Abstract: This survey highlights a number of important issues
which relate to the needs to counseling for distance learners studying
at the School of Distance Education in University science Malaysia
(DEUSM) according to their gender. Data were obtained by selfreport
questionnaire that had been developed by the researchers in
counseling and educational psychology and interviews were take
place. 116 voluntary respondents complete the Questionnaire and
returned it back during new student-s registration week.64% of the
respondents were female and 52% were males that means
55%ofthem were females and 45% were males. The data was
analyzed to find out the frequencies of respondents agreements of the
items. The average of the female was 18 and the average of the male
was 19.6 by using t- test there is no significant values between the
genders. The findings show that respondents have needs for
counseling. (22) Significant needs for mails (DEUSM) the highest
was their families complain about the amount of time they spend at
work. (11) Significant needs for females the highest was they
convinced themselves that they only need 4 to 5 hours of sleep per
night.
Abstract: For a variety of safety and economic reasons, engineering undergraduates in Australia have experienced diminishing access to the real hardware that is typically the embodiment of their theoretical studies. This trend will delay the development of practical competence, decrease the ability to model and design, and suppress motivation. The author has attempted to address this concern by creating a software tool that contains both photographic images of real machinery, and sets of graphical modeling 'tools'. Academics from a range of disciplines can use the software to set tutorial tasks, and incorporate feedback comments for a range of student responses. An evaluation of the software demonstrated that students who had solved modeling problems with the aid of the electronic tutor performed significantly better in formal examinations with similar problems. The 2-D graphical diagnostic routines in the Tutor have the potential to be used in a wider range of problem-solving tasks.
Abstract: Summarizing skills have been introduced to English
syllabus in secondary school in Malaysia to evaluate student-s comprehension for a given text where it requires students to employ several strategies to produce the summary. This paper reports on our effort to develop a computer-based summarization assessment system
that detects the strategies used by the students in producing their
summaries. Sentence decomposition of expert-written summaries is
used to analyze how experts produce their summary sentences. From
the analysis, we identified seven summarizing strategies and their
rules which are then transformed into a set of heuristic rules on how
to determine the summarizing strategies. We developed an algorithm
based on the heuristic rules and performed some experiments to
evaluate and support the technique proposed.
Abstract: School experiences, family bonding and self-concept
had always been a crucial factor in influencing all aspects of a
student-s development. The purpose of this study is to develop and to
validate a priori model of self-concept among students. The study
was tested empirically using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)
and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to validate the structural
model. To address these concerns, 1167 students were randomly
selected and utilized the Cognitive Psycho-Social University of
Malaya instrument (2009).Resulted demonstrated there is indirect
effect from family bonding to self-concept through school
experiences among secondary school students as a mediator. Besides
school experiences, there is a direct effect from family bonding to
self-concept and family bonding to school experiences among
students.
Abstract: A pilot project was carried out in 2007 by the senior
students of Cyprus International University, aiming to minimize the
total cost of waste collection in Northern Cyprus. Many developed
and developing countries have cut their transportation costs – which
lies between 30-40% – down at a rate of 40% percent, by
implementing network models for their route assignments.
Accordingly, a network model was implemented at Göçmenköy
district, to optimize and standardize waste collection works. The
work environment of the employees were also redesigned to provide
maximum ergonomy and to increase productivity, efficiency and
safety. Following the collection of the required data including waste
densities, lengths of roads and population, a model was constructed
to allocate the optimal route assignment for the waste collection
trucks at Göçmenköy district.
Abstract: There have been many variations of technologies that helped educators in teaching & learning. From the past research it is evident that Information Technology significantly increases student participation and interactivity in the classrooms. This research started with a aim to find whether adoption of Wi-Fi environment by Malaysian Higher Educational Institutions (HEI) can benefit students and staff equally. The study was carried out in HEI-s of Klang Valley, Malaysia and the data is gathered through paper based surveys. A sample size of 237 units were randomly selected from 5 higher educational institutions in the Klang Valley using the Stratified Random sampling method and from the analysis of the data, it was found that the implementation of wireless technologies in HEIs have created lot of opportunities and also challenges.
Abstract: There is a variety of inconsistencies in the differences
in alcohol use and related problems between male and female
genders. This study was aimed at analyzing the gender differences in
alcohol use and related problems among university students in
Minsk, Belarus. A total of 465 male (average age of 21) and 1030
female (average age of 20.5) students from four major universities in
Minsk, Belarus were administered WHO recommended standardized
screening instruments – AUDIT, MAST, CAGE questionnaire, as
well as other alcohol related questions. The male to female ratio for
the prevalence of alcohol problems according to the AUDIT was
3.34, while the ratio for alcohol users was 0.97. There are a wide
gender differences in the pattern of alcohol use and preference for
different alcoholic beverages, cause for drinking, and other alcohol
related problems like injuries and blackouts.
Abstract: Although, all high school students in Japan are required to learn informatics, many of them do not learn this topic sufficiently. In response to this situation, we propose a support package for high school informatics classes. To examine what students learned and if they sufficiently understood the context of the lessons, a questionnaire survey was distributed to 186 students. We analyzed the results of the questionnaire and determined the weakest units, which were “basic computer configuration” and “memory and secondary storage”. We then developed a package for teaching these units. We propose that our package be applied in high school classrooms.
Abstract: This study was conducted in Malaysia to discover how
meaning and appreciation were construed among 35 Form Five
students. Panofsky-s theory was employed to discover the levels of
reasoning among students when various types of posters were
displayed. The independent variables used were posters that carried
explicit and implicit meanings; the moderating variable was students-
visual literacy levels while the dependent variable was the implicit
interpretation level. One-way ANOVA was applied for the data
analysis. The data showed that before students were exposed to
Panofsky-s theory, there were differences in thinking between boys,
who did not think abstractly or implicit in comparison to girls. The
study showed that students- visual literacy in posters depended on the
use of visual texts and illustration. This paper discuss further on
posters with text only have a tendency to be too abstract as opposed
to posters with visuals plus text.
Abstract: Computer network courses are essential parts of college computer science curriculum and hands-on networking experience is well recognized as an effective approach to help students understand better about the network concepts, the layered architecture of network protocols, and the dynamics of the networks. However, existing networking labs are usually server-based and relatively cumbersome, which require a certain level of specialty and resource to set up and maintain the lab environment. Many universities/colleges lack the resources and build-ups in this field and have difficulty to provide students with hands-on practice labs. A new affordable and easily-adoptable approach to networking labs is desirable to enhance network teaching and learning. In addition, current network labs are short on providing hands-on practice for modern wireless and mobile network learning. With the prevalence of smart mobile devices, wireless and mobile network are permeating into various aspects of our information society. The emerging and modern mobile technology provides computer science students with more authentic learning experience opportunities especially in network learning. A mobile device based hands-on labware can provide an excellent ‘real world’ authentic learning environment for computer network especially for wireless network study. In this paper, we present our mobile device-based hands-on labware (series of lab module) for computer network learning which is guided by authentic learning principles to immerse students in a real world relevant learning environment. We have been using this labware in teaching computer network, mobile security, and wireless network classes. The student feedback shows that students can learn more when they have hands-on authentic learning experience.
Abstract: Thepurpose of the research is to characterize the levels
of satisfaction of the students in e-learning post-graduate courses,
taking into account specific dimensions of the course which were
considered as benchmarks for the quality of this type of online
learning initiative, as well as the levels of satisfaction towards each
specific indicator identified in each dimension. It was also an aim of
this study to understand how thesedimensions relate to one another.
Using a quantitative research approach in the collection and analysis
of the data, the study involves the participation of the students who
attended on e-learning course in 2010/2011. The conclusions of this
study suggest that online students present relatively high levels of
satisfaction, which points towards a positive experience during the
course. It is possible to note that there is a correlation between the
different dimensions studied, consequently leading to different
improvement strategies. Ultimately, this investigation aims to
contribute to the promotion of quality and the success of e-learning
initiatives in Higher Education.
Abstract: The present study examines the mediating effect of
online flow experience on the relationship between extraversionintroversion,
locus of control and loneliness, and depression and
satisfaction with life. The data was obtained using a structured
questionnaire prepared by adapting standardized scales available from
a sample of 102 engineering students from different technical
institutions at Bhubaneswar, India. The results indicate that there is a
positive significant relationship between introversion, external locus
of control, loneliness, depression and online flow experience, and
extraversion, internal locus of control and satisfaction with life. The
results also suggest that online flow experience mediates the
relationship between the aforementioned variables.
Abstract: Promoting critical thinking (CT) in an educational
setting has been appraised in order to enhance learning and
intellectual skills. In this study, a pedagogical course in a vocational
teacher education program in Turkey was designed by integrating CT
skill-based strategies/activities into the course content and CT skills
were means leading to intended course objectives. The purpose of the
study was to evaluate the importance of the course objectives, the
attainment of the objectives, and the effectiveness of teachinglearning
strategies/activities from prospective teachers- points of
view. The results revealed that although the students mostly
considered the course objectives important, they did not feel
competent in the attainment of all objectives especially in those
related to the main topic of Learning and those requiring higher order
thinking skills. On the other hand, the students considered the course
activities effective for learning and for the development of thinking
skills, especially, in interpreting, comparing, questioning,
contrasting, and forming relationships.
Abstract: At the time where electronic books, or e-Books, offer
students a fun way of learning , teachers who are used to the paper
text books may find it as a new challenge to use it as a part of
learning process. Precisely, there are various types of e-Books
available to suit students- knowledge, characteristics, abilities, and
interests. The paper discusses teachers- perceptions on the use of ebooks
as a paper text book in the classroom. A survey was conducted
on 72 teachers who use e-books as textbooks. It was discovered that a
majority of these teachers had good perceptions on the use of ebooks.
However, they had little problems using the devices. It can be
overcome with some strategies and a suggested framework.
Abstract: This article first summarizes reasons why current approaches supporting Open Learning and Distance Education need to be complemented by tools permitting lecturers, researchers and students to cooperatively organize the semantic content of Learning related materials (courses, discussions, etc.) into a fine-grained shared semantic network. This first part of the article also quickly describes the approach adopted to permit such a collaborative work. Then, examples of such semantic networks are presented. Finally, an evaluation of the approach by students is provided and analyzed.
Abstract: The purposes of this study are 1) to study the frequent
English writing errors of students registering the course: Reading and
Writing English for Academic Purposes II, and 2) to find out the
results of writing error correction by using coded indirect corrective
feedback and writing error treatments. Samples include 28 2nd year
English Major students, Faculty of Education, Suan Sunandha
Rajabhat University. Tool for experimental study includes the lesson
plan of the course; Reading and Writing English for Academic
Purposes II, and tool for data collection includes 4 writing tests of
short texts. The research findings disclose that frequent English
writing errors found in this course comprise 7 types of grammatical
errors, namely Fragment sentence, Subject-verb agreement, Wrong
form of verb tense, Singular or plural noun endings, Run-ons
sentence, Wrong form of verb pattern and Lack of parallel structure.
Moreover, it is found that the results of writing error correction by
using coded indirect corrective feedback and error treatment reveal
the overall reduction of the frequent English writing errors and the
increase of students’ achievement in the writing of short texts with
the significance at .05.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to explore the impacts of
computer games on the mathematics instruction. First, the research
designed and implemented the web-based games according to the
content of existing textbook. And the researcher collected and
analyzed the information related to the mathematics instruction
integrating the computer games. In this study, the researcher focused
on the learning motivation of mathematics, mathematics achievement,
and pupil-teacher interactions in classroom. The results showed that
students under instruction integrating computer games significantly
improved in motivation and achievement. The teacher tended to use
less direct teaching and provide more time for student-s active
learning.
Abstract: Practicum placements are an critical factor for student teachers on Education Programs. How can student teachers become professionals? This study was to investigate problems, weakness and obstacles of practicum placements and develop guidelines for partnership in the practicum placements. In response to this issue, a partnership concept was implemented for developing student teachers into professionals. Data were collected through questionnaires on attitude toward problems, weaknesses, and obstacles of practicum placements of student teachers in Rajabhat universities and included focus group interviews. The research revealed that learning management, classroom management, curriculum, assessment and evaluation, classroom action research, and teacher demeanor are the important factors affecting the professional development of Education Program student teachers. Learning management plan and classroom management concerning instructional design, teaching technique, instructional media, and student behavior management are another important aspects influencing the professional development for student teachers.
Abstract: Based on 276 responses from academic staff in an
evaluation of an online learning environment (OLE), this paper
identifies those elements of the OLE that were most used and valued
by staff, those elements of the OLE that staff most wanted to see
improved, and those factors that most contributed to staff perceptions
that the use of the OLE enhanced their teaching. The most used and
valued elements were core functions, including accessing unit
information, accessing lecture/tutorial/lab notes, and reading online
discussions. The elements identified as most needing attention related
to online assessment: submitting assignments, managing assessment
items, and receiving feedback on assignments. Staff felt that using the
OLE enhanced their teaching when they were satisfied that their
students were able to access and use their learning materials, and
when they were satisfied with the professional development they
received and were confident with their ability to teach with the OLE.
Abstract: The choice of studying economics instead of another subject should be motivated by the fact that economics training equips students with skills and knowledge that other disciplines do not provide. Which are these skills and knowledge, however, is not always very clear. This article clarifies such issue by first exploring the philosophical foundations and the defining features of the discipline, and then by investigating in which ways these are transferred to the students. In other words, we study what is meant by the 'economic way of thinking' that is passed on to the students.