Academic Session Research Articles

Prolonged theoretical classes impact students' perceptions: an observational study.

Mental fatigue (MF) arises during prolonged demanding cognitive activity and results in acute feelings of tiredness and a decreased physical and/or cognitive performance capacity. An often-overlooked population that is significantly at risk for the development of MF are university students. The current study investigated the impact of prolonged in-person theoretical classes on the perceptions of MF, boredom, and sleepiness among 27 Slovenian university students (first-year physiotherapy). Their subjective experiences at various time points during a 4-h class interspersed with a 20 min break were assessed with a repeated measures ANOVA and consequent Bonferroni post-hoc tests (significance set at <0.05). Subjective MF and sleepiness significantly increased during the first and the second part of the class (p < 0.05), while they significantly decreased during the break (p < 0.05). Boredom levels only increased significantly during the second part of the class (p < 0.05). Additionally, students who had inadequate sleep the night before the class reported higher levels of MF at the beginning of the class. This study highlighted a significant impact of a theoretical class on subjective feelings of mental fatigue and showed that a break in the middle of the class temporarily alleviated this negative impact. These results emphasize the importance of adequate sleep, effective breaks, and strategies to manage cognitive workload in optimizing students' cognitive well-being and academic performance. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying factors and develop targeted interventions to support students' cognitive functioning and well-being during prolonged academic sessions.

The College of Otorhinolaryngologists and Head &amp;amp; Neck Surgeons of Sri Lanka: 19th Annual Academic Sessions 10th &amp;amp; 11th of February 2024, Programme and Abtract Book

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Influence of Social Media Usage on Science Students’ Academic Achievement and Behaviour in Two School-Types in Nigeria

Students’ achievements and behavior have continued to dwindle over the years and are getting worse in Nigeria with advancements in technology. Both Public and Private school students who have access to Android phones for social networking are spending less time studying after school. This paper was carried out to find out how the time spent on social media can influence the basic science achievement and behavior of secondary school students from two school types. The study sample consisted of 180 junior secondary schools three students of Delta State public and private schools who had access to an Android phone for social media activities after school. Four research hypotheses guided this study. The research instruments used were the social media time questionnaire (SMTQ) with a reliability coefficient of 0.66 and the 2020/2021 academic session results of the students. Access to their results made it possible to compare their basic science and behavioral achievements. The data contained no significant outliers (p=0.054 Kolmogorov-Smirnov- normality test). Data analysis was done using descriptive, t-test, and 2-way ANOVA statistics. Results showed differences in Basic science achievement in favor of private schools and differences in behavior assessment in favor of public schools but the differences were not significant (p= 0.242; p= 0.656). No significant interactions were found between social media usage time and school type on students’ behavior [p=0.470] and basic science achievement [p= 0.549]. Major recommendations are the emphasis on a reduction in social media usage times irrespective of the school type and an increase in study times.

Entrepreneurial Socio-psychological Adjustment and Employment Opportunity Identification of Business Education Students in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education

The study examined the relationship between entrepreneurial socio-psychological adjustment and employment opportunity identification among business education students at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. Two objectives—research questions and hypotheses—guided the study. A correlation survey research design was adopted. The population of the study was 365 final-year undergraduate Business Education students in the 2021–2022 academic session, with a sample size of 320 students, which is an 88% return rate. Two different sets of questionnaires were used for data collection. The copies of the questionnaires were validated by three experts: two business educators and one psychometrician. The reliability of the instruments was established, and the computations yielded coefficient indexes of 0.81 and 0.89 for entrepreneurial socio-psychological adjustment and employment opportunity identification, respectively. The research questions and hypotheses were answered and tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC), respectively, at the 0.05 level of significance. The study exposed the fact that assimilation and integration relate to employment opportunity identification. The study recommended that the stakeholders who are saddled with the core responsibility of planning and executing the curriculum of the entrepreneurship education program should systematically review the curriculum in order to accommodate the concept of assimilation and integration as a component of entrepreneurial socio-psychological adjustment into the program.

Monoclonal antibodies in idiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia: a scoping review

BackgroundIdiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (ICEP) is a rare disease characterized by pulmonary radiological alterations, peripheral eosinophilia, and demonstrated pulmonary eosinophilia. Oral steroids (OSs) are the standard management, but relapses occur in up to 50% of patients during the decrease or suspension of steroids, usually requiring reinitiation of treatment, exposing patients to secondary events derived from the management. Management with monoclonal antibodies has been proposed in these cases to control the disease and limit the secondary effects. The objective is to describe the extent and type of evidence regarding the use of monoclonal antibodies for ICEP.MethodsA panoramic review of the literature was performed. Observational and experimental studies of pediatric and adult populations that managed recurrent ICEP with monoclonal antibodies were included. Data search, selection, and extraction were performed by two independent reviewers.Results937 studies were found. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 37 titles remained for the final analysis: a retrospective, observational, real-life study, two case series publications, and 34 case reports published in academic poster sessions and letters to the editor. In general, the use of monoclonal antibodies approved for severe asthma could be useful for the control of ICEP, since most of the results show a good response for clinical and radiological outcomes. Biological drugs seem to be a safer option for controlling relapses in ICEP, allowing lowering/suspension of OSs, and sometimes replacing them in patients intolerant to them, patients with significant comorbidities, and patients who have already developed adverse events.ConclusionThe extent of the evidence supporting management of ICEP with monoclonal antibodies against IL-5 and IgE (omalizumab) is limited, but it could be promising in patients who present frequent relapses, in cortico-dependent individuals, or in patients in whom the use of steroids is contraindicated. The extent of the evidence for management with dupilumab is more limited. Studies with better design and structure are needed to evaluate quality of life and outcomes during a clear follow-up period. To our knowledge, this is the first scoping review of the literature showing the extent of the evidence for the management of ICEP with monoclonal antibodies.

Experiences, challenges and acceptance of e-learning by adult learners in sandwich programme of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria

This study investigated the experiences, challenges and acceptance of e-learning by adult learners in the Sandwich programme of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population of study comprised all 381 adult learners offering Sandwich Programmes in the 2021/2022 Session in the Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka was also the sample size. Three research questions guided the study. Data for the study were collected by means of a validated structured questionnaire titled “Questionnaire on E-Learning by Adult Learners” (QEAL) designed in google form format. Cronbach’s Alpha values of 0.89, 0.78 and 0.89 for clusters I – III were obtained after testing for reliability. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyze data. The findings revealed that adult learners had pleasant experiences of e-learning in sandwich programmes of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in the 2021/2022 Session; and faced some challenges that included unstable internet connectivity, technical problems during online classes and difficulties associated with practical courses in distance learning. Nevertheless, adult learners highly accepted e-learning after their exposure to a higher level of e-learning in the 2021/2022 academic session by the Sandwich programme in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. It was recommended amongst others that the management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University should invest more in e-learning by way of upgrading their ICT architecture and organize more trainings on adaptation to e-learning for their adult learners that are still lagging behind and for fuller and more profitable utilization of the innovations in the Qverse learning management system.

The rescue of medical education crippled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ravages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have affected medical education by losing the tutorial teaching that we carried out in out Institution. The strategies implemented through information and communication technologies are described in this article. With the strategies carried out, it was possible to continue with all the theoretical education virtually at a distance, including the daily hospital rounds, the presentation of clinical cases, the remote analysis of laboratory and cabinet methods, as well as the teaching of the physical examination and the acquisition of diagnostic aid methods. In addition, the number of attendants for the weekly academic general session of the institute increased from 100 in-person attendants to 500 virtual attendants (average), with approximately 5000 reproductions of the recorded sessions. The advantages and disadvantages of these new techniques and the challenges for the future are discussed in this manuscript. Undoubtedly, the pandemic has caused damage to the teaching of two generations of medical students during 2020 and 2021, and we are still afraid that, in 2022, it will persist. Therefore, in our opinion, the medical education implemented by us is not ideal, but, at least, it constitutes a good palliative for the harm that the pandemic caused to medical education.

Adult learning principles in the development of an academic half day session

&lt;abstract&gt; &lt;p&gt;Post-graduate trainees serve a dual role as learner and practitioner, and their clinical education must be supported by an academic curriculum that meets the objectives of their training program. Principles of adult learning that encourage critical thinking and collaboration can enhance the effectiveness of academic sessions for adult learners. This paper will review the practical use of adult learning in the context of an academic half day session for residents in Pediatrics. The specific focus on a single topic models adult learning techniques that can be broadly applied across different branches of medicine and different levels of learners.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/abstract&gt;

A practical approach to college timetable scheduling

This paper formulates the college timetable scheduling (CTTS) as a constraint satisfaction problem (CSP) in a manner that is easy to implement. Timetable scheduling is a process that is revised in every academic session and requires a lot of constraint checking, so it is inefficient to check the same type of constraints repeatedly to create a proper schedule manually. CSP is a natural choice for automating this process. The prototype presented in this paper is aimed to offer such assistance in scheduling classes for different courses running in an academic session keeping given different constraint checking like the limit check of the maximum number of lectures that can be assigned to a faculty, limit check of the maximum number of lectures that can be assigned to a course, detecting conflicts between courses scheduled in the same time slots, preventing overlapping assignments for faculty members in the same time slots. Here, first, the different aspects of the timetable scheduling problem are addressed, and then a technique is devised to help map the problem as a CSP.

Health-improving effect of running for students of technical specialties.

Aim: To study the dynamics of indicators of the functional state and health of technical specialties students during their long-term running engagement. Materials and Methods: The research involved 112 students (59 men and 53 women) aged 17-20 years. Two groups of students were formed: group 1 included students who, in addition to compulsory academic physical education training sessions, were not engaged in any type of motor activity on their own; group 2 included students who independently were engaged in recreational running 3 times a week in extracurricular time. Results: It was found that during the research period, both male and female students who were independently engaged in recreational running in extracurricular time showed a significant improvement of such indicators as resting heart rate, vital capacity of the lungs, duration of breath holding during inhalation and exhalation, duration of heart rate recovery after standard exercise, level of endurance development, level of physical health. Conclusions: The positive influence of independent running with moderate intensity on the functional state and health of students of technical specialties has been proved. The low efficiency of the physical education system in Ukraine and, accordingly, the insufficient level of motor activity, indicators of functional status, and health of students who, in addition to academic physical education training sessions, did not exercise on their own, were also confirmed.

Students’ use and assessment of Plateau State University Library, Bokkos

This paper focuses on use and assessment of various resources and facilities of the Plateau State University Library, Bokkos. The research was guided by seventeen objectives. A survey research design was the research method adopted in the investigation. The target population for the research was all the 499 students in the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences that were on ground in 2022/2023 academic session. Since the population was manageable, there was no sampling. Hence, all the subjects were adopted in the research. The instrument used in the data collection was questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using simple statistics such as frequency counts and percentages, and tables were presented were necessary. The findings of the research revealed among others that the major issues associated with the poor patronage of the Plateau State University Library, Bokkos by the students of the institution were as follows: lack of enough textbooks and journals; collection contain so many outdated textbooks that were irrelevant to the student‟s needs; library‟s catalogue was in disarray; lack of stable source of electric power supply; and inconsistent internet connections with very low internet bandwidth. It was therefore, recommended among others that the library management should acquire more current text books and journals in both hard and soft copies and the university‟s lecturers (users) should be involved in the selection of the library‟s resources for acquisition in order to improve the quality / relevancy of the library‟s collection; there is an urgent need to reorganize the library‟s catalogue to reflect the library‟s collection; the university management should provide a constant source of electric power supply to the library; Internet connectivity should be made available all the time and internet bandwidth should be 4increased to reduce the time it takes to gain access into the internet databases in the library. The research then concluded that the Plateau State University library was bedeviled with so many factors that had inhibited the effective utilization of its resources and facilities by students. Hence, students avoided the patronage of the library‟s resources and facilities. However, it was believed that with proper funding, commitment of university and library managements and careful implementation of the recommendations noted in this research, the resources and facilities of the library will be greatly improved and the patronage of the library by students will subsequently improve.

Entrepreneurship Education as a Tool for Reducing Unemployment among Educational Management Graduate Students in Rivers State Universities

The study examined Entrepreneurship Education as a tool for reducing unemployment among Educational Management graduate students in Rivers State Universities. To achieve the purpose of the study, the researcher formulated three (3) objectives of the study, three (3) research questions and three (3) null hypotheses that guided the study. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The population of this study consists of 784 Educational Management Graduates in Rivers State University and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. These are Educational Management graduates from the 2022/2023 academic session. The sample for this study consists of 50 percent of the total population with a total sample size of 392 students. The sampling technique used for the study was simple random sampling techniques because all the respondents were given equal opportunity to be represented. The instrument used for this study was a self-structured questionnaire developed by the researcher. Data collected for this study were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions. While z-test statistics was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. Findings of the study revealed that technical skills, financial management skills and office management reduce unemployment among Educational Management graduate students in Rivers State Universities. It was therefore recommended that Educational Management graduates should endeavour to acquire themselves with all the relevant skills necessary for them to create, and maintain their customers’ needs and Educational Management lecturers should use suitable methods and resources to ensure that their students adequately acquire Technical Skills, Marketing skills, Financial Management Skills.

Muhammad Hamidullah’s Role in Interfaith Dialogue

This article explores the contributions of Muhammad Hamidullah, a renowned scholar and diplomat, in advancing interfaith dialogue. His life and multifaceted career are examined to assess his role in promoting tolerance, respect, and meaningful conversation among adherents of different faiths. The study investigates the impact of his efforts on interfaith dialogue in the contemporary era. It evaluates his contributions to interfaith dialogue by analysing his activities, writings, and diplomatic engagements. It sheds light on the broader implications of his work for fostering peace and understanding among different religious communities. He played a pivotal role in countering the negative narratives, thus challenging stereotypes and misconceptions. He made significant contributions to the preparation and dissemination of Islamic literature in Western languages, making Islamic knowledge more accessible to a global audience. He represented Islam in interfaith dialogues, academic sessions, and conferences, contributing to constructive discussions and fostering mutual respect among different faith traditions. His efforts in propagating Islam among new Muslims and overseeing the religious education of Muslims were instrumental in promoting a deeper understanding of the faith. His role as a legal advisor in the United Nations Security Council demonstrated his commitment to preserving international peace and sovereignty through diplomatic means. This study employs a qualitative methodology, relying on an extensive review of his writings, speeches, and biographical accounts. Primary and secondary sources, including academic literature, historical records, and interviews, are used to construct a comprehensive evaluation of his role in interfaith dialogue. This research approach allows for a nuanced understanding of his contributions and their significance in the contemporary context of interfaith dialogue.

An assessment of entrepreneurial skills of LIS students in Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara-State, Nigeria

The study assessed the entrepreneurial skills of LIS students in Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria. The descriptive research survey design was used for this study. The population for the study consisted of 250 HND I and HND II students of Department Of Library and Information Science for 2021/2022 academic session. Purposive sampling technique was used since it is believed that they have completed their mandatory Industrial Training Programme and offered entrepreneurship education course for at least 5 semesters. 250 questionnaires were distributed and 236 questionnaires (representing 94.4%) were returned and found usable. Data from the study were analyzed using mean. Mean was used to answer all the research questions and decision rule for positive (agreed) response was set at mean score of 2.50 and above, while a mean score of below 2.50 set as negative and rejected. The major findings of the study included low level of entrepreneurial skills acquisition by the LIS students; out of the sixteen skills examined, they only agreed to have 4; the major challenges identified were lack of financial support to start a business, high student population among others. It was recommended that the curriculum should be reviewed and practical skills required to function effectively as an entrepreneur after graduation should be included.

Learning Environment Indices and Students‟ Academic Achievement in Civic Education in Public Secondary Schools in Cross River State, Nigeria

This study was undertaken to determine the influence of social environment indices on students‟ academic achievement in Civic Education in public secondary schools in Cross River State, Nigeria. In line with the specific objectives of the study, four research questions were set and four null hypotheses were accordingly formulated to guide the study. The ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study. The study population comprised all the 9,696 Senior Secondary-Two Students in the 193 public secondary schools in Cross River State, Nigeria in the 2023/2024 academic session. 969 Students (10%) of the study population were selected as the sample size for the study. An instrument entitled “Social Environment Indices and Academic Achievement Questionnaire (SEIAAQ)” was used to collect data for the study. The instrument was given a face validation by experts in Test and Measurement. While, the reliability estimate of the instrument was determined using the Cronbach‟s Alpha Correlation Coefficient statistics. Data collected were first described using Mean and Standard Deviation statistics before they were analysed using the One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and „Z‟-test statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The findings were that family structure, peer-group and social media usage have significant influence on students‟ academic achievement in Civic Education, while school location does not have any significant statistical influence on academic achievement in Civic Education. Based on the findings, it was recommended among other things that there is a need for the school authority and parents to checkmate students‟ social media usage to avoid addiction, so that students' academic achievement in Civic Education in Cross River State will not continue to be a mirage.

The impact of playful titles and posters on learners’ interest in academic sessions: An observational study

Introduction: Academic sessions require active participation and attendance to ensure effective knowledge dissemination. In this context, we aim to investigate the influence of playful titles and posters on learners’ interest in attending educational sessions at our radiology department. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire-based survey was distributed to the department staff gauging their opinions on topics for the grand rounds of the radiology department for the academic year 2021–2022. It contains demographics, responses to “Formal” and “Playful” posters across ten pairs of radiology-related topics, and factors that could affect their attendance. Results: Forty-three department staff participated in the survey, with a mean age of 33 ± 7 years. Participants found the “Playful” posters more amusing compared to “Formal” posters. With the “Playful” posters, there were no significant differences in the agreement levels between the interest in attendance and finding the poster amusing unlike most of the “Formal” posters. There were no significant differences in participants’ interest in attendance between the “Playful” and “Formal” posters. Using linear regression analysis, the “poster interest score” was a statistically significant predictor of the “attendance score” with both styles. However, the “Formal” posters were more appropriate predictors when both analysis models were compared. Sixty-five percent of participants indicated that a topic relevant to their specialty would increase their interest in attendance, with higher agreement in older age groups. In addition, male participants preferred playful titles, those provoking curiosity and utilizing visual aids. Conclusion: The interest in posters is a strong predictor of interest in attendance, with formal posters explaining this relationship better in our cohort. Age and sex influence the preference for title presentation and playful posters. Educators should tailor their educational methods accordingly. The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Interpersonal and communication skills, Medical knowledge, Professionalism, Systems-based practice.

Entrepreneurship Education as Correlate of Postgraduate Employability in Southeast, Nigeria

This study aims to investigate the correlation between entrepreneurship education and postgraduate employability in Southeast Nigeria. The study adopted a correlational survey design. The population for this study consisted of all the 8,461 postgraduate students admitted in all the federal universities in South East Zone of Nigeria in the 2017/2018 academic session. A sample of 846 postgraduate students was selected using stratified random sampling technique. The Entrepreneurship Education Questionnaire (EEQ) was used as the primary instrument for data collection. The findings of the study revealed a significant relationship between entrepreneurship education and postgraduate employability in Southeast Nigeria. This suggests that postgraduate students who have higher levels of entrepreneurship education are more likely to be employed after graduation. Additionally, the study did not find any significant moderating effect by gender on the relationship between entrepreneurship education and postgraduate employability. This study suggests that entrepreneurship education has a strong positive correlation with postgraduate employability in Southeast Nigeria. The findings of this study contribute to the existing literature on postgraduate employability and entrepreneurship education, particularly within the context of Southeast Nigeria.

Development of a Model for Analyzing the Optimal Utilization of Classroom Space at the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa.

Managing the distribution of limited resources to meet the needs of people has always been a global issue that faces managers, administrators, business owners, leaders of institution and individuals alike. With the increase in number of students admitted in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, with a large population of about 10,000, there would be undue stress on the facilities on campus. The class rooms are not sufficient or adequate and not well-assigned compared to the measurable number of students available. This has given rise to the reduction in the length of time a lecturer spends in class, distractions from students because of classroom proximity, amongst others. These cause extreme distress on the students and lecturers alike as they are unable to study or teach, respectively, to their highest potential as a result of resources or amenities that are inadequate or wanting. Data were collected from Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa Central Examination Committee for 2022/2023 Academic Session. The linear and integer programming methodology was employed. From the result of the linear programming (LP), seven (7) out of the seventy-eight (78) available classrooms has been fully utilized. The study revealed that if the remaining seventy-one (71) classrooms are fully utilized and maximized, they will improve the current objective function with a seating capacity of 4, 640. The result of the integer programming (IP) using the branch and bound method revealed that fourteen (14) out of the seventy-eight (78) available classrooms has been fully utilized. It asserted that if the remaining sixty-four (64) classrooms are fully utilized and maximized they will improve the current objective function with a seating capacity of 7,131. The result of the sensitivity analysis indicates that the entire classroom has an allowable increase thus validating the proposed models. The study therefore concludes that classroom space utilization is being underutilized leading to congestion and overflow in the utilized classrooms.

Modular Design of Teaching Cases: Reducing Workload While Maximizing Reusability

Many software development courses rely heavily on a project-based learning component to provide hands-on experience with the majority of the course objectives. Courses such as systems analysis and design, database design, software engineering, and capstone software development courses often incorporate some form of case-based project that is much more extensive and integrated than are focused exercises over individual topics. To be truly educational, case studies can require a significant investment in time and effort on the part of the instructor, an investment that seldom carries over into future academic sessions. This paper presents a modular case study development concept for better managing the development of case studies and achieving project extensibility through reusable case study modules, while at the same time helping to reduce instructor workload and solution reuse by students.

A Study On Parental Involvement In Academic Achievement Of Secondary School Students At Deomali, Tirap District Of Arunachal Pradesh

The present study was undertaken to study the impact of parental involvement on academic achievement of secondary school students at Deomali Block in Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh. The study adopts a descriptive research design with mixed method of data collection. The population of the study were the parents, guardians, teachers and the students studying in grades VI - X of secondary schools affiliated to CBSE under Deomali Education Block with a sample size of five hundred and seventy six (N=576) through random sampling were included. The purpose of the study was to analyse the relationship of academic achievement with parental involvement. A self-developed questionnaire on parental involvement for teachers, parents and students was used for data collection along with school academic records for the academic session 2023-2024 has been taken as scores and record. The present study found that there is a significant gender differences between the academic achievement levels of low and high levels of parental involvement showing a significant difference between the academic achievement of boys and girls. The present study reveals that the parental involvement plays an important role in academic achievement of students. Therefore, school authority should conduct awareness programme and workshops centered on child caring for parents. However, a parent-teacher association will also make an effective initiative to solve the ignorant parents in child’s academic activity.