Clear Purpose Research Articles

Program Evaluation of Pancasila Student Profile Strengthening Project Using the CSE-UCLA Model

The research aims to evaluate the program of the Pancasila student profile strengthening project in elementary schools in Semarang Regency, Indonesia. This research method used the CSE-UCLA evaluation model with a qualitative approach that included the aspects of program assessment, program planning, program implementation, program improvement, and program certification. The data sources came from the school principal/curriculum teachers, classroom teachers, students, and the parents of students at Pangudi Luhur Ambarawa Elementary School and Tlompakan 1 Tuntang Elementary School in Semarang Regency. Data collection was through interviews, document studies, and observations. The data analysis technique used qualitative descriptive methods. The research results showed that in the Assessment program, P5 was implemented in accordance with the vision, mission, and objectives. The theme and project options were chosen based on environmental issues and the needs of the students, and the project was also supported by the parents; Program planning, both schools had goals to be achieved in P5 so that the project ran with a clear direction and purpose; Program implementation, teachers have good strategies in carrying out P5 but improvements were needed in the socialization of the P5 program; Program improvement, there needs to be enhancements in the documentation of monitoring and supervision results; Certification program, the goals of the P5 program were achieved and all parties were satisfied with the existence of the P5 program, which had a positive impact on the students. The P5 program was running well, and all stakeholders were satisfied. However, there was a need for improvement in documentation and communication with students' parents. In addition, it is necessary to broaden project options, support teachers, and encourage them to prioritize character development over tangible results.

Pupils’ beliefs about Norwegian Nynorsk: ‘I don’t believe we need to learn a second Norwegian language’

According to the national curriculum, Norwegian pupils are supposed to learn both official written Norwegian languages, Bokmål and Nynorsk, in school (1-13); one of the written languages as their so-called main written language and the other one as the alternative written language. At the end of lower secondary school (10th grade) and the end of upper secondary school (13th grade), most pupils get three individual grades in Norwegian as a school subject: written Bokmål, written Nynorsk and oral skills. The majority of pupils (more than 85%) have Bokmål as their main written language and Nynorsk as their alternative written language, and many pupils struggle with motivational issues when it comes to learning Nynorsk. In the present study, lower secondary pupils (10th graders) have been asked about their thoughts and beliefs before and after an intervention in the form of a language-history lecture by an external Nynorsk teacher and user (a researcher). The pupils wrote down their opinions and thoughts in class under the supervision of their teacher. These (anonymous) reflection notes were handed to the researcher who categorized and analysed them by trying to extract the overall ‘beliefs’ about Nynorsk from each text. Even though most pupils admit having learned a little from the intervention, the result is clear: a one-time intervention – even with a clear purpose and good arguments – is not enough to change the pupils’ opinion, attitudes or beliefs when it comes to Nynorsk as a second Norwegian language in school, and more fundamental changes in the educational system are needed. /Keywords: attitudes, beliefs, emotions, language learning, language policy, language teaching

Developing Pedagogical Principles for Digital Assessment

Digitalization has been a widely discussed topic in recent years, and it has entered various areas, including education. The issue of identifying and applying pedagogical aspects in digitalization has not been sufficiently discussed in the literature. This deficiency is particularly obvious in terms of assessment, an integral part of the education. Assessment is one of the most important aspects in managing education environments. The research data were obtained by combining two methods: ten pedagogical practices were examined that utilized various technologies in assessment already in use before the pandemic; data from the previous focus group discussions were reviewed regarding to pedagogical principles. A concept map was used in formulating the principles. Finally, the Delphi method with five experts from four counties was applied to obtain an expert view. As a result, five pedagogical principles of digital assessment were developed: (1) the clear purpose of the assessment and explicit criteria; (2) choice of adequate technology; (3) sufficient digital competence and technological equipment; (4) use of technological opportunities; (5) consistent analysis and use of assessment data. This is especially important given the need to demonstrate the appropriate and full use of technology. Those pedagogical principles contribute to a shared understanding between stakeholders in education.

Management of Tahfidz Quran Programs in Shaping Elementary Students' Character

The current study intends to analyze the management of the Tahfidz program in shaping students' character. The non-mulazamah program became the subject of the study. A qualitative approach using a case study method was employed in this study. Data collection techniques included interviews, observation, and documentation. Data were generated from the analysis process, comprising data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The results showed that the management of the Tahfidz program was successful in shaping students’ characters based on four indicators. First, in the planning stage, the madrasah conducted a need analysis and prepared stakeholders to ensure proficiency in reading the Qur'an, creating an ideal learning environment. Second, in organizing the Tahfidz program, the madrasah had a clear purpose, well-defined job responsibilities, and adequate facilities to support the program. Third, the Madrasah leaders implemented a situational leadership style during the program's execution. Finally, in the control phase, the management team ensured that the program produced quality outcomes, with many students surpassing the expected targets. The study indicates that the Tahfidz program nurtures students’ characteristics such as discipline, responsibility, independence, and compliance.

Cricket Australia’s Code of Conduct and the need for a ‘clear family resemblance’ in purpose, values, and principles

ABSTRACT This article examines Cricket Australia’s (CA) Code of Conduct and draws theoretical connections to Enterprise Risk Management (ERM). In so doing, the article considers the nature and scope of CA’s Code of Conduct, and challenges for the effective implementation of the code. The purpose of a Code of Conduct is to set out expectations for behaviour and disciplinary processes for failure to adhere to these standards. However, while public image and popularity remain central objectives of the Code, there is ambiguity and conflict between these objectives and the third objective: integrity, an ethical value that underpins codes of conduct. Our recommendation to remove public image and popularity from the purpose of the Code of Conduct is consistent with The Ethics Centre 2018 Report that recommended a ‘core consistency (a clear ‘family resemblance’) between How We Play, the Spirit of Cricket, and any additional Ethical Framework applying to elite players’. We suggest that ‘core consistency’ starts with a clear and consistent purpose in the Code of Conduct, one that is not clouded by public image and popularity, and one that is focused on the ethical values of integrity, transparency, and accountability.

A Principled Approach to Financial Resource Collection and Allocation for the Realization of Human Rights in Creating a Global Fiscal Institution

This article focuses on fiscal legitimacy and its principles as an approach to the use of resources in the realization of human rights. It further reflects on the concept of the fiscal social contract in the creation of a global fiscal institution with a consistently clear purpose: raising living standards.

A review of Bowman's layer structure, function, and transplantation.

Bowman's layer is an acellular corneal structure, which is considered to be a specially modified anterior stroma. It is presumed, that it forms as a result of ongoing epithelial-stromal interactions and no clear physiological purpose has been proven. Despite this fact, Bowman's layer has found its place in corneal transplantation. It has been performed for over adecade, mainly in treatment of advanced keratoconus with multiple modifications. Transplantation of Bowman's layer can be expected to become a widely used surgical procedure in the treatment of many corneal pathologies involving fragmentation and destruction of Bowman's layer. This article aims to summarize information available on its structure, possible function, and transplantation. A thorough literature search was performed in the PubMed database and Google Scholar using keywords: Bowman's layer, structure, function, preparation and corneal transplantation. All the relevant sources were used, which represent 77 peer-reviewed articles with information corcerning the topic of this article.

A lot of talk and a badge: An exploratory analysis of personal achievements in GitHub

Context:GitHub has introduced a new gamification element through personal achievements, whereby badges are unlocked and displayed on developers’ personal profile pages in recognition of their development activities. Objective:In this paper, we present an exploratory analysis using mixed methods to study the diffusion of personal badges in GitHub, in addition to the effects and reactions to their introduction. Method:First, we conduct an observational study by mining longitudinal data from more than 6,000 developers and performed correlation and regression analysis. Then, we conduct a survey and analyze over 300 GitHub community discussions on the topic of personal badges to gauge how the community responded to the introduction of the new feature. Results:We find that most of the developers sampled own at least a badge, but we also observe an increasing number of users who choose to keep their profile private and opt out of displaying badges. Additionally, badges are generally poorly correlated with developers’ skills and dispositions such as timeliness and desire to collaborate. We also find that, except for the Starstruck badge (reflecting the number of followers), their introduction does not have an effect. Finally, the reaction of the community has been in general mixed, as developers find them appealing in principle but without a clear purpose and hardly reflecting their abilities in the current form. Conclusions:We provide recommendations to the designers of the GitHubplatform on how to improve the current implementation of personal badges as both a gamification mechanism and as sources of reliable cues for assessing the abilities of developers.

Empowering Orphaned Children Through Counseling: Enhancing Life's Meaning

Counseling services are very important to help children find meaning in life and overcome the various problems they face as adults. Children are the future of the nation and need attention; many of them lose their identity during adolescence but can lead good lives with an intact family. The aim of this study is to understand the implementation of counseling services in developing the meaningfulness of life for orphans at the Al-Washliyah Orphanage in Lubuk Pakam, Indonesia. The method used is a qualitative approach. The subjects of this study are the children of the Al-Washliyah Orphanage in Lubuk Pakam, Lubuk Pakam District, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The results of the study show that the success of the counseling services at the Al-Washliyah Orphanage in Lubuk Pakam can be seen from several indicators, such as understanding a clear purpose in life, knowing how to find meaning in daily activities, recognizing their potential and knowing how to develop it, valuing life experiences, having positive relationships with others, creating a harmonious family within the orphanage, feeling gratitude and accepting themselves without comparing themselves to others, being optimistic about their life choices, learning valuable lessons from suffering, and having spirituality with the belief that Allah SWT loves them. The activities provided by the counselors to the children in the orphanage include religious activities such as prayer guidance, teaching reading and writing of the Qur'an, and moral guidance. The children at the orphanage can understand their purpose in life through various processes and activities conducted during their stay.

MANFAAT BERMAIN TERHADAP PERKEMBANGAN KOGNITIF ANAK

ABSTRACT Playing is something that is done fun without any coercion. In the children age, they tends to spend some time to play. In the adult’s view, playing may be interpreted as only limited to having fun without a clear purpose. But for children, playing has their own essence. Play has many benefits including developing creativity and increasing cognitive. Cognitive children is all things that related to the intelligence of the mind and way of thinking of a person. When they are playing, the entire senses of the child will be testimony and experience good developent in physical and cognitive physical matters.

Screening tools for employment in clinical healthcare delivery systems: a content analysis

BackgroundThe relationship between work and health is complex and bidirectional, where work can have both health-harming and health-enhancing effects. Though employment is recognized as a social determinant of health, and clinical healthcare delivery systems are increasingly using screening tools to ask patients about social needs, little research has explored the extent to which employment-related social risk is captured in these screening tools. This study aimed to identify and characterize employment- and work-related questions in social risk screening tools that have been implemented in clinical healthcare delivery systems.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative content analysis of employment-related items in screening tools that have been implemented in clinical healthcare service delivery systems. Three content areas guided data extraction and analysis: Setting, Domain, and Level of Contextualization.ResultsScreening tools that asked employment-related questions were implemented in settings that were diverse in the populations served and the scope of care provided. The intent of employment-related items focused on four domains: Social Risk Factor, Social Need, Employment Exposure, and Legal Need. Most questions were found to have a low Level of Contextualization and were largely focused on identifying an individual’s employment status.ConclusionsSeveral existing screening tools include measures of employment-related social risk, but these items do not have a clear purpose and range widely depending on the setting in which they are implemented. In order to maximize the utility of these tools, clinical healthcare delivery systems should carefully consider what domain(s) they aim to capture and how they anticipate using the screening tools to address social determinants of health.

The role of reader-inclusive authorial voice in the process of academic socialization of Management and English Philology students

Our purpose in this paper is to throw light on the tension, or even internal conflict, tertiary-level students experience when they struggle to negotiate the rhetorical norms of disciplinary writing and the changes in their authorial voice that necessarily occur in this socialization process. With this goal in mind, we designed and conducted the study to gain insights into the perceptions Management and English Philology students have as to what constitutes a convincing authorial voice and the discourse-level features employed to realize this. Twenty-six study participants created a diverse group with regards to nationality, gender, study level, disciplinary affiliation and cultural and linguistic background. Their evaluations of voice were first analyzed from their responses to a questionnaire and then expanded through interviews. The findings reveal that a reader-inclusive voice, which requires the use of de-jargonized language, clear purpose and structure, and creates room for reader’s own interpretation, is crucial for a text to be convincing. We also argue that students’ preference for reader-sensitive academic writing should be supported and encouraged through the provision of strategic academic writing pedagogy.

Peran Majelis Shalawat Dhiyaul Hady Dalam Meningkatkan Religiusitas Pada Remaja Kota Tanjung Balai

In various fields, teenagers are the main focus of society. The role of teenagers in forming good character, instilling noble values, and fostering a sense of love for the country is very important. In Tanjungbalai, an interesting phenomenon emerged where many teenagers enthusiastically took part in the Dhiyaul Hady Shalawat Assembly. The uniqueness of this assembly lies in its members, all of whom come from young people, from guides, vocalists, to hadroh players. Before this assembly was established, the condition of the people of Tanjungbalai was quite worrying. Many teenagers fall into negative activities such as nightlife, hanging out without a clear purpose, and drug abuse. The spirit of love for the Prophet was felt to be lacking among the people. Therefore, Ustadz Encev Fariduddin founded the Dhiyaul Hady Shalawat Council. Qualitative research with descriptive-analytic data analysis methods was used to understand the impact of this assembly. Data was obtained through interviews, observation and documentation, then analyzed using a Sufism approach. The research results showed positive changes in the personalities of teenagers who attended the assembly. The congregation feels an increase in religiosity after joining. The Dhiyaul Hady Council consistently and gradually seeks to develop the spiritual life of teenagers in a way that is interesting and suits their tastes. Commitment, motivation, spirit of brotherhood, and regular dhikr, as well as prayers to Allah SWT. be an important part of this development. Apart from spiritual formation, this assembly also encourages and supports teenagers to strengthen their love for Rasulullah SAW and build relationships with ulama and habaib.

Filsafat Eksistensialisme Dalam Pandangan Soren Aabye Kierkegaard Terhadap Spiritualitas Pada Remaja Akhir Generasi Z

Existentialism is a school of philosophy that emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and personal responsibility. Soren Kierkegaard, a 19th century philosopher, is considered one of the main figures in the development of this school. In Kierkegaard's view, spirituality is an important aspect of human life, he emphasized the importance of an individual's relationship with God and how this will affect individual existence and freedom. This research uses a qualitative approach by applying library studies or primary data used are books and texts that contain thoughts from Kierkegaard about existentialism and the transformation of self-identity. In late adolescents of generation Z, Kierkegaard's view of spirituality can provide an understanding of the importance of a meaningful life and having a clear purpose. Existentialism can help Generation Z late adolescents to understand and face the existential challenges faced by Generation Z late adolescents, such as finding the meaning of life, facing certainty, and determining their identity.

Health Professionals' Experiences with Health-Promoting Dialogues for Older Home-Dwellers-A Qualitative Study.

Home-dwelling older people without healthcare services might develop vulnerability and health-related issues that should be detected proactively by service providers. Health-promoting measures directed towards the target group could facilitate living longer and better at home, as well as delay the need for healthcare services. One approach is through health-promoting dialogues between the municipality and healthcare professionals. This study aims to explore the experiences of healthcare professionals involved in health-promoting dialogues with home-dwellers aged over 75 years without health service decisions in Norway. Data were collected through three focus groups. Thematic analysis was applied to the data resulting in the emergence of one major theme, "challenging dialogues", comprising three sub-themes: "promote the individual's perspectives", "uncovering vulnerability", and "ambiguity of the dialogues". The health-promoting dialogue uses a resource perspective for the elderly to remain independent in old age and can reveal vulnerability and underlying needs. The purpose of the dialogue appears ambiguous for the target group, which leads to unclear service expectations and frequent rejections of the offer. Nevertheless, this health-promoting service has a clear purpose of identifying and meeting the needs of the target group in a broader sense during the ageing process.

Defining plastic pollution hotspots

Plastic pollution in the natural environment poses a growing threat to ecosystems and human health, prompting urgent needs for monitoring, prevention and clean-up measures, and new policies. To effectively prioritize resource allocation and mitigation strategies, it is key to identify and define plastic hotspots. UNEP's draft global agreement on plastic pollution mandates prioritizing hotspots, suggesting a potential need for a defined term. Yet, the delineation of hotspots varies considerably across plastic pollution studies, and a definition is often lacking or inconsistent without a clear purpose and boundaries of the term. In this paper, we applied four common definitions of hotspot locations to plastic pollution datasets ranging from urban areas to a global scale. Our findings reveal that these hotspot definitions encompass between 0.8 % to 93.3 % of the total plastic pollution, covering <0.1 % to 50.3 % of the total locations. Given this wide range of results and the possibility of temporal inconsistency in hotspots, we emphasize the need for fit-for-purpose criteria and a unified approach to defining plastic hotspots. Therefore, we designed a step-wise framework to define hotspots by determining the purpose, units, spatial scale, temporal scale, and threshold values. Incorporating these steps in research and policymaking yields a harmonized definition of hotspots, facilitating the development of effective plastic pollution prevention and reduction measures.

Lean Six Sigma and Industry 4.0 implementation framework for operational excellence: a case study

The adoption of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) 4.0 has been recommended by researchers and practitioners as an effective strategy to enhance the operational excellence of companies, especially in highly competitive environments given the complementarity of LSS with Industry 4.0 (I4.0). Moreover, evidence suggests that companies commonly face difficulties and perceive the implementation process as challenging. To the best of our knowledge, there is currently no comprehensive global model available that offers a step-by-step approach for implementing LSS4.0. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to develop a structured framework that directs organizations to successfully implement LSS4.0. This study follows a combined approach including a systematic literature review to identify existing gaps in recent research and an expert panel to provide valuable insights and validation during the development of the framework. Additionally, a case study was conducted in an automotive manufacturing company to validate the findings. The proposed LSS4.0 framework is based on the DMAIC approach subdivided into fifteen steps. It permits managers to seamlessly integrate LSS4.0 into their processes and selectively choose the relevant tools as required, avoiding digitalization without a clear purpose. Also, it offers a comprehensive solution for managers addressing contemporary industry challenges and enhancing operational processes.

Navigating the Portfolio Landscape: Examining Lecturers’ and Students’ Perspectives on Portfolio Assessment Practices

This study examined the perceptions of lecturers and students regarding portfolio assessment practices, their overall attitudes towards this assessment method, and the alignment and divergence between their perceptions. Employing a survey research design, the study was conducted at the University of Education, Winneba, in the Central Region of Ghana, involving 52 final-year science education students and five of their lecturers. Students were selected using stratified random sampling, while lecturers were chosen purposefully. Data collection instruments comprised five-point Likert scale questionnaires administered to both groups, ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Descriptive analysis, including mean, frequencies, and percentages, was utilised for data analysis. Results indicated that lecturers generally perceive a clear purpose for portfolio assessment practices (mean score = 4.20) and emphasise integrating them into every educational programme (mean score = 4.40), while students express lower levels of satisfaction with these aspects (mean scores = 2.15, 2.42, respectively). Additionally, lecturers exhibit moderate attitudes towards portfolio assessment (60.0%), while students predominantly demonstrate low attitudes (59.6%). Alignment between lecturers and students is evident in some areas, such as the importance of communicating objectives and providing feedback to students and the importance of this assessment in diagnosing students’ strengths and weaknesses, but discrepancies arise regarding the guidance of students during the practices. The study concluded that understanding and addressing the differences in perceptions and attitudes between lecturers and students is crucial for promoting a shared understanding and acceptance of portfolio assessment practices. In order to close gaps and foster meaningful engagement, it is then recommended that institutions prioritise efforts to improve communication, collaboration, and support for both lecturers and students to enhance the effectiveness of portfolio assessment practices in higher education.

The Effects of Student-centered Teaching Methods on the Motivation of English Language Learning

In recent years, student-centered teaching methods have received increasing attention. Many educators and researchers advocate a shift from a purely teacher-centered approach to a student-centered approach to teaching and learning. The study aims to explore the effects of student-centered teaching methods on the English learning motivation of college students majoring in English in Chinese universities. This study used questionnaires to investigate the effects of four teaching activities (group discussion, presentation, debate, and role-play) on the motivation to learn English. Furthermore, this study reveals the influence of teaching activities on language performance, and explores oral skills, English vocabulary use and English performance in English learning. It is found that the above four activities can improve the motivation of Chinese college students to learn English to some extent. The research results show that applying student-centered teaching methods is conducive to improving the motivation of Chinese college students in English language learning. Selecting teachers' teaching methods is crucial to improve students' motivation to learn English. This paper aims to improve students' motivation to learn English. It gives some suggestions to teachers for four activities, which are speech, group discussion, debate, and role-playing, to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning. Based on the evaluation from participants, it is suggested that a clear purpose in a teaching activity should be addressed in a teaching context.

A modified action framework to develop and evaluate academic-policy engagement interventions

BackgroundThere has been a proliferation of frameworks with a common goal of bridging the gap between evidence, policy, and practice, but few aim to specifically guide evaluations of academic-policy engagement. We present the modification of an action framework for the purpose of selecting, developing and evaluating interventions for academic-policy engagement.MethodsWe build on the conceptual work of an existing framework known as SPIRIT (Supporting Policy In Health with Research: an Intervention Trial), developed for the evaluation of strategies intended to increase the use of research in health policy. Our aim was to modify SPIRIT, (i) to be applicable beyond health policy contexts, for example encompassing social, environmental, and economic policy impacts and (ii) to address broader dynamics of academic-policy engagement. We used an iterative approach through literature reviews and consultation with multiple stakeholders from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and policy professionals working at different levels of government and across geographical contexts in England, alongside our evaluation activities in the Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement (CAPE) programme.ResultsOur modifications expand upon Redman et al.’s original framework, for example adding a domain of ‘Impacts and Sustainability’ to capture continued activities required in the achievement of desirable outcomes. The modified framework fulfils the criteria for a useful action framework, having a clear purpose, being informed by existing understandings, being capable of guiding targeted interventions, and providing a structure to build further knowledge.ConclusionThe modified SPIRIT framework is designed to be meaningful and accessible for people working across varied contexts in the evidence-policy ecosystem. It has potential applications in how academic-policy engagement interventions might be developed, evaluated, facilitated and improved, to ultimately support the use of evidence in decision-making.