Divided City Research Articles

A Mapping Experiment of Belfast Films: The Mighty Celt and Belfast Girls

This study aims to show how the act of mapping could contribute to our existing knowledge about cities. Mapping has long been used as a tool for understanding physical space. Lately, scholars also used it as a method of examining the places on the screen. Belfast, a city in which a profound sectarian dispute exists, has become the setting of many conflict-themed films. This research claims that mapping film locations in Belfast could provide an archive to examine the transformation of urban texture and architecture. Analysis of the city image in two films, The Mighty Celt (2005) and Belfast Girls (2006), could help to reveal the physical change of the city from different perspectives. In the first one, Belfast is a hostile background experienced from the eyes of a young boy, while the second one documents the life of two girls from diverse backgrounds, a Protestant and a Catholic. Both films are set in Northern Ireland during the post-Trouble period, during which the division between the two groups persisted. These films make a contemporary portrait of Belfast as a divided city where armed conflicts have ended, but physical segregation remains. By analysing these two narratives, the study will try to interpret the complex urban conditions in Belfast at the beginning of the century.

SOCIAL SUPPORT AND STUDENTS’ ATTITUDE TOWARD HOME-BASED EDUCATION

This study investigated the extent of Social Support (SS) received by junior high school (JHS) students relative to Students’ Attitude (SA) towards Home-Based Education (HBE) during the Covid-19 pandemic. A descriptive - survey approach was used employing a stratified random sampling to determine samples from N= 75,542 JHS students enrolled in 42 public secondary schools in Zamboanga City Division for SY 2020-2021. The stratification and post-stratification were conducted across gender/grade level, and age/SES respectively. Data collection was done via online and offline, and data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Based on the results obtained, teachers provide the most Emotional, Informational & Appraisal Support while parents provide the most Instrumental Support; the overall students’ attitude towards HBE is High; SS has a significant moderate relationship with students’ attitude; and SS varies significantly across grade level, and age.

MULTIMEDIA EDUCATION, SELF DETERMINATION AND LEARNERS’ ENGAGEMENT IN REMOTE DISTANCE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

The study aimed to determine the relationship between multimedia education, self-determination, and learners? engagement in a remote distance learning environment. The research adopted the descriptive correlational design which includes 100 out of 154 teachers and 100 learners of the 10 schools in Dapdapan District under the Division of San Pablo City during the school year 2021-2022. A four-part survey questionnaire was utilized to determine and interpret the respondents? perception of multimedia education, self-determination, and learners? engagement in a remote distance learning environment. The results revealed that there is a positive significant relationship between multimedia education and the learners? engagement in terms of digital literacy, innovation, multimedia education, and technology management. And a positive significant relationship exists between the respondents? self-determination and the learners? engagement in terms of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Therefore, the hypothesis stating that there is no significant relationship between multimedia education and learners? engagement in a remote distance learning environment was not sustained. Likewise, the null hypothesis stating there is no significant relationship between respondents? self-determination and learners? engagement in the remote distance learning environments is not sustained. The result of the Levene's test for equality also reveals that there is a significant difference in the perceptions of the teachers and the learners.

An Evaluation of the Development Performance of Small County Towns and Its Influencing Factors: A Case Study of Small Towns in Jiangyin City in the Yangtze River Delta, China

Research on the development performance of small towns is critical for promoting their revitalization, advancing urbanization, and high-quality development and transformation for realizing urban–rural integration. We used the DPSIR-DEA model to study the spatiotemporal evolution process and characteristics of the development performance of 14 small towns within the administrative division of Jiangyin city from 2001 to 2019. We subsequently applied a geographical detector model to analyze the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the factors influencing the development performance of small towns. The results showed that 2012 was a turning point in the overall development performance index of small towns in Jiangyin, revealing initially decreasing and then increasing trends. The development performance index values of different types of small towns evidenced three trends: a steady increase, a continuous decrease, and an initial decrease followed by an increase. During 2001–2019, the development performance of Jiangyin’s small towns reflected a spatial evolution pattern of complete dispersion → small agglomeration → large agglomeration. An optimal spatial pattern comprised an increase in the number of towns demonstrating a high development performance and a decrease in the number of towns with a low development performance. GDP per capita, industrial investments, and construction land density were key influencing factors of development performance, which was mainly driven by economic and social factors, with ecological factors having a relatively weak influence.

Business Model Approach to Smart City Governance

In transitioning from hierarchal corporate governance to platform governance mechanisms, smart cities need to develop new models for managing the dynamics of platform governance between city divisions. By conceptualizing smart cities as a platform of platforms, this paper uses the business model approach to develop a platform governance framework in the smart city context. The contribution of this paper is to illustrate how the business model approach can enhance better communication between different layers of smart cities and thus improve smart city development.

Socio-spatial Consequences of Disturbed Areas Act 1991 on Urbanizing Spaces in Gujarat

Segregation on ethnic lines has often manifested in various forms of exclusion and group in equality. The spatial manifestations of violence in globalizing spaces of ‘divided cities’ also exhibit rigid patterns of community based ‘self-sorting’. The communalization of public and private housing with regard to demography has been a significantly pronounced exclusionary crisis in Indian divided cities. This paper, an abridged version of my MPhil thesis, concerns such a unique case. It assesses the impact of Disturbed Areas Act 1991 (‘The Act’) on ghettoisation in Ahmedabad city against the background of mass violence. The paper thus concerns the dynamics of spatial segregation in cities of Gujarat around residential and commercial property disputes. It conducts a socio-legal examination of ten case laws (2002–2021) by responding to the literature on divided cities. It argues that informal zoning practices of community led self-sorting behavior at the ground level, coupled with the Act’s operation (and the demand for its extension as legal protection), disparately impact existing group inequalities pertaining to housing access, afford ability and individual residential mobility in urbanizing spaces.

Occupational Stressors of Teachers in the Department of Education Calbayog City Division

Teaching is considered a noble profession. Despite being noble, it is considered demanding and stressful. This study was conducted to derive components that serve as occupational stressors of teachers in Calbayog City Division of the Department of Education. Three hundred twenty-nine teachers from Calbayog City Division of the Department of Education were identified by the researchers using random sampling technique. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Test was applied to determine if Principal Component Analysis was appropriate for this study. Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity was used to know the strength of correlation between different variables. The researchers were able to identify four components as the stressors of teachers such as Motivation (Component 1), Cultural Professionalism (Component 2), Workload (Component 3), and Technology (Component 4).

Every Teacher Is Special: Stories of Heroism

Teachers are modern-day heroes contributing to the development of every child. This study primarily aimed to recognize and value the heroism of SPED teachers through real-life success stories of individuals with developmental delays who underwent the Communitybased Early Intervention Program (CBEIP). The study followed a descriptive research design that targeted five participants who were purposively selected by two of their retired SPED teachers in an elementary school in Legazpi City Division SPED Center. Interviews were conducted to gather the needed data and a documentary film was crafted to preserve the veracity of the collected information. Findings revealed that the teachers contribute a great part to the achievement of the five participants. Results also showed the struggles SPED teachers have encountered during their community days and how they were able to deal with them. Using cross-case analysis the study emphasizes that every teacher's story is a story of heroism. The study recommends documentation of teachers' stories in every field which may serve as inspiration to everyone.

Occupational Stressors of Teachers in the Department of Education Calbayog City Division

Occupational Stressors of Teachers in the Department of Education Calbayog City Division

Occupational Stressors of Teachers in the Department of Education Calbayog City Division

Occupational Stressors of Teachers in the Department of Education Calbayog City Division

Exploring Teaching Strategies and Challenges Towards a Holistic Context-Based Special Education Teaching Strategies Program

This phenomenological research study explores the challenges and strategies of six identified special education teachers in the Legazpi City Division. The study employed in-person interviews using a validated instrument and audio recordings. The study focused on the assessment of students' current levels of functioning, planning and individualized education programs, collaboration and consultation with multidisciplinary team members, and adaptation of content activities. Using coding as data analysing results revealed that reading and discussion method, monopolizing decisions, and additional cost in modifying instructional materials were the major challenges. Moreover, the individualized instructions, strong motivation, and classroom policies, content, and modifying instructional materials were major strategies. The study formulated a holistic context-based special education teaching strategies program that highlights the faculty management program, the students support program, and the administrative support program. Faculty development programs aid teachers in not being left behind. Investing in teachers' professional growth is suggested.

Exploring Teaching Strategies and Challenges Towards a Holistic Context-Based Special Education Teaching Strategies Program

This phenomenological research study explored the challenges and strategies of six identified special education teachers in the Legazpi City Division. The study employed in-person interviews using a validated instrument and audio recordings. The study focused on the assessment of students' current levels of functioning, planning and individualized education programs, collaboration and consultation with multidisciplinary team members, and adaptation of content activities. Results deduced from coding revealed that reading and discussion method, monopolizing decisions, and additional cost in modifying instructional materials were the major challenges. Moreover, the individualized instructions, strong motivation, and classroom policies, content, and modifying instructional materials were major strategies. The study formulated a holistic context-based special education teaching strategies program that highlights the faculty management program, the students support program, and the administrative support program. Faculty development programs aid teachers in not being left behind. Investing in teachers’ professional growth is suggested.

Every Teacher is Special: Stories of Heroism

Teachers are modern-day heroes contributingnto the development of every child. This study primarily aimed to recognize and value the heroism of SPED teachers through real-life success stories of individuals with developmental delays who underwent the Community-based Early Intervention Program (CBEIP). The study followed a descriptive research design that targeted five participants who were purposively selected by two of their retired SPED teachers in an elementary school in Legazpi City Division SPED Center. Interviews were conducted to gather the needed data and a documentary film was crafted to preserve the veracity of the collected information. Findings revealed that the teachers contribute a great part to the achievement of the five participants. Results also showed the struggles SPED teachers have encountered during their community days and how they were able to deal with them. Using cross-case analysis the study emphasized that every teacher's story is a story of heroism. The study recommends documentation of teachers' stories in every field which may serve as inspiration to everyone.

Personal Financial Management and Entrepreneurial Competencies among Selected Public School Teachers in Cebu City Division

Public school teachers are role models who mold students into better citizens, and teachers are regarded as the epitome of education and career success. Delivering financial education will be the pinnacle of absurdity if teachers do not practice personal financial management. This study investigated public school teachers' knowledge and practice of personal financial management and entrepreneurial competencies. The study employed the descriptive-correlational method, administered to 229 selected teachers in the Cebu City Division. The main instrument, which consists of three components, was adopted and modified. The data were collected, arranged, tabulated, and interpreted using a statistical technique like weighted mean and Pearson r Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The study revealed that public school teachers were moderately knowledgeable and practiced personal financial management. Also, they moderately manifested all the entrepreneurial competencies identified in the study. Using the Pearson Correlation Coefficient, the level of knowledge and practice of personal financial management are significantly correlated. As a result, it was concluded that public school teachers need to enhance their knowledge and practice of personal financial management, especially knowledge and practice of investing, and the other areas of entrepreneurial competencies uncovered as weak. Subsequently, the principal researcher crafted a comprehensive action plan to help public school teachers enrich their knowledge and practice of personal financial management and entrepreneurial competencies, scaffolding their financial resilience and gently nudging them to entrepreneurial ventures.

School Safety and Infrastructure Compliance to Requirements of Face-To-Face Classes of the Selected Public Secondary Schools

Huge differences were expected in the new normal learning, and a significant transition was needed. While the implementation of face-to-face classes was still at the infant stage, it is very important to know the challenges of the school heads so that actions can be taken in a timely fashion. The study aimed to determine the school safety and infrastructure compliance to requirements for face-to-face classes of the selected public secondary schools in Butuan City Division. A mixed-method approach was used in the study, which was considered an appropriate approach considering the nature of the data gathered and the objectives of interest. The School Safety Assessment Tool (SSAT) was used to determine the level of readiness of schools in preparation for the safe re-opening of classes, which provided the necessary information on the improvements and adjustments to be made before the implementation of face-to-face classes. An interview guide was designed to determine the experiences and practices of school principals in relation to school management during the pandemic. Strict adherence to necessary guidelines is major preparation for schools to secure permits for the full implementation of face-to-face classes. Information drive and collaboration with stakeholders increase the sustainability aspect of face-to-face implementation. Schools have taken measures to ensure the safety of children who will be attending in-person classes, such as masks and other PPE policies for teachers, school staff, and students by national and local guidelines to enhance hygiene measures and adequate handwashing facilities, frequent cleaning of surfaces and shared objects, appropriate ventilation.

Social Cohesion and Collective Violence: Latent Variable Approach to Explaining Riots in East Jerusalem

Does social cohesion explain variation in violence within divided cities? In line with insights drawn from the ethnic politics, criminology and urban geography literature we suggest that explaining variation in intergroup violence is not possible by relying on motivational elements alone, and attention to social cohesion is required as well. While cohesion can facilitate collective action that aids violent mobilization, it can also strengthen social order that contributes to the group’s capability to control and prevent unrest. We test these relationships using an application of a latent variable model to an integration of survey results, crime data and expert-coded data in order to measure cohesion in East Jerusalem neighborhoods. We then analyze its impact on riots using three original geolocated datasets recording violence in the neighborhoods between the years 2013 and 2015. Our results reveal that even with controls for economic and political determinants of violence, as well as for spatial clustering and temporal explanations, neighborhood-level social cohesion is a robust explanatory variable that negatively correlates with riots.

The First Teacher: A Phenomenological Study on Parents' Lived Experiences in the New Normal of Mathematics Education

The study looked into the lived experiences of parents in the new normal of Mathematics education. The outcomes of the study uncovered the personal challenges and struggles parents have had while participating in their child’s education, and provided useful data and trends to aid in the establishment of educational programs and policies across all levels in the education sector that address parental concerns about distance learning implementation. Qualitative phenomenological design was utilized in coming up withafact-findingstudywithadequateandaccurateinterpretationonthelivedexperiencesofparentswho have taken the responsibility as the learner’s educator. Moreover, eight participants took part in the study viapurposivesamplingfollowingthecriteriathattheirchildmustbeaGrade3bonafidestudentforschool year 2021 – 2022 and has undergone any of the modalities implemented in distance learning mandated by the institution sunder Department of Education – Cebu City Division. The study revealed four (4) significant themes namely: (1) parents’ perceptions, (2) parents’ challenges in distance learning, (3) fountain of support, and (4) realizations and aspirations and specifically included nineteen (19) subthemes. Parents play a vital role in guiding the learners to achieve the same quality of learning they receive in schools following the COVID – 19 pandemic and this reflected the diverse challenges they have encountered to attain learning. Regardless of the challenges they have met, their perspectives are centered to the educational progress and well–being of their children, even if it means sacrificing lot of their time, effort and resources.

Smith's "Mind the gap: Reflections from Luke's gospel on the divided city" (book review)

Smith's "Mind the gap: Reflections from Luke's gospel on the divided city" (book review)

CONNECTING THE MASTERY LEVEL IN TRANSLATING VERBAL STATEMENTS TO MATHEMATICAL SYMBOLS WITH VOCABULARY ENHANCEMENT

Translation from words to symbols is undeniably one of the solution processes in solving word problems that can be considered critical (Bardillion, Jr. 2004) cited by Dela Cruz, et.al (2014). Failure to translate the verbal statement to mathematical symbols can lead to incorrect solution. This study aimed at giving remedy to the least mastered competency in translating verbal phrases to mathematical symbols and improving the academic performance of the Grade 7 students at Tabuk City National High School, Tabuk City Division, School Year 2017-2018 using the Strategic Intervention Material developed by Ms. Apple Jean G. Yecyec (n.d.). This study focused on the fifteen (15) identified students having a score of 1-5 on a given formative test. A teacher-made pretest and posttest was utilized. The participants had a ?Very Low? performance on the pre-test at 24.65% level of mastery with regards to translating verbal phrases to mathematical symbols. Results showed there was a significant difference between the pretest and posttest of the participants. It implies that the strategic intervention material by Yecyec on translating verbal phrase to mathematical symbols is effective in improving the mastery level on the least learning competency. Thus, the Strategic Intervention Material (SIM) by Yecyec on translating verbal phrases to mathematical symbols is strongly recommended for dissemination and utilization.

Level of Acceptability to Sinugbuanong Binisaya as the Medium of Instruction in General Santos North District, General Santos City Division

This study aimed to determine the level of acceptability to Sinugbuanong Binisaya as the medium of instruction in selected elementary schools in General Santos North District, General Santos City Division School Year 2017-2018. The researcher employed descriptive phenomenology research to generate data on the level of acceptability relative to teachers’ practices, beliefs, and management using Sinugbuanong Binisaya as the medium of instruction. The respondents were 66 Grades 1 to 3 General Santos North District teachers, General Santos City Division. A Focus Group Discussion was conducted to determine issues and concerns relative to acceptability of Sinugbuanong Binisaya as the medium of instruction. Findings of the study revealed that the demographic percentage of respondents according to the number of years in teaching rarely indicate that most of the teachers teaching the MTB-MLE were used with the K to 12 curriculums in which Sinugbuanong Binisaya was used as the medium of instruction since the said curriculum was implemented for 6 years now. The acceptance of the teachers in the implementation of the language policy revealed that 100 percent of the teachers as the primary implementers of the MTB-MLE are not attained because of the transition period from the bilingual education to the mother-tongue based education as part of the k to 12 curriculum reform of the Department of Education. Some problems encountered by the teachers in implementing mother tongue - based instruction include absence of books written in mother tongue, lack of vocabulary, and multicultural/ multilingual differences affect teaching in MTB. Moreover, learners’ performance in English was affected by the implementation of the new K to 12 curriculums.