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Enhancing English Language Vocabulary Learning among Indigenous Learners through Google Translate
Get PDFThe emergence of new technologies has brought massive changes to teaching and learning processes. In recent years, mobile phones have evolved into effective teaching tools; when used practically, they could improve learning outcomes. The potential of mobile phones as a learning platform has led to a proliferation of research into their effectiveness. This paper aims to examine the effectiveness of the Google Translate mobile application (hereinafter “app”) in improving indigenous learners’ English language vocabulary. Fifteen Iban participants with low English language proficiency from rural schools were chosen through purposive sampling. The data were collected by comparing scores in the pre-test and post-test. In addition, the data were triangulated through structured interviews. Key findings indicated that almost all participants achieved high scores in the post-test. The interviews also revealed that all participants affirmed that Google Translate supports their English language proficiency, and only one participant was unsure of its effectiveness. Thus, the findings of this study imply that Google Translate could be an effective teaching tool to enhance learners’ English language vocabulary. Future research could examine the effectiveness of the app in teaching vocabulary in different contexts
STEM Teaching Skills of Primary School Teachers: The Current Situation in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Get PDFSTEM education is an educational solution that prepares pupils for the future by connecting scientific knowledge with practical applications. This modern method of education is being widely applied in developing countries in order to maintain their scientific and technical standing and strengthen their competition in the global economy. In Vietnam, special attention has been paid to STEM education, as is demonstrated by the policies and guidelines of the Party and State. However, are the skills of the universal teaching staff, particularly in primary schools, sufficient to satisfy the demand for STEM education? A survey was carried out to analyze the current situation with regards the STEM teaching skills of primary school teachers in the district of Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City. By analyzing the survey results using SPSS, this article presents the current status of the STEM teaching skills of the primary school teachers in Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City, and suggests some solutions to improve and develop teachers’ STEM education skills, suitable for the teaching conditions in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Peer Scaffolding Behaviors in English as a Foreign Language Writing Classroom
Get PDFThis study aimed to investigate the kinds of peer scaffolding behaviors occurring during English as a Foreign Language (EFL) writing activities through three steps of writing process. The participants comprised ten English major students in writing classroom in University of Phayao selected by purposive sampling. They were classified into five expert EFL learners and five novice EFL learners according to their scores of the written paragraph they wrote before participating in the study by using writing rubric. The instruments consisted of five lesson plans through writing process and an observation form. The results analyzed by Microgenetic Analysis revealed that questioning ranked first by the total frequency of peer scaffolding all learners used, but they never applied greeting to their writing activities. However, ten learners applied various types of peer scaffolding to pre-writing activity while they hardly utilized peer scaffolding in post-writing activity. Noteworthy that both expert and novice learners were able to be scaffolders for their peers by supplementing each other’s knowledge and skills because they may be expert writers in different areas, consequently they were able to produce written works by themselves
Pre-Design for Primary School Active Learning Module: A Triadic Reciprocal Needs Analysis Framework
Get PDFThis paper presents a framework to analyse students’ learning needs in Malaysia primary school active learning based on the conceptualisation of theorists’ ideas. The needs analysis framework is a good reference for module designing and active learning implementation by clarifying learners’ needs through a triadic reciprocal approach, using theories that draw on the perspective of personal development (constructivism), self-regulation, and environment (ecology). These three perspectives build up a holistic needs analysis framework to discover the needs, potential, and constraint of the active learning route (learning process) in Malaysian primary schools. The needs analysis “route” in the framework contains the criterion available (external feature – ecology / the condition of active learning situation), the existing feature within the pupils’ mind (internal feature – personal development/knowledge, skills, and strategies), and the pupils’ motivation for engaging (bridging of external and internal features – self-regulation). It explains how needs analysis can highlight the potential of full-scale active learning investigation of learners’ needs from the interrelation of internal and external features. The discussion can be generalised to invite future research by providing a firm active learning theoretical foundation, a conceptual lens for active learning needs analysis, and prospects of active learning instructional and pedagogical interventions
Renewable Energy Consumption, Environmental Sustainability, and Economic Growth in Developing Countries
Get PDFThis study investigated the nexus between renewable energy consumption and economic growth in developing countries and the role of environmental sustainability in the nexus between renewable energy consumption and economic growth. To achieve the objective, the researcher employed General Method of Moment (GMM) to solve for the possible problem of endogeneity common in previous studies using data sourced from World Bank. It was discovered that renewable energy consumption has positive but weak impact on economic growth in developing countries but when environmental sustainability is accounted, the impact of renewable energy consumption improves. Similarly, interacting CO2 with renewable energy changes the sign of CO2 from positive to negative. The implication of this study is that renewable energy consumption impacts on the economy might be weak but is justified giving its environmental sustainability potential
Performance and Risks: Islamic Indices Compared to Conventional Indices
Get PDFIslamic finance is very successful in the global market, and leading traditional index providers have expanded their range and are now offering a multitude of Islamic indices to facilitate the rapid development of Islamic finance, especially Sharia-compliant funds. We will evaluate and analyze both the Islamic and non-Islamic indices and their volatility, considering Islamic finance's rise in popularity. The first purpose of this research is to establish a comparison and then analyze the results of the performance of the Dow Jones World Index (DJW) and its Islamic counterparts. The analysis of the outcomes will be in terms of performance measures. On the basis of the total risk, we will then compare the Dow Jones World Index and its Islamic counterparts. This risk would usually be captured by both Value-at-Risk and Conditional Value-at-Risk. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate whether Islamic indices are higher than the conventional index and whether the overall risk for Islamic indices is lower than for the conventional index
Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Egypt: Challenges and Recommendations
Get PDFThe study aimed to examine challenges to the inclusion of Students with Disabilities (PWDs) in mainstream education in Egypt. A mixed method approach was used to collect data from various sources. First, statistical information was retrieved from the Ministry of Education (MoE). Secondly, Ministerial Decrees were examined. Thirdly, semi-structured interviews with specialists in the field of special education in Egypt (N=12) were conducted to explore the major issues that emerged from this study. Results revealed challenges facing the inclusion of PWDs in Egypt, such as a lack of in- & pre-service training of teachers, limitations of construction and preparation, lack of coordination among ministries, limited programs for students with certain disabilities, and lack of awareness in the community and the family. The study concluded that the successful inclusion of PWDs in mainstream schools in Egypt requires, first, that universities consider inclusive education when training special education teachers; secondly, that professional development of teachers on inclusive education requirements is conducted, new policies are adopted, and school facilities are constructed with the needs of PWDs in mind; and thirdly, that the inclusion of PWDs not be limited to individuals with certain disabilities but must include students regardless of their type of disability
Sustainable Development Goals and Islamic Finance: An Integrated Approach for Islamic Financial Institutions
Get PDFThe challenges posed by environmental degradation and abandoning of social rights to secure business interests have highlighted the importance of focusing on sustainable development within the global financial system, especially among citizens and policymakers. The timely declaration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations is appropriate in addressing environmental degradation. In fact, the SDGs have become part of the fundamental agenda and essential requirements of every business, including Islamic financial institutions. In particular, the concept of sustainable development is parallel with Islamic teachings, which promote welfare, security, and rights for the sake of the current and future generations. Furthermore, Islamic finance and the SDGs are closely associated, as the former is capable of serving a meaningful function in sustainable development to achieve the goals of implementing fair and equitable tools, promoting resource mobilization, and enabling social benefit tools. Therefore, this study highlights an important case for Islamic financial institutions by expounding on the best indicators for sustainable Islamic finance
Does CSR Expenditure and Sustainability Reporting Improve Firm Performance? Mandatory CSR Regimes in India
Get PDFThis paper aims to investigate whether firms that comply with corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure and undertake voluntary sustainability reporting will have lower systematic risk and higher stock returns—the proxies for measuring firm performance—in mandatory CSR regimes in India. The instrumental approach of stakeholder theory asserts that firms considering stakeholders’ interests, including societal interest, are likely to show better firm performance compared to others. Therefore, on the basis of such a theory, this study attempts to link sustainability reporting and CSR compliance with firm performance. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc tests were used to examine the proposed hypotheses and analyze the results for firms meeting the criteria of CSR provisions and are listed in the National Stock Exchange (NSE) of India. The period of study covers four financial years from 2015–16 to 2018–19, after India mandated CSR expenditure on April 1, 2014. Results reveal that markets value those firms that meet the mandatory CSR expenditure requirement but do not undertake voluntary sustainability reporting. The findings offer important implications for firms, investors, and policymakers of countries, including those that are planning for CSR legislation
Beyond Conventional Classroom Learning: Linking Emotions and Self-Efficacy to Academic Achievement and Satisfaction with Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Get PDFThis study examined the impact of online learning on students’ mental well-being, distress, anxiety, academic achievement and satisfaction with online learning. A total of 915 undergraduates in Malaysia and Indonesia responded to the Google Classroom Evaluation survey. Results indicated that students’ mental well-being was negatively impacted by financial difficulties, concern that their physical health may suffer due to exposure to Covid-19, and a lack of motivation for online learning. Analysis of emotional factors revealed distress and feelings of nervousness when classes were conducted online. Overall, participants were satisfied with the online learning experience, as was evident from the academic achievement in courses conducted with above average CGPA. Multiple regression analysis indicated that distress, anxiety and self-efficacy in online learning were significant predictors of satisfaction with online learning, with self-efficacy in online learning making the largest contribution. However, academic achievement was not a significant predictor of satisfaction with online learning. It is recommended that higher learning institutions provide counselling, behavioral adaptations and study techniques to support students in managing their distress and anxiety surrounding online learning, which is anticipated to continue throughout 2021 due to the increase in virus cases