Search results for: spoken interaction skills
5886 Teachers’ Reactions, Learning, Organizational Support, and Use of Lesson Study for Transformative Assessment
Authors: Melaku Takele Abate, Abbi Lemma Wodajo, Adula Bekele Hunde
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This study aimed at exploring mathematics teachers' reactions, learning, school leaders’ support, and use of the Lesson Study for Transformative Assessment (LSforTA) program ideas in practice. The LSforTA program was new, and therefore, a local and grounded approach was needed to examine teachers’ knowledge and skills acquired using LSforTA. So, a design-based research approach was selected to evaluate and refine the LSforTA approach. The results showed that LSforTA increased teachers' knowledge and use of different levels of mathematics assessment tasks. The program positively affected teachers' practices of transformative assessment and enhanced their knowledge and skills in assessing students in a transformative way. The paper concludes how the LSforTA procedures were adapted in response to this evaluation and provides suggestions for future development and research.Keywords: classroom assessment, feedback practices, lesson study, mathematics, design-based research
Procedia PDF Downloads 555885 Evaluation and Comparison of Male and Female Students’ Life Skills of Theoretical, Technical-Vocational and Job and Knowledge Branches of Secondary High School Period
Authors: Khalil Aryanfar, Shahrzad Sanjari, Elmira Hafez, Pariya Gholipor
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The aim of this study was to Evaluate and compare the male and female students’ life skills of theoretical, technical-vocational and Job and Knowledge branches of secondary high school period. The research method is descriptive - survey Research population was 5892 students from three high schools in Tehran, sample size was determined 342 patients according to Morgan’s table and by stratified random sampling. The data collection tool was a questionnaire designed by the researchers that the reliability was more than 85/0 respectively. Data was anglicized by Kryskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-test. In three branches of theoretical, technical-vocational and Job and Knowledge The variables of academic achievement, the importance of organization, problem solving, seeking knowledge, good habits, mental and physical self-concept, family orientation and future orientation was not significant differences, in the variables of cooperative behavior, and ready for change was but significant differences. Variables such as academic achievement, seek knowledge, good habits, mental and physical, seeking direction to future cooperative behavior between boys and girls with the confidence of at least 95/0 and the variable ready for change among boys and girls by ensuring 0932 / There was an However, the importance of variables, problem solving, self-concept and family orientation was not significantly different.Keywords: life skills, high school, theoretical, technical-vocational, job and knowledge
Procedia PDF Downloads 3875884 From Oral to Written: Translating the Dawot (Epic Poem), Revitalizing Appreciation for Indigenous Literature
Authors: Genevieve Jorolan-Quintero
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The recording as well as the preservation of indigenous literature is an important task as it deals with a significant heritage of pre-colonial culture. The beliefs and traditions of a people are reflected in their oral narratives, such as the folk epic, which must be written down to insure their preservation. The epic poem for instance, known as dawot among the Mandaya, one of the indigenous communities in the southern region of the Philippines, narrates the customs, the ways of life, and the adventures of an ancient people. Nabayra, an expert on Philippine folkloric studies, stresses that still extant after centuries of unknown origin, the dawot was handed down to the magdadawot (bard) by word of mouth, forming the greatest bulk of Mandaya oral tradition. Unhampered by modern means of communication to distract her/him, the magdadawot has a sharp memory of the intricacies of the ancient art of chanting the panayday (verses) of the epic poem. The dawot has several hullubaton (episodes), each of which takes several nights to chant . The language used in these oral traditions is archaic Mandaya, no longer spoken or clearly understood by the present generation. There is urgency to the task of recording and writing down what remain of the epic poem since the singers and storytellers who have retained the memory and the skill of chanting and narrating the dawot and other forms of oral tradition in their original forms are getting fewer. The few who are gifted and skilled to transmit these ancient arts and wisdom are old and dying. Unlike the other Philippine epics (i.e. the Darangen, the Ulahingan, the Hinilawod, etc.), the Mandaya epic is yet to be recognized and given its rightful place among the recorded epics in Philippine Folk Literature. The general aim of this study was to put together and preserve an intangible heritage, the Mandaya hullubaton (episodes of the dawot), in order to preserve and promote appreciation for the oral traditions and cultural legacy of the Mandaya. It was able to record, transcribe, and translate four hullubaton of the folk epic into two languages, Visayan and English to insure understanding of their contents and significance among non-Mandaya audiences. Evident in the contents of the episodes are the cultural practices, ideals, life values, and traditions of the ancient Mandaya. While the conquests and adventures of the Mandaya heroes Lumungtad, Dilam, and Gambong highlight heroic virtues, the role of the Mandaya matriarch in family affairs is likewise stressed. The recording and the translation of the hullubaton and the dawot into commonly spoken languages will not only promote knowledge and understanding about their culture, but will also stimulate in the members of this cultural community a sense of pride for their literature and culture. Knowledge about indigenous cultural system and philosophy derived from their oral literature will serve as a springboard to further comparative researches dealing with indigenous mores and belief systems among the different tribes in the Philippines, in Asia, in Africa, and other countries in the world.Keywords: Dawot, epic poem, Mandaya, Philippine folk literature
Procedia PDF Downloads 4455883 An overview of Using Functional Communication Training to Decrease Maladaptive Behaviors for Individuals Diagnosed with Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorders at an Extensive Support Needs Residential Program
Authors: Ali Mahamat
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This paper explores the application of Functional Communication Training (FCT) as an intervention to decrease maladaptive behaviors among individuals diagnosed with Intellectual Disability (ID) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) within an extensive support needs residential program. Evidence suggests that FCT can be ef ective in promoting positive behavioral changes and enhancing communication skills in this population. The prevalence of maladaptive behaviors in individuals with ID and ASD is a significant concern for caregivers and professionals in residential programs. These behaviors can include aggression, self-injury, and disruptive activities, which can impede the individual's quality of life. Functional Communication Training (FCT) has been identified as a potential solution to these challenges, providing individuals with the communication skills needed to express their needs and desires effectively. Method: A quasi-experimental design was used to investigate the effectiveness of FCT in a residential setting for individuals with ID and ASD. Participants included individuals with varying degrees of ID and ASD who exhibited maladaptive behaviors. A baseline was established for each participant's behavior before introducing FCT as an intervention. The FCT intervention involved teaching the individuals alternative, functionally equivalent communication behaviors to replace maladaptive behaviors. The training was implemented in the participants' natural environment and was incorporated into their daily routines. The intervention period lasted for six months, with follow-ups conducted at three months and six months post-intervention.Results indicated a significant decrease in maladaptive behaviors for individuals who received the FCT intervention. In addition, an enhancement in communication skills was observed, with the majority of participants demonstrating an increased ability to express their needs and desires appropriately. The findings of this study provide support for the effectiveness of FCT in reducing maladaptive behaviors in individuals with ID and ASD in a residential setting. Moreover, the study highlights the importance of incorporating functional communication skills training in the daily routines of these individuals. By providing these individuals with an effective means of communication, FCT not only reduces the occurrence of maladaptive behaviors but also improves the quality of life for these individuals. However, future research should explore the long-term effects of FCT and consider the influence of individual differences on the effectiveness of the intervention.Keywords: functional communication training, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, maladaptive behavior, residential program
Procedia PDF Downloads 305882 The Role of Questioning Ability as an Indicator of Scientific Thinking in Children Aged 5-9
Authors: Aliya K. Salahova
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Scientific thinking is a fundamental cognitive skill that plays a crucial role in preparing young minds for an increasingly complex world. This study explores the connection between scientific thinking and the ability to ask questions in children aged 5-9. The research aims to identify and assess how questioning ability serves as an indicator of scientific thinking development in this age group. A longitudinal investigation was conducted over a span of 240 weeks, involving 72 children from diverse backgrounds. The participants were divided into an experimental group, engaging in weekly STEM activities, and a control group with no STEM involvement. The development of scientific thinking was evaluated through a comprehensive assessment of questioning skills, hypothesis formulation, logical reasoning, and problem-solving abilities. The findings reveal a significant correlation between the ability to ask questions and the level of scientific thinking in children aged 5-9. Participants in the experimental group exhibited a remarkable improvement in their questioning ability, which positively influenced their scientific thinking growth. In contrast, the control group, devoid of STEM activities, showed minimal progress in questioning skills and subsequent scientific thinking development. This study highlights the pivotal role of questioning ability as a key indicator of scientific thinking in young children. The results provide valuable insights for educators and researchers, emphasizing the importance of fostering and nurturing questioning skills to enhance scientific thinking capabilities from an early age. The implications of these findings are crucial for designing effective educational interventions to promote scientific curiosity and critical thinking in the next generation of scientific minds.Keywords: scientific thinking, education, STEM, intervention, psychology, pedagogy, collaborative learning, longitudinal study
Procedia PDF Downloads 705881 The Practical Application of Sensory Awareness in Developing Healthy Communication, Emotional Regulation, and Emotional Introspection
Authors: Node Smith
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Developmental psychology has long focused on modeling consciousness, often neglecting practical application and clinical utility. This paper aims to bridge this gap by exploring the practical application of physical and sensory tracking and awareness in fostering essential skills for conscious development. Higher conscious development requires practical skills such as self-agency, the ability to hold multiple perspectives, and genuine altruism. These are not personality characteristics but areas of skillfulness that address many cultural deficiencies impacting our world. They are intertwined with individual as well as collective conscious development. Physical, sensory tracking and awareness are crucial for developing these skills and offer the added benefit of cultivating healthy communication, emotional regulation, and introspection. Unlike skills such as throwing a baseball, which can be developed through practice or innate ability, the ability to introspect, track physical sensations, and observe oneself objectively is essential for advancing consciousness. Lacking these skills leads to cultural and individual anxiety, helplessness, and a lack of agency, manifesting as blame-shifting and irresponsibility. The inability to hold multiple perspectives stifles altruism, as genuine consideration for a global community requires accepting other perspectives without conditions. Physical and sensory tracking enhances self-awareness by grounding individuals in their bodily experiences. This grounding is critical for emotional regulation, allowing individuals to identify and process emotions in real-time, preventing overwhelm and fostering balance. Techniques like mindfulness meditation and body scan exercises attune individuals to their physical sensations, providing insights into their emotional states. Sensory awareness also facilitates healthy communication by fostering empathy and active listening. When individuals are in tune with their physical sensations, they become more present in interactions, picking up on subtle cues and responding thoughtfully. This presence reduces misunderstandings and conflicts, promoting more effective communication. The ability to introspect and observe oneself objectively is key to emotional introspection. This skill allows individuals to reflect on their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, identify patterns, recognize areas for growth, and make conscious choices aligned with their values and goals. In conclusion, physical and sensory tracking and awareness are vital for developing the skills necessary for higher consciousness development. By fostering self-agency, emotional regulation, and the ability to hold multiple perspectives, these practices contribute to healthier communication, deeper emotional introspection, and a more altruistic and connected global community. Integrating these practices into developmental psychology and therapeutic interventions holds significant promise for both individual and societal transformation.Keywords: conscious development, emotional introspection, emotional regulation, self-agency, stages of development
Procedia PDF Downloads 485880 Optimization of the Control Scheme for Human Extremity Exoskeleton
Authors: Yang Li, Xiaorong Guan, Cheng Xu
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In order to design a suitable control scheme for human extremity exoskeleton, the interaction force control scheme with traditional PI controller was presented, and the simulation study of the electromechanical system of the human extremity exoskeleton was carried out by using a MATLAB/Simulink module. By analyzing the simulation calculation results, it was shown that the traditional PI controller is not very suitable for every movement speed of human body. So, at last the fuzzy self-adaptive PI controller was presented to solve this problem. Eventually, the superiority and feasibility of the fuzzy self-adaptive PI controller was proved by the simulation results and experimental results.Keywords: human extremity exoskeleton, interaction force control scheme, simulation study, fuzzy self-adaptive pi controller, man-machine coordinated walking, bear payload
Procedia PDF Downloads 3635879 Trauma Informed Healthy Lifestyle Program for Young Adults
Authors: Alicia Carranza, Hildemar Dos Santos, W. Lawrence Beeson, R. Patti Herring, Kimberly R. Freeman, Adam Arechiga
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Early exposure to trauma can impact health-related behaviors later in life, which poses a considerable challenge for young adults transitioning into independence when they are lacking the necessary skills and support to live a healthy life. The study will be a non-experimental, mixed methods pre- and post-test (where subjects will serve as their own controls) to determine the impact of an eight-week trauma-informed healthy lifestyle program on self-efficacy for adopting health-promoting behaviors and health outcomes among young adults. Forty-two adults, ages 18-24 who are living in Orange County, CA will be recruited to participate in the eight-week trauma-informed healthy living program. Baseline and post-intervention assessments will be conducted to assess changes in self-efficacy for nutrition and physical exercise, sleep quality and quantity, body mass index (kg/m2), and coping skills used by comparing pre- to post-intervention. Some of the planned activities include cooking demonstrations, mindful eating activities and media literacy using Instagram. Frequencies analyses, paired t-test, and multiple regression will be used to determine if there was a change in coping skills. The results of this study can serve to assess the potential for mitigating the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), or other toxic stress, experienced during adolescence across the lifespan. Young adults who learn how to cope with stress in a healthy way and engage in a healthy lifestyle can be better prepared to role model that behavior to their children.Keywords: nutrition, healthy lifestyle, trauma-informed, stress management
Procedia PDF Downloads 1065878 The Attentional Focus Impact on the Decision Making in Three-Game Situations in Tennis
Authors: Marina Tsetseli, Eleni Zetou, Maria Michalopoulou, Nikos Vernadakis
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Game performance, besides the accuracy and the quality skills execution, depends heavily on where the athletes will focus their attention while performing a skill. The purpose of the present study was to examine and compare the effect of internal and external focus of attention instructions on the decision making in tennis at players 8-9 years old (M=8.4, SD=0.49). The participants (N=40) were divided into two groups and followed an intervention training program that lasted 4 weeks; first group (N=20) under internal focus of attention instructions and the second group (N=20) under external focus of attention instructions. Three measurements took place (pre-test, post-test, and retention test) in which the participants were video recorded while playing matches in real scoring conditions. GPAI (Game Performance Assessment Instrument) was used to evaluate decision making in three game situations; service, return of the service, baseline game. ANOVA repeated measures (2 groups x 3 measurements) revealed a significant interaction between groups and measurements. Specifically, the data analysis showed superiority of the group that was instructed to focus externally. The high scores of the external attention group were maintained at the same level at the third measurement as well, which indicates that the impact was concerning not only performance but also learning. Thus, cues that lead to an external focus of attention enhance the decision-making skill and therefore the game performance of the young tennis players.Keywords: decision making, evaluation, focus of attention, game performance, tennis
Procedia PDF Downloads 3525877 Pudhaiyal: A Maze-Based Treasure Hunt Game for Tamil Words
Authors: Aarthy Anandan, Anitha Narasimhan, Madhan Karky
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Word-based games are popular in helping people to improve their vocabulary skills. Games like ‘word search’ and crosswords provide a smart way of increasing vocabulary skills. Word search games are fun to play, but also educational which actually helps to learn a language. Finding the words from word search puzzle helps the player to remember words in an easier way, and it also helps to learn the spellings of words. In this paper, we present a tile distribution algorithm for a Maze-Based Treasure Hunt Game 'Pudhaiyal’ for Tamil words, which describes how words can be distributed horizontally, vertically or diagonally in a 10 x 10 grid. Along with the tile distribution algorithm, we also present an algorithm for the scoring model of the game. The proposed game has been tested with 20,000 Tamil words.Keywords: Pudhaiyal, Tamil word game, word search, scoring, maze, algorithm
Procedia PDF Downloads 4425876 Exploring Critical Thinking Skill Development in the 21st Century College Classroom: A Multi-Case Study
Authors: Kimberlyn Greene
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Employers today expect college graduates to not only develop and demonstrate content-specific knowledge but also 21st century skillsets such as critical thinking. International assessments suggest students enrolled in United States (U.S.) educational institutions are underperforming in comparison to their global peers in areas such as critical thinking and technology. This multi-case study examined how undergraduate digital literacy courses at a four-year university in the U.S., as implemented by instructors, fostered students’ development of critical thinking skills. The conceptual framework for this study presumed that as students engaged in complex thinking within the context of a digital literacy course, their ability to deploy critical thinking was contingent upon whether the course was designed with the expectation for students to use critical thinking skills as well as the instructor’s approach to implementing the course. Qualitative data collected from instructor interviews, classroom observations, and course documents were analyzed with an emphasis on exploring the course design and instructional methods that provided opportunities to foster critical thinking skill development. Findings from the cross-case analysis revealed that although the digital literacy courses were designed and implemented with the expectation students would deploy critical thinking; there was no explicit support for students to develop these skills. The absence of intentional skill development resulted in inequitable opportunities for all students to engage in complex thinking. The implications of this study suggest that if critical thinking is to remain a priority, then universities must expand their support of pedagogical and instructional training for faculty regarding how to support students’ critical thinking skill development.Keywords: critical thinking skill development, curriculum design, digital literacy, pedagogy
Procedia PDF Downloads 2955875 A Source Point Distribution Scheme for Wave-Body Interaction Problem
Authors: Aichun Feng, Zhi-Min Chen, Jing Tang Xing
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A two-dimensional linear wave-body interaction problem can be solved using a desingularized integral method by placing free surface Rankine sources over calm water surface and satisfying boundary conditions at prescribed collocation points on the calm water surface. A new free-surface Rankine source distribution scheme, determined by the intersection points of free surface and body surface, is developed to reduce numerical computation cost. Associated with this, a new treatment is given to the intersection point. The present scheme results are in good agreement with traditional numerical results and measurements.Keywords: source point distribution, panel method, Rankine source, desingularized algorithm
Procedia PDF Downloads 3655874 Changes of First-Person Pronoun Pragmatic Functions in Three Historical Chinese Texts
Authors: Cher Leng Lee
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The existence of multiple first-person pronouns (1PPs) in classical Chinese is an issue that has not been resolved despite linguists using the grammatical perspective. This paper proposes pragmatics as a viable solution. There is also a lack of research exploring the evolving usage patterns of 1PPs within the historical context of Chinese language use. Such research can help us comprehend the changes and developments of these linguistic elements. To fill these research gaps, we use the diachronic pragmatics approach to contrast the functions of Chinese 1PPs in three representative texts from three different historical periods: The Analects (The Spring and Autumn Period), The Grand Scribe’s Records (Grand Records) (Qin and Han Period), and A New Account of Tales of the World (New Account) (The Wei, Jin and Southern and Northern Period). The 1PPs of these texts are manually identified and classified according to the pragmatic functions in the given contexts to observe their historical changes, understand the factors that contribute to these changes, and provide possible answers to the development of how wo became the only 1PP in today’s spoken Mandarin.Keywords: historical, Chinese, pronouns, pragmatics
Procedia PDF Downloads 565873 Influence of Existing Foundations on Soil-Structure Interaction of New Foundations in a Reconstruction Project
Authors: Kanagarajah Ravishankar
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This paper describes a study performed for a project featuring an elevated steel bridge structure supported by various types of foundation systems. This project focused on rehabilitation or redesign of a portion of the bridge substructures founded on caisson foundations. The study that this paper focuses on is the evaluation of foundation and soil stiffnesses and interactions between the existing caissons and proposed foundations. The caisson foundations were founded on top of rock, where the depth to the top of rock varies from approximately 50 to 140 feet below ground surface. Based on a comprehensive investigation of the existing piers and caissons, the presence of ASR was suspected from observed whitish deposits on cracked surfaces as well as internal damages sustained through the entire depth of foundation structures. Reuse of existing piers and caissons was precluded and deemed unsuitable under the earthquake condition because of these defects on the structures. The proposed design of new foundations and substructures which was selected ultimately neglected the contribution from the existing caisson and pier columns. Due to the complicated configuration between the existing caisson and the proposed foundation system, three-dimensional finite element method (FEM) was employed to evaluate soil-structure interaction (SSI), to evaluate the effect of the existing caissons on the proposed foundations, and to compare the results with conventional group analysis. The FEM models include separate models for existing caissons, proposed foundations, and combining both.Keywords: soil-structure interaction, foundation stiffness, finite element, seismic design
Procedia PDF Downloads 1405872 Sterols Regulate the Activity of Phospholipid Scramblase by Interacting through Putative Cholesterol Binding Motif
Authors: Muhasin Koyiloth, Sathyanarayana N. Gummadi
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Biological membranes are ordered association of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. Lipids except sterols possess asymmetric distribution across the bilayer. Eukaryotic membranes possess a group of lipid translocators called scramblases that disrupt phospholipid asymmetry. Their action is implicated in cell activation during wound healing and phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells. Cholesterol is one of the major membrane lipids distributed evenly on both the leaflet and can directly influence the membrane fluidity through the ordering effect. The fluidity has an impact on the activity of several membrane proteins. The palmitoylated phospholipid scramblases localized to the lipid raft which is characterized by a higher number of sterols. Here we propose that cholesterol can interact with scramblases through putative CRAC motif and can modulate their activity. To prove this, we reconstituted phospholipid scramblase 1 of C. elegans (SCRM-1) in proteoliposomes containing different amounts of cholesterol (Liquid ordered/Lo). We noted that the presence of cholesterol reduced the scramblase activity of wild-type SCRM-1. The interaction between SCRM-1 and cholesterol was confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy using NBD-Chol. Also, we observed loss of such interaction when one of I273 in the CRAC motif mutated to Asp. Interestingly, the point mutant has partially retained scramblase activity in Lo vesicles. The current study elucidated the important interaction between cholesterol and SCRM-1 to fine-tune its activity in artificial membranes.Keywords: artificial membranes, CRAC motif, plasma membrane, PL scramblase
Procedia PDF Downloads 1755871 Adult Learners’ Code-Switching in the EFL Classroom: An Analysis of Frequency and Type of Code-Switching
Authors: Elizabeth Patricia Beck
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Stepping into various English as foreign language classrooms, one will see some fundamental similarities. There will likely be groups of students working collaboratively, possibly sitting at tables together. They will be using a set coursebook or photocopies of materials developed by publishers or the teacher. The teacher will be carefully monitoring students’ behaviour and progress. The teacher will also likely be insisting that the students only speak English together, possibly having implemented a complex penalty and award systems to encourage this. This is communicative language teaching and it is commonly how foreign languages are taught around the world. Recently, there has been much interest in the codeswitching behaviour of learners in foreign or second language classrooms. It is a significant topic as it relates to second language acquisition theory, language teaching training and policy, and student expectations and classroom practice. Generally in an English as a foreign language context, an ‘English Only’ policy is the norm. This is based on historical factors, socio-political influence and theories surrounding language learning. The trend, however, is shifting and, based on these same factors, a re-examination of language use in the foreign language classroom is taking place. This paper reports the findings of an examination into the codeswitching behaviour of learners with a shared native language in an English classroom. Specifically, it addresses the question of classroom code-switching by adult learners in the EFL classroom during student-to-student, spoken interaction. Three generic categories of code switching are proposed based on published research and classroom practice. Italian adult learners at three levels were observed and patterns of language use were identified, recorded and analysed using the proposed categories. After observations were completed, a questionnaire was distributed to the students focussing on attitudes and opinions around language choice in the EFL classroom, specifically, the usefulness of L1 for specific functions in the classroom. The paper then investigates the relationship between learners’ foreign language proficiency and the frequency and type of code-switching that they engaged in, and the relationship between learners’ attitudes to classroom code-switching and their behaviour. Results show that code switching patterns underwent changes as the students’ level of English language proficiency improved, and that students’ attitudes towards code-switching generally correlated with their behaviour with some exceptions, however. Finally, the discussion focusses on the details of the language produced in observation, possible influencing factors that may affect the frequency and type of code switching that took place, and additional influencing factors that may affect students’ attitudes towards code switching in the foreign language classroom. An evaluation of the limitations of this study is offered and some suggestions are made for future research in this field of study.Keywords: code-switching, EFL, second language aquisition, adult learners
Procedia PDF Downloads 2775870 Effect of Formative Evaluation with Feedback on Students Economics Achievement in Secondary Education
Authors: Salihu Abdullahi Galle
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Students' performance in Economics in schools and on standardized exams in Nigeria has been worrying throughout the years, owing to some teachers' use of conventional and lecture teaching methods. Other obstacles include a lack of training, standardized testing pressure, and aversion to change, all of which can have an impact on students' cognitive ability in Economics and future careers. The researchers employed formative evaluation with feedback (FEFB) to support the teaching and learning process by providing constant feedback to both teachers and students. The researchers employed a quasi-experimental research design to examine two teaching methods (FEFB and traditional). The pre-test and post-test interaction effects were evaluated between students in the experimental group (FEFB) and those in the conventional group. The interaction effects of pre-test and post-test on male and female in the two groups were also examined, with 90 participants. The findings show that students exposed to a FEFB-based teaching approach outperform pupils taught in a traditional classroom setting, and there is no gender interaction effect between the two groups. In light of these findings, the researchers urge that Economics teachers employ FEFB during teaching and learning to ensure timely feedback, and that policymakers ensure that Economics teachers receive training and re-training on FEFB approaches.Keywords: formative evaluation with feedback (FEFB), students, economics achievement, secondary education
Procedia PDF Downloads 515869 The Future Control Rooms for Sustainable Power Systems: Current Landscape and Operational Challenges
Authors: Signe Svensson, Remy Rey, Anna-Lisa Osvalder, Henrik Artman, Lars Nordström
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The electric power system is undergoing significant changes. Thereby, the operation and control are becoming partly modified, more multifaceted and automated, and thereby supplementary operator skills might be required. This paper discusses developing operational challenges in future power system control rooms, posed by the evolving landscape of sustainable power systems, driven in turn by the shift towards electrification and renewable energy sources. A literature review followed by interviews and a comparison to other related domains with similar characteristics, a descriptive analysis was performed from a human factors perspective. Analysis is meant to identify trends, relationships, and challenges. A power control domain taxonomy includes a temporal domain (planning and real-time operation) and three operational domains within the power system (generation, switching and balancing). Within each operational domain, there are different control actions, either in the planning stage or in the real-time operation, that affect the overall operation of the power system. In addition to the temporal dimension, the control domains are divided in space between a multitude of different actors distributed across many different locations. A control room is a central location where different types of information are monitored and controlled, alarms are responded to, and deviations are handled by the control room operators. The operators’ competencies, teamwork skills, team shift patterns as well as control system designs are all important factors in ensuring efficient and safe electricity grid management. As the power system evolves with sustainable energy technologies, challenges are found. Questions are raised regarding whether the operators’ tacit knowledge, experience and operation skills of today are sufficient to make constructive decisions to solve modified and new control tasks, especially during disturbed operations or abnormalities. Which new skills need to be developed in planning and real-time operation to provide efficient generation and delivery of energy through the system? How should the user interfaces be developed to assist operators in processing the increasing amount of information? Are some skills at risk of being lost when the systems change? How should the physical environment and collaborations between different stakeholders within and outside the control room develop to support operator control? To conclude, the system change will provide many benefits related to electrification and renewable energy sources, but it is important to address the operators’ challenges with increasing complexity. The control tasks will be modified, and additional operator skills are needed to perform efficient and safe operations. Also, the whole human-technology-organization system needs to be considered, including the physical environment, the technical aids and the information systems, the operators’ physical and mental well-being, as well as the social and organizational systems.Keywords: operator, process control, energy system, sustainability, future control room, skill
Procedia PDF Downloads 965868 Team Teaching versus Traditional Pedagogical Method
Authors: L. M. H. Mustonen, S. A. Heikkilä
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The focus of the paper is to describe team teaching as a HAMK’s pedagogical method, and its impacts to the teachers work. Background: Traditionally it is thought that teaching is a job where one mostly works alone. More and more teachers feel that their work is getting more stressful. Solutions to these problems have been sought in Häme University of Applied sciences’ (From now on referred to as HAMK). HAMK has made a strategic change to move to the group oriented working of teachers. Instead of isolated study courses, there are now larger 15 credits study modules. Implementation: As examples of the method, two cases are presented: technical project module and summer studies module, which was integrated into the EU development project called Energy Efficiency with Precise Control. In autumn 2017, technical project will be implemented third time. There are at least three teachers involved in it and it is the first module of the new students. Main focus is to learn the basic skills of project working. From communicational viewpoint, they learn the basics of written and oral reporting and the basics of video reporting skills. According to our quality control system, the need for the development is evaluated in the end of the module. There are always some differences in each implementation but the basics are the same. The other case summer studies 2017 is new and part of a larger EU project. For the first time, we took a larger group of first to third year students from different study programmes to the summer studies. The students learned professional skills and also skills from different fields of study, international cooperation, and communication skills. Benefits and challenges: After three years, it is possible to consider what the changes mean in the everyday work of the teachers - and of course – what it means to students and the learning process. The perspective is HAMK’s electrical and automation study programme: At first, the change always means more work. The routines born after many years and the course material used for years may not be valid anymore. Teachers are teaching in modules simultaneously and often with some subjects overlapping. Finding the time to plan the modules together is often difficult. The essential benefit is that the learning outcomes have improved. This can be seen in the feedback given by both the teachers and the students. Conclusions: A new type of working environment is being born. A team of teachers designs a module that matches the objectives and ponders the answers to such questions as what are the knowledge-based targets of the module? Which pedagogical solutions will achieve the desired results? At what point do multiple teachers instruct the class together? How is the module evaluated? How can the module be developed further for the next execution? The team discusses openly and finds the solutions. Collegiate responsibility and support are always present. These are strengthening factors of the new communal university teaching culture. They are also strong sources of pleasure of work.Keywords: pedagogical development, summer studies, team teaching, well-being at work
Procedia PDF Downloads 1095867 Perception of Training Actors on the Effectiveness of Training Carried Out within the Company
Authors: Oussedik Lydia, Zaouani-Denoux Souâd
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In an economic context characterized by intense competition and the impact of new technologies, companies have a constant need to adapt to the environment and the changes imposed. This situation leads companies to take training actions to develop employees’ required skills. Further, training is considered as a strategic lever for the company's growth. Accordingly, an increasing number of companies are adopting training to ensure continuous employees qualification. Thus, the aim of this research is to understand the process of training engineering occurring in the context of a company's continuous training, which will help to identify the gaps that can hinder or promote the development of employees' knowledge and skills. The research methodology is based on a mixed-method approach. Interviews and questionnaires are implemented to collect qualitative and quantitative data. The study results can help managers to identify gaps at each stage of training design. Finally, the research findings provide important information to help design a training plan to support the development of employees' knowledge and performance.Keywords: training engineering, training needs, training plan, competences, continuing training, perception
Procedia PDF Downloads 1375866 Interaction Design In Home Appliance: An Integrated Approach InKanseiAnd Hedonomic “Cases: Rice Cooker, Juicer, Mixer”
Authors: Sara Mostowfi, Hassan Sadeghinaeini, Sana Behnamasl, Leila Ensaniat, Maryam Mostafaee
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Nowadays, most of product producers, e.g. home appliance, electronic machines and vehicles focus on quality and comfort, and promise consumers ease of use and pleasurable experiences during product using. Consumers make their purchase decisions according to two needs: functional and emotional needs. Functional needs are fulfilled by product functionality, besides emotional needs are related to psychologists’ aspects of production. Emotions are distinctive elements which should be added to products and services to lead them up. In this case, the authors’ survey conducted pleasurable and hedonomic aspects in products of a home appliance company in Iran. In this regard, three samples of home appliance were selected: mixer, rice cooker, iron. Fifteen women (20-60) participated in this study. Every user evaluated each product by questionnaire based on 7 point semantic differential scale. After analyzing the results with statistical methods, results showed that 90% of users aren’t satisfied with hedonic and pleasurable criteria in interaction with these products. They notified that regarding hedonomics and pleasurable criteria’s they will have better ease of use and functionality. Our findings show a significant association between products’ features and user satisfaction. It seems that industrial design has a significant impression on the company’s products and with regard the pleasurable criteria the company sales will be more successful.Keywords: home appliance, interaction, pleasure, hedonomy, ergonomy
Procedia PDF Downloads 3835865 Foreign Language Anxiety: Perceptions and Attitudes in the Egyptian ESL Classroom
Authors: Shaden S. Attia
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This study investigated foreign language anxiety (FLA) and teachers’ awareness of its presence in the Egyptian ESL classrooms and how FLA correlates with different variables such as four language skills, students' sex, and activities used in class. A combination of quantitative and qualitative instruments was used in order to investigate the previously mentioned variables, which included five interviews with teachers, six classroom observations, a survey for teachers, and a questionnaire for students. The findings of the study revealed that some teachers were aware of the presence of FLA, with some of them believing that other teachers, however, are not aware of this phenomenon, and even when they notice anxiety, they do not always relate it to learning a foreign language. The results also showed that FLA was affected by students’ sex, different language skills, and affective anxieties; however, teachers were unaware of the effect of these variables. The results demonstrated that both teachers and students preferred group and pair work to individual activities as they were more relaxing and less anxiety-provoking. These findings contribute to raising teachers' awareness of FLA in ESL classrooms and how it is affected by different variables.Keywords: foreign language anxiety, situation specific anxiety, skill-specific anxiety, teachers’ perceptions
Procedia PDF Downloads 1555864 Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Development Programs in Nepal: Construction of a Stakeholder Informed Framework
Authors: Divya Dawadi, Kerry Bissaker
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Inclusion of children with a disability (CwD) in Early Childhood Education and Development (ECED) programs in Nepal while viewed as desirable is not widespread. Even though the ECED program is currently providing access to ECED services for one million young children, with the aim to improve children's school readiness by equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed more effectively in their primary schooling, access to early year's education in inclusive settings for CwD is challenging. Using a heuristic qualitative design, this research aims to construct a framework by analyzing the perspectives of parents and professionals through interviews and focus group discussions, with a view to recommending a new policy to address the rights of CwD and their families. Several school-based and/or organizational and contextual factors interact to contribute to CwD becoming victims of multiple layers of exclusion. The school-based factors include policy, attitudes, teacher efficacy, resources, coordination and parental engagement. The contextual factors are spirituality, caste ethnicity, language, economic status, and geographic location. However, there is a varied effect of the interaction between school-based and contextual factors on different groups of CwD. A policy needs to recognize the multiplicity of the interactions between these factors that inhibit the inclusion of varied groups of CwD in ECED programs and address them separately.Keywords: children with a disability, early childhood education and development, framework, inclusion
Procedia PDF Downloads 3615863 Docking and Dynamic Molecular Study of Isoniazid Derivatives as Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Candidate
Authors: Richa Mardianingrum, Srie R. N. Endah
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In this research, we have designed four isoniazid derivatives i.e., isonicotinohydrazide (1-isonicotinoyl semicarbazide, 1-thiosemi isonicotinoyl carbazide, N '-(1,3-dimethyl-1 h-pyrazole-5-carbonyl) isonicotino hydrazide, and N '-(1,2,3- 4-thiadiazole-carbonyl) isonicotinohydrazide. The docking and molecular dynamic have performed to them in order to study its interaction with Mycobacterium tuberculosis Enoyl-Acyl Carrier Protein Reductase (InhA). Based on this research, all of the compounds were predicted to have a stable interaction with Mycobacterium tuberculosis Enoyl-Acyl Carrier Protein Reductase (INHA) receptor, so they could be used as an anti-tuberculosis drug candidate.Keywords: anti-tuberculosis, docking, Inhibin alpha subunit, InhA, inhibition, synthesis, isonicotinohydrazide
Procedia PDF Downloads 1815862 Religious Government Interaction in Urban Settings
Authors: Rebecca Sager, Gary Adler, Damon Mayrl, Jonathan Cooley
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The United States’ unique constitutional structure and religious roots have fostered the flourishing of local communities through the close interaction of church and state. Today, these local relationships play out in these circumstances, including increased religious diversity and changing jurisprudence to more accommodating church-state interaction. This project seeks to understand the meanings of church-state interaction among diverse religious leaders in a variety of local settings. Using data from interviews with over 200 religious leaders in six states in the US, we examine how religious groups interact with various non-elected and elected government officials. We have interviewed local religious actors in eight communities characterized by the difference in location and religious homogeneity. These include a small city within a major metropolitan area, several religiously diverse cities in various areas across the country, a small college town with religious diversity set in a religiously-homogenous rural area, and a small farming community with minimal religious diversity. We identified three types of religious actors in each of our geographic areas: congregations, religious non-profit organizations, and clergy coalitions. Given the well-known difficulties in identifying religious organizations, we used the following to construct a local population list from which to sample: the Association of Religion Data Archives ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer, Guidestar, and the Internal Revenue Service Exempt Business Master File. Our sample for selecting interviewees were stratified by three criteria: religious tradition (Christian v. non-Christian), sectarian orientation (Mainline/Catholic v. Evangelical Protestant), and organizational form (congregation vs. other). Each interview included the elicitation of local church-state interactions experienced by the organization and organizational members, the enumeration of information sources for navigating church-state interactions, and the personal and community background of interviewees. We coded interviews to identify the cognitive schema of “church” and “state,” the models of legitimate relations between the two, and discretion rules for managing interaction and avoiding conflict. We also enumerate arenas in which and issues for which local state officials are engaged. In this paper, we focus on Korean religious groups and examine how their interactions differ from other congregations, including other immigrant congregations. These churches were particularly common in one large metropolitan area. We find that Korean churches are much more likely to be concerned about any governmental interactions and have fewer connections than non-Korean churches leading to more disconnection from their communities. We argue that due to their status as new immigrant churches without a lot of community ties for many members and being in a large city, Korean churches were particularly concerned about too much interaction with any type of government officials, even ones that could be potentially helpful. While other immigrant churches were somewhat willing to work with government groups, such as Latino-based Catholic groups, Korean churches were the least likely to want to create these connections. Understanding these churches and how immigrant church identity varies and creates different types of interaction is crucial to understanding how church/state interaction can be more meaningful over space and place.Keywords: religion, congregations, government, politics
Procedia PDF Downloads 895861 BiFormerDTA: Structural Embedding of Protein in Drug Target Affinity Prediction Using BiFormer
Authors: Leila Baghaarabani, Parvin Razzaghi, Mennatolla Magdy Mostafa, Ahmad Albaqsami, Al Warith Al Rushaidi, Masoud Al Rawahi
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Predicting the interaction between drugs and their molecular targets is pivotal for advancing drug development processes. Due to the time and cost limitations, computational approaches have emerged as an effective approach to drug-target interaction (DTI) prediction. Most of the introduced computational based approaches utilize the drug molecule and protein sequence as input. This study does not only utilize these inputs, it also introduces a protein representation developed using a masked protein language model. In this representation, for every individual amino acid residue within the protein sequence, there exists a corresponding probability distribution that indicates the likelihood of each amino acid being present at that particular position. Then, the similarity between each pair of amino-acids is computed to create similarity matrix. To encode the knowledge of the similarity matrix, Bi-Level Routing Attention (BiFormer) is utilized, which combines aspects of transformer-based models with protein sequence analysis and represents a significant advancement in the field of drug-protein interaction prediction. BiFormer has the ability to pinpoint the most effective regions of the protein sequence that are responsible for facilitating interactions between the protein and drugs, thereby enhancing the understanding of these critical interactions. Thus, it appears promising in its ability to capture the local structural relationship of the proteins by enhancing the understanding of how it contributes to drug protein interactions, thereby facilitating more accurate predictions. To evaluate the proposed method, it was tested on two widely recognized datasets: Davis and KIBA. A comprehensive series of experiments was conducted to illustrate its effectiveness in comparison to cuttingedge techniques.Keywords: BiFormer, transformer, protein language processing, self-attention mechanism, binding affinity, drug target interaction, similarity matrix, protein masked representation, protein language model
Procedia PDF Downloads 155860 Real-Time Course Recommendation System for Online Learning Platforms
Authors: benabbess anja
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This research presents the design and implementation of a real-time course recommendation system for online learning platforms, leveraging user competencies and expertise levels. The system begins by extracting and classifying the complexity levels of courses from Udemy datasets using semantic enrichment techniques and resources such as WordNet and BERT. A predictive model assigns complexity levels to each course, adding columns that represent the course category, sub-category, and complexity level to the existing dataset. Simultaneously, user profiles are constructed through questionnaires capturing their skills, sub-skills, and proficiency levels. The recommendation process involves generating embeddings with BERT, followed by calculating cosine similarity between user profiles and courses. Courses are ranked based on their relevance, with the BERT model delivering the most accurate results. To enable real-time recommendations, Apache Kafka is integrated to track user interactions (clicks, comments, time spent, completed courses, feedback) and update user profiles. The embeddings are regenerated, and similarities with courses are recalculated to reflect users' evolving needs and behaviors, incorporating a progressive weighting of interactions for more personalized suggestions. This approach ensures dynamic and real-time course recommendations tailored to user progress and engagement, providing a more personalized and effective learning experience. This system aims to improve user engagement and optimize learning paths by offering courses that precisely match users' needs and current skill levels.Keywords: recommendation system, online learning, real-time, user skills, expertise level, personalized recommendations, dynamic suggestions
Procedia PDF Downloads 105859 Atomic Force Microscopy Studies of DNA Binding Properties of the Archaeal Mini Chromosome Maintenance Complex
Authors: Amna Abdalla Mohammed Khalid, Pietro Parisse, Silvia Onesti, Loredana Casalis
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Basic cellular processes as DNA replication are crucial to cell life. Understanding at the molecular level the mechanisms that govern DNA replication in proliferating cells is fundamental to understand disease connected to genomic instabilities, as a genetic disease and cancer. A key step for DNA replication to take place, is unwinding the DNA double helix and this carried out by proteins called helicases. The archaeal MCM (minichromosome maintenance) complex from Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus have being studied using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), imaging in air and liquid (Physiological environment). The accurate analysis of AFM topographic images allowed to understand the static conformations as well the interaction dynamic of MCM and DNA double helix in the present of ATP.Keywords: DNA, protein-DNA interaction, MCM (mini chromosome manteinance) complex, atomic force microscopy (AFM)
Procedia PDF Downloads 3095858 A Qualitative Study Identifying the Complexities of Early Childhood Professionals' Use and Production of Data
Authors: Sara Bonetti
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The use of quantitative data to support policies and justify investments has become imperative in many fields including the field of education. However, the topic of data literacy has only marginally touched the early care and education (ECE) field. In California, within the ECE workforce, there is a group of professionals working in policy and advocacy that use quantitative data regularly and whose educational and professional experiences have been neglected by existing research. This study aimed at analyzing these experiences in accessing, using, and producing quantitative data. This study utilized semi-structured interviews to capture the differences in educational and professional backgrounds, policy contexts, and power relations. The participants were three key professionals from county-level organizations and one working at a State Department to allow for a broader perspective at systems level. The study followed Núñez’s multilevel model of intersectionality. The key in Núñez’s model is the intersection of multiple levels of analysis and influence, from the individual to the system level, and the identification of institutional power dynamics that perpetuate the marginalization of certain groups within society. In a similar manner, this study looked at the dynamic interaction of different influences at individual, organizational, and system levels that might intersect and affect ECE professionals’ experiences with quantitative data. At the individual level, an important element identified was the participants’ educational background, as it was possible to observe a relationship between that and their positionality, both with respect to working with data and also with respect to their power within an organization and at the policy table. For example, those with a background in child development were aware of how their formal education failed to train them in the skills that are necessary to work in policy and advocacy, and especially to work with quantitative data, compared to those with a background in administration and/or business. At the organizational level, the interviews showed a connection between the participants’ position within the organization and their organization’s position with respect to others and their degree of access to quantitative data. This in turn affected their sense of empowerment and agency in dealing with data, such as shaping what data is collected and available. These differences reflected on the interviewees’ perceptions and expectations for the ECE workforce. For example, one of the interviewees pointed out that many ECE professionals happen to use data out of the necessity of the moment. This lack of intentionality is a cause for, and at the same time translates into missed training opportunities. Another interviewee pointed out issues related to the professionalism of the ECE workforce by remarking the inadequacy of ECE students’ training in working with data. In conclusion, Núñez’s model helped understand the different elements that affect ECE professionals’ experiences with quantitative data. In particular, what was clear is that these professionals are not being provided with the necessary support and that we are not being intentional in creating data literacy skills for them, despite what is asked of them and their work.Keywords: data literacy, early childhood professionals, intersectionality, quantitative data
Procedia PDF Downloads 2545857 Three Dimensional Dynamic Analysis of Water Storage Tanks Considering FSI Using FEM
Authors: S. Mahdi S. Kolbadi, Ramezan Ali Alvand, Afrasiab Mirzaei
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In this study, to investigate and analyze the seismic behavior of concrete in open rectangular water storage tanks in two-dimensional and three-dimensional spaces, the Finite Element Method has been used. Through this method, dynamic responses can be investigated together in fluid storages system. Soil behavior has been simulated using tanks boundary conditions in linear form. In this research, in addition to flexibility of wall, the effects of fluid-structure interaction on seismic response of tanks have been investigated to account for the effects of flexible foundation in linear boundary conditions form, and a dynamic response of rectangular tanks in two-dimensional and three-dimensional spaces using finite element method has been provided. The boundary conditions of both rigid and flexible walls in two-dimensional finite element method have been considered to investigate the effect of wall flexibility on seismic response of fluid and storage system. Furthermore, three-dimensional model of fluid-structure interaction issue together with wall flexibility has been analyzed under the three components of earthquake. The obtained results show that two-dimensional model is also accurately near to the results of three-dimension as well as flexibility of foundation leads to absorb received energy and relative reduction of responses.Keywords: dynamic behavior, flexible wall, fluid-structure interaction, water storage tank
Procedia PDF Downloads 186