{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,4]],"date-time":"2025-12-04T18:44:34Z","timestamp":1764873874811,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,10,25]],"date-time":"2021-10-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1635120000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Computers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is linked to skin cancer. Children are more vulnerable to UV harmful effects compared to adults. Children\u2019s active involvement in using Internet of Things (IoT) devices to collect and analyze real-time UV radiation data is suggested to increase their awareness of UV protection. This quasi-experimental pre-test post-test control group study implemented light sensors in a STEM inquiry-based learning environment focusing on UV radiation and protection in primary education. This exploratory, small-scale study investigated the effect of a STEM environment implementing IoT devices on 6th graders\u2019 knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about UV radiation and protection. Participants were 31 primary school students. Experimental group participants (n = 15) attended four eighty-minute inquiry-based lessons on UV radiation and protection and used sensors to measure and analyze UV radiation in their school. Data sources included questionnaires on UV knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors administered pre- and post-intervention. Statistically significant learning gains were found only for the experimental group (t14 = \u22123.64, p = 0.003). A statistically significant positive behavioral change was reported for experimental group participants six weeks post-intervention. The study adds empirical evidence suggesting the value of real-time data-driven approaches implementing IoT devices to positively influence students\u2019 knowledge and behaviors related to socio-scientific problems affecting their health.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/computers10110137","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,10,25]],"date-time":"2021-10-25T21:40:21Z","timestamp":1635198021000},"page":"137","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":8,"title":["Affecting Young Children\u2019s Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors for Ultraviolet Radiation Protection through the Internet of Things: A Quasi-Experimental Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"10","author":[{"given":"Sotiroula","family":"Theodosi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Communication and Internet Studies, Cyprus University of Technology, P.O. Box 50329, Limassol 3603, Cyprus"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8267-0328","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Iolie","family":"Nicolaidou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Communication and Internet Studies, Cyprus University of Technology, P.O. Box 50329, Limassol 3603, Cyprus"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,10,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wu, F., Wu, T., and Yuce, M.R. (2019). An Internet-of-Things (IoT) Network System for Connected Safety and Health Monitoring Applications. Sensors, 19.","DOI":"10.3390\/s19010021"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"310","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2017.00310","article-title":"An Inexpensive High-Temporal Resolution Electronic Sun Journal for Monitoring Personal Day to Day Sun Exposure Patterns","volume":"5","author":"Downs","year":"2017","journal-title":"Front. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"964","DOI":"10.1007\/s10439-020-02710-x","article-title":"Review of Wearable and Portable Sensors for Monitoring Personal Solar UV Exposure","volume":"49","author":"Huang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ann. Biomed. Eng."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.1097\/CEJ.0000000000000056","article-title":"Health system costs of skin cancer and cost-effectiveness of skin cancer prevention and screening: A systematic review","volume":"24","author":"Gordon","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur. J. Cancer Prev."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Thoonen, K., van Osch, L., de Vries, H., Jongen, S., and Schneider, F. (2020). Are Environmental Interventions Targeting Skin Cancer Prevention among Children and Adolescents Effective? A Systematic Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17020529"},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"e629652","article-title":"Sun-Protection Habits of Primary Students in a Coastal Area of Greece","volume":"2012","author":"Saridi","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Ski. Cancer"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"670","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1468-3083.2004.01046.x","article-title":"Sun awareness in Maltese secondary school students","volume":"18","author":"Aquilina","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Eur. Acad. Dermatol. Venereol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcpo.2017.03.003","article-title":"Skin cancer in the youth population of the United Kingdom","volume":"12","author":"Robertson","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Cancer Policy"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"220","DOI":"10.3322\/caac.21149","article-title":"Cancer treatment and survivorship statistics, 2012","volume":"62","author":"Siegel","year":"2012","journal-title":"CA A Cancer J. Clin."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.1177\/1043454208314499","article-title":"Primary Prevention of Skin Cancer in Children and Adolescents: A Review of the Literature","volume":"25","author":"Hart","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Pediatric Oncol. Nurs."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.4274\/turkderm.79346","article-title":"Development of sun protection behaviors in preschoolers: A systematic review","volume":"52","year":"2018","journal-title":"Turkderm"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"E125","DOI":"10.5888\/pcd14.170202","article-title":"Sun Smart Schools Nevada: Increasing Knowledge among School Children about Ultraviolet Radiation","volume":"14","author":"Kouzes","year":"2017","journal-title":"Prev. Chronic Dis."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"692","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1440-1754.2008.01408.x","article-title":"Child sun protection: Sun-related attitudes mediate the association between children\u2019s knowledge and behaviours","volume":"44","author":"Wright","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Paediatr. Child Health"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1186\/1476-069X-2-13","article-title":"Can an hour or two of sun protection education keep the sunburn away? Evaluation of the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s Sunwise School Program","volume":"2","author":"Geller","year":"2003","journal-title":"Environ. Health"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e7248","DOI":"10.2196\/pediatrics.7248","article-title":"eHealth interventions for anxiety management targeting young children and adolescents: Exploratory review","volume":"1","author":"Tozzi","year":"2018","journal-title":"JMIR Pediatrics Parent."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"807","DOI":"10.1111\/bjet.12655","article-title":"Young children, digital media and smart toys: How perceptions shape adoption and domestication","volume":"49","author":"Brito","year":"2018","journal-title":"Br. J. Educ. Technol."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.1109\/MC.2012.390","article-title":"Educating the Internet-of-Things Generation","volume":"46","author":"Kortuem","year":"2013","journal-title":"Computer"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Akhter, F., Siddiquei, H.R., Alahi, M.E.E., and Mukhopadhyay, S.C. (2021). Recent Advancement of the Sensors for Monitoring the Water Quality Parameters in Smart Fisheries Farming. Computers, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/computers10030026"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104223","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compedu.2021.104223","article-title":"Initial teacher training for twenty-first century skills in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0): A scoping review","volume":"170","author":"Teo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Comput. Educ."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"84","DOI":"10.1111\/bjet.12821","article-title":"Young children\u2019s perceptions of ubiquitous computing and the Internet of Things","volume":"51","author":"Mertala","year":"2020","journal-title":"Br. J. Educ. Technol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.1111\/jcal.12383","article-title":"A systematic literature review on Internet of things in education: Benefits and challenges","volume":"36","author":"Kassab","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Comput. Assist. Learn."},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"244","article-title":"Quantification of gamma and UV radiation using the Internet of Things","volume":"3","year":"2019","journal-title":"Proc. ISSSD"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Saha, H.N., Auddy, S., Chatterjee, A., Pal, S., Pandey, S., Singh, R., Singh, R., Sharan, P., Banerjee, S., and Ghosh, D. (2017, January 16\u201318). Pollution control using Internet of Things (IoT). Proceedings of the 2017 8th Annual Industrial Automation and Electromechanical Engineering Conference (IEMECON), Bangkok, Thailand.","DOI":"10.1109\/IEMECON.2017.8079563"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e4515","DOI":"10.1002\/cpe.4515","article-title":"Internet of things in smart education environment: Supportive framework in the decision-making process","volume":"31","author":"Manogaran","year":"2019","journal-title":"Concurr. Comput. Pract. Exp."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Burd, B., Barker, L., Divitini, M., Perez FA, F., Russell, I., Siever, B., and Tudor, L. (2017, January 3\u20135). Courses, Content, and Tools for Internet of Things in Computer Science Education. Proceedings of the 2017 ITiCSE Conference on Working Group Reports, Bologna, Italy.","DOI":"10.1145\/3174781.3174788"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.3991\/ijep.v7i3.7187","article-title":"Experimental Evaluation of Internet of Things in the Educational Environment","volume":"7","author":"Elsaadany","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Eng. Pedagog."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kusmin, M. (2019). Co-Designing the Kits of IoT Devices for Inquiry-Based Learning in STEM. Technologies, 7.","DOI":"10.3390\/technologies7010016"},{"key":"ref_28","first-page":"2487","article-title":"Humidity and Temperature Prototype for Education with Internet of Things","volume":"119","author":"Rahim","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Pure Appl. Math."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104282","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compedu.2021.104282","article-title":"Understanding socio-technological challenges of smart classrooms using a systematic review","volume":"173","author":"Alfoudari","year":"2021","journal-title":"Comput. Educ."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kusmin, M., Saar, M., Laanpere, M., and Rodr\u00edguez-Triana, M.J. (2017, January 25\u201328). Work in progress\u2014Smart schoolhouse as a data-driven inquiry learning space for the next generation of engineers. Proceedings of the 2017 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON), Athens, Greece.","DOI":"10.1109\/EDUCON.2017.7943072"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"482","DOI":"10.1080\/10494820.2019.1580750","article-title":"Study on enhancing AIoT computational thinking skills by plot image-based VR","volume":"29","author":"Lai","year":"2021","journal-title":"Interact. Learn. Environ."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Stojanovi\u0107, D., Bogdanovi\u0107, Z., Petrovi\u0107, L., Mitrovi\u0107, S., and Labus, A. (2020). Empowering learning process in secondary education using pervasive technologies. Interact. Learn. Environ., 1\u201314.","DOI":"10.1080\/10494820.2020.1806886"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.1016\/j.edurev.2015.02.003","article-title":"Phases of inquiry-based learning: Definitions and the inquiry cycle","volume":"14","author":"Pedaste","year":"2015","journal-title":"Educ. Res. Rev."},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"(2021, October 06). Wireless Light Sensor Pack. Available online: https:\/\/www.pasco.com\/products\/sensors\/wireless\/ps-3338."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"230","DOI":"10.1177\/120347549900300502","article-title":"Sun and the Skin: Evaluation of a Sun Awareness Program for Elementary School Students","volume":"3","author":"Gooderham","year":"1999","journal-title":"J. Cutan. Med. Surg."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"451","DOI":"10.1016\/j.canep.2009.09.003","article-title":"Developing the readiness to alter sun-protective behaviour questionnaire (RASP-B)","volume":"33","author":"Borschmann","year":"2009","journal-title":"Cancer Epidemiol."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"162","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compedu.2017.03.001","article-title":"Assessing elementary students\u2019 computational thinking in everyday reasoning and robotics programming","volume":"109","author":"Chen","year":"2017","journal-title":"Comput. Educ."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"711","DOI":"10.1002\/tea.20420","article-title":"A framework for scaffolding students\u2019 assessment of the credibility of evidence","volume":"48","author":"Nicolaidou","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Res. Sci. Teach."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1080\/10683160802612924","article-title":"Diffusion of treatment interventions: Exploration of \u2018secondary\u2019 treatment diffusion","volume":"16","author":"Gundersen","year":"2010","journal-title":"Psychol. Crime Law"},{"key":"ref_40","unstructured":"Christensen, L.B., and Waraczynski, M.A. (1988). Experimental Methodology, Allyn and Bacon."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1746-1561.1999.tb07216.x","article-title":"Promoting Sun Protection in Elementary Schools and Child Care Settings: The SunSafe Project","volume":"69","author":"Dietrich","year":"1999","journal-title":"J. Sch. Health"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"131","DOI":"10.1080\/09500693.2011.637580","article-title":"The Development and Validation of the GMOAS, an Instrument Measuring Secondary School Students\u2019 Attitudes Towards Genetically Modified Organisms","volume":"2","author":"Herodotou","year":"2012","journal-title":"Int. J. Sci. Educ. Part B"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nicolaidou, I., and Venizelou, A. (2020). Improving Children\u2019s E-Safety Skills through an Interactive Learning Environment: A Quasi-Experimental Study. Multimodal Technol. Interact., 4.","DOI":"10.3390\/mti4020010"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e27958","DOI":"10.2196\/27958","article-title":"Building Primary-School Children\u2019s Resilience through a Web-Based Interactive Learning Environment: Quasi-Experimental Pre-Post Study","volume":"4","author":"Nicolaidou","year":"2021","journal-title":"JMIR Pediatrics Parent."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nicolaidou, I., Pissas, P., and Boglou, D. (2021). Comparing Immersive Virtual Reality to Mobile Applications in Foreign Language Learning in Higher Education: A Quasi-Experiment. Interact. Learn. Environ., 1\u201315.","DOI":"10.1080\/10494820.2020.1870504"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e15711","DOI":"10.2196\/15711","article-title":"The Feasibility and Acceptability of Using a Wearable UV Radiation Exposure Monitoring Device in Adults and Children: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study","volume":"3","author":"Nagelhout","year":"2020","journal-title":"JMIR Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.1109\/MCE.2014.2317895","article-title":"How Wearables Intersect with the Cloud and the Internet of Things: Considerations for the developers of wearables","volume":"3","author":"Wei","year":"2014","journal-title":"IEEE Consum. Electron. Mag."}],"container-title":["Computers"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-431X\/10\/11\/137\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T07:23:25Z","timestamp":1760167405000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-431X\/10\/11\/137"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,10,25]]},"references-count":47,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,11]]}},"alternative-id":["computers10110137"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/computers10110137","relation":{},"ISSN":["2073-431X"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2073-431X"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,10,25]]}}}