions and the availability of large quantities of data regarding the teaching and learning process both challenge teachers, institutions and researchers to explore such data within the perspective of learning analytics in order to obtain indicators which might contribute to the improvement of the teaching and learning process. Consequently, such improvement may lead to students’ better learning outcomes as well as a better relationship with the institution they attend. Taking into account that student retention and dropout from degree courses before their completion have highly negative consequences for a high number of students, the aim of this research is to look into indicators associated with such problems through a mixed methodology, both qualitative and quantitative, and through procedures of analysis and research of data from databases containing academic information provided by a sample of 1,588 undergraduates. The focus of the study lies upon the relation and analysis of the following variables: students’ frequency of access per course unit to the virtual environment of the institution they attend; quantity of course units passed; and mean of the marks obtained in the course units passed. Among the results obtained, we highlight the existence of a positive degree of association with moderate correlation between the variables frequency of access per course unit to the virtual environment and the mean of the number of course units passed. Following the division of the sample into four different groups, each group corresponding to one quartile, resulting from the data regarding the frequency of accesses per course unit to the institution’s virtual environment, significant differences were found concerning the mean of the course units passed between the groups showing a higher frequency of access to the virtual learning environment and those with a lower access frequency, to the advantage of the groups showing a higher frequency of access to the virtual environment. Therefore, considering the way the groups were constituted, there is proof that the higher the frequency of access to the virtual environment is, the higher the probability of students succeeding in the course units they attend will be.
- A Neural Network-Based Approach to Identifying Wrinkles and Recommending Cosmetic ProductsPublication . Tonello, Guilherme de M.; Alves, Paulo; Ortoncelli, André Roberto; Pereira, Maria JoãoSkincare has become a constant demand among the population, who are increasingly concerned about their health. Furthermore, environmental issues arouse the interest of the masses in natural and sustainable products. This project proposes an approach for recommending thermal-based products based on a set of information provided by the user, combined with the results of computer vision algorithms (to identify the age and occurrence of wrinkles on the user’s forehead). A list of recommended products is generated Based on the profile determined for the user. To predict wrinkles, for each facial image sent by the user, we apply a pre-processing step that segments and prepares the region of interest, which a CNN will process. As a CNN, we used the VGG16 architecture trained using a transfer learning and fine-tuning strategy, which improved the results obtained, reaching an accuracy of 92% in classifying wrinkles. An algorithm provided by the Deepface tool is used to predict the user’s age, based on the sent picture.Which is crossed with the user’s information to determine a level of aging in order to improve the quality of the recommended products.
- Optimization, learning algorithms and applications: first International Conference, OL2A 2021Publication . Pereira, Ana I. (Ed.); Fernandes, Florbela P. (Ed.); Coelho, João Paulo (Ed.); Teixeira, João Paulo (Ed.); Pacheco, Maria F. (Ed.); Alves, Paulo (Ed.); Lopes, Rui Pedro (Ed.)The volume CCIS 1488 contains the refereed proceedings of the International Conference on Optimization, Learning Algorithms and Applications (OL2A 2021), an event that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was held online. OL2A 2021 provided a space for the research community on optimization and learning to get together and share the latest developments, trends, and techniques as well as develop new paths and collaborations. OL2A 2021 had more than 400 participants in an online environment throughout the three days of the conference (July 19–21, 2021), discussing topics associated to areas such as optimization and learning and state-of-the-art applications related to multi-objective optimization, optimization for machine learning, robotics, health informatics, data analysis, optimization and learning under uncertainty, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Four special sessions were organized under the following topics: Trends in Engineering Education, Optimization in Control Systems Design, Data Visualization and Virtual Reality, and Measurements with the Internet of Things. The event had 52 accepted papers, among which 39 were full papers. All papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 134 submissions. All the reviews were carefully carried out by a Scientific Committee of 61 PhD researchers from 18 countries.
- Using academic analytics to predict dropout risk in engineering coursesPublication . Lima, Jhonny de; Alves, Paulo; Pereira, Maria João; Almeida, SimoneThe increase of data generated and stored in the educational databases makes it possible to obtain essential information about the teaching and learning process. School dropout and performance problems continue to represent issues which challenge teachers, researchers and higher education institutions to seek solutions. Through the use of academic analytics techniques for data analysis, a sample of 1,844 students between graduates and dropouts on the period between 2007 and 2015 were used as the basis. The methodology followed is essentially quantitative and it allowed to compare student profiles and degrees based on scores, number of attempts and other performance indicators. The data set was processed using Excel software for statistical analysis and R software for data mining using the k-Means and C5.0 algorithms. The propose of a model based on decision trees has as main objectives the generation of standardized instructions, easy interpretation and allow the addition of several possible outcomes, contributing to the decision-making process. The results of this study resulted in contributions which enable higher education institutions to identify students with performance problems and those at risk of dropout and, therefore, allow teachers and course directors to adopt better strategies to increase success and reduce dropout.
- The influence of virtual learning environments in students’ performancePublication . Alves, Paulo; Miranda, Luísa; Morais, CarlosThis paper focuses mainly on the relation between the use of a virtual learning environment (VLE) and students’ performance. Therefore, virtual learning environments are characterised and a study is presented emphasising the frequency of access to a VLE and its relation with the students’ performance from a public higher education institution during the academic year of 2014-15. The main aim of this research work is to obtain indicators which may help understand relations between the use of VLEs and students’ performance. Finding the frequency of access to the VLE and assessing the consequences of such use represent challenges to which teachers and researchers try to respond in order to know students better and consequently, develop strategies which meet their interests and needs. This study is mainly quantitative with descriptive features, involving data obtained from literature research and from experimental research using a sample of approximately 6300 undergraduates. The data was extracted from the VLE and student registration system databases using learning analytics procedures. The results show that there are relatively positive indicators regarding students’ access to a virtual learning environment and the relation between such access and their performance.
- Issues of e-learning standards and identity management for mobility and collaboration in higher educationPublication . Alves, Paulo; Uhomoibhi, JamesThis paper investigates and reports the status of identity management systems and e-learning standards across Europe for promoting mobility, collaboration and the sharing of contents and services in higher education institutions.The creation of identities federation across Europe has been under discussion by TERENA (Trans-European Research and Education Networking Association) to provide a service federation like the EDUROAM WIFI network that permits the mobility across Europe. This paper reports on some of the issues highlighted in the light of recent developments. It is revealed that it is crucial to create identity management fedeartion to provide for ease of mobility and facilitate collaboration and sharing information amongst staff and students in higher education.
- Development of E-learning in higher education and future directionsPublication . Uhomoibhi, James; Palma, José; Alves, Paulo; Epelboin, Yves; Restivo, Teresa; Piteira, Martinha; Soares, Filomena; Fernandez, CarlesThe present paper is based on the work of the ‘Future of E-Learning Group’, a constituent of the EUNIS E-Learning task Force. The group has set up a number of tasks to fulfill its role, one of which, is seeking and disseminating information on the development of e-learning with a view to ensuring the right guide is provided for progress into the future. In our work to date, in this era of globalization, we question the ability of present university systems to respond adequately and appropriately to complex demands of an Information Economy. There’s increasing involvement of private sector in higher education. The effects on future learning on the use of varying tools as well as the design of competency-based performance in e-learning have been reported (Wolrery et al, 2000; Sluijsmans et al, 2006). Several multimedia learning systems are being developed for use as future interactive educational tools (Low et al, 2003). New thinking is required for the new relationships that are being developed between creative subjects and technology when we consider the nature of universities in their present state of existence as public sector institutions. The university of the future can be perceived as a setup, based on international trade in educational services, with universities fulfilling the functions of licensing, quality assurance and cultural custodianship. The pressent paper discusses some of these issues and reports on the future directions of e-learning as they relate to higher education.