International Journal of Education Research and Reviews

International Journal of Educational Research and Reviews ISSN 2329-9843 Vol. 4 (7), pp. 837-844, July, 2016.  © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Students levels of motivation to learn database applications using the project-based learning method

Mohammad Bakr Umar

King Saud University, P.O. Box 92782, Riyadh 11663, Saudi Arabia.

E-mail: [email protected] 

Accepted 6 May, 2016

Abstract

This quasi-experimental study aimed to measure the impact of project-based learning and the ARCS motivation model on students’ motivation to acquire the necessary database applications skills in the secondary level. This study adopted a quasi-experimental methodology based on pre- and post-tests for two groups of students. Two classes of the second secondary grade were selected; one to be the experimental group and the other representing the control group. A sample of 65 students was chosen and divided into two classes enrolled in the second secondary grade. The database programs were explained to the students in the control group using traditional teaching methods, which involve the teacher first explaining the concepts, and then giving the students the opportunity to apply their practical computer skills in the laboratory. Students in the experimental group were taught using project-based learning strategies. At the beginning of the semester, students were given projects that they needed to complete by the end of the course. In addition, the ARCS motivation model was applied to the subject matter, whereby additional subject matter was added to the student book, making the database sections more attractive and relevant to the students by including real-life examples. The results showed that students in the experimental group (the project-based learning group) achieved higher post-curriculum test grades and obtained higher grades on the motivational scale.

Key words: Project-based learning, database applications, ARCS motivational model.

International Journal of Educational Research and Reviews ISSN 2329-9843 Vol. 4 (7), pp. 845-852, July, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effectiveness of online marking for essay-type assignments in management courses

Heath Minogue Wilson*, Kylie Blanchett Murdoch and Rose Cave Freeman

Department of Employment Relations and Human Resources, Griffith Business School, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Qld 4111, Australia.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 26 May, 2016

Abstract 

In this study, we explored staff and student perceptions of online marking processes for essay-type assignments in management courses. Focus-group discussion results generated from content analyses were presented, with data collected from 19 staff and 17 students of different management courses within one of the universities in Queensland, Australia. The results revealed a pattern of keywords and phrases used by both staff and students to describe their perceptions of online marking. Furthermore, three themes associated with the keywords and phrases were found to demonstrate the similarities and differences in their perceptions. The relationship between these themes of assignment handling, contact with staff, and marking and feedback is illustrated in a proposed model. Implications of our findings for theory and practice were presented.

Key words: Online assignment marking, electronic learning, staff and student perceptions.

International Journal of Educational Research and Reviews ISSN 2329-9843 Vol. 4 (7), pp. 872-879, July, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Managers and teachers’ opinion of distance education in Kurdistan high schools

Mir-Hossein Banisadr Bakhtiar

Humanities Department, Payame Noor University 19395-4697 Tehran, I.R. of Iran.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 8 May, 2016

Abstract

Distance education is a method in which the learner does not attend physically in the class and training environment. The most important difference between distance education and other methods is the physical distance between learners, teachers and educational institution. This method of teaching has solved the problem of distance in order to provide learning knowledge and skills. The main purpose of this research was to study barriers (information technology, educational planning system, administrative and financial) centers of distance education from managers and teachers’ opinion in Kurdistan high schools. The study was a descriptive survey and the population of the research included all management and teachers (94 in number) in the Education year 2011. The sample of the study consisted of all 18 schools managers and 76 teachers who were familiar with different aspects of the system. Samples were selected via multistage random cluster. The instrument of the study was a questionnaire with 35 closed-item questions at Likert scale designed by the researcher, and one open-ended question offered to managers and teachers for the purpose of the promotion of distance education programs. In order to analyze data from the Statistical analysis of variance, t-test was used. The findings showed that among the many barriers of implementation of distance education in the given institutions, the following barriers can be mentioned: non-usage of information technology and non-access to these technologies, dedicating insufficient hours to teach specialized lessons and not having discipline in providing educational material, not having optimal managerial and official systems of distance education, having skilled persons such as educational, computer, … experts, financial inability of students in paying costs and not having financial support for students in these centers. Also, the results showed that there is a significant difference between teachers and administrators’ perspectives about the barriers of information technology and educational planning system of distance education, but there is no significant difference between financial and official barriers of distance education.

Key words: Distance education, barriers of distance education, guidance schools, high schools, information technology.

International Journal of Educational Research and Reviews ISSN 2329-9843 Vol. 4 (7), pp. 880-888, July, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Review

A comparative study between Kuwait and Britain level of understanding the scope of free speech in both countries

Mahmoud Rudi Mousavi

Kuwait University, Kuwait.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 29 May, 2016

Abstract

The relationship between media freedom and the individual right to free speech is a complex and nuanced one, such that the former should not simply be conflated with the latter. A number of high profile cases have demonstrated that expressing opinion on social media can be subject to criminal prosecution. Before shedding the light on the Kuwaiti courts’ approach to penalizing political opinions published on twitter and comparing the Kuwaiti court decisions to British court decisions in similar cases, this paper will begin with understanding the concept of liberty, the difference between liberty and human rights, the source of liberty and the danger of using the harm principle, the caretaker and the utopia principles to issue laws which may appear ostensibly to protect people but curtail the important freedom of expression instead.

Key words: Freedom of expression, freedom of speech, social media, liberty, Kuwait, Britain, harm principle, caretaker principle, utopia principle, constitution, defamation.

International Journal of Educational Research and Reviews ISSN 2329-9843 Vol. 4 (7), pp. 895-900, July, 2016.  © International Scholars Journals

Review

Project evaluation of innovative and novel community-based schooling system established by the foreign students

Tsung-Dao Pei, Kai-shek O. Jiang, Charles Wong Howe and Cao U. Laozi

Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi‟an, Shaanxi, China.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 3 June, 2016

Abstract

This paper presents the concept, results and the project execution and evaluation of an innovative and novel, community-based schooling system established by the foreign students of Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), Xi’an, China at the university campus for the children of foreign students under the patronage of university administration. The authors conceived the idea to institute a community-based education system for the school-going children of the foreign students after analyzing their intellectual and emotional quotients. The project was executed purely on the basis of project management principles and this paper contributes in showcasing the whole concept behind this project. This paper was written after evaluating the performance of all the stake holders involved and a role model is presented here to be replicated in alike scenarios. This paper also spot lights the phenomenal improvement in the five quotients of the school-going children namely: intelligence, emotional, physical, cultural and spiritual.

Key words: Community-based schooling system, quotients, project management, school, foreign students, China.

International Journal of Educational Research and Reviews ISSN 2329-9843 Vol. 4 (7), pp. 859-862, July, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Analytical study of the Pedagogy of Sri Aurobindo Ghosh

Ranvid Sagal Anikesh

Department of Education, University of Kashmir, India.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 1 May, 2016

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to analyze the pedagogy as envisaged by Sri Aurobindo Ghosh. For conducting this study, philosophical and historical methods were employed. The primary and secondary sources related to Sri Aurobindo Ghosh’s educational philosophy were evaluated after detailed analysis. The general philosophical tools used for the study was induction, deduction, dialectical analysis and synthesis. The study revealed that Sri Aurobindo Ghosh’s system of education was psychological. His pedagogy is particularly rooted in individual attention and promotes creativity, encourages dialogue and attempts all-round development of the individual. Sri Aurobindo Ghosh advocated the method of discovery and activity, he believed in self-teaching that is how to learn and not to impart knowledge. The study further revealed that in future, teacher need not bind himself either to the ancient or the modern system but select only the most perfect and rapid means of mastering knowledge and the teacher should put the child onto the right road, to become perfect and encourage him to follow it, watching, suggesting, helping but not interfering.

Key words: Aurobindo Ghosh, educational philosophy, pedagogy