Jordanian Schools Research Articles

THE INFLUENCE OF USING YOUTUBE VIDEOS ON EFL LEARNERS: THE MODERATING ROLE OF TECHNOLOGICAL SELF-EFFICACY

This study aims to examine the influence of YouTube videos on developing the skills of EFL learners in Jordan. The data were collected through 352 valid surveys from five Jordanian schools by quantitative method, and analyzed using SEM. The findings are closely related to previous studies indicating that YouTube videos have a positive significant impact on EFL learners. Moreover, the results revealed that technological self-efficacy moderates the relationship between YouTube videos and interaction, YouTube videos and listening and speaking skills, and YouTube videos and acquiring vocabulary. The research contributed to the adoption of technology in Jordanian schools, such as YouTube videos. Furthermore, our research results suggest that technological self-efficacy reinforces EFL learners to use YouTube videos to improve their English language acquisition. Accordingly, the research recommends implementing modern teaching and learning tools like YouTube in Jordanian schools while focusing on technical skills for both learners and teachers to use such tools effectively.

An Empirical Study of Factors Influencing the Perceived Usefulness and Effectiveness of Integrating E-Learning Systems during the COVID-19 Pandemic Using SEM and ML: A Case Study in Jordan

The purpose of this research paper is to identify and test the factors influencing the perceived usefulness and perceived effectiveness of adopting an e-learning system from the perspective of teachers in public and private schools as well as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Jordan during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the academic year 2019/2020. Based on the findings and best practices, the study intends to make appropriate recommendations to decision-makers. Its significance stems from the use of scientific tools of research and investigation, and it aims to ensure the quality and effectiveness of Jordanian schools’ e-learning systems. The study’s hypotheses were verified by electronically collecting 551 questionnaires from teachers in Jordan. To test the study hypotheses, the empirical validity of the research model was set up, and the data were analyzed with SPSS version 21.0. Structural equation modeling (SEM), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and machine learning (ML) methods were used to test the study hypotheses and validate the properties of the instrument items. Nineteen variables and one mediating variable were studied. The study found that independent variables pertaining to technology (relative advantage, compatibility, top management support, communication technologies, competitive pressure, technology competence, information intensity, and work flexibility) and moderating variables pertaining to the teacher’s personal income and those pertaining to school (school size, education program, and work sector) had a positive effect on teachers’ perceived usefulness of adopting e-learning systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, independent variables pertaining to technology (complexity and collaboration technology), moderating variables pertaining to the teacher (age, education level, and gender), and moderating variables pertaining to school (educational stage, number of students) were not supported.

Problem-Solving and Communication Skills of Undergraduate Nursing Students

Background: Problem-solving and effective communication are essential skills for daily nursing duties. Despite several studies highlighting those concepts, few examined the relationship between these concepts among nursing students. This study aimed to investigate undergraduate nursing students' problem-solving and communication skills. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design was used. A sizeable convenient sample of 489 undergraduate nursing students was recruited from six nursing schools in Jordan. Data were collected using an online self-administered survey. The Arabic version of the Problem-Solving Inventory and a translated version of the Communication Skills Attitude Scale were used. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. Results: The sample included 64.4% females. The mean total score of the problem-solving scale was 96.63 (SD=16.99). Gender, considering self as an initiative person, and negative attitude toward communication were significant negative predictors, while positive attitude toward communication was a positive predictor of nursing students' problem-solving skills. Implications: Educational programs that improve nursing students' attitudes toward communication and mental health courses that focus on positive personality traits are needed to improve nursing students' problem-solving skills. Conclusion: The results indicated a moderate level of problem-solving skills, a high level of positive attitudes toward communication skills, and a low level of negative attitudes toward communication skills among undergraduate nursing students.

Assessing Healthcare Workers' Knowledge and Their Confidence in the Diagnosis and Management of Human Monkeypox: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Middle Eastern Country.

The ongoing multi-country human monkeypox (HMPX) outbreak was declared as a public health emergency of international concern. Considering the key role of healthcare workers (HCWs) in mitigating the HMPX outbreak, we aimed to assess their level of knowledge and their confidence in diagnosis and management of the disease, besides the assessment of their attitude towards emerging virus infections from a conspiracy point of view. An online survey was distributed among HCWs in Jordan, a Middle Eastern country, during May–July 2022 using a questionnaire published in a previous study among university students in health schools in Jordan. The study sample comprised 606 HCWs, with about two-thirds being either physicians (n = 204, 33.7%) or nurses (n = 190, 31.4%). Four out of the 11 HMPX knowledge items had <50% correct responses with only 33.3% of the study respondents having previous knowledge that vaccination is available to prevent HMPX. A majority of study respondents (n = 356, 58.7%) strongly agreed, agreed or somewhat agreed that the spread of HMPX is related to a role of male homosexuals. Confidence in the ability of diagnosis based on the available monkeypox virus diagnostic tests was reported by 50.2% of the respondents, while the confidence levels were lower for the ability to manage (38.9%) and to diagnose (38.0%) HMPX cases based on their current level of knowledge and skills. Higher confidence levels for HMPX diagnosis and management were found among physicians compared to nurses. The endorsement of conspiracy beliefs about virus emergence was associated with lower HMPX knowledge, the belief in the role of male homosexuals in HMPX spread, and with lower diagnosis and management confidence levels. The current study highlighted the gaps in knowledge regarding HMPX among HCWs in Jordan as well as the lack of confidence to diagnose and manage cases among physicians and nurses. Raising the awareness about the disease is needed urgently considering the rapid escalation in the number of cases worldwide with reported cases in the Middle East. The attitude towards male homosexuals’ role in HMPX spread necessitates proper intervention measures to prevent stigma and discrimination among this risk group. The adoption of conspiratorial beliefs regarding virus emergence was widely prevalent and this issue needs to be addressed with proper and accurate knowledge considering its potential harmful impact.

School Principals’ Familiarity with Media Education and its Correlation with Their Use of Social networks in School Administration

The current study assessed school principals' familiarity with media education and its correlation with their use of social networks in school administration from the perspective of teachers. A relational descriptive approach was adopted and two tools were used to collect data. The first was an interview conducted with a sample of 20 teachers, and the second was a questionnaire administered to a random sample of (607) teachers working in Zarqa Private Schools in Jordan. The results revealed that school principals’ familiarity with media education was perceived as moderate, and a strong correlation was found between their familiarity with media education and their use of social networks in school administration. 90% of the interviewees agreed that the school principal’s knowledge of media education had a positive impact on school administration through social networking. Given the results, several recommendations are made that will be of value to researchers and workers in this field.&#x0D; &#x0D; Received: 16 April 2022 / Accepted: 30 June 2022 / Published: 5 July 2022

الخصائص السيكومترية لمقياس االرتباط بالمدرسة (SCS (دراسة سيكومترية على عينة من طلبة الصفين التاسع والعاشر في مدارس مديرية تربية لواء القويسمة في األردن

The current study aimed at investigating the psychometric properties of School Connectedness Scale (SCS) among 9th &amp; 10th grade students at Al-Queismeh Directory schools in Jordan. The Arabic version of Lohmeier and Lee (2011) scale was applied to a sample of (374) students including both males and females. This was done after the initial verification of the Psychometric properties of the scale on an exploratory sample of (53) male and female students. The results of the study showed that the factorial structure of the school connectedness scale is a complex structure. The analysis of the data using principal components leads to five factors. The five factors showed (43.395 %) from the variance of the items. The results of the reliability, using Cronbach Alpha, also showed good indicters (0.60 – 0.92). The results of split-half also showed good indicaters (0.62 – 0.88). The researchers recommended the possibility of using the scale for the Jordanian environment because of its acceptable psychometric properties.

Morphological Complexity in Arabic Spelling and Its Implication for Cognitive Processing.

Spelling poses a challenge to Arabic-speaking learners due to the complexity of the morphological and orthographic systems in Arabic. Arabic morphology has been argued to play a critical role in spelling since its morphological operations are built on a system consisting of a root that is interlocking into different patterns of vowels to form different categories of words. This study made a detailed classification of spelling errors in a word dictation task, based on morphological structures, undertaken by 107 Typically-developing learners (TD) and learners with learning disabilities (LD) attending the same schools in Jordan. All participants ranged in age from 7years, 3months to 15years, 2months (grades 2 to 8). The spelling task was made up of 400 common words representing most morphological forms in different conjugations and grammatical classes. The results indicated that TD and LD learners follow a similar pattern of complexity even though the LD group produced more errors than the TD group. Both groups encountered more difficulties in passive voice forms followed by active voice forms. Furthermore, both groups spelled nouns, verbal nouns and derivations more accurately than verbal forms (active and passive voice). The results provide additional evidence for the nonlinear growth of morphological knowledge in spelling. In addition, spelling errors suggested that the spelling process goes in a hierarchical way where words can be accessed and processed either according to the root or according to the stem. Therefore, roots or stems are firstly accessed and attached to basic word patterns (the grapheme without diacritics and affixes). Thereafter, prefixes and, then, suffixes are attached to the word pattern and, finally, diacritics are accessed and attached to the word pattern.

Sources of Social Pressures and Their Relationship to Decision-Making Among School Principals in Marka District in Jordan from the Point of View of Teachers

The current study aimed to identify the sources of stress and their relationship to decision-making among school principals in Marka District in Jordan from the teachers' point of view. To achieve this aim, a questionnaire was developed consisting of (46) items, and its validity and reliability indications were verified. It was applied to a sample of (346) male and female teachers whom were chosen randomly. The study concluded that there is an average level in each of the sources of social pressures and decision-making among the principals of Marka District schools in Jordan, as well as the existence of a negative and statistically significant correlation between each of the social pressures and decision-making, as it was found that there are no statistically significant differences in social pressures du to gender, where there is statistically significant differences in decision-making. du to gender and in favor of male. It was also found that there were no differences due to experience and in favor of those with less experience in the level of social pressures, and in favor of those with higher experience in the decision-making process, while it was found that there were no differences in both pressures and decision-making due to academic qualification. and principals. The study recommended that the Ministry of Education lay the foundations, ways and methods and provide factors that work to reduce the negative effects of the sources of social pressures, which in turn affect the decision-making of principals. Keywords: sources of social pressures, decision-making. School principals, Marka District, Jordan DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-19-15 Publication date: June 30 th 2022

The Effect Of E-Learning In Improving Self-Learning Skills Among Gifted Students At Public Schools In Jordan

The Effect Of E-Learning In Improving Self-Learning Skills Among Gifted Students At Public Schools In Jordan

The role of training courses in the professional development of teachers from public school principals’ viewpoints

The study aimed to identify the role of training courses in the professional development of teachers from secondary school principals’ viewpoints in Jordan. The researchers used a descriptive–analytical approach. The study population comprised all the principals of public, private and United Nations Relief and Works Agency schools in Jordan. The researchers selected a random sample of 743 principals, including 333 males and 410 females. The researchers used a questionnaire as an instrument for data collection. The questionnaire comprised 28 items and 3 domains in which validity and reliability were confirmed. The study results showed that the role of training courses in developing teachers professionally in Jordan got an average degree. Also, they showed that there were no statistically significant differences at the significance level (α ≥ 0.05) in the estimates of the study respondents. Keywords: Professional development for teachers, school principals, training courses;

Is wearing a face mask associated with symptomatic dry eye disease among medical students during the COVID-19 era? An online survey

BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 has necessitate the routine use of masks worldwide. This study assessed the relationship between wearing a facemask and dry eye disease (DED) among a sample of medical students in Jordan.MethodsThis cross-sectional online survey enrolled medical students from all medical schools in Jordan. The questionnaire, which was shared via social media platforms, assessed sociodemographic information, ocular and medical history, facemask-wearing habits, the use of ocular devices, and the relationship with ocular discomfort. The ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire was also administered to quantify DED symptoms.ResultsA total of 1,219 students participated in this study. In total, 58.3% participants were females, and 52% were in the clinical science years. Symptomatic DED was found in 71.7% of participants. Female sex, basic science years, allergy reporting, and spending more than 6 h looking at screens were significantly associated with symptomatic DED.ConclusionWearing a facemask was not significantly associated with symptomatic DED. Further studies are needed to investigate the effect of wearing a facemask on the ocular surface.

An Empirical Investigation of Reasons Influencing Student Acceptance and Rejection of Mobile Learning Apps Usage

Sustainable learning and education (SLE) is a relatively new ideology based on sustainability principles and developed in response to the United Nations’ recently proclaimed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a result, technologies should be adopted to equip educational institutions with the tools necessary to attain SLE. Recently, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected educational systems globally, leading them to embrace more innovative technological methods to meet academic demands while maintaining SLE principles. Mobile learning apps (MLA) refers to using the unique capabilities of mobile apps to engage and collaborate towards establishing robust online learning. However, the effectiveness of MLA depends on learners’ acceptance. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that could affect MLA acceptance. In order to analyze the collected data from 415 Jordanian students among schools and universities, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used. The empirical findings confirm that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are significantly influenced by self-efficacy and perceived compatibility. Furthermore, perceived usefulness is significantly influenced by perceived convenience and perceived ease of use. Additionally, perceived enjoyment significantly influences the behavioral intention to use MLA. On the other hand, perceived compatibility has no significant influence on perceived enjoyment. Finally, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and perceived compatibility have no significant effect on behavioral intention to use MLA. This study addresses a critical research gap in the distance learning acceptance literature by proposing an exhaustive model in the post-COVID-19 era that can help to improve students’ performance and outcomes in Jordanian schools and universities.

Developing the Jordanian schools' administrations within the concept of the mutual psychological contract between school principals and teachers

This study explored the development of the Jordanian schools' administrations within the concept of the mutual psychological contract between school principals and teachers. The study employed the descriptive developmental approach. Two scales were developed, the scale of the school’s commitment to the psychological contract with teachers, which consisted of (30) items, and the scale of teachers’ commitment to the psychological contract with the school, which consisted of (22) items. The sample of the study consisted of (431) teachers and (117) principals at the end of the academic year 2020/2021. The results revealed that the degree of commitment among school principals to the psychological contract with teachers was average. The differences were statistically significant in favor of the teachers with long experience, and the differences were not significant for the rest of the variables. The results of the study also indicated that the degree of teachers’ commitment to the psychological contract with school principals was average. The differences were statistically significant in favor of school principals with short experiences. Mechanisms for developing school administration in Jordan were suggested, and several recommendations were made.&#x0D; Keywords: psychological contract, school administration development, school principals, school teachers, education in Jordan.

الْقَيِّمُ الْأخْلَاقِيَّةُ الْمُتَضَمِّنَةُ فِي كُتُبِ اللُّغَةِ الإنجليزية لِلْمَرْحَلَةِ الثَّانَوِيَّةِ فِي الْأُرْدُنِ

هدفت الدراسة إلى الكشف عن القيم الأخلاقية المتضمنة في مبحث اللغة الإنجليزية للمرحلة الثانوية في الأردن من خلال تحليل محتوى هذه الكتب بهدف الإجابة عن أسئلة الدراسة، اعتمدت الدراسة المنهج الوصفي التحليلي، واشتملت عينة الدراسة على كتب اللغة الإنجليزية للمرحلة الثانوية، وتمثلت الأداة في بناء قائمة بالقيم الأخلاقية اشتملت على أربعة مجالات وهي: القيم الأخلاقية الفردية، والأسرية، والمجتمعية، والأممية. و(40) قيمة فرعية، وتكونت عينة الدراسة من كتب اللغة الإنجليزية للصف الحادي عشر والثاني عشر وبلغ عددها كتابين وأربعة أجزاء، وتم استخراج صدق وثبات الأداة، وبلغ معامل الثبات لهذه الأداة(93.3%) حسب معادلة هولستي. وبينت النتائج أن مجموع تكرارات القيم الأخلاقية في كتاب اللغة الإنجليزية للصف الحادي عشر ككل، قد بلغ (477) تكرار وبنسبة مئوية (50.64%) من مجموع التكرارات في كتابيّ اللغة الإنجليزية للمرحلة الثانوية، وهي نسبة تقع في حدود درجة التضمّن الكبيرة. ومجموع تكرارات القيم الأخلاقية لكتاب الثاني عشر ككل، قد بلغ (465) تكرار وبنسبة مئوية (49.36%) من مجموع التكرارات في كتابيّ اللغة الإنجليزية للمرحلة الثانوية، وهي نسبة تقع في حدود درجة التضمّن الكبيرة.

Evaluation of Mastery Level of Effective Teaching Skills Among Teachers in Inclusive Schools in Jordan

This study aims at evaluating mastery level of effective teaching for teachers in inclusive schools in Jordan. A total of 50 teachers served as a sample of study. The teachers were rated on a scale which consisted of (38) items within three dimensions: planning, teaching, and classroom management, and evaluation. The finding of the study showed that the mean of the teaching and classroom management dimension was significant. However, the means of planning and evaluation, as well as the mean of the total score were not significant. The findings also showed that there were significant differences in mastery teaching with respect to specialization in favor of teachers majoring educational specialization. Further, the findings showed that there were no significant differences in mastery teaching as regards for their teaching experiences.

Learning Reading Comprehension Via ClassDojo: An Exploration of Jordanian EFL Students ’Attitudes

The present study explored the Jordanian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students’ attitudes toward learning reading comprehension lessons via ClassDojo. The participants of the study consisted of thirty-five male students from grade six. They were from one intact section who were chosen purposefully from a school in Jordan. They learnt lessons of reading comprehension via the ClassDojo application for only eight weeks. To gather the data, a questionnaire with (16) items was built by the researcher. Findings revealed that the sixth-grade students’ attitudes were positive toward learning reading comprehension lessons via ClassDojo.

Differentiated instruction effectiveness on the secondary stage students’ reading comprehension proficiency level in Jordan

&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Differentiated instruction (DI) is a teaching approach involves several strategies in which teachers adapt, modify, adjust and change instruction to respond to students’ diverse individual needs in heterogeneous classrooms. The study aimed at exploring the effectiveness of DI on secondary stage students’ proficiency level. The study followed the quantitative quasi-experimental design in which data were collected from the pre/post achievement tests administered at the initiation and the completion of the intervention. A total of 80 grade 11 students from both genders participated in the study. A number of (N=40) males and (N=40) females from four public schools in Jordan were distributed into (N=40) for the experimental group and another (N=40) from both genders for the control groups. The experimental group received education using DI strategies of homogeneous groups, tiered assignments and tiered instruction in the areas of content, process, product and learning environment. Conversely, the control groups received education through the one-size-fits-all method. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) results showed that DI affected reading comprehension scores positively, and the respondents of the experimental groups outperformed their counterparts of the control group. Moreover, the above-average respondents statistically outperformed the other proficiency levels. However, the findings indicated no statistically significant difference related to gender.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

The Influence of Parenting Styles Types on the Intelligence and Decision Making of the Deaf

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the effect of types of parenting styles on intelligence and decision-making among the deaf. The tools comprised the Wechsler Intelligence Scale-4th edition (WISC-4) for deaf, using sign language, was used to assess deaf students’ intelligence and a scale of professional decision-making. The sample of the study included 157 deaf students in deaf schools in Jordan whose ages ranged from 13 to 16.11 years. WISC-4 was administered using sign language. The results showed that the democratic pattern was high, the level of intelligence for deaf students was average, and the professional decision-making was of a medium level. Also, there was a negative relationship between the authoritarian style, the permissive pattern, and the overall intelligence. There were statistically significant differences in the permissive type and the intelligence of the deaf due to gender in favor of females. Significant differences in speech comprehension, working memory, and overall intelligence were found in favor of mild hearing impairment. There were significant differences in the IQ level of the age variable in favor of students aged 13 years. The study recommends more research regarding the effect of hearing impairment on the psychological aspects of professional decision-making and providing hearing parents with training in sign language and rules for communicating with their deaf children. Keywords: Sign language, Deaf, The family, Family upbringing, Wechsler Scale-4, Intelligence.

Factors affecting medical student's decision in choosing a future career specialty: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundDiversity in the specialties is essential to provide optimal health care. Future career specialties chosen by the students had great significance for balanced doctor's distribution in different specialties, as it determines the composition of the physician workforce. Therefore, there has been a deeper interest in the issues of career preference among medical students. We aimed to determine and assess the factors perceived to be significantly attractive when choosing a future specialty. Materials and methodsA cross-sectional-based study was conducted among undergraduate medical students from all of the medical schools in Jordan from April to September 2021. The data was collected using a structured online questionnaire through social media platforms and completed by 1556 students. The questionnaire consisted of three sections. The first section included the sociodemographic data of the participants, while the other two sections included questions about future specialty and the factors that influence the student's choice. Informed consent was taken from the participants. ResultsOf the participants, (64%) were female. The mean age of the students was 20.9 years. Regarding the future specialty, 664 students (42.7%) preferred surgery as future specialty (females = 364, males = 300). While 505 students (32.5%) preferred specialty in medicine (females = 365, males = 140). Moreover, 349 students had no decision until now regarding their future specialty (females = 238, males = 111). Generally, the surgical specialty was the most preferred specialty, while the basic science specialty was the least preferred. Specialty in medicine and surgery was the most preferred specialty among females and males respectively. ConclusionSurgery in general was the most popular specialty among medical students. Other common choices were neurosurgery, internal medicine, and pediatrics. The more attractive factors were the appeal of being in the specialty, the influence on patient's lives, the potential for patient interactions and the high income. While the least attractive factor was having a long-term relationship with the patients.

HIV Knowledge and Stigmatizing Attitude towards People Living with HIV/AIDS among Medical Students in Jordan.

The stigmatizing attitude towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) can be a major barrier to effective patient care. As future physicians, medical students represent a core group that should be targeted with focused knowledge and adequate training to provide patient care without prejudice. The aim of the current study was to examine HIV/AIDS knowledge, and the stigmatizing attitude towards PLWHA, among medical students in Jordan. The current study was based on a self-administered online questionnaire, which was distributed during March–May 2021, involving students at the six medical schools in Jordan, with items assessing demographics, HIV/AIDS knowledge, and HIV/AIDS stigmatizing attitude, which was evaluated using the validated HIV-stigma scale. The total number of respondents was 1362, with predominance of females (n = 780, 57.3%). Lack of HIV/AIDS knowledge among the study participants was notable for the following items: HIV transmission through breastfeeding (40.8% correct responses), HIV is not transmitted through saliva (42.6% correct responses), and vertical transmission of HIV can be prevented (48.8% correct responses). Approximately two-thirds of the respondents displayed a positive attitude towards PLWHA. For six out of the 14 HIV/AIDS knowledge items, lack of knowledge was significantly correlated with a more negative attitude towards PLWHA. Multinomial regression analysis showed that a significantly more negative attitude towards PLWHA was found among the pre-clinical students compared to the clinical students (odds ratio (OR): 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.43–0.97, p = 0.036); and that affiliation to medical schools that were founded before 2000 was associated with a more positive attitude towards PLWHA compared to affiliation to recently founded medical schools in the country (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.42–2.42, p < 0.001). About one-third of medical students who participated in the study displayed a negative attitude towards PLWHA. Defects in HIV/AIDS knowledge were detected for aspects involving HIV transmission and prevention, and such defects were correlated with a more negative attitude towards PLWHA. It is recommended to revise the current medical training curricula, and to tailor improvements in the overall HIV/AIDS knowledge, which can be reflected in a more positive attitude towards PLWHA, particularly for the recently established medical schools in the country.