Increasing Engagement Through Explicit and Implicit Gamification in Higher Education (2022)
Book Chapter
Gordon, N., & Grey, S. (2022). Increasing Engagement Through Explicit and Implicit Gamification in Higher Education. In O. Bernardes, V. Amorim, & A. Carrizo Moreira (Eds.), Handbook of Research on the Influence and Effectiveness of Gamification in Education (662-681). Hershey, Pa.: IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-4287-6

Engagement is essential in higher education but can be problematic to achieve. Successful games are, at their core, designed to be engaging experiences. In attempts to increase engagement in learning, there has been an increase in playful learning, g... Read More about Increasing Engagement Through Explicit and Implicit Gamification in Higher Education.

Flexible Ontology-Driven Educational Apps and Social Media for Learners with a Disability (2022)
Conference Proceeding
Nganji, J. T., Brayshaw, M., & Gordon, N. (2022). Flexible Ontology-Driven Educational Apps and Social Media for Learners with a Disability. In P. Zaphiris, & A. Ioannou (Eds.), Learning and Collaboration Technologies. Designing the Learner and Teacher Experience. HCII 2022 (361-375). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05657-4_26

This paper explores how to build ontology-driven learning systems from a flexible disability-aware mentality and augment them into a learning blend that embraces social media. The approach emphasizes the use of user centered flexible software in a bl... Read More about Flexible Ontology-Driven Educational Apps and Social Media for Learners with a Disability.

Learning Analytics and Deep Learning in Large Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) (2022)
Journal Article
Wechie, N., Brayshaw, M., & Gordon, N. (2022). Learning Analytics and Deep Learning in Large Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs). International Journal on Engineering Technologies and Informatics, 3(1), 1-3. https://doi.org/10.51626/ijeti.2022.03.00029

In this paper we look at the use of Deep Learning as a technique for Education Data Mining and Learnng Analytics. We discuss existing approaches and how Deep Learning can be used in a complimentary manner in order to provide new and insightful perspe... Read More about Learning Analytics and Deep Learning in Large Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs).

Addressing Optimisation Challenges for Datasets with Many Variables, Using Genetic Algorithms to Implement Feature Selection (2022)
Journal Article
Gordon, N., Kambhampati, C., & Alabad, A. (2022). Addressing Optimisation Challenges for Datasets with Many Variables, Using Genetic Algorithms to Implement Feature Selection. AI, Computer Science and Robotics Technology, 1, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.5772/acrt.01

This article provides an optimisation method using a Genetic Algorithm approach to apply feature selection techniques for large data sets to improve accuracy. This is achieved through improved classification, a reduced number of features, and further... Read More about Addressing Optimisation Challenges for Datasets with Many Variables, Using Genetic Algorithms to Implement Feature Selection.

Improving Graduate Futures and Employability Through Embedded Industrial Experience (2022)
Journal Article
Dixon, J., & Gordon, N. (2022). Improving Graduate Futures and Employability Through Embedded Industrial Experience. New Directions in the Teaching of Physical Sciences, https://doi.org/10.29311/ndtps.v0i17.3596

The financial cost to individuals of higher education is now regularly exceeding £50k before maintenance in the UK; consequently, students are more concerned than ever that their degree should offer value for money when they enter the jobs marketplac... Read More about Improving Graduate Futures and Employability Through Embedded Industrial Experience.

The Role of Gamification in a Software Development Lifecycle (2021)
Conference Proceeding
Gordon, N., Brayshaw, M., Dixon, J., Grey, S., & Parker, D. (2021). The Role of Gamification in a Software Development Lifecycle. In INSPIRE XXVI . Delivering Global Education and Impact in Emergencies Using E-Learning (81-94)

Teaching Software Engineering students raises a number of challenges; in particular that student developers typically demonstrate behaviours that run counter to good software development. These include failing to plan properly, failing to develop the... Read More about The Role of Gamification in a Software Development Lifecycle.

A permanent Pivot to online learning, or will universities bounce back to normal? (2021)
Journal Article
Gordon, N. (2021). A permanent Pivot to online learning, or will universities bounce back to normal?. Academia Letters, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.20935/al2394

The Coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on how universities (higher or tertiary education) globally have taught students, throughout 2020 and into 2021. The response to the Coronavirus pandemic saw a mass pivot towards online learning in m... Read More about A permanent Pivot to online learning, or will universities bounce back to normal?.

Dependability Analysis Using Temporal Fault Trees and Monte Carlo Simulation (2021)
Book Chapter
Edifor, E., Gordon, N., & Walker, M. (2021). Dependability Analysis Using Temporal Fault Trees and Monte Carlo Simulation. In W. Zamojski, J. Mazurkiewicz, J. Sugier, T. Walkowiak, & J. Kacprzyk (Eds.), Theory and Engineering of Dependable Computer Systems and Networks (86-96). Cham: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76773-0_9

The safety and reliability of high-consequence systems is an issue of utmost importance to engineers because such systems can have catastrophic effects if they fail. Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) is a well-known probabilistic technique for assessing the... Read More about Dependability Analysis Using Temporal Fault Trees and Monte Carlo Simulation.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: a setting for Professional and Research skills (2021)
Journal Article
Dixon, J., & Gordon, N. A. (2021). The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: a setting for Professional and Research skills. New Directions in the Teaching of Physical Sciences, 16(1), https://doi.org/10.29311/ndtps.v0i16.3660

This paper considers the use of the United Nations global goals to provide a framework for the teaching of professional and related skills. The main example and case study considered in this paper is from computing; however, much of the approach and... Read More about The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: a setting for Professional and Research skills.

Refining the Teaching of Programming (2020)
Conference Proceeding
Gordon, N., Cargill, M., Grey, S., & Brayshaw, M. (2020). Refining the Teaching of Programming. In INSPIRE XXV : e-Learning as a solution during unprecedented times in the 21st Century (97-107)

This paper considers issues around the teaching of programming, a critical yet challenging part of the computing education at all levels. This paper begins by outlining some of the key concerns around computing education-from secondary school, throug... Read More about Refining the Teaching of Programming.

Identifying Gaps in Cybersecurity Teaching and Learning (2020)
Conference Proceeding
Brayshaw, M., Gordon, N., & Karatazgianni, A. (2020). Identifying Gaps in Cybersecurity Teaching and Learning. In INSPIRE XXV : e-Learning as a solution during unprecedented times in the 21st Century (165-178)

This paper explores perceptions and expectations of privacy when using computer-mediated communication and social media. In this paper we present the results of an empirical survey into this topic and explore the pedagogic implications for the teachi... Read More about Identifying Gaps in Cybersecurity Teaching and Learning.

Genetic Algorithms as a Feature Selection Tool in Heart Failure Disease (2020)
Journal Article
Alabed, A., Kambhampati, C., & Gordon, N. (in press). Genetic Algorithms as a Feature Selection Tool in Heart Failure Disease. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, 1229 AISC, 531-543. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52246-9_38

A great wealth of information is hidden in clinical datasets, which could be analyzed to support decision-making processes or to better diagnose patients. Feature selection is one of the data pre-processing that selects a set of input features by rem... Read More about Genetic Algorithms as a Feature Selection Tool in Heart Failure Disease.

Learning technologies for learning in health and well-being (2019)
Book Chapter
Gordon, N. (in press). Learning technologies for learning in health and well-being. In P. Gökcin Özuyar, W. Leal Filho, T. Wall, A. Marisa Azul, & L. Brandli (Eds.), Good Health and Well-Being

The United Nations (U.N.) Sustainable Goal 3, for healthy lives and promoting well-being, notes that 45% of all countries have less than one physician per 1000 people, that figure rising to 90% for less developed countries (United Nations, 2018). Giv... Read More about Learning technologies for learning in health and well-being.

Technologies for analysing and improving healthcare processes (2019)
Book Chapter
Gordon, N. (in press). Technologies for analysing and improving healthcare processes. In W. Leal Filho, T. Wall, A. Azul, L. Brandli, & P. Özuyar (Eds.), Good Health and Well-Being

The right to a healthy life is a natural expectation and recognised as a human right (WHO, 2017) – and is further recognised as such in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, where Goal 3 focusses on “good health and well-being” (United Na... Read More about Technologies for analysing and improving healthcare processes.

Smart, social, flexible and fun: Escaping the flatlands of virtual learning environments (2019)
Journal Article
Brayshaw, M., Gordon, N. A., & Grey, S. (2019). Smart, social, flexible and fun: Escaping the flatlands of virtual learning environments. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, 998, 1047-1060. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22868-2_70

© 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG. This paper describes the development of intelligent, social, flexible and game-based pedagogic approaches and their applications in Virtual Learning Environment based Education. Applications of computer science... Read More about Smart, social, flexible and fun: Escaping the flatlands of virtual learning environments.

A flexible approach to introductory programming : engaging and motivating students (2019)
Conference Proceeding
Gordon, N., Brayshaw, M., & Grey, S. (2019). A flexible approach to introductory programming : engaging and motivating students. In CEP '19 Proceedings of the 3rd Conference on Computing Education Practice. https://doi.org/10.1145/3294016.3294025

© 2019 Copyright is held by the owner/author(s). In this paper, we consider an approach to supporting students of Computer Science as they embark upon their university studies. The transition to Computer Science can be challenging for students, and e... Read More about A flexible approach to introductory programming : engaging and motivating students.

Approaches to Measuring Attendance and Engagement (2018)
Journal Article
Grey, S., & Gordon, N. A. (2018). Approaches to Measuring Attendance and Engagement. New Directions in the Teaching of Physical Sciences, 13(13), Article 2692. https://doi.org/10.29311/ndtps.v0i13.2767

In this paper, we argue that, where we measure student attendance, this creates an extrinsic motivator in the form of a reward for (apparent) engagement and can thus lead to undesirable behaviour and outcomes. We go on to consider a number of other m... Read More about Approaches to Measuring Attendance and Engagement.

Constraints and autonomy for creativity in extracurricular gamejams and curricular assessment (2018)
Journal Article
Grey, S., Parker, D., & Gordon, N. (2018). Constraints and autonomy for creativity in extracurricular gamejams and curricular assessment. Research in Learning Technology, 26, Article 2023. https://doi.org/10.25304/rlt.v26.2023

The engagement observed by the players of the games that they play is a desirable quality that has not gone unnoticed in the field of education, leading to concepts such as gamification of education, game-based learning and serious games for training... Read More about Constraints and autonomy for creativity in extracurricular gamejams and curricular assessment.

Using formal game design methods to embed learning outcomes into game mechanics and avoid emergent behaviour (2017)
Journal Article
Grey, S., Grey, D., Gordon, N., & Purdy, J. (2017). Using formal game design methods to embed learning outcomes into game mechanics and avoid emergent behaviour. International Journal of Game-Based Learning, 7(3), 63-73. https://doi.org/10.4018/ijgbl.2017070106

This paper offers an approach to designing game based learning experiences inspired by the Mechanics-Dynamics-Aesthetics (MDA) model (Hunicke et al, 2004) and the elemental tetrad (Schell, 2008) model for game design. A case for game based learning a... Read More about Using formal game design methods to embed learning outcomes into game mechanics and avoid emergent behaviour.

A hybrid evaluation approach and guidance for mHealth education applications (2017)
Book Chapter
Aljaber, T., & Gordon, N. (2018). A hybrid evaluation approach and guidance for mHealth education applications. In Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing; Advances in Usability and User Experience (282-290). Springer Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60492-3_27

© Springer International Publishing AG 2018. Mobile health education applications (MHEAs) are used to support different users. However, although these applications are increasing in number, there is no effective evaluation framework to measure their... Read More about A hybrid evaluation approach and guidance for mHealth education applications.