Western medicine—especially in contrast with non-Western traditions of medical practice—is widely thought of as a coherent and unified field in which beliefs, definitions, and judgments are shared. Marc Berg and Annemarie Mol debunk this myth with an interdisciplinary and intercultural collection of essays that reveals the significantly varied ways practitioners of “conventional” Western medicine handle bodies, study test results, configure statistics, and converse with patients .Co...

In almost all Western countries, concerted efforts are made to stimulate the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in health care. Yet the number of success stories are few and the frustrations many. In this key textbook, readers are introduced to the challenges, the lessons learned and the new insights of health information managem

Few things make people react more strongly to the changes going on in health care than the word standardization. Critics shudder at the mindless sameness of standards, while supporters dream of a world in which standardized "best practices" open up a world of efficient health care delivery. The Gold Standard takes up this debate to investigate the real meaning of standardization and how it affects patients, doctors, and the institution of medicine. Showing that standards are not a...

A one-stop knowledge resource, Emerging Technologies in Distance Education showcases the international work of research scholars and innovative distance education practitioners who use emerging interactive technologies for teaching and learning at a distance. This widely anticipated book harnesses the dispersed knowledge of international experts who highlight pedagogical, organizational, cultural, social, and economic factors that influence the adoption and integration of emerging technolo...

"This is a must-read for every student, lecturer and professor. It establishes Internet Studies as essential to an understanding of how learners and educators can capture the value of our networked world."Professor William H. Dutton, Director of the Oxford Internet Institute, University of OxfordIn E-learning Theory and Practice the authors set out different perspectives on e-learning. The book deals with the social implications of e-learning, its transformative effects, an...

Big data has the power to transform education and educational research. Governments, researchers and commercial companies are only beginning to understand the potential that big data offers in informing policy ideas, contributing to the development of new educational tools and innovative ways of conducting research.This cutting-edge overview explores the current state-of-play, looking at big data and the related topic of computer code to examine the implications for education and s...

Learning Analytics Explained draws extensively from case studies and interviews with experts in order to discuss emerging applications of the new field of learning analytics. Educational institutions increasingly collect data on students and their learning experiences, a practice that helps enhance courses, identify learners who require support, and provide a more personalized learning experience. There is, however, a corresponding need for guidance on how to carry out institution...

This text aims to connect school organization theory with the school effectiveness knowledge base. Each chapter presents a comprehensive overview of the knowledge base on the central theme and addresses the question of what is known about the subject as a school effectiveness-enhancing condition.

This book considers the cognitive nature of courses connected with ICT or using ICT as an integral part of the course, including some views on the associated learning and teaching styles. Which factors lead to learning outcomes and are these intended or fortuitous? Factors may include ones specific to particular subject areas and their relationship with ICT, motivation associated with ICT usage, the interest which teachers, pupils and students who enjoy using ICT bring to the learning cont...

Problem-based learning online is a burgeoning area, crying out for support in all the disciplines, but particularly health, medicine, education and social care that are already advanced users of problem-based learning in higher education.This book provides highly grounded research based ways for those wanting to change problem-based learning modules and programs from face to face to online approaches, as well as those who have developed e-learning components but who want to adopt p...

e-Learning is now an essential component of education. Globalization, the proliferation of information available on the Internet and the importance of knowledge-based economies have added a whole new dimension to teaching and learning. As more tutors, students and trainees, and institutions adopt online learning there is a need for resources that will examine and inform this field.Using examples from around the world, the authors of e-Learning: Concepts and Practices

Transforming the Measurement of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education proposes a dynamic new model for educational measurement by reconceptualizing the field of learning analytics. Revolving around the agency and daily work of those in the field, this book describes how colleges and universities can be better structured for quality learning, showcases new tools for gathering emergent feedback, and demonstrates how that feedback can be used effectively across higher education o...