Related Courses Research Articles

Challenges to the Teaching of ICT Related Courses in Office Technology and Management Programmes In Colleges of Education

The study focused on the challenges to the teaching of ICT-related courses in OTM programmes of Colleges of Education in Katsina and Kano States. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The design of the study was a survey design. The population of the study comprised one hundred and seventy-seven (177) lecturers in the Department of Business Education in the Colleges of Education in Katsina and Kano States. There was no sampling. The entire population was studied. A structured questionnaire duly validated and with reliability coefficient of 0.95 was used for data collection. One hundred and seventy-seven copies of the questionnaire were administered on the respondents. All the copies were accurately completed and returned. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while t-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 confidence level. The results of the study showed that the challenges to teaching of ICT related courses in Office Technology and Management (OTM) programmes in colleges of education are teaching facilities and human resources related. It was also found that there is a significant difference between the mean responses of male and female lecturers on teaching facilities related challenges to the teaching of ICT-related courses in OTM programmes in Colleges of Education. In addition, it was found that there is a significant difference in the mean response of lecturers on human resources-related challenges to the teaching of ICT-related courses in OTM programmes in Colleges of Education based on ownership. The implication is that OTM education graduates may not be relevant in this era of ICT if these challenges are not well tackled by the management of colleges of education. It was recommended, among others, that management in colleges of Education should provide adequate ICT teaching facilities and adequate human resources for effective implementation of OTM programmes. Government should provide adequate funding to enable effective provision of teaching facilities and appropriate mix of the quality and quantity of human resources needed for the effective implementation of ICT related programmes in OTM in the colleges of education.

Research and practice of multi-level project-based teaching mode -- taking the fashion and apparel design programme as an example

Introducing the multi-level project-based teaching mode into our school's fashion and apparel design major, contacting the actual clothing industry, integrating with real projects, breaking the original sub-subject teaching mode of the major, and organically integrating the related professional courses to form a project-based curriculum system by level, are the social demand of the development of the local economy and the industry, and also an effective way of highlighting the students' innovation and practical operation ability, and cultivating the high-quality applied undergraduates with engineering ability and innovation ability.

Probing the Determinant Factors Affecting Students’ English Speaking Skills

This study aimed to probe the determinant factors affecting students' English speaking skills at Rift Valley University, Ethiopia. For this study, a mixed research approach was employed. 180 students were chosen using simple random sampling techniques. A Likert-Scale questionnaire was used to collect data. The collected Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26. The study's results identified four major factors that affect students’ English speaking skills: student-related factors, teachers related factors, classroom-related factors, and course materials-related factors. The findings revealed that the factors related to students, teachers, classroom and course materials significantly affect students' English speaking skills. This study is significant for students, teachers and curriculum designers. Therefore, it is recommended that educators and language instructors pay attention to the identified factors to enhance learners’ speaking abilities. Future researchers may consider exploring the impact of technology and digital resources on improving students' speaking skills in higher education settings.

Coracobrachialis muscle morphology and coexisted neural variants: a cadaveric case series

PurposeThe current cadaveric case series evaluates the coracobrachialis muscle morphology, the related musculocutaneous nerve origin, course, and branching pattern, as well as associated adjacent neuromuscular variants.Materials and methodsTwenty-seven (24 paired and 3 unpaired) cadaveric arms were dissected to identify the coracobrachialis possible variants with emphasis on the musculocutaneous nerve course and coexisted neural variants.ResultsFour morphological types of the coracobrachialis were identified: a two-headed muscle in 62.96% (17/27 arms), a three-headed in 22.2% (6/27), a one-headed in 11.1% (3/27), and a four-headed in 3.7% (1 arm). A coracobrachialis variant morphology was identified in 37.04% (10/27). A three-headed biceps brachii muscle coexisted in 23.53% (4/17). Two different courses of the musculocutaneous nerve were recorded: 1. a course between coracobrachialis superficial and deep heads (in cases of two or more heads) (100%, 24/24), and 2. a medial course in case of one-headed coracobrachialis (100%, 3/3). Three neural interconnections were found: 1. the lateral cord of the brachial plexus with the medial root of the median nerve in 18.52%, 2. the musculocutaneous with the median nerve in 7.41% and 3. the radial with the ulnar nerve in 3.71%. Duplication of the lateral root of the median nerve was identified in 11.1%.ConclusionsThe knowledge of the morphology of the muscles of the anterior arm compartment, especially the coracobrachialis variant morphology and the related musculocutaneous nerve variable course, is of paramount importance for surgeons. Careful dissection and knowledge of relatively common variants play a significant role in reducing iatrogenic injury.

SENSORY EXPERIENCE IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN EDUCATION: AN EXPERIMENTAL VISUAL PERCEPTION STUDY WITH SERIAL VISION METHOD

Architectural Design is a process that creates products that are perceived by sensory experience and appeal to the senses of the designer and the user, therefore, it is essential to include the senses in architectural education. In recent years, it has been discussed that design appeals to all senses and their sensory scale. For this reason, a sensory experience was planned within the scope of the Interior Reinforcement Relation course, and experimental processes were carried. In this study, students' perceptions of the city and its urban meaning were examined through visual sensory perspectives, and it was aimed to construct the relationship between architectural education and visual experience. The method of the research is a process that integrates visual perception and meaning by creating perspectives with serial visions. Students were given two shopping centers in Adana and were asked to photograph these places. Each stopping point is defined with a perspective and named with concepts that characterize students' perceptions. Consequently, it has been seen that the inclusion of sensory experiences in education contributes to the design education process by making students more sensitive to their environment, and the education process can be enriched by including different senses in architectural design education.

Project-Based Learning of Mechanical Design Utilizing CAE Structural Analyses

A university course on mechanical design utilizing CAE structural analyses is reported. To develop students’ skills to solve practical open-ended engineering problems, a project-based learning (PBL) approach was adopted. The course taught not only technical skills to use CAE software but also fundamental knowledge that links theoretical and practical problems in engineering. Each segment of this course consisted of a lecture and workshop. The basic concepts of structural analysis and the background theory of finite element analysis were described in the lecture. Students conducted structural analyses in a CAE software through workshop problems and compared its results to the theory learned in the lecture. CAE structural analyses were conducted in the integrated environment of the 3D CAD software Autodesk Inventor. As the final project of the course, groups of students designed an original structure under restrictions based on functionality, strength and weight. Data of the students’ performance in related courses were collected to analyse the improvement of skills needed to solve engineering problems, and a short survey was conducted to summarize responses from the students after the course had finished. The results of the data analysis and short survey indicated that the combination of the theoretical lectures and the PBL workshop improved the students’ motivation and performance.

Environmentally Responsible Behavior among Consumers in Tanzania: A Descriptive Analysis of ECOSCALE Dimensions

This study examined how Tanzania consumers are environmentally responsible as an intervention to ensure sustainable environmental protection. This is an area which contain anecdotal findings in Tanzania despite growing world-wide debate on its importance in the current era. Despite many efforts of the government to protect the environment, environmental associated challenges are still highly prevalent in different parts of the country, requiring some serious interventions. Data for this study were gathered using self-administered questionnaire from 300 respondents who were selected through convenience and purposive sampling in Dar es Salaam City. The environmentally responsible behavior (ERB) of consumers was measured in a form of Mean Score Value (MSV) by using the ECOSCALE. Descriptive Statistics analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics software was used to obtain the MSV. The MSV revealed that consumers in Tanzania have a medium-high ERB. The T-Test and ANOVA revealed insignificant mean differences of ERB between gender, age, education level and occupation. Due to the attained ERB scores, this study recommends strategies to impart environmentally responsible behavior among consumers. This can be through inculcating environmental responsible behavior among consumers by having environmental related courses at different levels of the study.

Real centrifugal forces in relativistic rotating spacetimes: a simple introduction

During typical general relativity courses, the so-called frame-dragging effect is explained by emphasizing the presence of a gravitational Coriolis-like force term. The key difference is that, unlike the usual Coriolis force, this is not a fictitious force but agravitational force caused by the rotating body. In general, textbooks do not discuss also the possibility of a gravitational centrifugal-like force. In this paper, which has a didactic aim, we analyze this further gravitational term. The analysis we perform can be valuable in undergraduate courses of general relativity.

Separation or Integration: Analysis about the Theories of Vocational Enlightenment Education Courses

Currently, vocational enlightenment education is being implemented in various forms in some primary and secondary schools, but there is still an ongoing exploration of the recognized forms of vocational enlightenment education. The two main forms of vocational enlightenment education at present are independent implementation in a separation-based approach and integration with other disciplines. Analyzing the basic forms of vocational enlightenment education through the lens of disciplinary development theories such as disciplinary training and interdisciplinary studies can help us understand its construction foundation as well as the pros and cons of its development. In order to establish a unique form of vocational enlightenment education curriculum, it is necessary to clarify its distinctive features, delineate its knowledge domain, and establish disciplinary boundaries. Through a continuous process of standardization, scientific development, and stability, vocational enlightenment education can transcend disciplinary boundaries and integrate with related courses to innovate its distinctive practical approach.

Evaluation of Awareness of General Practitioners Working in Yazd, Iran, Concerning Oral Diseases in 2015

Background: The incorporation of oral health promotion into general healthcare has been proposed by the World Health Organization. General practitioners (GPs) could play a vital role in the promotion of oral healthcare. Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the awareness of oral and maxillofacial medicine specialty and its scope of practice among Iranian GPs. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in Yazd, Iran. A total of 95 GPs randomly filled out a close-ended questionnaire. Responses to the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. The self-administered questionnaire comprised 35 items and covered the demographical details and characteristics of participants, in addition to their awareness of oral and maxillofacial medicine and its scope of practice. Finally, awareness scores were classified as weak, intermediate, and good. The data were analyzed using a t-test and Pearson correlation. A P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all statistical analyses. Results: Only 24.2% of GPs had enough awareness. The mean score of total awareness about oral diseases was 11.82 ± 3. The mean scores of total awareness for the oral manifestations of systemic diseases, medical considerations in dentistry, and oral lesions were 3.59 ± 1.17, 3.96 ± 1.62, and 4.27 ± 1.65, respectively. Conclusions: According to this study, the awareness of GPs playing a key role regarding oral medicine and oral manifestations of systemic diseases was weak. It is recommended to revise the medical curriculum to incorporate related courses about common oral diseases into the medical curriculum. The aim will only be achieved by improving the coordination between dentists and GPs.

On-Campus vs Distance Tutorials in Preparatory Courses for Mathematics Student Teachers – Performance Gains and Influencing Factors

Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, new instructional designs for mathematics courses have recently been developed. Unlike traditional e-learning courses, distance learning via videoconferencing contains more synchronous elements and is therefore more closely related to classroom instruction. Since theories of person-environment fit suggest that course modality may have an impact on learning processes, this study compares the effectiveness of on-campus (in-person) and synchronous distance tutorials as essential components of a mathematics preparatory course. Using a within-between-subject design, we examined performance gains of first-year student teachers (primary and lower secondary level) during a two-week preparatory course in relation to (1) tutorial variation, (2) students’ prior knowledge, and (3) general and specific affective factors. Overall, our results indicate that preparatory courses with on-campus and distance tutorials can be similarly effective. However, considering students’ prior knowledge as measured by an entrance test, the course variant proved to be a decisive factor for students with higher test scores: While students with lower scores showed comparable performance gains in both on-campus and distance tutorials, students with higher scores increased their mathematics performance only in on-campus tutorials. Furthermore, the results indicate that the impact of affective factors on course performance differs in the two tutorial variants. While students’ self-efficacy and engagement predict learning outcomes in on-campus tutorials, mathematics performance in distance tutorials is positively influenced by self-efficacy and satisfaction and negatively influenced by procrastination and social relatedness. Thus, the results shed light on how instructors can design on-campus and distance tutorials to promote effective learning.

Exodontia skills acquisition: Focusing on clinical teaching and training.

The aim of the research was to evaluate the traditional exodontia block course. The objectives were to explore the experiences and views of students, clinical teachers and dental practitioners of the various elements of the course curriculum. The study was a qualitative, participatory action research study using descriptive analysis. The study was conducted at a Dental Faculty in South Africa. A purposive sample of students, clinical teachers and dental practitioners were invited to participate. Focus group discussions were used to collect data which was analysed by an external coder. The study population consisted of 15 undergraduate dentistry students, 10 clinical teachers and seven dental practitioners. Four broad themes with sub-themes emerged from the study. The main themes identified strengths and deficiencies of the traditional course and made recommendations for its improvement. The themes identified were i) Integration of knowledge and skills, ii) Block course structure, iii) Challenges associated, and iv) Recommendations for improvement. Overall, the participants were satisfied that the course met its objectives. The results pertaining to clinical skills acquisition identified that teaching the use of elevators and luxators in the course, and standardisation of terminology among all clinical teachers as areas requiring attention. Teaching and learning strategies such as community-based learning, peer learning, case reviews, feedback and visual technology were viewed by the student, as well as clinical teacher samples, as strategies most beneficial to clinical learning. The review of the curriculum for exodontia skills acquisition and development, provided several benefits. Firstly, this research served as a quality assurance indicator. It further highlighted many teaching and learning strategies that would improve clinical skills development, reduce stress and anxiety, and support student learning. To a large extent, pertinent information was obtained that served to inform the subsequent redesigning of the course. The findings of the study augment the literature currently available on the best practice for exodontia skills acquisition and development and provide baseline information for the planning and redesign of related courses.

RENAL5: ADVANCE Kidney Health: Student, Faculty and University Engagement to Advance the Renal Workforce and Drive Innovation for the Future

Background: Kidney Disease (KD) is a significant cause of morbidity and morbidity on the rise in the U.S. and worldwide. A widening gap is developing between the present workforce and technology available to address KD and that which is anticipated as needed to meet future demands associated with rising KD prevalence. We developed a program - ADVANCE Kidney Health (Arizona Technology Development and Clinical Education Program for Students in Kidney Health), aimed specifically at undergraduates, to foster interest, education, engagement and research in Kidney Medicine. The program is supported by the NIH. We report on the early phase of this program. Methods: A hands-on program was developed based on four pillars: 1) science, medical and engineering education; 2) training in innovation, entrepreneurship and translation; 3) experiential learning, mentorship and clinical immersion; and 4) needs-based application and practical translation – aimed at producing motivated, trained and committed biomedical trainees interested in renal health and science. Undergraduate students were recruited as Freshman/Sophomores immersed in didactic and lab experiences, advanced in Junior year with increasing lab and clinical exposure and specific project definition, culminating in a full Senior Year Engineering Design Capstone project. Students were selected by a faculty panel based on interest, academic performance, and diversity considerations. Students were required to report and present on results and participate in science/medical meetings fostering increasing engagement in the field. Results: The program overall has attracted great undergraduate interest with increasing application rates, demand and popularity among engineering, physiology and computer science majors, In Year 1 of the program 80+ students applied with 4 students selected. In Year 2 100+ students applied with 8 selected. All students have largely continued in the program with minimal attrition, in fact attracting more adjunct students to join though related elective courses available. In Yr 1, 3 Sr. design projects advanced; in Yr 2, 5 Sr. Design projects advanced, involving 15 and 25 students, respectively. In Yr 2 individual research was submitted to national meetings including ASAIO. Conclusion: A multi-component engagement program aimed at undergraduates is an effective means of immersing students in the broad space of Kidney Medicine. To date it is apparent that students from a wide range of undergraduate majors find interest and a surprising “fit” into this space. A wide range of novel technologies and projects have emerged. Many have expressed interest in advancing to either medical school, graduate education or work in the kidney space. This approach to advance workforce development shows great promise for the future.

Musculoskeletal physiotherapists reasons for treatment selection and continuous professional development practices in the United Kingdom: A cross-sectional survey

PURPOSE: The aims of the study were two-fold 1) to explore the treatment modalities musculoskeletal physiotherapists are utilising and the underlying reasons why and 2) report current continuing professional development (CPD) practises and their perceived effectiveness. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional questionnaire, musculoskeletal physiotherapists in the United Kingdom (UK) were invited to complete an online survey. The survey captured respondents’ professional characteristics and their main reason for selecting a range of treatments sub-grouped into three broad categories; Manual Therapy, Treatment Modalities and Education Based Approaches. Respondents were asked to report their CPD practises and their perceived effectiveness. Data was converted into proportions with lower and upper limits of the 95% confidence interval (CI). Likert scale questions were treated as numeric variables with the mean and standard deviation (SD) calculated for combined responses. RESULTS: Of the 414 responders, 408 were eligible for analyses. The most common reason for treatment selection, based upon a combined total of 9792 responses across all treatment modalities, was content taught in ‘entry-level training’ (n = 2010, 20.5%, 85% CI 20 to 21), followed by ‘practice related courses or CPD events’ (n = 1241, 12.7%, 95% CI 12 to 13). ‘Self-reflection’ was the most common form of CPD (n = 404). All forms of CPD were considered ‘effective’ for developing knowledge and skills except ‘clinical audit’ and ‘journal clubs’ which were rated as ‘indifferent’ by respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment technique depends heavily on skills taught in entry-level training. Despite research articles amongst the most utilised forms of CPD, a disconnect exists in its implementation as the main driver of treatment selection. A wide range of CPD activities were undertaken by participants and rated as ‘effective’ for acquiring and applying physiotherapy related skills.

Hubungan Indonesia dan Australia dalam Perspektif Hubungan Islam dan Barat: Benturan Peradaban atau Kerjasama?

Among the relations between two countries which are seen as representing the relationship between Islam and the West is the relationship between Indonesia and Australia, where the relationship between these two close neighboring countries is often clashed with perceptions of the relationship between Islam and the West. In this case, Huntington's thesis, states the Clash of Civilizations, is often still the basis for strengthening the view of many parties that Islamic and Western civilization will never meet in harmony. Contrary to Huntington's thesis, Bassam Tibi put forward an argument regarding the Inter-Civilizational Dialogue which allows opportunities for cooperation between Islam and the West. This article is library research using qualitative methods. Data collection techniques were carried out through document review and literature study. This article finds that Indonesia-Australia relations have complex dynamics, where clashes of civilizations, the phenomenon of Islamophobia, as well as civilizational dialogue, or even cooperation are possible in the course of Indonesia's relations with Australia.

”Putting words to their feelings”– civic communicators’ perceptions and experiences of an in-depth course on mental health for newly settled refugee migrants in Sweden

BackgroundNewly settled refugee migrants face psychological stressors stemming from pre-, during- and post-migration experiences. In Sweden, mental health promotion is part of the health module in the civic orientation classes for newly settled refugee migrants. Training courses are offered to civic communicators and workshop leaders to facilitate communication about mental health; however, the training is seldom evaluated. In the current study, we aim to explore civic communicators’ perceptions and experiences of an in-depth mental health training course in relation to observed needs among newly settled refugee migrants.MethodWe interviewed ten civic communicators that had partaken in the in-depth training course on mental health. All respondents had prior migratory experience and worked as civic communicators in their native languages. The interviews were semi-structured and data were analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsThree themes were identified: (1) Intertwined mental health needs related to migration, (2) Multi-layered barriers to addressing mental health, and (3) Becoming aware of the mental health journey. One overarching theme was arrived at through synthesizing the three themes ‘Acquired new tools to lead reflective conversations about mental health and well-being’.ConclusionThe in-depth mental health training course led to the attainment of new knowledge and new tools enabling civic communicators to lead reflective conversations about mental health and well-being with newly settled refugee migrants. Mental health needs were related to pre- and post-migration experiences. Barriers to talking about mental health included stigma and a lack of arenas to promote the mental health of refugee migrants. Increasing knowledge among civic communicators can facilitate the promotion of mental self-help capacity and resilience among newly settled refugee migrants.

The effect of proximal personality traits on entrepreneurial intention among higher education students

PurposeAccording to the literature, general personality traits are less strongly related to the creation of new ventures than specific/proximal personality traits. Therefore, this study aims to understand the different proximal personalities that influence the entrepreneurial intention to start a new venture and the relationship between them.Design/methodology/approachData were gathered through a self-administered questionnaire filled in by students of entrepreneurship or related courses at the end of the second semester (2019/2020 academic year), and the research option is based on covariance-based structural equation modelling.FindingsThe results of this study show that entrepreneurial intentions can be predicted by specific individual traits, namely, risk-taking, entrepreneurial alertness, creativity, proactivity and self-efficacy. Moreover, it was found that risk-taking mediates the relationship between entrepreneurial alertness and proactivity. On the other hand, students’ creativity mediates the relationship between risk-taking and proactivity. Finally, students’ self-efficacy mediates the relationship between proactiveness and entrepreneurial intention.Practical implicationsThe results have implications for entrepreneurship education given that a better understanding of the personality traits that influence entrepreneurial intentions can lead to the development of new approaches and pedagogical tools.Originality/valueThis model can be used as a diagnostic tool for designing an effective and efficient entrepreneurship curriculum and pedagogy, acting as an (ongoing) audit of students’ entrepreneurial intentions to get a scientific basis in case of further course/module adjustments.

Influence of Gender on Career Choice and Academic Performance

The study aims to examine how gender affect students' academic achievement and career targets or choices in Nigerian colleges. The sample of this study consisted of 261 final year students in various universities across Nigeria. Data was collected using questionnaires featuring questions on academic accomplishments and other pertinent information. The results of the study indicated that male students had a slightly higher overall CGPA score compare to the female students; and as regards career aspirations, more female students were inclined to study art and management related courses while more males were found in engineering and technology-based courses. The research found that gender difference does not significantly affect students' academic success in Nigerian colleges. Instead, the research discovered that students' perceptions of gender had a substantial influence on their career aspirations. The study recommends that promoting freedom in choosing careers is likely to steer students toward other professions that are completely at odds with their gender preferences

Innovative Teaching Design and Exploration of Water Pollution Control Engineering Course based on the BOPPPS Model

The BOPPPS model is used to optimize the design of the teaching process in the classroom teaching of Water Pollution Control Engineering, in view of the problems of outdated knowledge system, low interaction between teachers and students, and disconnection between theory and practice. Based on connotation elaboration of the BOPPPS model, the application of the six teaching modules of "bridge-in, objective, pre-assessment, participatory-learning, post-assessment and summary" in the innovative teaching design of the Water Pollution Control Engineering course is explored, with a view to providing teachers with a more flexible and effective teaching method and students with a more interesting and efficient learning experience, as well as to providing useful reference for the innovative design of other related courses.

Conceptual Model of Formation of Electoral Culture of Teacher in Special Cross-Level Educational Environment

The article actualizes the problem of formation of teachers’ electoral culture in a special educational environment. The aim of the article is the conceptual substantiation of the formation of the electoral culture of the teacher on the basis of the creation of a cross-multi-level educational environment. Methodology. In developing the concept of forming the electoral culture of a teacher, the author relied on the methodological framework that includes the positions of dialectical materialism and noosphere approach at the worldview level, systemic and evolutionary approaches at the general scientific level, environmental, competence and activity approaches at the specific scientific level. The technological level is represented by specific technologies, ways, methods, and techniques of forming teachers’ electoral culture. The proposed methodology formed the basis for conducting an empirical study of the level of teachers’ electoral culture formation. The method of polling and questionnaire survey was used. Results of the research. The teachers’ electoral culture is a set of gnoseological (electoral competence), axiological (electoral disposition), praxiological (electoral activity) components which form a relatively stable system of knowledge, values, norms and models of electoral behavior, which are transmitted by a teacher in the course of educational relations and promote formation of civil identity and active life position in all participants of educational process. The traditions of attitudes towards electoral activity are revealed. The analysis of empirical data on the attitude towards electoral activity among teachers in the Chechen Republic is presented. Theoretical substantiation of the construction of a conceptual model for the formation of teachers’ electoral culture in the cross-multilevel educational environment, taking into account the principles of cultural appropriateness, scientificity, and the formation of an individual educational trajectory. Conclusion. Based on the results of two organized surveys among the teachers of the Chechen Republic the generalizing conclusions containing the focus on innovations in the formation and development of electoral culture were made. In this connection, teachers need to master the competencies that allow forming the electoral culture of students: special technologies, oriented to students of different age groups, training sessions with teachers, allowing them to gain confidence in the importance of broadcasting electoral culture, in their own potential.