Al-Kindi Center for Research and Development (KCRD) (E-Journals)
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The Level of Awareness in Inclusive Education Among Government Universities in China
No full textIt is important to note that although the Chinese government has implemented regulations to promote inclusive education, there is a large amount of variation in how these policies are actually implemented (Qu, 2024). In connection, there is a significant number of university faculty members and administrative staff members with limited awareness and training in how to serve students who have a variety of demands (Li and Ruppar, 2021). Therefore, the study aims to determine the level of awareness in inclusive education among government universities in China. The challenges of government school teachers in teaching inclusive education will also be analyzed for inputs in enhancement proposal. The study will adopt Social Cognitive Theory because of its broad applicability within psychological disciplines and other fields such as education, business, and health. This theory may acquire a deeper understanding of the behavioral, cognitive, and environmental elements that influence educators\u27 ability to adapt and successfully apply inclusive practices in classroom environments. The quantitative research approach will be applied with purposive sampling technique to which participants will be picked based on specified qualities that match with the aims of the study
Predicting EFL University Students\u27 Acceptance of Mobile Assisted Language Learning through the UTAUT2 Model
No full textThis study used the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) model to examine the factors influencing the acceptance of MALL by the Moroccan EFL students of Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University. For this purpose, 150 undergraduate EFL students participated in the research. The survey questionnaire adapted from (UTAUT2) model showed the influence of the following factors on students\u27 behavioral intention to use MALL: performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social impact, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, and habit. The findings highlighted the importance of perceived usefulness and ease of use, the need for institutional support, engaging learning experiences, and promoting MALL use as a habit. This study provides valuable insights for educators and policymakers seeking to optimize MALL adoption and improve language learning outcomes
Deep Learning-Based Classification of Skin Lesions: Enhancing Melanoma Detection through Automated Preprocessing and Data Augmentation
No full textSkin cancer of the most dangerous type, melanoma, requires an early and accurate diagnosis for its treatment to reduce mortality and increase the number of positive outcomes. Even with the availability of better imaging and diagnostic techniques, it is still difficult to differentiate between benign lesions and malignant melanoma because of overlapping features, noisy images and images with artefacts such as hair and glare. To overcome these challenges, this research adopts deep learning models to classify skin lesions based on images from the ISIC Archive dataset. The study establishes a strong two-stage classification framework. Therefore, noise reduction, ROI cutting, and data enhancement techniques are used for data pre-processing. Second, lesion classification is performed using a ResNet-based convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture. The model is trained and validated on a balanced dataset that contains an equal number of benign and malignant lesion categories. Using accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score and AUC, the system can be assessed and compared to other state-of-art approaches. The findings show that the proposed model has a high level of classification performance and a high level of discriminative ability between melanoma and benign lesions. The ROC curve effectively exhibits the model’s performance and accuracy, and the confusion matrix reveals tendencies to misclassify and where it should be improved. The application of sophisticated preprocessing methods improves model performance, responding to the issues arising from the presence of noise in data. This research is valuable to the field of dermatological diagnostics as it offers a scalable, automated means of skin lesion classification. The proposed framework can be applied clinically to assist dermatologists in the detection of early melanoma and, therefore benefit patients. Subsequent studies will address the development of combined approaches and the improvement of interpretability aids in order to increase the diagnostic accuracy and practical applicability of the methods in clinical practice
Investigating the Changing Role of Technology for EFL Teaching in Saudi Arabia Amidst Pandemic
No full textThe COVID pandemic has resulted in overwhelming consequences in all fields of education. This global crisis posed challenges to teachers as well as all educational policy makers to prove their adaptability and resilience to the effects of technology on teaching and learning. This study aimed to establish that digital technologies, by making use of storytelling techniques, developed learners’ autonomy, creativity and thus led to learning effectiveness. The study also aimed to identify the extent to which technology made adverse effects on learners during the pandemic in an EFL environment in the Saudi Arabian context, and then endeavor to provide evidence of technology having made a big impact on teaching and learning. This qualitative study was carried out through a documentation survey and a revision of state-of-the-art literature comprising blind peer-reviewed empirical studies. Results reveal that, despite a common perception that technology made an adverse effect on teaching and learning, amidst pandemic, technology provided a large amount of learning opportunities in EFL teaching in the Saudi Arabian context. The implications of the study include providing insights about pedagogical adaptations and changing roles of teachers in an online learning environment
Strategic Talk in TTT and Students’ Self-reported Strategy Use: A Moroccan EFL Classroom
No full textThe present study aimed to examine ‘strategic talk’ in teachers’ talking time (TTT) and students’ strategic awareness. This was carried out in a model classroom involving a group of 25 Moroccan EFL baccalaureate students from Lalla Aicha high school, Rabat. Oxford (1990) Strategy Inventory of Language Learning (SILL) was used to assess students’ level of strategic awareness, and two teacher observations were carried out for the qualitative side of the paper. The mixing of methods was encouraged by the objective of exploring variations in the type of LLS students report to use, whether there were any instances in teacher talking time (TTT) that matched the reported choice of students, and/or seemed to motivate it. Accordingly, the findings revealed metacognitive strategies as the most reported LLS utilized by students, and cognitive strategies being the least. The qualitative observation demonstrated this pattern in how the TTT mainly consisted of the teacher managing and directing students’ cognition, and wherein little room was given to any kind of form of reflective thinking other than answering subject related questions. Nevertheless, students who reported high level of use of both cognitive and metacognitive strategies, together, showcased a high score for the remaining categories as well. This implies that cognitive endeavors are the vehicle of metacognition, and together they can lead to positive and educated actions in learning
Mediation Through Dynamic Assessment: Facilitating EFL Learners’ Self-efficacy in Speaking Skills
No full textThough we cannot deny the importance of testing learners’ proficiency to determine their successful intake, the traditional forms of assessment often hinder their linguistic and cognitive development. In the context of Bangladesh, where English is considered a foreign language, it can be noticed that it is their inability to speak in English that the tertiary-level students experience the most difficulties with at universities following English medium instructions. Their situation worsens when they are evaluated traditionally for their spoken performances in their university language courses. That is why dynamic assessment can be an alternative to traditional assessment for evaluating learners’ speaking skills. It is closely associated with Lev Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory. It believes that the proximity to written or spoken competence cannot be achieved by learners on their own. Therefore, mediation and zone of proximal development play crucial roles in establishing and extending the scope for learners to communicate with others. The interactionist approach of dynamic assessment benefits students in improving their speaking skills in many contexts because of its dialogic and mediated process. Thus, with the help of qualitative data analysis, this paper examines how consequential dynamic assessment will be in evaluating speaking skills at the tertiary level
A Comparison of the Description of Nature between Ibn Zaydun and Ahmad Shawqi
No full textThis study examines the description of nature in the poems of Ibn Zaydun (سلوتم وبقينا) and Ahmad Shawqi (تلك الطبيعة). Ahmad Shawqi was influenced by the style and content of Ibn Zaydun\u27s poetry, and he composed his poems in response to Ibn Zaydun’s works. The researcher compares the two poems in order to identify their points of convergence and divergence. The study then analyzes the artistic imagery through which the two poets depicted nature and its elements, as well as the key techniques they employed to render these images, such as simile and metaphor. The researcher concludes by highlighting the similarities and differences in the poetic characteristics of both poets, revealing how Ahmad Shawqi innovated new forms of art and created new styles in his depiction of nature
A Comparative Analysis of Mental Health in Humayun Ahmed’s Nondito Noroke and Debi
No full textHumayun Ahmed is a prominent author from Bangladesh, widely read for his ability to blend surrealism within the boundaries of middle-class families in Asian households. Nondito Noroke (In Blissful Hell), was the first-ever work of the author published in the 1970s. The plot revolves around a lower-middle-class family struggling to make ends meet. Rabia, the twenty-two-year-old, female character is the eldest daughter of the family. She suffers from an unexplained mental disability that restrains her duties and allows her to lead a carefree life. Her carelessness ultimately pushes her to death while her family suffers from a deep personal loss that claims three lives. On the other hand, Debi (Goddess) portrays the psychic powers of Ranu, the seventeen-year-old protagonist suffering from Hysteria Schizophrenia. Her extraordinary sensory perceptions of hearing a voice without an external stimulus raise her to the position of a medium for “Debi” to communicate with the human world. This paper attempts to conduct a comparative analysis between Rabia and Ranu through the lens of feminist psychoanalysis and trauma theory, where the former is an oppressed and rejected individual who is constantly pulled apart by the expectation of the conventional society on the norms of gender roles. At the same time, the latter is idolised as a Goddess for her ability to foretell the future. The significance of this research lies in understanding the pattern of mental health in the context of women’s development from a South-Asian perspective
Research on the Dissemination of Local Characteristic Culture through Short Videos: Taking Beach-combing Culture of Yancheng as an Example
No full textGoing beach-combing after tide has been a major means of life and work for fishermen by the sea for thousands of years. These fishermen picked up and accumulated wisdom in their work, thus shaping a unique culture of beach-combing. Based on the analysis of the characteristics of seafood-collecting video clips produced by the current self-media platforms, the essay first studies the elements affecting beach-combing from the perspectives of YanCheng’s geographical locations, beach characteristics, and Marine resources and then digs into new potential forms of beach-combing suitable for YanCheng so as to evolve a distinctive local beach-combing culture. The essay also attempts to expand the popularity and reach of Yancheng City and boost its economy and culture by integrating its beach-combing culture into other local cultures, such as its sea-salt culture, wetland culture, culture of celebrities and History, food culture, and popularizing and promoting its beach-combing culture through various kinds of channels
Investigating the Impact of Technology Addiction on Early Literacy Skills: A Study of First Graders
No full textThis study explores the impact of gadget addiction on the reading abilities of Grade 1 learners, focusing on how technology dependence affects early literacy development. Using a quantitative descriptive correlational approach, the study examined the relationship between gadget addiction and reading proficiency. The findings indicate a minimal and statistically insignificant negative correlation between gadget addiction and reading skills, suggesting that technology use does not significantly impede children\u27s reading development. Despite notable indicators of gadget addiction, such as technology interference in family activities and difficulties in avoiding social media, most learners displayed strong reading and comprehension abilities. The results imply that factors beyond technological dependency, such as educational practices, parental involvement, and individual learner characteristics, may have a more substantial influence on early literacy skills. Consequently, the study concludes that addressing gadget addiction alone may not be sufficient to improve reading abilities. Instead, a comprehensive approach considering various educational and developmental factors should be prioritized. Efforts to enhance early literacy should focus on broader educational strategies, parental guidance, and individualized learner support. The study contributes to ongoing discussions about the balance between technology use and traditional literacy practices in early education, advocating for more holistic approaches to foster reading development in young learners. Future research should explore other contributing factors to literacy achievement, moving beyond the narrow focus on digital device usage