ethanporcaro/eric-fulltext-meta huggingface dataset:
Conceptual and Adoption of Technology Acceptance Model in Digital Information Resources Usage by Undergraduates: Implication to Higher Institutions Education in Delta and Edo of Nigeria
Author: Urhiewhu, Lucky Oghenetega
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Undergraduate Students,Universities,Higher Education,Models,Computer Attitudes,Computer Use,Information Technology,Information Sources,Educational Resources,Technology Uses in Education,Electronic Libraries,Questionnaires,Student Surveys

The article paper was on conceptual and theoretical framework of digital information resources usage by undergraduates: Implication to higher institutions education in Delta and Edo of Nigeria. It revealed the concept of digital information resources [DIRs] and model theory that related to the study. Finding shows that DIRs are use to low extent in all the university libraries. The finding also shows negligence on the part of university management of Federal University of Petroleum Resources Library that have no digital information resources at all. Another findings showed that constraints to students effective use of Digital Information Resources in the University Libraries are epileptic power supply; non-availability of online databases; inadequate number of computers to access digital information resources; inadequate bandwidth; Network problems; lack of skill to access digital information resources in local and foreign databases; Lack of formal training on internet use; Server slowness and frequent breakdown of digital resources. The implications to higher institutions education in Delta and Edo States include: It has been empirically proved that three university libraries in Delta and Edo state used for the study made DIRs available for their undergraduates. This implies that the institutions moved with current trends of digital age in higher institution. The study has revealed that the Digital Information Resources are used to low extent by undergraduates in UNIBEN; AAU; DELSU and FUPR. The implication is that undergraduates that utilized digital information resources to low extent will lag behind in their research, learning and assignment process in this digital age. The students could not compare themselves with other institutions of higher learning that use DIRs to a very great extent.
The Existence of Alternative Framework in Students' Scientific Imagination on the Concept of Matter at Submicroscopic Level: Macro Imagination
Author: Abdullah, Nurdiana
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Scientific Concepts,Student Attitudes,Grounded Theory,Qualitative Research,Imagination,Molecular Structure,Chemistry,Correlation,Secondary School Students,Preservice Teachers,Concept Formation,Foreign Countries,Semi Structured Interviews,Imagery

This study is conducted with the purpose of identifying the alternative framework contained in students' imagination on the concept of matter at submicroscopic level. Through the design of purposive sampling techniques, a total of 15 students are interviewed to obtain the data. Data from analysis document is utilized to strengthen the interview. The qualitative data is analyzed using the grounded theory analysis strategy. The finding shows there is an existence of alternative framework in the students' scientific imagination: macro imagination. The image of hydrogen gas is the highest macro alternative framework imagination generated by the students while the second is the water molecules formation and followed by hydrogen molecules collision. On the other hand, no imagination is produced on the hydrogen electron. Hence, the emphasis on scientific concept upon imagination must be enhanced so that they are able to master the chemistry concepts at submicroscopic level. The summary of the implications of the study suggests that the teachers need to associate the students' imagination with the related science concepts so that even they are imagining according to their own capabilities and interest propensity, they are still maintaining the scientific perspective in the course of their imagination.
Improving Student Preparedness and Retention--Perceptions of Staff at Two Universities
Author: Marr, David
Date: 2013-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,College Faculty,Partnerships in Education,Comparative Analysis,Student Attrition,Socioeconomic Status,Low Income Students,Case Studies,College Readiness,Academic Persistence,School Holding Power,Semi Structured Interviews,Qualitative Research,College Students,Student Attitudes,Governance,Teacher Responsibility,Technology Uses in Education

In 2010 the Australian government provided funding under the Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP) to assist universities to achieve a 20 percent participation rate for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. This funding has allowed universities the opportunity to implement projects towards this end. This study explores the reactions of staff employed in devolving HEPPP projects within Deakin University (DU) and Southern Cross University (SCU). Both universities have a diverse student body, with participation by regional and low socioeconomic status (SES) students at higher proportions than the national higher education average. DU has used its HEPPP funds to establish the Deakin University Participation and Partnerships Program (DUPPP), which comprises community, school and technical/vocational education and training partnerships, embedded academic skills programs, and inclusive support programs. In contrast, SCU, through its i-OnTrack project, is developing a tracking system that will follow cohorts of students coming from diverse backgrounds in order to identify those factors in their life that either impede or boost academic excellence. Key informant interviews of academic staff at both these universities (N = 18) were thematically analyzed and compared. Our recommendations for institutional practice across Australia arising from this analysis include: the need to maintain appropriate resourcing for academic staff (especially for casual tutors) to support the kinds of programs that make a difference, to commence intervention programs early at secondary school and prior to the students entering university, and for intervention programs to target all students in order to capture any students who may not be obviously at risk.
The Practical Source of Educational Knowledge for Pre-Service Teachers in Confronting Field-Based Challenges in School Practicum
Author: Tsai, Hsien-Chang
Date: 2013-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Preservice Teachers,Foreign Countries,Multiple Regression Analysis,Practicums,Student Attitudes,Questionnaires,Student Surveys,Student Needs,Pedagogical Content Knowledge,Knowledge Base for Teaching,Teacher Education Programs,Statistical Analysis

Educational value in teacher education courses is unquestioned; however, there are still many doubts about the practicality of the knowledge acquired from university courses and a field-based course in school practicum. The purpose of this study is to identify the practicality of the educational knowledge from the above courses for pre-service teachers in confronting field-based challenges in school practicum. A survey method was utilized to collect the data about pre-service teachers' perceptions on the acquisition of educational knowledge as well as practicality of the knowledge. A total of 298 Taiwanese pre-service teachers were invited to fill in a validated questionnaire in January 2013, which is the last month in school practicum. Data were analyzed using the Friedman test and multiple regression analysis. This study concludes that disciplinary content knowledge was perceived as the top-ranked one among six categories of educational knowledge from university courses, while this category of knowledge was perceived as the fourth-highest order on practicality of the knowledge. The finding implies that university courses do not fit to the needs of pre-service teachers in confronting challenges in school practicum. Except for disciplinary content knowledge, other categories of educational knowledge tended to maintain approximate rank-order. Another finding reveals that all categories of educational knowledge from the field-based course were significant predictors of practicality of the educational knowledge, while all those acquired from university courses were not. A recommendation was proposed that teacher educators in universities should build a course version of practical knowledge through integrating field-based experiences into teacher education courses.
The Influence of Students' Loans Borrowers' Characteristics on Default Rate in Tanzania
Author: Nyahende, Veronica R.
Date: 2013-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Student Financial Aid,Loan Default,Computer Software,Gender Differences,Age Differences,Student Attitudes,Foreign Countries,Interviews,Observation,Loan Repayment,Costs,Attitude Measures,Psychomotor Skills,Questionnaires,Higher Education

The cost of students' loans defaulting has lead to a serious discussion among participants. Substantial attention has been made on the students' loans and its impact on higher education finances while researches on students' loans defaults have not been taken for more than a decade. Therefore this study examines the influence of student loans borrowers' characteristics on default rate in Tanzania by taking into consideration the background characteristics termed as pre-college measures, these factors includes age, gender and attitude. This study was conducted in Dar es salaam region, where five universities from the region formed the basis of the population and respondents encompass only students who were loans beneficiaries from these universities/colleges. Data were collected from 150 respondents. Data collected were analyzed using Software Package for Statistical Science (SPSS) and the techniques used for data analysis were regression and correlation. The study concluded that age, gender and attitude has an influence on the students' loans default rate. The study also recommends that higher education students' loans board (HESLB) should conduct an attitude test among loans applicants before loans provision by using personal interview and observation by competent psychologists on behavioural science by conducting psychomotor tests to understand the attitude among the loans applicants. Those with negative attitude should be declared ineligible for student loans. Age should be given priority by HESLB before loans provision; only applicants with the age of 18-24 years should be considered as eligible for students' loans. Strict rules and regulation against males applicants should be instituted by HESLB to ensure their ability and willingness to repay back the loans, for instance presence of genuine grantor and adequate collateral security. Students' loans beneficiaries should be educated by HESLB to reduce confusion on repayment process.
Difficulties of Academic Achievement in Principles of Accounting Courses from the Student Perspective: Evidence from Libya
Author: Tailab, Mohamed M.
Date: 2013-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Academic Achievement,Accounting,Foreign Countries,Correlation,Questionnaires,Teaching Styles,Teaching Assistants,Teacher Student Relationship,Classification,Student Surveys,Majors (Students),Introductory Courses,Tests,Textbooks,Computer Centers,Undergraduate Students,Teacher Effectiveness,State Universities,Gender Differences,Negative Attitudes

Many studies by researchers and accounting educators explore various factors associated with the success or failure of accounting majors in college level accounting courses. This paper identifies and summarizes the main obstacles associated with low student academic achievement in introductory courses in the College of Accounting at Al-Jabal Al-Gharbi University, Libya. The research empirically investigates student perceptions of the difficulties of academic achievement in principles of accounting courses. The research method was a survey that involved classifying students as either accounting majors or non-accounting majors. Data was collected through a questionnaire with 28 items related to five primary groups: an instructor's teaching style, exams and quizzes, students, accounting textbooks, and general groups plus one open-ended question. Findings show that the major obstacles of learning and source of negative perceptions students have toward accounting courses are: lack of teaching assistants, lack of computer laboratories and computer applications, crowded dormitories, lack of interaction between students and faculty, a gap between what is taught and practical applications, irrelevant textbooks and exams, and lack of proficiency in English. Solutions offered include: greater emphasis on teaching computer accounting technology, improving effectiveness of accounting instructors and textbooks, and offering pre-college accounting courses. This study focuses on one public university, which limits its generalisability. For future research, the author suggests interviews with students upon collecting their questionnaires to elicit more complete responses, and greater attention to perspectives based on gender in order to discover and understand any differences among male and female attitudes toward accounting courses.
Scientific Research in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Potential for Excellence and Indicators of Underdevelopment
Author: Alshayea, Ali
Date: 2013-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Scientific Research,Scholarship,Financial Support,Human Resources,Development

This study analyzes the status of scientific research and development efforts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and then sheds lights on the potential for excellence in this area in terms of organization and structure, financing and partnership, and human resources. Accordingly, the study reviews both achievements and indicators of underdevelopment in the subject mentioned above.
The Main Features and the Key Challenges of the Education System in Taiwan
Author: Chien, Chiu-Kuei Chang
Date: 2013-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Barriers,Educational Change,Multilingualism,Elementary Schools,Higher Education,Compulsory Education,Educational Development,Educational Policy,Educational Practices,Systems Analysis,Population Growth,Policy Analysis,Educational Assessment,Educational Indicators

Taiwan has undergone radical innovation of its educational system in the wake of political liberalization and democratization, with a request for a change in the idea which diverts from &quot;de-centralization&quot; to &quot;individualization.&quot; The reforms have led to two main features of pluralism and generalization of education in our current education system with a view to more equal and plural opportunities of education for students in Taiwan. Nevertheless, a number of reform tasks have been done in haste without discretion and have developed various problems with some deriving from the inherent educational system and some from the reform tasks themselves. The paper discusses three major educational reform concerns and the problems associated with these concerns including multilingual learning in elementary schools, overexpansion of higher education institutions and 12-year compulsory education.
Teaching Reform of Course Group Regarding Theory and Design of Mechanisms Based on MATLAB Technology
Author: Shen, Yi
Date: 2013-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Engineering,Engineering Education,College Students,Educational Change,Theory Practice Relationship,Computer Software,Programming Languages

Considering that the course group regarding theory and design of mechanisms is characterized by strong engineering application background and the students generally feel very boring and tedious during the learning process, some teaching reforms for the theory and design of mechanisms are carried out to improve the teaching effectiveness in this paper. Taking the engineering cases as the teaching objectives, we combine the course contents with the engineering background. Moreover, in order to help the students understand the knowledge difficulty and improve the design capacity of the mechanisms and machines, the MATLAB technology is introduced into the theoretical teaching to provide assisted analysis. At the same time, the MATLAB is also introduced into the practical teaching to provide theoretical guidance. The teaching effect shows that MATLAB-based teaching reform under the engineering application can deepen the understandings of course contents for students, improve the interest in learning, strengthen the design capacity and develop the innovation ability.
A New Perspective on the Quest for Education: The Saudi Arabian Way to Knowledge Society
Author: Pavan, Annalisa
Date: 2013-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Knowledge Economy,Educational Development,Higher Education,Educational History,Educational Trends,Educational Policy,Futures (of Society),Role,Competition,Excellence in Education,Scholarships,Program Descriptions

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, thanks to the foresight and generosity of the Al Saud ruling family, has always devoted great efforts to the development of education. Investments in higher education, in particular, have increased exponentially in recent years. The purpose of this paper is to introduce some facts and figures about the new developments of the Saudi higher education system and to explain how past, present and future policies on education in Saudi Arabia embody the idea of education as a matter of public concern and interest. The paper suggests that a Saudi Arabian knowledge society is in the making, at its own pace, and the country is preparing to play a very important role in the international competition for excellence in education.
The Changing Role of Higher Education in Africa: &quot;A Historical Reflection&quot;
Author: Woldegiorgis, Emnet Tadesse
Date: 2013-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Role of Education,Higher Education,Economic Development,Knowledge Economy,Foreign Countries,Educational History,Ideology,Educational Policy,Socioeconomic Influences,Foreign Policy,Educational Change,Relevance (Education)

This article addresses the changing role of higher education in Africa from the pre-colonial time up to the 1990s. The basic argument is, though higher education institutions are a product of socio-economic and political dynamics of the society in the course of history, these interactions have always been imperfect in Africa since universities did not originally evolve out of social interactions. The introduction of European education during colonial period also did not serve the interests of African societies; instead education was used as a means of extending colonial ideology. After independence, African countries inherited fragile institutions which did not have social legitimacy from the public. The donor-client dependency relationship had inhibited the development of African institutions and the capacity of Africans to develop educational policies which are socially relevant and financially feasible. Thus, higher education institutions in Africa have been carrying out various roles of economic development, Africanization, nation-building, and engines of knowledge economy; at the same time executing foreign roles which have not been owned by African societies.
Relationship of Core Self-Evaluation (CSE) to Approaches to Student Learning and Studying
Author: Starcher, Keith
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Self Evaluation (Individuals),Learning Strategies,Learning Processes,Inquiry,Questionnaires,Predictor Variables,Majors (Students),Gender Differences,Time Factors (Learning),Undergraduate Students,Correlation,Student Surveys,Student Attitudes,Nonmajors

Insights on the use of the Core Self-Evaluation (CSE) and Study Process Questionnaire (SPQ) instruments are presented. The relationship of students' CSE with their approach to studying and learning is explored. Differences in approach to studying are also analyzed based on several categorical variables.
Differentiation and Collaboration in a Competitive Environment: A Case Study of Ontario Postsecondary Education System
Author: Jafar, Hayfa
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Competition,Intercollegiate Cooperation,Content Analysis,Educational Policy,Diversity (Institutional),Higher Education,Strategic Planning

The essay explores how the dynamics of competition and collaboration among Ontario's higher education institutions contribute to the system's differentiation strategy. The essay implements a content analysis approach to the Strategic Mandate Agreement submissions signed between the Ontario Government and the Ontario Colleges and Universities in 2014. The study finds that the dynamics of competition for students, resources, and prestige are influenced by government policies and decisions, which have created a uniform environment where all institutions respond similarly to challenges and opportunities. As a result, system homogeneity prevails. Moreover, Ontario institutions are very internally diversified; yet, their future directions have a limited impact on the entire system differentiation.
A Probe into the Necessity of Personalized Employment Guidance in the Chinese Institutions of Higher Education
Author: Tan, Ju-hua
Date: 2013-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Universities,Higher Education,College Graduates,Questionnaires,Interviews,Conferences (Gatherings),Statistical Analysis,Computer Software

Owning to the economic recession, the Chinese college graduates are suffering greater pressure in finding jobs than before. For this reason, a research was carried out at Jiangxi Normal University to investigate the current employment situation of the Chinese college graduates. Data were collected by way of questionnaires, interviews and symposiums. SPSS17.0 software was used as the tool to analyze the collected data. Data analysis shows that only a few of the college graduates interviewed were optimistic about their job prospects and anxiety prevailed. Therefore, personalized employment guidance, which has the advantage of taking into consideration the specific needs of each student, is recommended as an effective way of facilitating employment in the Chinese institutions of higher education.