ethanporcaro/eric-fulltext-meta huggingface dataset:
An Analysis of the Quality Assurance Policies in a Ghanian University
Author: Seniwoliba, Joseph Attiah
Date: 2015-08-23
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Quality Assurance,Universities,Qualitative Research,Case Studies,Interviews,Observation,Higher Education,College Faculty

The study examined the implementation challenges of quality assurance in public universities in Ghana with a focus on University for Development Studies (UDS). The study adopted a qualitative case study design. The data for the study was collected through in-depth interviews, document analysis and participants observation. The study revealed that the Directorate of Academic Quality Assurance (DAQA) undertakes many activities geared towards quality assurance and enhancement of quality in the University. The findings of the study suggest that UDS has taken pragmatic steps to assure quality in its operations. However, the implementation challenges of quality assurance include: staffing and offices; quality culture; physical and financial resources; commitment and support for quality assurance; and absence of a current strategic plan. The author recommends that as a multi-campus University, there should be staff and offices on each of the Campuses for effective coordination of quality assurance activities. The study concludes that the Directorate of the Academic Quality Assurance should be supported to develop a quality assurance culture in the University.
Investigating Lifelong Learning Dispositions of Students Studying English Language and Literature in Terms of Different Variables
Author: Elaldi, Senel
Date: 2015-08-23
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,English (Second Language),Second Language Instruction,Second Language Learning,Literature,Lifelong Learning,College Students,Age Differences,Gender Differences,Rating Scales,Statistical Analysis,Statistical Distributions,Student Attitudes,Models,Student Characteristics,College Faculty,Measures (Individuals),Predictor Variables

This study aims to determine lifelong learning dispositions of English Language and Literature students in terms of gender, grade levels, and age variables. Descriptive research design was used. The study group consisted of 402 students studying English Language and Literature at Cumhuriyet University in Sivas, Turkey. Research data were collected with &quot;Lifelong Learning Tendency Scale&quot; developed by Coskun (2009). Data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, independent sample t-test, One-Way ANOVA and Tukey test. The results revealed that students studying English Language and Literature had high level of lifelong learning dispositions. While no significant differences were observed in terms of gender variable, there were significant differences in terms of grade levels in favor of 4th grade and age variable in favor of the age range between 20-22.
How Six Sigma Methodology Improved Doctors' Performance
Author: Zafiropoulos, George
Date: 2015-09-23
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Physicians,Admission Criteria,Personnel Selection,Statistical Analysis,Quality Control,Measurement Techniques,Performance Factors,Medical Education,Hospitals,Departments,Qualitative Research

Six Sigma methodology was used in a District General Hospital to assess the effect of the introduction of an educational programme to limit unnecessary admissions. The performance of the doctors involved in the programme was assessed. Ishikawa Fishbone and 5 S's were initially used and Pareto analysis of their findings was performed. The results were analysed and it was found that it was favouring the use of this technique, as the Six Sigma value increased from 2.6 to 4 producing a 99.4% yield. In conclusion this study stresses that The Six Sigma methodology is an acceptable tool which can be used for improvement of the performance of a Hospital Department and also of individuals; it can easily be used to improve the service safety and the patients' requirements.
Technology-Related Involvement: The Effect of the MASHOV System on Parent Involvement in Israeli Junior Highs
Author: Davidovitch, Nitza
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Parent Participation,Foreign Countries,Online Courses,Management Systems,Academic Achievement,Gender Differences,Scores,Correlation,Parent Background,Educational Background,Educational Trends,Educational Administration,Teaching Methods,High School Students,Mothers,Fathers,Statistical Analysis,Parent School Relationship

The purpose of the study was to examine differences in parental involvement between two high schools that use the MASHOV program (an online learning management system) and one high school where parents receive updates regarding their children in other ways, with attention to parents' background variables: sex, income, and schooling. The study shows that the MASHOV has a positive impact on parental involvement--parents who use the MASHOV program consistently demonstrate a high and significant level of involvement compared to parents who do not have access to this program. Parent involvement was also found to have a positive effect on the child's academic achievements, where the higher the level of involvement the higher the evaluation of the student's achievements. Furthermore, a difference was found between parent involvement in the school by sex. Mothers received a higher score for involvement than fathers. No significant correlation was found between parents' schooling and involvement. The research findings show that the growing trend in recent years whereby computerized systems, and in particular the computerized MASHOV program used in high schools, are being integrated in many educational institutions in order to reach effective pedagogic management, is proving efficient and important.
An Examination in Turkey: Error Analysis of Mathematics Students on Group Theory
Author: Arikan, Elif Esra
Date: 2015-08-23
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Algebra,Mathematics Instruction,College Students,College Faculty,Mathematics Tests,Content Analysis,Error Correction,Error Patterns,Learning Disabilities,Qualitative Research,Surveys

The aim of this study is to analyze the mistakes that have been made in the group theory underlying the algebra mathematics. The 100 students taking algebra math 1 class and studying at the 2nd grade at a state university in Istanbul participated in this study. The related findings were prepared as a classical exam of 6 questions which have been presented by 3 academic members working at the same university and these questions were presented to the students accordingly. After findings were put into codes as Correct/Wrong answers, solutions coded as &quot;Wrong&quot; were analyzed according to the content analysis method. Classifying the mistakes made in the solutions by students, suggestions about how to rectify these mistakes were carefully offered.
Parents-Perceived and Self-Perceived Anxiety in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Author: Bermúdez, María Olga Escandell
Date: 2015-09-23
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Pervasive Developmental Disorders,Autism,Anxiety,Parent Attitudes,Parents,Children,Adolescents,Comparative Analysis,Correlation,Interrater Reliability,Measurement Techniques,Measures (Individuals),Observation,Diagnostic Tests,Intelligence Tests

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by a series of deficits in social interaction and communication and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped behavior patterns. In addition, a high percentage of ADS is associated with anxiety disorders. The goal of this study is to assess the perception of anxiety in a group of children and adolescents with ASD and the anxiety their parents think their children have, through the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorder (SCARED). Participants were 38 children and 38 parents, one for each child or adolescent. The results indicate that parental perception of anxiety is always higher than that of their children in all factors, and this difference is significant in the factors of generalized anxiety, social phobia, and anxiety in general. The correlations between the children and parents' scores were high and significant in the factors of generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, and social phobia. The size of the sample and the lack of girls are mentioned as a limitation of the study.
Effects of Leisure Education Programme Including Sportive Activities on Perceived Freedom in Leisure of Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities
Author: Ertuzun, Ezgi
Date: 2015-08-23
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Leisure Education,Program Effectiveness,Athletics,Adolescents,Mild Intellectual Disability,Experimental Groups,Control Groups,Comparative Analysis,Recreational Activities,Pretests Posttests,Statistical Analysis,Foreign Countries,Self Determination,Friendship,Coaching (Performance)

The objective of this experimental study is to determine the effect of leisure education programme including sportive activities on the perceived freedom in leisure of adolescents with mild intellectual disabilities. The research was designed with an experimental group (n = 37) and a control group (n = 34), and was conducted among a total of 71 adolescent students with mild intellectual disabilities in the spring semester of the 2014-2015 academic year. The experimental group participated in a leisure education programme including sportive leisure activities that were supported by leisure coaching for 8 weeks. The short form of the Leisure Diagnostic Battery was applied to all participants as a pre- and post-test. Paired sample t tests and independent sample t tests were used to analyze the statistical data within the study, and the collected data were analysed using the R Project package program. A significant difference was found between the pre- and post-tests of the adolescents with mild intellectual disabilities in the experimental group. Moreover, a significant difference was observed between the experimental and control groups. According to the results, a leisure education programme including sportive activities had a positive impact on perceived freedom in the leisure of individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Using Close Reading as a Course Theme in a Multilingual Disciplinary Classroom
Author: Freedman, Leora
Date: 2015-10-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Critical Reading,Reading Strategies,Multilingualism,Reading Comprehension,Difficulty Level,English,Reading Assignments,English (Second Language),Teaching Methods,English Instruction,Second Language Instruction,Reading Improvement,Academic Discourse,Tutorial Programs,Curriculum Development,Asian Studies,Persuasive Discourse,College Students

An adaptation of the traditional literary concept of close reading was developed for use in a largely multilingual classroom in which both first language (L1) and second language (L2) students were struggling to comprehend theoretical, lexically dense texts in English. This simplified method of reading a text iteratively and critically is proving helpful in encouraging student compliance with reading assignments as well as progress in academic writing capabilities. This method was developed through collaboration between a professor (Poole) in the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Toronto and the university's ELL specialist. In this method, large lectures are supplemented by small-group discussions with teaching assistants (TAs), who also engage in reflective professional development workshops to build their own skills in teaching close reading. Materials generated for both students and faculty through this initiative are being disseminated in other departments, and TAs have noted an overall improvement in students' fulfillment of reading assignments as well as their ability to generate written arguments.
Undergraduate ESL Students' Engagement in Academic Reading and Writing in Learning to Write a Synthesis Paper
Author: Zhao, Ruilan
Date: 2015-10-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Undergraduate Students,English (Second Language),Second Language Learning,Qualitative Research,Learning Experience,Reading Writing Relationship,Asians,Second Language Instruction,Academic Discourse,Reading Strategies,Task Analysis,Writing (Composition),Foreign Students,Language Teachers,College Faculty,Teaching Methods,Writing Instruction,Recall (Psychology),Semi Structured Interviews,Observation

As an important and a challenging source-based writing task, synthesizing offers rich opportunities to explore the connections between reading and writing. In this article, we report findings from a qualitative study of two Chinese students' learning experiences with academic synthesis writing in a university ESL composition course. Specifically, we discuss how the two students' understanding of synthesis and sources influenced their synthesis writing practices and how they perceived the connections between their reading strategies and synthesis writing processes. Our results reveal that the students' understanding of synthesis and the functions of sources played a crucial role in learning to synthesize, as did their ability to use rhetorical reading strategies to complete this new literacy task. We argue that whether second language (L2) students understand the complex reading-writing relationships underlying synthesizing is crucial for their successful textual production. These findings carry valuable implications for understanding reading and writing connections and teaching L2 source-based writing.
Do You Understand What I Mean? How Cognitive Interviewing Can Strengthen Valid, Reliable Study Instruments and Dissemination Products
Author: Hofmeyer, Anne
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Interviews,Pretesting,Test Reliability,Test Validity,Foreign Countries,Protocol Analysis,Replication (Evaluation),Higher Education,Educational Research

It is now well accepted that working in research teams that span universities, jurisdictions and countries can be rewarding and economically prudent. To this end, investigators collaborate in the pursuit of knowledge to address human and societal problems and translate results into local and global contexts. This implies that investigators need to develop study instruments that are fit for purpose and strategically manage issues arising from geographical, linguistic and cultural diversity. A proven method is cognitive interviewing to pre-test the study materials to ensure clarity and relevance in the study population. This paper describes the steps taken to increase the methodological reliability of study instruments through the use of cognitive interviewing and argues this technique should be a standard step in instrument development.
Is High School Grade Point Average a Sufficient Measure for Admission to College English Departments?
Author: Alwahibee, Khalid Mohammed
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,High School Graduates,Grade Point Average,College Admission,Admission Criteria,College English,Departments,English (Second Language),At Risk Students,Academic Failure,Comparative Analysis,Student Placement,College Entrance Examinations

This paper tried to investigate the differences between two groups of students who have been admitted to the English departments based on two different methods of admission. The first group (A) was admitted directly to the department based on their high school GPA, while the other group (B) was admitted based on the level of their replacement test which placed them into the intensive English program. The results of the study showed that more (22.2%) of the students, who directly admitted to the department, were at risk of failure. On the other hand, students who have studied in the intensive English program before being admitted to the English department, showed better result since (4%) of the students were at risk of failure. The answers of the rest of questions on this paper were in favor of group (B). Finally this paper presented some valuable suggestion which are useful for English department administrator.
How Mobile Devices Affect Students According to Teachers' Beliefs
Author: Cumaoglu, Gonca Kizilkaya
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Telecommunications,Handheld Devices,Technology Uses in Education,Teacher Attitudes,Teacher Characteristics,Internet,Questionnaires,Teacher Surveys,Social Influences,Psychological Patterns,Learning Processes,Foreign Countries,Elementary School Teachers,Factor Analysis,Likert Scales

The purpose of this study is to examine teachers' beliefs concerning the effects on students using mobile devices, and to determine whether these beliefs vary according to the demographic characteristics and Internet usage purposes. For this purpose, a demographic information questionnaire and the scale developed by Diker Coskun &amp; Kizilkaya Cumaoglu (2013) were revised with validity and reliability studies and utilized on teachers (N = 200). In total, the scale has three dimensions (with a total of 15 items). These are social effects (9 items), psychological effects (3 items), and learning-related effects (3 items). According to the results of the study, teachers believe that students are affected by mobile devices on all three dimensions of the scale (social, psychological, and learning dimensions). The most striking finding of the study is related to the learning dimension of the beliefs concerning mobile devices scale. In every Internet usage purpose examined within the study, it was determined that the teachers' beliefs concerning the &quot;learning&quot; dimension are always more positive than those that do not use the Internet for any given purpose.
The Effect of Blended Learning Approach on Fifth Grade Students' Academic Achievement in My Beautiful Language Textbook and the Development of Their Verbal Creative Thinking in Saudi Arabia
Author: Al-Madani, Feras Mohammed
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Blended Learning,Teaching Methods,Textbooks,Control Groups,Workshops,School Districts,Scores,Grade 5,Elementary School Students,Creative Thinking,Experimental Groups,Academic Achievement,Foreign Countries,Achievement Tests,Verbal Communication,Semitic Languages,Native Language Instruction,Statistical Analysis,Pretests Posttests

This study aims at investigating the effect of Blended Learning approach compared to the traditional learning approach on fifth grade students' achievement in My Beautiful Language Textbook and the development of their verbal creative thinking. The study consisted of 49 students among which 25 are males in the Experimental Group and 24 females in the Control Group. The study found a statistical significant difference (a = 0.05) between the mean scores of the two study groups in achievement posttest and verbal creative thinking post application test. The experiment group which was taught using the blended approach of learning outperformed the Control Group in both tests. Thus, learning My Beautiful Language Textbook using the blended approach is more effective than the traditional method in terms of achievement and the development of verbal creative thinking skills. In light of this, the study recommends the adoption of blended approach in learning My Beautiful Language Textbook, the curriculum computerization, holding series of training courses, and workshops for teachers in school districts on how to effectively implement the blended approach.
Considering Pre-Service Teacher Disposition towards Mathematics
Author: Cooke, Audrey
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Preservice Teachers,Student Attitudes,Mathematics Instruction,Numeracy,Mathematical Concepts,Mathematics Skills,Foreign Countries,Mathematics Anxiety,Self Esteem,Questionnaires,Attitude Measures

The push to ensure pre-service teachers are numerate, on face value, is appropriate. However, the way in which numeracy is described is of great importance as it will determine what is assessed and how it is assessed. The way numeracy is described will also impact on how teacher educators assist pre-service teachers to develop their numeracy. This paper proposes that numeracy incorporates mathematical skills and disposition towards mathematics. A discussion of what disposition towards mathematics is and how it may be measured is provided, together with the proposition that addressing pre-service teacher disposition towards mathematics may help pre-service teachers to develop their numeracy-numeracy that reflects willingness to actually use mathematics in the real world. Suggestions on how this may be achieved are outlined.
Examining Social Studies and Science and Technology Preservice Teachers' Epistemological Beliefs Regarding Different Variables
Author: Topkaya, Yavuz
Date: 2015-09-10
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Preservice Teachers,Epistemology,Student Attitudes,Gender Differences,Age Differences,Social Studies,Science Instruction,Technology Education,Rating Scales,Intellectual Disciplines,Correlation,Predictor Variables,Factor Analysis

The purpose of this study is to determine epistemological beliefs of pre-service teachers who attend social studies and science and technology teaching programs; and to investigate how these beliefs varies regarding grade level, gender and departments. The sample of the study is composed of 300 social studies, 260 science and technology pre-service teachers who attended Ataturk University Kazim Karabekir Education Faculty in 2013-2014 academic year. In the study, Epistemological Beliefs Scale that developed by Schommer (1990) and adapted to Turkish by Deryakulu and Öztürk (2005) was used. According to the research findings it is determined that there are significant differences in epistemological beliefs of social studies and science and technology teachers regarding the variables of gender, department and grade level. Significant differences were found regarding gender in favor of females; between first and fourth grades social studies pre-service teachers, in favor of first graders; between first and fourth grades science and technology pre-service teachers, again, in favor of first graders. Regarding department variable it is determined that first grade social studies pre-service teachers have more sophisticated epistemological beliefs than fourth grade social studies pre-service teachers and both first and fourth graders of science and technology teaching department.
A CFBPN Artificial Neural Network Model for Educational Qualitative Data Analyses: Example of Students' Attitudes Based on Kellerts' Typologies
Author: Yorek, Nurettin
Date: 2015-09-23
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Student Attitudes,Classification,Qualitative Research,Networks,Concept Formation,Tests,Educational Research,Models,Participant Characteristics,Artificial Intelligence,Statistical Analysis,Interviews,Biology,Foreign Countries,High School Students,Scientific Concepts

In this study, artificial neural networks are suggested as a model that can be &quot;trained&quot; to yield qualitative results out of a huge amount of categorical data. It can be said that this is a new approach applied in educational qualitative data analysis. In this direction, a cascade-forward back-propagation neural network (CFBPN) model was developed to analyze categorical data for determine students' attitudes. The data were collected using a conceptual understanding test which includes open-ended questions. The results of this study indicate that using CFBPN model in analyzing data from educational research examining attitudes, behaviors, or beliefs may help us obtain more detailed information about the data analyzed and hence about the characteristics of the participants involved.