Abstract: Teaching and learning should involve social issues by which effectiveness and humanity is due consideration as a guideline for sharing and co-creating knowledge. A qualitative method was used after a pioneer study to confirm pre-service teachers’ awareness of open knowledge. There are 17 in-service teacher candidates sampling from 181 schools in Taiwan. Two questions are to resolve: a) How did teachers change their educational ideas, in particular, their attitudes to meet the needs of knowledge sharing and co-creativity; and b) How did they acknowledge the necessity of working out an appropriate way between the educational efficiency and the nature of education for high performance management. This interview investigated teachers’ attitude of sharing and co-creating knowledge. The results show two facts in Taiwan: A) Individuals who must be able to express themselves will be capable of taking part in an open learning environment; and B) Teachers must lead the direction to inspire high performance and improve students’ capacity via knowledge sharing and co-creating knowledge, according to the student-centered philosophy. Collected data from interviewing showed that the teachers were well aware of changing their teaching methods and make some improvements to balance the educational efficiency and the nature of education. Almost all teachers acknowledge that ICT is helpful to motivate learning enthusiasm. Further, teaching integrated with ICT saves teachers’ time and energy on teaching preparation and promoting effectiveness. Teachers are willing to co-create knowledge with students, though using information is not easy due to the lack of operating skills of the website and ICT. Some teachers are against to co-create knowledge in the informational background since they hold that is not feasible for there being a knowledge gap between teachers and students. Technology would easily mislead teachers and students to the goal of instrumental rationality, which makes pedagogy dysfunctional and inhumane; however, any high quality of teaching should take a dialectical balance between effectiveness and humanity.
Abstract: It is not only the economic determinants that impact on life conditions, but maintaining a good level of life satisfaction (LS) may also be an important challenge currently. In Luxembourg, university students receive financial aid from the government. They are then registered at the Centre for Documentation and Information on Higher Education (CEDIES). Luxembourg is built on migration with almost half its population consisting of foreigners. It is upon this basis that our research aims to analyze the associations with mental health factors (health satisfaction, psychological quality of life, worry), perceived financial situation, career attitudes (adaptability, optimism, knowledge, planning) and LS, for non-Luxembourgish and native postgraduate students. Between 2012 and 2013, postgraduates registered at CEDIES were contacted by post and asked to participate in an online survey with either the option of English or French. The study population comprised of 644 respondents. Our statistical analysis excluded: those born abroad who had Luxembourgish citizenship, or those born in Luxembourg who did not have citizenship. Two groups were formed one consisting 147 non-Luxembourgish and the other 284 natives. A single item measured LS (1=not at all satisfied to 10=very satisfied). Bivariate tests, correlations and multiple linear regression models were used in which only significant relationships (p
Abstract: Education is an absolute necessity for human’s life
that one must fulfill for the entire life. Without education it is
impossible for human to develop her/himself well. The education
process is an effort to maintain a good behavior within one’s life.
Good behavior will be absolutely achieved if it is taught to early-aged
children. This paper focuses on how the story telling method enables
teachers to make the students have the construction of good behavior
and obtain the goal of national education in Indonesia. The targeted
students would involve students in As-Solihin kindergarten,
Salafiyah-Syafi’iyah Mumbulsari, Jember, Indonesia.
Story is what early-aged children like most. Thus, it is a gorgeous
chance to make story telling activity as a method to invest Islamic
education values to children. This paper, however, also focuses on
some deliberately important aspects which of course teachers need to
consider including objectives and strategies of the method’s
implementation. The teachers will be in need of knowing each
student’s characteristic in the classroom so that it would enable them
to select appropriate stories that fit best to early aged students. The
selected stories are taken from Islamic stories that tell the life of
Prophet and heroes of Islam as well as well-known persons in Islam.
In addition, there will be a number of activities done in the classroom
after the delivery of the story is over on purpose of leading students
to have the fundamental foundation of how to build self-awareness in
order they could understand better about the importance of being a
well-behaved person.
After reviewing relevant theories, secondary research and
scholars’ opinion involved in all aspects of early-aged children
behavior, the author concludes that by leveraging trusted sources, a
proactive, co-operative and creative strategy, the teacher can
successfully build up children’s good behavior by instilling the
Islamic value toward early-aged children through story telling
method.
Abstract: This study aims at being acquainted with the using the
body fat percentage (%BF) with body Mass Index (BMI) as input
parameters in fuzzy logic decision support system to predict properly
the lifted weight for students at weightlifting class lift according to
his abilities instead of traditional manner. The sample included 53
male students (age = 21.38 ± 0.71 yrs, height (Hgt) = 173.17 ± 5.28
cm, body weight (BW) = 70.34 ± 7.87.6 kg, Body mass index (BMI)
23.42 ± 2.06 kg.m-2, fat mass (FM) = 9.96 ± 3.15 kg and fat
percentage (% BF) = 13.98 ± 3.51 %.) experienced the weightlifting
class as a credit and has variance at BW, Hgt and BMI and FM. BMI
and % BF were taken as input parameters in FUZZY logic whereas
the output parameter was the lifted weight (LW). There were
statistical differences between LW values before and after using
fuzzy logic (Diff 3.55± 2.21, P > 0.001). The percentages of the LW
categories proposed by fuzzy logic were 3.77% of students to lift 1.0
fold of their bodies; 50.94% of students to lift 0.95 fold of their
bodies; 33.96% of students to lift 0.9 fold of their bodies; 3.77% of
students to lift 0.85 fold of their bodies and 7.55% of students to lift
0.8 fold of their bodies. The study concluded that the characteristic
changes in body composition experienced by students when
undergoing weightlifting could be utilized side by side with the
Fuzzy logic decision support system to determine the proper
workloads consistent with the abilities of students.
Abstract: The purpose of this research is to study sport and
exercise behavior of students in Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University
in September of 2012. The sample group used in this research was a
group of regular students in undergraduate school enrolled in faculty
of science and technology. This sample group consisted of 1,858
students. The research tool used to collect result was the checklist.
The data was calculated by statistical percentage. From the research,
it was discovered that most students did exercise in previous month.
71.6% of students exercised by running. 61.1% of students exercised
in their neighborhood. 60.4% of students exercised in order to keep
fit. 60.2% of students agreed that the result from this research can be
educational and inspirational for students in campus in terms of living
healthily by exercise.
Abstract: The aim of this study is to compare abused and normal male students in Tehran guidance schools with emphasis on the co-dependency of their mothers. The method of this study is based on survey method and comparison (Ex-Post Facto). The method of sampling is also multi-stage cluster. Accordingly, we did sampling from secondary schools of education and training in Tehran, including 12 schools with levels of first, second and third. Each of the schools represents the three – high, medium and low- economic and social conditions. In the following, three classes from every school and 20 students from each class were randomly selected. By (CTQ) abused and normal students were separated that 670 children were recognized as normal and 50 children as abused. Then, 50 children were randomly selected from normal group and compared with abused group. Using Spanned-Fischer Co-dependency Scale, we compared mothers of abused and normal students. The results showed that mothers of the abused children have higher co- dependency average comparing to the mothers of the normal children.
Abstract: This article describes the implementation of an
experimental model for teaching ICT tools and digital environments
in teachers training college. In most educational systems in the
Western world, new programs were developed in order to bridge the
digital gap between teachers and students. In spite of their
achievements, these programs are limited due to several factors: The
teachers in the schools implement new methods incorporating
technological tools into the curriculum, but meanwhile the
technology changes and advances. The interface of tools changes
frequently, some tools disappear and new ones are invented. These
conditions require an experimental model of training the pre-service
teachers. The appropriate method for instruction within the domain of
ICT tools should be based on exposing the learners to innovations,
helping them to gain experience, teaching them how to deal with
challenges and difficulties on their own, and training them. This
study suggests some principles for this approach and describes step
by step the implementation of this model.
Abstract: Parental expectations often differ to that of their children and the influence and involvement of parents, at home, may affect the student performance in the classroom. This paper presents results from a survey of Asian and European background secondary school mathematics students (N=128) in Melbourne, Australia. Student responses to survey questions were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis, followed by t-tests and ANOVA. The aim of the analysis was to identify similarities and differences in parental expectations in relation to ethnicity, gender, and the year level of the students. The notable findings from the analysis showed no significant difference (at 0.05 level) in parental expectations and student performance, in relation to ethnicity or gender. Conversely, there was a significant difference in both parental expectations and student performance between year 7 and year 12 students. Further, whilst there was a significant difference in parental expectations between year 7 and year 11 students, the students’ performances were not significantly different. The results suggest further research may be needed to understand the parental expectations and student performance between the lower and upper secondary school mathematics students.
Abstract: Pedagogical approaches in Asia nowadays are
imported from the West. In Confucian Heritage Culture (CHC),
however, there is a dichotomy between the perceived benefits of
Western pedagogies and the real classroom practices in Chinese
societies. The success of Hong Kong students in large-scale
international assessments has proved that both the strengths of both
Western pedagogies and CHC educational approaches should be
integrated for the sake of the students. University students aim to equip themselves with employability
skills upon graduation. Formative assessments allow students to
receive detailed, positive, and timely feedback and they can identify
their strengths and weaknesses before they start working. However,
there remains a question of whether university year 1 students who
come from an examination-driven secondary education background
are ready to respond to more formative assessments. The findings show that year 1 students are less concerned about
competition in the university and more open to new teaching
approaches that will allow them to improve as professionals in their
major study areas.
Abstract: Teaching of mathematics to engineering students is an
open ended problem in education. The main goal of mathematics
learning for engineering students is the ability of applying a wide
range of mathematical techniques and skills in their engineering
classes and later in their professional work. Most of the
undergraduate engineering students and faculties feels that no efforts
and attempts are made to demonstrate the applicability of various
topics of mathematics that are taught thus making mathematics
unavoidable for some engineering faculty and their students. The lack
of understanding of concepts in engineering mathematics may hinder
the understanding of other concepts or even subjects. However, for
most undergraduate engineering students, mathematics is one of the
most difficult courses in their field of study. Most of the engineering students never understood mathematics or
they never liked it because it was too abstract for them and they could
never relate to it. A right balance of application and concept based
teaching can only fulfill the objectives of teaching mathematics to
engineering students. It will surely improve and enhance their
problem solving and creative thinking skills. In this paper, some practical (informal) ways of making
mathematics-teaching application based for the engineering students
is discussed. An attempt is made to understand the present state of
teaching mathematics in engineering colleges. The weaknesses and
strengths of the current teaching approach are elaborated. Some of
the causes of unpopularity of mathematics subject are analyzed and a
few pragmatic suggestions have been made. Faculty in mathematics
courses should spend more time discussing the applications as well as
the conceptual underpinnings rather than focus solely on strategies
and techniques to solve problems. They should also introduce more
‘word’ problems as these problems are commonly encountered in
engineering courses. Overspecialization in engineering education
should not occur at the expense of (or by diluting) mathematics and
basic sciences. The role of engineering education is to provide the
fundamental (basic) knowledge and to teach the students simple
methodology of self-learning and self-development. All these issues
would be better addressed if mathematics and engineering faculty
join hands together to plan and design the learning experiences for
the students who take their classes. When faculties stop competing
against each other and start competing against the situation, they will
perform better. Without creating any administrative hassles these
suggestions can be used by any young inexperienced faculty of
mathematics to inspire engineering students to learn engineering
mathematics effectively.
Abstract: Computer education is referred to as the knowledge
and ability to use computers and related technology efficiently, with a
range of skills covering levels from basic use to advance. Computer
continues to make an ever-increasing impact on all aspect of human
endeavours such as education. With numerous benefits of computer
education, what are the insights of students on computer education?
This study investigated the perception of senior secondary school
students on computer education in Federal Capital Territory (FCT),
Abuja, Nigeria. A sample of 7500 senior secondary schools students
was involved in the study, one hundred (100) private and fifty (50)
public schools within FCT. They were selected by using simple
random sampling technique. A questionnaire [PSSSCEQ] was
developed and validated through expert judgement and reliability coefficient
of 0.84 was obtained. It was used to gather relevant data on
computer education. Findings confirmed that the students in the FCT
had positive perception on computer education. Some factors were
identified that affect students’ perception on computer education. The
null hypotheses were tested using t-test and ANOVA statistical
analyses at 0.05 level of significance. Based on these findings, some
recommendations were made which include competent teachers
should be employed into all secondary schools. This will help
students to acquire relevant knowledge in computer education,
technological supports should be provided to all secondary schools;
this will help the users (students) to solve specific problems in
computer education and financial supports should be provided to
procure computer facilities that will enhance the teaching and the
learning of computer education.
Abstract: This paper presents the development of a mobile
application for students at the Faculty of Information Technology,
Rangsit University (RSU), Thailand. RSU upgrades an enrollment
process by improving its information systems. Students can
download the RSU APP easily in order to access the RSU substantial
information. The reason of having a mobile application is to help
students to access the system regardless of time and place. The objectives of this paper include: 1. To develop an application
on iOS platform for those students at the Faculty of Information
Technology, Rangsit University, Thailand. 2. To obtain the students’
perception towards the new mobile app. The target group is those
from the freshman year till the senior year of the faculty of
Information Technology, Rangsit University. The new mobile application, called as RSU APP, is developed by
the department of Information Technology, Rangsit University. It
contains useful features and various functionalities particularly on
those that can give support to students. The core contents of the app
consist of RSU’s announcement, calendar, events, activities, and ebook.
The mobile app is developed on the iOS platform. The user
satisfaction is analyzed from the interview data from 81 interviewees
as well as a Google application like a Google form which 122
interviewees are involved. The result shows that users are satisfied
with the application as they score it the most satisfaction level at 4.67
SD 0.52. The score for the question if users can learn and use the
application quickly is high which is 4.82 SD 0.71. On the other hand,
the lowest satisfaction rating is in the app’s form, apps lists, with the
satisfaction level as 4.01 SD 0.45.
Abstract: Financial literacy is a widely discussed topic on the
national and international level by governments, organizations and
academia. For this reason, this study analyses financial knowledge,
financial behavior, and financial attitudes of students of finance. The
aim of the paper is to determine whether the financial literacy of
university students studying finance differs from the level of financial
literacy in selected OECD countries. The research was conducted at
Masaryk University in the Czech Republic. The empirical study
comprises questions related to several aspects of financial literacy,
such as financial knowledge, personal finance behavior, or decisionmaking.
The results indicate that improvement in financial literacy of
university students is still required, even though their major is finance
related.
Abstract: The research explored the effect of morphemic analysis
awareness on ESL secondary school students’ vocabulary acquisition.
The quasi-experimental study was conducted with 100 ESL
secondary school students in two experimental groups (inflectional
and derivational) and one control group. The students’ vocabulary
acquisition was assessed through two measures: Morph-Analysis Test
and Morph-Vocabulary Test in the pretest and posttest before and
after an intervention programme. Results of ANCOVA revealed that
both the experimental groups achieved a significant score in Morph-
Analysis Test and Vocabulary-Morphemic Test. However, the
inflectional group obtained a fairly higher score than the derivational
group. Thus, the findings of the research are discussed in two main
areas. First, individual instructions of two types of morphemic
awareness have contributed significant results on inflectional and
derivational awareness among the ESL secondary school students.
Nevertheless, derivational morphology achieved a significant but
relatively smaller amount of effect on secondary school students’
morphological awareness compared to inflectional morphology in
this research. Second finding showed that the awareness of
inflectional and derivational morphology was found significantly
related to vocabulary achievement of ESL secondary school students.
Nevertheless, inflectional morphemic awareness had higher
significant effect on ESL secondary school students’ vocabulary
acquisition. Despite these findings, the study implies that morphemic
analysis awareness can serve as an alternative strategy for ESL
secondary school students in acquiring English vocabulary.
Abstract: Cooperative groups through much research have been
recognized to churn remarkable achievements instead of solitary or
individualistic efforts. Based on Johnson and Johnson’s model of
cooperative learning, the five key components of cooperation are
positive interdependence, face-to-face promotive interaction,
individual accountability, social skills, and group processing. In
2011, the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE)
introduced the Holistic Student Development policy with the aim to
develop morally sound individuals equipped with lifelong learning
skills. The Community Service project was included in the
improvement initiative. The purpose of this study is to assess the
relationship of team-based learning in facilitating particularly
students’ positive interdependence and face-to-face promotive
interaction. The research methods involve in-depth interviews with
the team leaders and selected team members, and a content analysis
of the undergraduate students’ reflective journals. A significant
positive relationship was found between students’ progressive
outlook towards teamwork and the highlighted two components. The
key findings show that students have gained in their individual
learning and work results through teamwork and interaction with
other students. The inclusion of Community Service as a MOHE
subject resonates with cooperative learning methods that enhances
supportive relationships and develops students’ social skills together
with their professional skills.
Abstract: Experience is what makes a man perfect. Though we
tend to learn many a different things in life through practice still we
need to go an extra mile to gain experience which would be profitable
only when it is integrated with regular practice. A clear phenomenal
idea is that every teacher is a learner. The centralized idea of this paper would focus on the integrated
practices carried out among the students of Jizan University which
enhances learning through experiences. Integrated practices like
student-directed activities, balanced curriculum, phonological based
activities and use of consistent language would enlarge the vision and
mission of students to earn experience through learning. Students
who receive explicit instruction and guidance could practice the skills
and strategies through student-directed activities such as peer tutoring
and cooperative learning. The second effective practice is to use
consistent language. Consistent language provides students a model
for talking about the new concepts which also enables them to
communicate without hindrances. Phonological awareness is an
important early reading skill for all students. Students generally have
phonemic awareness in their home language can often transfer that
knowledge to a second language. And also a balanced curriculum
requires instruction in all the elements of reading. Reading is the
most effective skill when both basic and higher-order skills are
included on a daily basis. Computer based reading and listening skills
will empower students to understand language in a better way.
English language learners can benefit from sound reading instruction
even before they are fully proficient in English as long as the
instruction is comprehensible. Thus, if students have to be well
equipped in learning they should foreground themselves in various
integrated practices through multifarious experience for which
teachers are moderators and trainers. This type of learning prepares
the students for a constantly changing society which helps them to
meet the competitive world around them for better employability
fulfilling the vision and mission of the institution.
Abstract: Social Avoidance is one of the most important
problems that face a good number of disabled students. It results from
the negative attitudes of non-disabled students, teachers and others.
Some of the past research has shown that non-disabled individuals
hold negative attitudes toward persons with disabilities. The present
study aims to alleviate Social Avoidance by applying the Cognitive
Behavioral Intervention. 24 Blind students aged 19–24 (university students) were randomly
chosen we compared an experimental group (consisted of 12
students) who went through the intervention program, with a control
group (12 students also) who did not go through such intervention.
We used the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS) to assess
social anxiety and distress behavior. The author used many
techniques of cognitive behavioral intervention such as modeling,
cognitive restructuring, extension, contingency contracts, selfmonitoring,
assertiveness training, role play, encouragement and
others. Statistically, T-test was employed to test the research
hypothesis. Result showed that there is a significance difference between the
experimental group and the control group after the intervention and
also at the follow up stages of the Social Avoidance and Distress
Scale. Also for the experimental group, there is a significance
difference before the intervention and the follow up stages for the
scale. Results showed that, there is a decrease in social avoidance.
Accordingly, cognitive behavioral intervention program was
successful in decreasing social avoidance for blind students.
Abstract: The present study aimed to determine the
effectiveness of Metaphor therapy on depression among female
students. The sample included 60 female students with depression
symptoms selected by simple sampling and randomly divided into
two equal groups (experimental and control groups). Beck
Depression Inventory was used to measure the variables. This was an
experimental study with a pre-test/post-test design with control
group. Eight metaphor therapy sessions were held for the
experimental group. A post-test was administered to both groups.
Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance
(MANCOVA). Results showed that the Metaphor therapy decreased
depression in the experimental group compared to the control group.
Abstract: High Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) are suggested
today as essential for the cognitive development of students and as
preparing them for real life skills. Teachers are encouraged to use
HOTS activities in the classroom to help their students develop
higher order skills and deep thinking. So it is essential to prepare preservice
teachers to write and use HOTS activities for their students.
This paper describes a model for integrating HOTS activities with
GeoGebra in pre-service teachers’ preparation. This model describes
four aspects of HOTS activities and working with them: activity
components, preparation procedure, strategies and processes used in
writing a HOTS activity and types of the HOTS activities. In
addition, the paper describes the pre-service teachers' difficulties in
preparing and working with HOTS activities, as well as their
perceptions regarding the use of these activities and GeoGebra in the
mathematics classroom. The paper also describes the contribution of
a HOTS activity to pupils' learning of mathematics, where this HOTS
activity was prepared and taught by one pre-service teacher.
Abstract: Native American communities are struggling with unemployment and depressed economies. A major cause is a lack of business knowledge, education, and cultural desire. And yet, in the history of the American West, Native Americans were considered the best traders and negotiators for everything from furs to weapons to buffalo. To improve these economies, there has been an effort to reintroduce that heritage to todays and tomorrows generation of tribal members, such Crow, Cheyenne, and Blackfeet. Professors at the College of Business Montana State University-Billings (MSUB) teach tribal students in Montana to create business plans. These plans have won national small business plan competitions. The teaching and advising method used at MSUB is uniquely successful as theses business students are now five time national champions. This article reviews the environment and the method of learning to achieve a winning small business plan with Native American students. It discusses the five plans that became national champions. And it discusses the problems and solutions discovered in the process of achieving results. Students who participated in this endeavor have graduated and become CPAs, MBAs, and gainfully employed in their chosen professions. They have also worked to improve the economies of their native lands and homes. By educating members of these communities with business strategy and plan development, they are better able to impact their own economies.