40 research outputs found
Is there Critical Thinking in Popular Comments? A Descriptive Examination through Content Analysis
No full textJurnal Pengajian Media Malaysi
Am I Promoting Feedback Cycle and Sociomaterial Learning?
No full text10.33736/ils.2573.2021Issues in Language Studies1011-1
Examining English Teacher Professionalism through Dialogic NarrativeInquiry: A Case from Sabah, Malaysia
No full text10.17576/3L-2018-2404-133L Language, Linguistics and Literature: The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies244171-184Malaysi
Integrating Critical Thinking in Online Language Tasks: Considerations for an Academic Writing Class
No full text10.46451/ijts.2020.09.05International Journal of TESOL Studie
Examining english teacher professionalism through dialogic narrative inquiry: a case from Sabah, Malaysia
No full textUnderstanding Economic and Health Factors Impacting the Spread of COVID-19 Disease
No full textAbstract Background The rapid spread of the Coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) had drastically impacted life all over the world. While some economies are actively recovering from this pestilence, others are experiencing fast and consistent disease spread, compelling governments to impose social distancing measures that have put a halt on routines, especially in densely populated areas. Objective Aiming at bringing more light on key economic and population health factors affecting the disease spread, this initial study utilizes a quantitative statistical analysis based on the most recent publicly available COVID-19 datasets. Methods We have applied Pearson Correlation Analysis and Clustering Analysis (X-Means Clustering) techniques on the data obtained by combining multiple datasets related to country economics, medical system & health, and COVID-19 - related statistics. The resulting dataset consisted of COVID-19 Case and Mortality Rates, Economic Statistics, and Population Public Health Statistics for 165 countries reported between 22 January 2020 and 28 March 2020. The correlation analysis was conducted with the significance level α of 0.05. The clustering analysis was guided by the value of Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) with the bin value b = 1.0 and the cutoff factor c = 0.5, and have provided a stable split into four country-level clusters. Results The study showed and explained multiple significant relationships between the COVID-19 data and other country-level statistics. We also identified and statistically profiled four major country-level clusters with relation to different aspects of COVID-19 development and country-level economic and health indicators. Specifically, this study identified potential COVID-19 under-reporting traits, as well as various economic factors that impact COVID-19 Diagnosis, Reporting, and Treatment. Based on the country clusters, we also described the four disease development scenarios, which are tightly knit to country-level economic and population health factors. Finally, we highlighted the potential limitation of reporting and measuring COVID-19 and provided recommendations on further in-depth quantitative research. Conclusions In this study, we first identified possible COVID-19 reporting issues and biases across different countries and regions. Second, we identified crucial factors affecting the speed of COVID-19 disease spread and provided recommendations on choosing and operating economic and health system factors when analyzing COVID-19 progression. Particularly, we discovered that the political system and compliance with international disease control norms are crucial for effective COVID-19 pandemic cessation. However, the role of some widely-adopted measures, such as GHS Health Index, might have been overestimated in lieu of multiple biases and underreporting challenges. Third, we benchmarked our findings against the widely-adopted Global Health Security (GHS) model and found that the latter might be redundant when measuring and forecasting COVID-19 spread, while its individual components could potentially serve as stronger COVID-19 indicators. Fourth, we discovered four clusters of countries characterized by different COVID-19 development scenarios, highlighting the differences of the disease reporting and progression in different economic and health system settings. Finally, we provided recommendations on sophisticated measures and research approaches to be implemented for effective outbreak measurements, evaluation and forecasting. We have supported the latter recommendations by a preliminary regression analysis based on the our-collected dataset. We believe that our work would encourage further in-depth quantitative research along the direction as well as would be of support to public policy development when addressing the COVID-19 crisis worldwide
A content analysis of low yat online discussion forums on Malaysian vernacular schools
No full textVernacular schools in Malaysia, while only operating at the primary school level, have had a turbulent existence. Recently, the constitutional legitimacy of these schools was questioned through legal suits brought about by private citizens as well as non-governmental organisations and associations. These suits illuminate the discourses that surround vernacular schools in Malaysia. A discursive space where language use is worth examining is the digital realm, where there is an extent of openness afforded to users to communicate their feelings or views. To this end, three online discussion forums from Low Yat were examined. Posts that had written comments regarding vernacular schools were included. Through qualitative content analysis, six themes were yielded. They revealed perspectives that supported the abolishment of vernacular schools; however, there were also those who presented a contrastive perspective, mainly due to the negative views held against national schools and the educational system. From these posts, stereotypes associated with particular ethnic groups became evident. There were also disagreements towards the purpose and quality of different types of schools. All these indicate how public discourse regarding vernacular schools is complex, as seen through history and compounded by individual social practices
“Se siente como una actuación cuando enseño en línea”: análisis autoetnográfico de las tensiones en la identidad docente
No full textThis autoethnographic study examined the tensions affecting the identity of a teacher in charge of an online English academic writing module during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reflections written over one academic year were examined using performativity as an analytical lens. The analysis identified three types of tensions: performing for proximity, performing to meet the institution’s and student’s expectations, and continuously changing performances. These tensions highlight the teacher’s performativity when using technology, which ultimately configured his teacher identity. From these tensions, the paradox of technology may be observed. Specifically, tools supposedly productive for an online class may not necessarily be well received by students and may burden the teacher.Este estudio autoetnográfico examinó las tensiones que afectaron la identidad de un profesor de inglés mientras impartía un módulo virtual de escritura académica durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Con base en la performatividad, se examinaron las reflexiones escritas del participante recopiladas durante un año académico. Así, surgieron tres tipos de tensión: actuar por proximidad, actuar para cumplir con las expectativas de la institución y de los estudiantes y tener que cambiar continuamente de desempeño. Estas tensiones resaltaron la performatividad del participante en el uso de la tecnología —que finalmente configuró su identidad docente— y permitieron observar que las herramientas supuestamente productivas para una clase virtual pueden no ser necesariamente bien recibidas por los estudiantes y pueden terminar siendo una carga para el profesor
Unfocused written corrective feedback for academic discourse: the sociomaterial potential for writing development and socialization in higher education
No full textBackground. There is a prevailing belief that unfocused written corrective feedback may not be suitable to promote students’ academic writing development. Purpose. This perspective piece demonstrates how unfocused written corrective feedback reflects the principles of sociomateriality, which views learning as dynamic. Perspectives. Unfocused written corrective feedback has the potential to support university students’ academic discourse socialization. This perspective is based on the observation that actual written corrective feedback in a classroom setting is varied and contextual, and not focused on any particular grammar form or writing feature. Conclusion. Unfocused written corrective feedback represents an optimal approach to support university students’ awareness and engagement with variables found in their learning ecology. These variables can support students’ academic writing development
“It Feels Like a Performance When I Teach Online”: Autoethnography of Tensions in Teacher Identity
No full textThis autoethnographic study examined the tensions affecting the identity of a teacher in charge of an online English academic writing module during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reflections written over one academic year were examined using performativity as an analytical lens. The analysis identified three types of tensions: performing for proximity, performing to meet the institution’s and student’s expectations, and continuously changing performances. These tensions highlight the teacher’s performativity when using technology, which ultimately configured his teacher identity. From these tensions, the paradox of technology may be observed. Specifically, tools supposedly productive for an online class may not necessarily be well received by students and may burden the teacher
