Practical Research Projects Research Articles

Comparative study of social studies curriculum in scandinavian countries in developing students' social skills

Social skills play a central role in shaping individuals who are able to adapt and contribute to society. This article analyzes the comparative social studies curriculum in Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Norway and Sweden), focusing on how students’ social skills are developed through their approach to learning. The research method used is a qualitative approach with an emphasis on document analysis and uses a horizontal descriptive approach in the context of comparative education. The results of the comparison found that Denmark emphasizes the integration of social skills in practical learning and research projects, Norway through an integrated approach with its contemporary issues while Sweden applies innovation through technology and community involvement. The comparison between the three countries revealed similarities, differences, as well as challenges and successes in the development of students’ social skills. The conclusions of this analysis provide a foundation for recommending best practices and improvements in social studies curriculum, which can be applied globally to enhance students’ social skills development in this modern era.

The Influence of Practical Drawing Courses on Student Work Competence in SKKNI Building Drawing: Case Study at Surabaya State University

This research examines the influence of emphasizing practical drawing learning methods and work competencies in the SKKNI for building drawings. The majority of respondents work in the vocational school sector with a percentage of 53%. Furthermore, as many as 41% of respondents work in the PT sector. Meanwhile, only 6% of respondents work in the high school sector. The results of the analysis show that the majority of respondents consider these two methods to have a significant impact. The emphasis on "Fieldwork" was considered very large by 40 respondents and had a large influence by another 35 respondents, while "Participation in Research Projects" was considered very large by 25 respondents and had a large influence by 40 respondents. These findings emphasize the importance of practical learning methods and research projects in preparing graduates for various career paths, and demonstrate the variety of career choices made by graduates after completing their studies.

The unreasonable effectiveness of large language models in zero-shot semantic annotation of legal texts.

The emergence of ChatGPT has sensitized the general public, including the legal profession, to large language models' (LLMs) potential uses (e.g., document drafting, question answering, and summarization). Although recent studies have shown how well the technology performs in diverse semantic annotation tasks focused on legal texts, an influx of newer, more capable (GPT-4) or cost-effective (GPT-3.5-turbo) models requires another analysis. This paper addresses recent developments in the ability of LLMs to semantically annotate legal texts in zero-shot learning settings. Given the transition to mature generative AI systems, we examine the performance of GPT-4 and GPT-3.5-turbo(-16k), comparing it to the previous generation of GPT models, on three legal text annotation tasks involving diverse documents such as adjudicatory opinions, contractual clauses, or statutory provisions. We also compare the models' performance and cost to better understand the trade-offs. We found that the GPT-4 model clearly outperforms the GPT-3.5 models on two of the three tasks. The cost-effective GPT-3.5-turbo matches the performance of the 20× more expensive text-davinci-003 model. While one can annotate multiple data points within a single prompt, the performance degrades as the size of the batch increases. This work provides valuable information relevant for many practical applications (e.g., in contract review) and research projects (e.g., in empirical legal studies). Legal scholars and practicing lawyers alike can leverage these findings to guide their decisions in integrating LLMs in a wide range of workflows involving semantic annotation of legal texts.

The Art of Documenting Scientific Knowledge: A Case Study of Two South African Grade 12 Science Teachers

The purpose of this article was to investigate and present effective strategies and innovative approaches that science teachers could employ to comprehensively and accurately document students' scientific knowledge. The study focused on addressing the challenges that arose during the documentation process and aimed to help teachers overcome these obstacles to ensure precise and thorough documentation of their students' scientific understanding. Two science teachers specializing in Physical Sciences and Life Sciences were interviewed through a phenomenological approach to gain insights into their perspectives and experiences. The findings demonstrated that incorporating multiple tasks, such as practical investigations, concept maps, mind maps, research projects, and group discussions, enhanced students' comprehension, and engagement with scientific concepts. These strategies accommodated diverse learning styles and abilities, fostering inclusivity, and facilitating a comprehensive learning experience. The study also highlighted the challenges posed by limited resources and restricted access to laboratory equipment, proposing the adoption of innovative assessment methods, including virtual simulations, to overcome these limitations. The implications of the study underscored the importance of comprehensive teacher training, resource allocation, collaborative approaches, integration of technology, and curriculum design aligned with the documentation of scientific knowledge. The ultimate objective of this article was to contribute to the enhancement of science education and promote scientific literacy by offering practical insights for science teachers in effectively documenting students' scientific knowledge.

ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕ ПРАКТИКО-ИССЛЕДОВАТЕЛЬСКИХ ПРОЕКТОВ ПРИ ОБУЧЕНИИ ВТОРОКУРСНИКОВ ИНОСТРАННОМУ ЯЗЫКУ В ПЕДАГОГИЧЕСКОМ ВУЗЕ

The article is devoted to the issues of studying the possibility and necessity of using practical research projects when teaching second-year students of a pedagogical university specializing in foreign languages. It has been found that sophomores are not familiar with such pedagogical technology as practical research projects, as well as with the syndrome or crisis of a sophomore, which is not taken into account when organizing training in the main specialty, which violates the principle of taking into account the age and individual characteristics of students. The article describes both traditional and other possible stages of organizing and conducting a practical research project using elements of cooperative learning, developed for second-year students of a pedagogical university studying foreign languages as their main specialty. It is proposed to include practical research projects in teaching the first and second foreign languages as the main specialty, which will allow second-year students to realize and cope with the crisis of the sophomore, and also introduce would-be teachers of foreign languages to effective pedagogical technology that the sophomore will be able to apply in pedagogical practices and in future professional activities. To do this, it is necessary to create conditions and situations where a second-year student of a pedagogical university could conduct research aimed at reflecting on his or her own activities in order to optimize them. The article offers two options for the possible use of practical research projects, presents some materials and conclusions of experimental teaching carried out among second-year students of English on the basis of a practice-oriented project, and also describes the prospects for the use of practical research projects in teaching second-year students the first and second foreign language.

Psychological and pedagogical features of training future social service workers

The system of training future workers of social services is being transformed in connection with a number of challenges in the social-economic sphere, significantly differentiating within the EU countries. The purpose of the academic paper lies in analysing psychological and pedagogical features in the educational training of social service specialists using the example of EU countries. Methodology. A qualitative design based on a content analysis of the legal framework, statistical data and analytical reports posted on the website of the European Association of Schools of Social Work (2022) have been used in the present research. The results show that social work as an educational training program includes three educational levels: bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral studies. In general, in the EU countries, general requirements regarding the structure and content of educational programs are determined, which are established by legislation. Educational programs are built on a competency-based approach, which involves the formation of professional skills of specialists. Educational institutions specializing in the training of social workers are also experience changes in curricula in accordance with changes in social practice and European education standards, the growing role of practical experience, internships, and research projects. The training programs use the competency-based approach to overcome social problems and changes in social security systems.

Generate_SWMM_inp: An Open-Source QGIS Plugin to Import and Export Model Input Files for SWMM

SWMM is an open-source model and software developed by the US EPA for the simulation of rainfall-runoff and routing in water bodies, sewer systems and wastewater infrastructures. It has been applied in numerous practical works and research projects. For a new SWMM model, objects such as nodes, links and catchments can either be drawn via SWMM’s graphical user interface (GUI) or specified manually in a plain text file in “.inp” format (“input file”). Since the required data regarding sewer geometries and river systems are usually available as spatial data in a GIS environment, there is a need for user-friendly interfaces for the model setup. SWMM contains neither an import function for geodata nor processing tools as provided in geographic information systems (GIS) such as the open-source software QGIS. Existing approaches were script-based or required commercial all-in-one products. We developed a free and open-source QGIS plugin to generate SWMM models from geodata and to import existing SWMM input files into QGIS. An application example is presented to demonstrate the basic features and usage of the plugin.

Probability Density Function Analysis Based on Logistic Regression Model

The data fitting level in probability density function analysis has great influence on the analysis results, so it is of great significance to improve the data fitting level. Therefore, a probability density function analysis method based on logistic regression model is proposed. The logistic regression model with kernel function is established, and the optimal window width and mean square integral error are selected to limit the solution accuracy of probability density function. Using the real probability density function, the probability density function with the smallest error is obtained. The estimated probability density function is analyzed from two aspects of consistency and convergence speed. The experimental results show that compared with the traditional probability density function analysis method, the probability density function analysis method based on logistics regression model has a higher fitting level, which is more suitable for practical research projects.

На гребні економічної освітньої, наукової та виховної роботи

The article is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the south-eastern Ukraine – Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University. The achievements and contribution of LNU in the fields of pedagogy, history, geography, philology and linguistics, physics and mathematics, and Olympic sports are widely known in Ukraine and abroad. At the level of the best achievements there are also achievements of Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University in the field of economic science, which is shown by the example of the modern department of economics, marketing and entrepreneurship. The author makes an attempt to establish historical justice in the history of world economics: to prove the unsurpassed importance of the developments of the former head of the department Vasily Antonovich Bader. In the late 1960 s, in parallel with the world-famous Ota Šik, in the context of the theory of "market socialism" he substantiated the doom and disintegration of the socialist economic system and its transformation into a market economy (much later, under other economic and socio-political conditions, Deng Xiaoping, the father of the "Opening of China", came to similar views). At the beginning of the 2000s, for the first time in Ukraine and Central and Eastern Europe, the department introduced a process of organizational and economic combination of research and educational activities – the establishment of a branch of the Institute of Industrial Economics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine at the Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University. With the beginning of the war in Donbass, the department became the first and only in Ukraine, on the basis of which was established a communication and consulting support center for leading international charitable organizations in Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The department has developed one of the first in Ukraine concepts of "Marshall Plan" for the Revival of the Donbas". The academic mobility experience of the department gained via the Visiting Professor program in teaching professional disciplines in Poland to students from the European Union, Asia and Africa under the ERASMUS+ Program is unique. Innovative are the practices of participation in the most prestigious European scientific and practical research projects, encouragement on a regular basis to the domestic educational process of leading entrepreneurs, teaching disciplines of free choice in English and cooperation with public authorities.

Student’s Research Activity

Breakthrough technologies and fast development in the informational basis in medicine put on finding different sources for well-timed reception of necessary information in order to keep pace with achievements in medicine (journals, conferences, and webinars). Such demand can be often met only after individual studying, researching necessary information. Each student must be proficient in methods of research activity. In higher educational institutions of Ukraine students are taught to approach search and usage of scientific and practical research projects methodologically in their training.
 Objective. To teach students formulate hypotheses, collect and evaluate critical data for problem solving, writing of a research project.

First Nations Data Governance, Privacy, and the Importance of the OCAP® principles

IntroductionGovernance of First Nations data and information requires important considerations that go beyond those typically used in research. Researchers are generally not trained in how to work appropriately within the realm of First Nations data. Further, while Canadian legislation protects individual privacy, First Nations’ community privacy is not protected.
 Objectives and ApproachThe OCA® principles were created to fill these identified gaps. OCAP® is an acronym that outlines principles regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of data or information regarding First Nations. The letters in OCAP® describe four key principles: Ownership, Control, Access and Possession.
 ResultsFirst Nations OCAP® principles are beginning to make a paradigm shift in research. This shift in applying OCAP® is changing the standard for First Nations’ data and information. These principles give First Nations sovereignty over their data and information when applied appropriately. The principles go beyond the protection of individual privacy to include the additional consideration of community privacy, a vital issue when working with First Nations’ data.
 Conclusion/ImplicationsOCAP®, when effectively applied, is a bridging tool for both First Nation communities and researchers to engage in relevant, reciprocal, and practical research projects to tell a story, provide insight, and effect policy change.

Practical independent research projects in science: a synthesis and evaluation of the evidence of impact on high school students

ABSTRACTPractical independent research projects (IRPs) are a feature of school science in a number of countries. To assess the impact of IRPs on students, a systematic review of the literature was undertaken. Thirty-nine papers met the review inclusion criteria, reporting on work from twelve countries. The review indicates that IRPs are often associated with wider initiatives such as authentic science, problem-based learning, and project-based learning. There is considerable variability in the nature of IRP work in relation to focus, models of provision, assessment, the involvement of external partners such as universities and employers, and funding, and this diversity affects judgements on the quality of the evidence base on impact. The majority of the research reviewed explored areas such as conceptual understanding, motivation to study science once it is no longer compulsory and attitudes to science, and the development of practical skills. Benefits were identified in relation to the learning of science ideas, affective responses to science, views of pursuing careers involving science, and development of a range of skills. Studies focusing on traditionally under-represented groups indicated that such students felt more positive about science as a result of undertaking IRPs. The review findings indicate that further work is needed to enhance the quality of the available evidence, to consider the ways in which IRPs can be validly assessed, to explore more fully the potential benefits for traditionally under-represented groups, and to explore more fully the potential longer-term benefits of participation in IRPs at high school level.

ChemBCPP: A freely available web server for calculating commonly used physicochemical properties

The behavior of a chemical in human or environment mostly depends on its several key physicochemical properties, such as aqueous solubility, octanol-water partition coefficient (logP), boiling point (BP), density, flash point (FP), viscosity, surface tension (ST), vapor pressure (VP) and melting point (MP). Commonly, these properties are important for the environmental sciences and drug discovery, such as the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) for medicinal compounds and the common risk assessment for problematic chemicals. At present, the quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) model was widely applied to save time and money investment in the early stage of chemical research. Although some satisfactory models were already obtained, most of them are not available for the public researchers and thus cannot be directly applied to practical research projects. Herein, in this study, we developed a user-friendly web server named ChemBCPP that can be used to predict aforementioned 8 important physicochemical properties and calculate several other commonly used properties just by uploading a molecular structure or file. In addition, for a new chemical entity, users can not only get its predicted value but also obtain a leverage value (h value) which can be used to evaluate the reliability of predictive result. We believe that ChemBCPP could be widely applied in environmental science, chemical synthesis and drug ADMET fields with the demand for high quality of chemical properties. ChemBCPP could be freely available via http://chembcpp.scbdd.com.

New Setting, Same Skill: Teaching Geography Students to Transfer Information Literacy Skills From Familiar to Unfamiliar Contexts

Existing research shows that high school students do not possess information literacy skills adequate to function in a high-tech society that relies so heavily on information. If students are taught these skills, they struggle to apply them. This small-scale intervention focused on helping Geography students at a low-socioeconomic high school in Auckland, New Zealand to transfer information literacy skills from familiar to unfamiliar topics. It tested whether teaching information literacy skills via direct instruction, and then giving students the opportunity to use these skills in structured practice sessions online, would help them transfer those skills. The need for the study arose from a gap in existing research into teaching information literacy for transfer. The findings of this study indicated that it was relatively easy for the students to learn to formulate search queries, but they need more help evaluating information sources. The findings also showed that direct feedback from a teacher is vital to teaching information literacy. The findings are significant in that they add to a growing body of research that teaching information literacy through practical research projects is potentially more effective than decontextualising the skills and teaching them as a standalone topic. Furthermore, the findings support existing research that teacher feedback is a necessary component of teaching information literacy. Keywords: Geography education, Information literacy skills

Human Performance Technology Blooms in the High Desert

As our first presentation in a series of academic program profiles, we are pleased to present the Organization, Information, and Learning Science (OILS) program at the University of New Mexico (UMN). The OILS program began in the 1980s as a vocational education program and has evolved into a program that focuses on human performance technology (HPT), instructional design (ID), and learning sciences. The OILS program is organizationally a part of the College of University Libraries and Learning Science. The library faculty brings positive synergy to OILS in terms of data management and information technology, research, education, and applied practices. The program offers an undergraduate degree as well as masters and doctoral degrees. It is very rare to provide an undergraduate degree in the HPT and ID fields, and the OILS program is proud of these pioneering efforts. OILS has a pragmatic tradition. The faculty members of OILS and its graduate students have conducted scholastic and practical research projects in HPT, ID, and learning sciences. Coursework emphasis is on cultivating students’ capabilities for excellent performance in the workplace. The program has a strong network within the local community with local employers as well as with local chapters of professional societies. The present demographics in the State of New Mexico in terms of the majority-minority status are similar to the overall demographics that the United States as a whole will face within the next 30 years. OILS is an innovative program. – Sung “Pil” Kang, PhD and Yeol Huh, PhD, column editors

The futures Map and its quality criteria

The article discusses quality criteria for futures research in the frame of so-called ‘Futures Map’. This article is the edited and developed version of the article (Futura 1: 60-77, 2015). Based on the comments concerning (Futura 1: 60-77, 2015), we have developed the Futures Map frame and its validity criteria further. The new edition of the article is more focused on two basic questions. What is the relationship between the Futures Map approach and various scenario approaches? What are the common and different features of the quality criteria suggested in the Futures Map frame and other suggested quality criteria? The comparison is especially focused on the quality criteria defined by the German Netzwerk Zukunftsforschung. We suggest that it is reasonable to handle quality criteria on three basic levels: the philosophical basis; pragmatic general quality criteria; and special quality criteria suitable for specific contexts/uses. The prospects of futures research as a field of science depend first of all on their research methods. The article briefly discusses the choice of research methods as well as the evaluation of particular applications of methods in practical research projects.

Weight Bias: What Do We Know and Where Can We Go from Here?

This workshop will begin by introducing the prevalence and consequences of weight bias and provide background information on the causes and theories explaining the pervasiveness of weight bias in society. This panel will focus on practical strategies and research projects aimed at reducing weight bias in the health and education sectors. In education, a number of professional development interventions addressing weight bias demonstrated significant improvements in teachers’ awareness of and sensitivity to student weight-related experiences. In health care, some pilot studies have shown short-term improvements in attitudes and beliefs about weight but there is an urgent need for a larger scale strategy to facilitate interdisciplinary collaborative professional development in the area of weight bias over the long term. The goal of this workshop is to provide a foundation to understand the causes and consequences of weight bias and practical tips on how to reduce it in day-to-day practices. Participants will be engaged through various learning styles using images, videos and interactive group discussions with the panelists.

A highly functional synthetic phage display library containing over 40 billion human antibody clones.

Several synthetic antibody phage display libraries have been created and used for the isolation of human monoclonal antibodies. The performance of antibody libraries, which is usually measured in terms of their ability to yield high-affinity binding specificities against target proteins of interest, depends both on technical aspects (such as library size and quality of cloning) and on design features (which influence the percentage of functional clones in the library and their ability to be used for practical applications). Here, we describe the design, construction and characterization of a combinatorial phage display library, comprising over 40 billion human antibody clones in single-chain fragment variable (scFv) format. The library was designed with the aim to obtain highly stable antibody clones, which can be affinity-purified on protein A supports, even when used in scFv format. The library was found to be highly functional, as >90% of randomly selected clones expressed the corresponding antibody. When selected against more than 15 antigens from various sources, the library always yielded specific and potent binders, at a higher frequency compared to previous antibody libraries. To demonstrate library performance in practical biomedical research projects, we isolated the human antibody G5, which reacts both against human and murine forms of the alternatively spliced BCD segment of tenascin-C, an extracellular matrix component frequently over-expressed in cancer and in chronic inflammation. The new library represents a useful source of binding specificities, both for academic research and for the development of antibody-based therapeutics.

Suggestions for a research framework for South Africa: how can we learn from web information seeking/searching studies?

The growing interest in web informotion seeking/seorching studies, ond their importance for web site design. search engines, intranets, portals, etc. warrants. a research agenda for web information seeking/searching studies in South Africa. A research framework directs research projects and should include: the rationale for and purpose of a study. descriptive information, links to related studies and traditional information retrieval, links to research paradigms and theoretical models, research methodology and methods, rationale for analysing the data, actual statistical analysis, interpretation and findings. and explicit reference to the practical impact of and need for further research. It should build on the importance of research in a particular context, and acknowledge the existing body of research literature. Suggestions are offered for practical and theoretical research projects relevant to the South African context. Although we can benefit from isolated projects, a research agenda, as suggested, may add greater impetus to our research efforts and understanding of the phenomenon under investigation.

LABOUR AND ECONOMIC GROWTH THROUGH EDUCATION AND RESEARCH IN LATVIA

The structure of Latvian economy and distribution of employees within it during last years has changed. Dealing with study of population, one can find young people share continuous decline and labour mean age increase, but in situation of economic slowdown Latvia also face challenge to develop knowledge-based economy. One of the means of helping to achieve the goal of becoming competitive and knowledge-based economy is through an investment in human capital. To ensure sustainable development there is a need to balance between social and economical growth using available resources. The theoretical concepts have shown that further growth has to be built on innovation, diffusion and adoption of new technologies and new products which increases competitiveness of the economy. Attained educational level not only enhances the ability of a country to develop its own technological innovations, but also its ability to adapt and implement technologies developed elsewhere. Educated society can contribute from the transfer of latest technologies from abroad because any investment demonstrates stronger positive impact on economic growth in country with higher level of educational attainment. Attained education is relatively high in Latvia - 30.7% of employed persons (15-74) and 15.4% of job seekers (15-74) had attained higher education in 2010. If the labour market could not accommodate skilled workers it raises question of country’s ability to use educational investments efficiently. According to the latest statistics (European Innovation Scoreboard 2010) Latvia has relative strength in human resources (new doctorate graduates, population completed tertiary education and youth with upper secondary level education), but Latvia is among ‘modest innovators’ taking last place in EU-27 range and its performance is estimated as well below that of the other countries of European Union (EU). The statistical data have showed that labour is more used in final good sector, not in research sector that produces technology in Latvia. Only 0.5% of labour in 2009 was employed in research and employment in knowledge-intensive service sectors was 26.8% of total employment in 2008. According to calculation the lowest added value to GDP per 1% of the labour was in agriculture and fishing caused by high proportion of labour allocated in this sector, but the highest added value to GDP was in financial mediation and business activities in 2009. After accession in EU there are available structural funds for member states, also for implementation of practical research projects during EU structural funds 2007-2013 programming period in Latvia. These projects would promote integration of the science and manufacturing and were approved in 2010 and in the beginning of 2011. Implementing practical research projects scientific institutions are provided with opportunity to employ highly educated scientific personnel and develop innovative products and technologies influencing the changes in economic structure. The research is based on statistical data analysis. Comparative and analytical methods have been mainly used in the paper taking into consideration the scientific literature. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.eis.0.5.1072