title: Saudi secondary school science teachers' perceptions of the use of ICT tools to support teaching and learning

authors: Almaghlouth, Osamah Abdulwahab D.

subjects: ICT

abstract: This research was conducted to investigate the Saudi science teachers' perception of the
use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools to enhance teaching and
learning and undertake a small and groundwork examination of these teachers current use
of ICT.
It draws on the interpretive paradigm (Cohen  Manion, 1994), where the focus is on
how people interpret and make sense of their world. From this interpretive perspective
the beliefs of Saudi secondary school science teachers, in relation to the benefits of ICT,
their current use of ICT and their perceived needs for improvement in the use of ICT in
the classroom were investigated.
Saudi secondary schools science teachers from both girls' and boys' schools in three
different types of schools have been involved in this study. There were 28 government
schools (9 girls' and 19 boys' schools), four small schools in rented premises (2 girls'
and 2 boys' schools) and four Aramco schools (1 girls' and 3 boys' schools). These
schools were in different districts: Aldammam city, Alkhobar city, Aldahran city,
Alqateaf city and Sufwa city. The teachers were asked to voluntarily participate in the
study and 131 teachers out of 200 (86 male and 45 female, 65 %) completed the
questionnaire. Analysis of the data, together with the relevant literature builds a picture
of the use of ICT in science education. Providing ICT hardware and software resources to
a school is not enough to ensure significant developments in use of ICT for teaching and
learning in Saudi science classrooms. Access to working ICT continues to be an issue for
these teachers. Although teachers identified many benefits to teachers and students from
using ICT and had made individual efforts to develop their use of ICT for admin
planning and lesson preparation, they also identified barriers. These barriers focused on a
lack of appropriate professional development and technical support.
The findings have implications for future development in the area of ICT. It is expected
that the results of the research will guide future research and development in the country
and outline the importance of the use of information and communication technology in
education for teachers, students, parents and decision-makers. It will contribute
information towards decision-making and planning in future projects.

text: Saudi secondary school science teachers' perceptions of the use of ICT tools to support teaching and learning This research was conducted to investigate the Saudi science teachers' perception of the
use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools to enhance teaching and
learning and undertake a small and groundwork examination of these teachers current use
of ICT.
It draws on the interpretive paradigm (Cohen  Manion, 1994), where the focus is on
how people interpret and make sense of their world. From this interpretive perspective
the beliefs of Saudi secondary school science teachers, in relation to the benefits of ICT,
their current use of ICT and their perceived needs for improvement in the use of ICT in
the classroom were investigated.
Saudi secondary schools science teachers from both girls' and boys' schools in three
different types of schools have been involved in this study. There were 28 government
schools (9 girls' and 19 boys' schools), four small schools in rented premises (2 girls'
and 2 boys' schools) and four Aramco schools (1 girls' and 3 boys' schools). These
schools were in different districts: Aldammam city, Alkhobar city, Aldahran city,
Alqateaf city and Sufwa city. The teachers were asked to voluntarily participate in the
study and 131 teachers out of 200 (86 male and 45 female, 65 %) completed the
questionnaire. Analysis of the data, together with the relevant literature builds a picture
of the use of ICT in science education. Providing ICT hardware and software resources to
a school is not enough to ensure significant developments in use of ICT for teaching and
learning in Saudi science classrooms. Access to working ICT continues to be an issue for
these teachers. Although teachers identified many benefits to teachers and students from
using ICT and had made individual efforts to develop their use of ICT for admin
planning and lesson preparation, they also identified barriers. These barriers focused on a
lack of appropriate professional development and technical support.
The findings have implications for future development in the area of ICT. It is expected
that the results of the research will guide future research and development in the country
and outline the importance of the use of information and communication technology in
education for teachers, students, parents and decision-makers. It will contribute
information towards decision-making and planning in future projects.

year: 2008

title: Long-term hip function in slipped capital femoral epiphysis treated with in situ pinning.

authors: Bond, Elizabeth C.

subjects: hip

abstract: BACKGROUND:: In recent years, there has been a trend toward more aggressive management of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) with acute anatomical realignment; however, the literature is unclear with regard to the indications for this. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES:: To collect long-term patient-reported outcome scores on a group of SCFE patients using modern hip scores. The second aim was to determine whether there is a threshold level of deformity beyond which patients have predictably poor outcomes following in situ pinning. PATIENTS AND METHODS:: Patients presenting with SCFE between 2000 and 2009 completed a survey consisting of three modern hip scores and were classified into poor, intermediate, and good outcome groups. The posterior slope angle (PSA) was used to measure slip deformity. We examined the relationship between patient characteristics and functional outcomes. The relationship between PSA score and overall outcome was examined using receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis. RESULTS:: The total study population was 63; 14% patients had poor, 29% had intermediate, and 57% had good functional outcomes. The mean Non-Arthritic Hip Scores (NAHSs) for those with poor outcomes was 51, 76 in the intermediate group, and 95 in the good group ( p <0.001). PSA was significantly lower in those with good functional outcomes. ROC analysis demonstrated that a higher PSA was moderately predictive of a poor clinical outcome (area under the curve of 0.668). In both the poor and intermediate outcome groups, 50% of patients had a PSA of 40° or greater, whereas only 31% of those with good clinical outcomes had PSA of 40° or greater. CONCLUSIONS:: A significant proportion of post-SCFE patients have ongoing suboptimal hip function after pinning in situ. Those with a PSA more than 40° have a higher chance of a poor outcome.

text: Long-term hip function in slipped capital femoral epiphysis treated with in situ pinning. BACKGROUND:: In recent years, there has been a trend toward more aggressive management of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) with acute anatomical realignment; however, the literature is unclear with regard to the indications for this. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES:: To collect long-term patient-reported outcome scores on a group of SCFE patients using modern hip scores. The second aim was to determine whether there is a threshold level of deformity beyond which patients have predictably poor outcomes following in situ pinning. PATIENTS AND METHODS:: Patients presenting with SCFE between 2000 and 2009 completed a survey consisting of three modern hip scores and were classified into poor, intermediate, and good outcome groups. The posterior slope angle (PSA) was used to measure slip deformity. We examined the relationship between patient characteristics and functional outcomes. The relationship between PSA score and overall outcome was examined using receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis. RESULTS:: The total study population was 63; 14% patients had poor, 29% had intermediate, and 57% had good functional outcomes. The mean Non-Arthritic Hip Scores (NAHSs) for those with poor outcomes was 51, 76 in the intermediate group, and 95 in the good group ( p <0.001). PSA was significantly lower in those with good functional outcomes. ROC analysis demonstrated that a higher PSA was moderately predictive of a poor clinical outcome (area under the curve of 0.668). In both the poor and intermediate outcome groups, 50% of patients had a PSA of 40° or greater, whereas only 31% of those with good clinical outcomes had PSA of 40° or greater. CONCLUSIONS:: A significant proportion of post-SCFE patients have ongoing suboptimal hip function after pinning in situ. Those with a PSA more than 40° have a higher chance of a poor outcome.

year: 2019

title: Experiencing cultural tourism: Visitors at the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, New Zealand

authors: Ryan, Chris

subjects: indigenous tourism

abstract: This study reports results derived from semistructured interviews with 40 visitors to the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua, New Zealand. The article discusses briefly the mode of data capture used and adopts an approach of identifying classifications of a primarily functional nature to list reasons why people visit such a site and what it is they seek. In general, visitors reported high levels of satisfaction, yet the cultural component of their experience was primarily reported in terms of the visit being informative and entertaining. Additionally, whereas modest levels of interest in things Maori seemed to motivate visits to other Maori sites, the actual list of other locations being nominated was few in number. The impression results that visits are made to Maori sites because this is a "done thing" when visiting New Zealand, but overall, the level of interest shown by most visitors in indigenous culture is modest.

text: Experiencing cultural tourism: Visitors at the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, New Zealand This study reports results derived from semistructured interviews with 40 visitors to the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua, New Zealand. The article discusses briefly the mode of data capture used and adopts an approach of identifying classifications of a primarily functional nature to list reasons why people visit such a site and what it is they seek. In general, visitors reported high levels of satisfaction, yet the cultural component of their experience was primarily reported in terms of the visit being informative and entertaining. Additionally, whereas modest levels of interest in things Maori seemed to motivate visits to other Maori sites, the actual list of other locations being nominated was few in number. The impression results that visits are made to Maori sites because this is a "done thing" when visiting New Zealand, but overall, the level of interest shown by most visitors in indigenous culture is modest.

year: 2006