Defense of my PhD thesis

On June 12, 2009 I have defended my PhD thesis in Computer Science at Vaxjo University. I have started my PhD studies on September 1st, 2005 and in previous 4 years I have been heavily involved in research and teaching. My thesis work was based on two research projects and 8 publications.

I will continue to work at VXU as Senior Lecturer (equivalent of professor assistant) where I will teach courses related to web 2.0 technologies and conduct research within couple of European research projects.

Publications in 2008

Kurti A., Spikol D. and Milrad M. (2008)“Bridging Outdoors and Indoors Educational Activities in Schools with the Support of Mobile and Positioning Technologies” International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organization (IJMLO)Vol.2 No. 2, Pp. 166-186

Spikol, D., Kurti, A. & Milrad.M. (2008). Collaboration in Context as a Framework for Designing Innovative Mobile Learning Activities. Book chapter in Innovative Mobile Learning: Techniques and Technologies edited by Hokyoung Ryu & David Parsons, IDEA GROUP INC, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA

Wingkvist A. and Kurti A. (2008) Context thinking 31st Information Systems Research Seminar in Scandinavia (IRIS), 2008, Åre, Sweden, August 10^th – 13^th

Kurti, A. (2008). Context modeling to support the design of mobile learning. Proceedings of the 5th IEEE International Conference on Soft Computing as Transdisciplinary Science and Technology, Paris, France, 27-31 October, 2008.Pp. 536-541

My publications in 2007

Kurti A., Milrad M. and Spikol D. (2007) "Designing Innovative Learning Activities Using Ubiquitous Computing". Proceedings of the IEEE ICALT 2007 held in Niigata, Japan. July 18^th -20^th. Pp. 386-390. ISBN: 978-0-7695-2916-5

Kurti A., Spikol D., Milrad M., Svensson M. and Pettersson O. (2007) "Exploring How Pervasive Technologies Can Support Situated Learning". Proceedings of the International Workshop on Pervasive Learning, in conjunction with the Fifth International Conference on Pervasive Computing, Pervasive 2007 held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. May 13^th – 16^th. Pp. 19-26. ISBN: 978-0-473-12125-9

Workshop on "Challenges for Ubiquitous Design Methods"

Together with my colleague Daniel Spikol (from CeLeKT - VXU), we are organizing the workshop on the theme "Challenges for Ubiquitous Design Methods". The workshop will be organized in the scope of SIDeR 2007 Conference.

The purpose and goals of the workshop is:
· Explore and discuss suitable frameworks for the design and evaluation of ubiquitous computing conceived to support intellectual teamwork
· To take in consideration different technologies (included but not limited to RFID, GPS and other sensors)
· For gathering contextual data for the above environments and how this influences Activity Theory.
· Outcome from the workshop is an expanded model for using Activity Theory in the design process of technology enhanced situated learning environments.

Click here for full description regarding the content of the workshop and ways for participating on it.

SIDeR 2007 will be held on the southeast coast of Sweden, in Ronneby, on March 8th -9th 2007.

My publications in 2006

Kurti A., Milrad M., Alserin F. and Gustafsson J. (2006) "Designing and Implementing Ubiquitous Learning Activities Supported by Mobile and Positioning Technologies". Proceedings of the IASTED CATE 2006, Lima, Peru, October, 4^th – 6^th. Pp. 193-199. ISBN: 0-88986-626-0

Flensburg P. and Kurti A. (2006) "Social Informatics in future?". Proceedings of the IFIP-TC9 – 7th International Conference "Human Choice and Computers", 2006, Maribor, Slovenia, September 21^st -23^rd. Pp. 87 -101. ISBN: 9-780-38737-875-6

Kurti A., Spikol D., Milrad M. and Flensburg P. (2006) "Increasing the value of information-Putting content in to context – is that enough?", 29th Information Systems Research Seminar in Scandinavia (IRIS), 2006, Elsinore, Denmark, August 12^th – 15^th

Kurti A., Milrad M. and Alserin F. (2006) "Contextual Design of Mobile Services to Support Knowledge Workers in Library Settings". Proceedings of the IEEE ICALT 2006, Kerkrade, Netherlands, July 5^th -7^th. Pp. 375-377. ISBN: 0-7695-2632-2

Alserin, F., Cohen, V., Gustafsson, J., Hedin, B., Jackson, M., Kurti, A., Lindström. G., Lundeval, K., & Milrad, M. (2006) "Multicasting Services and Information in Sweden" Final Project Report submitted to VINNOVA.

Courses teached by me!

During my academic activities I have been involved in teaching in three different universities (BTH, SEEU and UP) in three countries (Sweden, Macedonia and Kosova). Courses that I have been teaching so far are:

• Information Systems (at University of Prishtina)
  
• Databases (at University of Prishtina)
• Data warehousing (at University of Prishtina)
• Operating Systems (at South East European University)
  
• Computer Architecture(at South East European University)
• Web Services(at South East European University)
• XML based multimedia technologies (at Prishtina International Summer University 2005, 2006)
• Information Architecture (at Blekinge Institute of Technology - Sweden)

Beside this I offer those courses as online courses at my eLearning platform at eMesimi.org.

Welcome

Hi everybody,

This blog will be used as a publishing space for my thoughts, ideas and other interesting things. Feel free to comment or ask question about anything you think that I might be helpful.

Currently I am conducting my PhD studies in Computer Science with an orientation in Informatics at Växjö University. My field of research is within the areas of mobile systems and pervasive and ubiquitous computing, especially in exploring the use of contextual information for designing innovative services and applications in specific domains. I am currently focusing my efforts on collaborative learning and collaborative knowledge building activities where I explore the role of of mobile and positioning technologies to support these processes.

In the same time I work as lecturer in two universities: University of Prishtina in Kosova and South East European University in Tetova (Macedonia).