Conceptual Foundations Research Articles

Spark: The First Choice for Novices

Spark, one of the products offered by MyQ (formerly Plethora), is a game-based platform meticulously designed to introduce students to the foundational concepts of computer science. By navigating through logical challenges, users delve into topics like abstraction, loops, and graph patterns. Setting itself apart from its counterparts, Spark boasts an innovative formal language and a rich set of features. Unlike traditional platforms, Spark emphasizes computational problem solving over programming syntax, making it accessible to learners of all levels. With progressively challenging levels and an intuitive graphical interface, students engage in problem solving, content creation, and collaboration within the MyQ community. Using Spark makes it less probable for students to utilize generative AI (GAI) to solve challenges, thereby sparing teachers the struggle of assessing tasks that might have been accomplished using GAI. In this paper, we provide an examination of Spark, its functionalities, the challenges it tackles, its merits, limitations, and prospective trajectories.

Тарих сабағында «Диуани лұғат ит-түрк» сөздігін CLIL технологиясын қолданып зерттеу мүмкіндігі

The article explores the significance of using historical sources in teaching the history of Kazakhstan, with a focus on the conceptual foundations outlined in state standards. These standards aim to develop students’ critical thinking and analytical skills. The article discusses the teaching methods employed in Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools, including CLIL, which integrates language and subject teaching. A particular emphasis is placed on working with authentic materials, such as Mahmut Kashgari’s «Divani Lugat it-Turk.» The importance of adapting materials to students’ language proficiency levels is highlighted, as this fosters a deeper understanding of the historical context and enhances language skills. The authors emphasize that engaging with the «Divani Lugat it-Turk» dictionary will cultivate respect for national values and increase students’ interest in and appreciation for the history of their nation.

The Model “SMART”- an Innovation for Achieving Future Success in TVET Students: An Empirical study

The “SMART” school innovation project represents a significant advancement in addressing the challenges faced by students in technical vocational education and training (TVET) programs, particularly concerning their mathematical proficiency. Recent analyses of state matriculation exam results have highlighted a troubling decline in mathematics achievement among students, which poses a substantial barrier to their academic and professional success in TVET learning classes. In response to this issue, the SMART project has been designed to enhance students’ academic performance while cultivating a more inclusive and engaging learning environment. At the core of the SMART project is a differentiated instruction approach to those groups’ students according to their mathematical abilities. This method allows educators to tailor their teaching strategies to meet the diverse needs of students, ensuring that both advanced learners and those struggling with foundational concepts receive appropriate support. By creating specific groups- advanced, intermediate, and those with significant gaps—and regrouping students from different professions into new classes, the project enables targeted interventions that address individual learning needs. This approach allows for simultaneous instruction in mathematics across all new mixed-profession classes, enabling personalized support due to the equal curriculum and equal allocation of hours. This structured grouping not only helps in identifying and addressing knowledge deficits but also promotes a collaborative learning atmosphere where students can thrive. The project emphasizes the importance of regular progress monitoring, with systematic evaluations conducted every two months. This ongoing assessment enables educators to make timely adjustments to teaching strategies and group placements, ensuring that students are continuously challenged and supported. Furthermore, the project incorporates innovative and interactive teaching methods designed to engage students actively in the learning process, moving away from traditional, monotonous approaches. By establishing a comprehensive framework for educational improvement, the project not only seeks to elevate students’ proficiency in mathematics but also aims to create a holistic approach to learning that prioritizes the diverse needs of all learners. The SMART project is poised to make a lasting impact on the educational landscape, equipping students with the necessary skills and confidence to excel in their future studies and professional endeavors. By addressing the root causes of low mathematics achievement and fostering a supportive learning environment, the project aims to prepare students for the challenges they will face in both their academic and career paths.

A bibliometric analysis on the effects of land use change on fire dynamics: current status and progress

Bibliometrics has been widely applied across various scientific domains as a valuable tool to assess scientific evolution and identify developmental trends. Fire ecology, an emerging field, represents a significant ecological and evolutionary force that regulates populations and communities across time and space. Consequently, studies on how anthropogenic land use changes have altered fire regimes are increasing. This study seeks to analyze the evolution, geographical distribution, and collaboration patterns of scientific knowledge to understand trends in the literature and the primary conceptual and methodological foundations underlying research on land use change impacts on fire dynamics. Using the SCOPUS database, we employed bibliometric tools to examine key descriptive patterns in the literature. Co-occurrence networks were applied to identify scientific advancements based on titles, abstracts, and keywords, while a detailed analysis of 10% of the most cited articles offered insight into prevalent methodologies. We identified 295 relevant publications, with the United States and Brazil leading the research, highlighting substantial cooperation between these two countries. Among the authors, Shimabukuro Y. was the most prolific. Remote Sensing was the predominant journal for publication. Analysis of co-occurrence networks and the most cited articles indicated extensive use of satellite data, with applications in mapping and monitoring burned areas and identifying factors driving the emergence and shifts in fire regimes.

Conceptual foundations of accounting reporting in the digital economy

The article discusses the main theoretical and methodological aspects underlying the preparation of financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and national accounting standards. Currently, the key business processes that form the foundation of the economy are based on digital technologies. Therefore, special attention is paid to the study of the main trends and prospects for the development of international financial reporting standards in the digital economy.

Special Issue - Conversations with Ella Kahu

This special issue celebrates the work of Professor Ella Kahu and her substantial contribution to the advancement of our collective understanding of student engagement. In June 2024 Professors Karen Nelson and Chi Baik, and Dr Cat Picton sat down with Ella for a reflective conversation about her work, and additional insights in her theorising and research on student experience and engagement. In this issue, we present the interview transcript and showcase Ella’s key publications from her early theorising on the student engagement framework, through her collaborations with Professor Karen Nelson and the development of the educational interface to a series of empirical articles, exploring different dimensions of the student experiences, including students’ expectations of university, student belonging and metaphors of learning and life. This special issue will take you on a journey of the evolving scholarship and practice of Professor Ella Kahu. Part One presents the conceptual foundations of the framework of student engagement. Part Two explores the first-year student experience. Part Three delves in to teaching practices that promote student engagement. This PDF is the full issue (Introduction, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)

Konsep Dasar Kepemimpinan : Dari Definisi Hingga Tipologi Pemimpin Efektif

Leadership is a critical aspect of organizational management, influencing individual and group behavior to achieve shared goals. This article explores the foundational concepts of leadership, encompassing definitions, theories, and typologies of effective leaders. The study employs a literature review method, drawing on recent academic journals, proceedings, and books. Findings emphasize that effective leadership involves adaptive strategies tailored to organizational needs and the dynamic challenges of the modern era. Key leadership typologies, including transformational, transactional, and situational leadership, are highlighted as crucial for fostering innovation and organizational growth. The study underscores the need for leaders to balance vision, influence, and motivation to achieve sustainable success.

Food-web dynamics of a floodplain mosaic overshadow the effects of engineered logjams for Pacific salmon and steelhead.

Food webs vary in space and time. The structure and spatial arrangement of food webs are theorized to mediate temporal dynamics of energy flow, but empirical corroboration in intermediate-scale landscapes is scarce. River-floodplain landscapes encompass a mosaic of aquatic habitat patches and food webs, supporting a variety of aquatic consumers of conservation concern. How the structure and productivity of these patch-scale food webs change through time, and how floodplain restoration influences their dynamics, are unevaluated. We measured productivity and food-web dynamics across a mosaic of main-channel and side-channel habitats of the Methow River, WA, USA, during two study years (2009-2010; 2015-2016) and examined how food webs that sustained juvenile anadromous salmonids responded to habitat manipulation. By quantifying temporal variation in secondary production and organic matter flow across nontreated river-floodplain habitats and comparing that variation to a side channel treated with engineered logjams, we jointly confronted spatial food-web theory and assessed whether food-web dynamics in the treated side channel exceeded natural variation exhibited in nontreated habitats. We observed that organic matter flow through the more complex, main-channel food web was similar between study years, whereas organic matter flow through the simpler, side-channel food webs changed up to ~4-fold. In the side channel treated with engineered logjams, production of benthic invertebrates and juvenile salmonids increased between study years by 2× and 4×, respectively; however, these changes did not surpass the temporal variation observed in untreated habitats. For instance, juvenile salmonid production rose 17-fold in one untreated side-channel habitat, and natural aggregation of large wood in another coincided with a shift to community and food-web dominance by juvenile salmonids. Our findings suggest that interannual dynamism in material flux across floodplain habitat mosaics is interrelated with patchiness in food-web complexity and may overshadow the ecological responses to localized river restoration. Although this dynamism may inhibit detection of the ecological effects of river restoration, it may also act to stabilize aquatic ecosystems and buffer salmon and other species of conservation concern in the long term. As such, natural, landscape-level patchiness and dynamism in food webs should be integrated into conceptual foundations of process-based, river restoration.

Disarticulating neoliberalized care in education

Teachers are burned out and leaving the profession at an alarming rate. We see this problem connected with the ethical orientation of care ethics that teachers are encouraged to adopt while preparing to enter the profession. When they enter the profession, educators often find themselves confronting a neoliberal hegemony that is at odds with care ethics in both theory and practice. This neoliberalized context is incompatible with the relational conceptual foundations of care ethics, forcing a compromised enactment of care that works against sustainability, equity, and educational transformation. In this article, we elaborate the ontological, epistemological, and axiological tensions that threaten educators’ care-ethics-in-practice within neoliberal hegemony. The ersatz care ethics-in-practice is at best able to deliver only a superficial form of caring to the students while possibly causing moral injury to the educators. Ultimately, we see this issue as illustrative of the co-option of progressive discourses by neoliberalism that leads to the hegemony of progressive neoliberalism in educational contexts. Shunning the incremental/structural changes binary, we suggest radical incremental enactments of a politics of collective care might be the way to bring about a future where authentic caring is found woven into the systemic fabric of schooling.

Introduction To Basic Mathematical Concepts Through Learning Media

Understanding fundamental mathematical concepts is essential for developing students' logical reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. This study employs a literature review methodology to analyze foundational mathematical concepts—such as numbers, arithmetic operations, geometry, algebra, and statistics—and their impact on students' learning and cognitive development. The findings indicate that interactive tools, cultural contexts, and hands-on learning media significantly enhance students' comprehension and retention of these basic concepts. Studies reviewed include applications of traditional games, visual aids, and realistic mathematics approaches, which help bridge abstract concepts with everyday life, thus fostering a deeper, more applicable understanding of mathematics. This research provides insights for educators to utilize varied, engaging approaches that support students' foundational knowledge, encouraging better academic outcomes and practical skills. The findings suggest that contextual and interactive methods in early mathematics education are crucial for cultivating a robust foundation for further learning.

Концептуальні засади формування міжнародної інноваційної політики

Globalization and integration processes specify the objectivity of coordinating actions in the implementation of certain international processes, joining efforts in solving the problems facing humanity, ensuring economic growth on an intensive basis. In such conditions, the main role in the formation of effective business processes and the production of competitive products is played by the development and implementation of innovations. The formation of innovative potential and the development of international innovative activity directly depend on the successfully developed policy of the states to promote the development and spread of innovations. Joining the efforts of countries, especially those integrated in the field of innovation, plays a particularly important role in solving modern problems of an international scale, caused by the challenges of Industry 5.0, focused on environmental, social and economic factors of managerial influence on international innovation processes. That is, the study of approaches to the formation of international innovation policy meets the requirements of the time, is relevant and necessary. The purpose of the article is to study approaches to the formation of international innovation policy and to develop proposals for improving the strategic management of international innovative activity. The task of the article is to study the essence, purpose and conceptual foundations of the formation of international innovation policy at all levels of its organization. The article defines the concept of "international innovation policy" and its role in promoting the development of international cooperation in the field of science and technology, increasing international innovative activity to ensure competitiveness and development of economic systems at various organizational levels. Conceptual basics of formation and structural components of international innovation policy are defined. A conceptual model of international innovation policy has been developed, which includes elements of global, international, national, entrepreneurial and interpersonal integration and competition. The constituent components of the corporate innovation policy were formed and a model of the sequence of formation of innovative products was developed. The relevance of the formation of an anthropological innovation policy (nanolevel) is substantiated, which will allow to study the general patterns of the relationship between man and the natural environment, the influence of socio-economic and environmental factors on the functioning of the human body, to carry out purposeful management of human health, its reproduction and restoration, and the formation of relevant innovations. It is advisable to direct further research to the study of the problems of international innovation policy formation caused by the challenges of Industry 5.0, oriented to ESG-activity (environment, social sphere and management), that is, to the environmental, social and economic factors of managerial influence on international innovation processes.

35 years of fraction learning: Integrating systematic review and bibliometric analysis on a global scale

Fraction learning is a fundamental yet challenging component of mathematical education, critical to students’ broader mathematical development. This study presents a comprehensive review of fraction learning research spanning the years 1989 to 2024, integrating a systematic literature review with bibliometric analysis to explore the evolution, trends and gaps in this domain. Utilizing data from the Web of Science database, we reviewed 725 articles, identifying key themes through co-citation analysis and categorizing the literature into three primary clusters: cognitive and conceptual understanding of fractions, developmental and educational aspects of fraction learning and teacher knowledge and its impact on mathematics teaching. Our findings reveal a shift from early research focused on conceptual foundations to more recent studies emphasizing educational interventions and teacher preparation. The analysis also highlights significant geographical imbalances, with most research originating from Western countries, particularly the USA. Despite advancements, critical gaps remain, particularly concerning the long-term retention of fraction knowledge and the effectiveness of adaptive learning strategies. This study underscores the importance of a multifaceted approach to improving fraction learning outcomes and calls for future research that addresses these gaps, particularly in diverse educational contexts. The findings provide valuable insights for educators, policymakers and researchers, guiding future efforts to enhance fraction education globally.

Unpacking pre-service teachers’ conceptualization of logarithmic differentiation through the APOS theory

Logarithmic differentiation is an effective method that aids the process of finding the derivatives of complex exponential functions. However, there has been a scarcity of studies, particularly in the South African context, that have provided evidence on pre-service mathematics teachers’ understanding of the concept of logarithmic differentiation. This study explored pre-service teachers’ conceptualization of logarithmic differentiation through action-process-object-schema (APOS) theory. We employed a qualitative case study design involving 90 first-year pre-service teachers enrolled in a mathematics teacher education program at a university in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. Overall, the analysis showed that 63.9% of the participants demonstrated a substantial understanding of logarithmic differentiation processes, including 46.1% who had reached the schema stage. Nonetheless, common misconceptions and errors persisted, particularly among those who operated at action and beginning process stages. Errors and misconceptions such as the misapplication of differentiation rules, calculation errors in combining derivatives, and conceptual misunderstanding were evident. These findings highlight the need for mathematics teacher preparation programs to emphasize both conceptual and procedural understanding of differentiation. Achieving this goal may involve targeted instruction on relevant foundational concepts, continuous professional development, and integration of active learning strategies, such as the activities, classroom discussions, and exercises (ACE) teaching cycles to address common misconceptions.

Banking research in the context of digitalization: On the transition to ecosystem business

Subject. This article discusses the tools and mechanisms for the transformation of international and Russian banking activities aimed at forming a competitive model for the functioning of a modern bank in the context of digitalization of the economy. Objectives. The article aims to develop a model for the transition of banking activities to an ecosystem business. Methods. For the study, we used analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, generalization, abstraction, and modeling. Results. The article offers certain tools that involve the formation of a model for the transition of banking activities to ecosystem business in the context of digitalization. The proposed methodological development takes into account the review of the conceptual foundations of the banking system formation and the analysis of current trends in its functioning in the world economy. Conclusions. The digital transformation of the Russian banking system can lead to the introduction of new technologies, the creation of new banking products (including para-banking and non-banking services) and their successful promotion to the market, attracting new customers and expanding the scope of services provided, improving sources of financing and reducing costs, managing risks and negative impacts on the banking system and the economy as a whole, as well as achieving sustainable development goals and supporting the Russian economy.

The center-regions relations as a basis for countering external constraints on Russia's economic development

Subject. The article is devoted to acceleration of economic development of Russia as a country in transition. Objectives. The study aims to present the author's vision of conceptual approaches to organization of the economy of the country and regions on an innovative basis, in conjunction with the improvement of center-regional relations as a factor of economic and political development. Methods. The methodological basis of the research is the problem consideration in the context of the theory of peripheral economy of capitalism, and works of domestic and foreign scientists on the development of conceptual foundations for accelerating the development of countries and their regions adapting to the world economy. Results. I substantiated and presented the concept of accelerated development as an alternative to the concepts of catch-up and advanced development, reflected in the literature. The paper unveils shortcomings of the models of center-regional relations tested in the post-Soviet period, which inhibit economic development, and offers a model of reconciliation of interests and a mechanism for transition to new center-regional relations. Conclusions. The scientific research results and proposed approaches to stimulating the acceleration of economic growth in Russia and its regions can be used in the updated process of reforms on economic and social development.

«Մեծ Եվրասիական գործընկերություն»․ Հայաստանը դիխոտոմիական ընտրության առջև

The article discusses the theoretical and conceptual foundations of the formation of the concept of the “Greater Eurasian Partnership” and the prospects for the participation of the Republic of Armenia in this global integration megatrend. The goals and objectives of the study include studying the dynamics of the transformation of the global world order, conceptualizing the idea of ​​the “Greater Eurasian Partnership” and its practical implementation, analyzing the integration and disintegration potential of small states involved in global mega-projects. In particular, the thesis is substantiated that the creation of the Greater Eurasian Partnership in a broad sense shifts the “center of gravity” of the world economy from the Euro-Atlantic or Anglo-Saxon axis to the east, into the strategic depths of the Eurasian continent. With such a transformation, bifurcation points and buffer zones of the Greater Eurasian space also undergo changes in parallel. The South Caucasus, especially Armenia, is at the center of bifurcation tensions, and Armenian statehood and Armenian society as a whole are faced with a dichotomous choice between the bifurcation point and the buffer zone.

Critical Review of Foundational Concepts in Public Health and Medicine

Critical Review of Foundational Concepts in Public Health and Medicine

The Art of Finding the Optimal Scattering Center(s)

AbstractThe truncated spatial multipolar spectra enable efficient approximate solutions to acoustic, quantum‐mechanical, and electromagnetic problems. In photonics, the efficient multipole description of a general emitter or scatterer with controlled accuracy is complicated by the ambiguity in choosing the multipole expansion center—the multipole terms depend on the position of the expansion center and therefore are not unique. This study solves this fundamental problem by finding the optimal scattering centers for which the spatial multipole spectrum becomes unique. These optimal positions are derived separately for the electric and magnetic multipoles by minimizing the norms of the poloidal quadrupoles, employing the long‐wave approximation (LWA) ansatz. The ultimate positions are verified with idealized discrete emitters and realistic scatterers. The optimal multipoles, including the toroidal terms, are calculated for several distinct scatterers; their utility for fast, low‐cost numerical schemes is discussed. The number of optimal magnetic scattering centers, defined by the multiplicity of the problem, can serve as a new topological metric of a given emitter or scatterer. This finding hints at potential relations between nanoscale optomechanics and topological photonics. Expansion of the work beyond the LWA is possible, with the promise of more general foundational concepts for electrodynamics, acoustics, and quantum mechanics.

Oral traditions as a fount of ethnomathematical knowledge: A bibliometric analysis of contemporary research trends

This study mapped the contemporary research landscape surrounding “oral traditions as a fount of ethnomathematics knowledge” through a bibliometric analysis employed as a methodological procedure. The main problem addressed in this study is the lack of a comprehensive consideration of evolving research trends and intellectual structure within ethnomathematics, i.e., the role of oral traditions as a source of knowledge. Oral traditions, defined as the cultural knowledge, art, ideas, and practices transmitted verbally across generations, offer a rich repository of ethnomathematical insights. 713 publications were identified from the Dimensions database between 2014 and 2024. This bibliometric analysis focused on identifying key research themes, authors, publishers, keywords, or key terms distributions within the corpus of extracted publications, as well as temporal trends in publication activity and citation patterns. The findings revealed a growing interest in the field, focusing on (a) educational context, (b) cultural studies, and (c) the intersection of mathematics and language. The analysis also identified key research themes, such as (a) the role of language and culture in shaping mathematical thought, (b) the development of ethnomathematical practices, and (c) the pedagogical implications of incorporating ethnomathematics into formal education. Additionally, 11 influential scholars who are driving the field forward were identified. According to the term distribution analysis, of the 6,092 terms, 316 met the threshold (minimum number of occurrences of the term: 6). For each 316 terms, a relevance score has been calculated. Based on this score, the most relevant terms have been selected. The VOSviewer’s default setting (60% of the most relevant terms) resulted in selecting 190 terms. Based on the given criteria, there is a result of 5 distinctive clusters related to the query that emerged. This study provides theoretical insights into the conceptual foundations of ethnomathematics derived from oral traditions and empirical evidence for informing future research directions and pedagogical practices in mathematics education.

ФОРМУВАННЯ ІНШОМОВНОЇ ПІДГОТОВКИ ЗДОБУВАЧІВ ВИЩОЇ ОСВІТИ У СТРУКТУРІ ПРОФЕСІЙНОЇ ПІДГОТОВКИ В УМОВАХ УНІВЕРСИТЕТУ: РЕАЛІЇ СЬОГОДЕННЯ

The paper deals with the descriptions of modern educational paradigms as genesis indicators of innovative changes in higher education, which are determined by integration processes aimed at introducing innovative ideas, models and technologies into the foreign language training of higher education students. Foreign language and foreign language training of higher education students is considered in the context of the competence paradigm. The conceptual foundations of foreign language training and the structure of foreign language competence are highlighted. The purpose of foreign language training of higher education students is defined, which is to form skills of tolerant interaction, communication and life-creation in the youth environment on the basis of foreign language competence. It is proved that theories of communication, multiculturalism and dialogue are used in building the content of foreign language training. The essence of dialogical interaction, which has communicative, interactive and perceptual components, is characterized. Professional dialogue interaction in the multicultural/multicultural environment of the university presupposes a certain level of accumulated professional knowledge, facilitates the implementation of multi-vector tasks facing the future specialist. It is proved that social reflection plays an important role in the foreign language training of higher education students in the structure of professional training in the university environment. It has been found that the implementation of foreign language training for higher education students at a university requires the design of an appropriate creative educational environment, built taking into account the objective laws of the processes of learning a foreign language for the purpose of professional application in the future.