American Journal of Educational Research

Material Science is an applied science concerned with the relationship between the structure and properties of materials. It is a discipline that enables the creation and application of materials in society. The challenge of this study is the use of the modular teaching approach in engineering materials. A standardized faculty - student instructional module evaluation checklist that sought for the assessment of the learning objectives, evaluation of acceptability, effectiveness and the acquired skills in the module. The study shows that the instructional module in materials science and engineering are effective for students’ knowledge adaptation and shows suitability to the level of the students and acceptability to the faculty evaluators. This reveals that the evaluators trusted that the module is very valuable to the course which makes students learning experience well stimulated.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 1126-1130. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-20
Pub. Date: December 04, 2014

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First Person Observations of How HUMINT (Human Source Collection) Operations are a Reflection of Culture in China and the U.S.

by Jim Schnell

Original Research

This article examines HUMINT (Human Source Collection) operations as a reflection of cultural practices in China and the U.S. As such it begins by describing the role of context within daily life in China and then provides theoretical explanation for this Chinese context emphasis by clarifying the U.S. as more of a low-context culture and China as being more of a high-context culture. This is then used as foundation to compare and contrast Chinese HUMINT (Human Source Collection) practices with U.S. HUMINT practices. The fundamental finding from this analysis is that Chinese HUMINT practices tend to be reflective of Chinese high-context communication norms in contrast with U.S. HUMINT practices that are more reflective of U.S. low-context communication norms. The author draws from over 35 years service in the U.S. intelligence community, as both uniformed military and civilian. He retired from the U.S. Air Force (Reserve) in 2007, at the rank of Colonel, with his final 14 years serving as an Assistant Air Force Attache at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China. Since that time he has continued to work, teach and do research focusing on national security and intelligence issues.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 1115-1125. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-19
Pub. Date: December 04, 2014

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Enhance It - Enhancing Hospital Laboratory Standards for Continuing Professional Development: Transnational Evaluation of a Novel CPD Activity for Biomedical Scientists

by Jan Martin, Dorianne Buttigieg, Josef Silhavik, Zlata Flegar-Meštrić, Alison Adkins, Visnja Gasljevic, Tomáš Šálek, Attila Horvath, Charles Borg, Mladen Jakovcic, Adrienn Adonics, Zsófia Szlamka, Ian Brincat, Noel Ciantar, Anna Lisa Sciortino, Tracey Bennett, Kirstie Rice and Yvette Taylor

Original Research

A project which has received funding of over 100,000 euros from the European Union’s Lifelong Learning Leonardo Programis developing good practice in continuing professional development (CPD) for Biomedical Scientists. The Partnership is developing an EU-toolkit for delivery of high quality CPD activities provided by European hospital laboratories. This paper reports on the first stage of the project which is transnational evaluation of a novel European CPD activity by hospital laboratories in Croatia, Czech Republic, Malta and the United Kingdom.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 1110-1114. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-18
Pub. Date: December 01, 2014

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In Favor of the Equality in the Higher Education: The Policies of the Universities in the Spanish Educational System

by Trinidad Mentado Labao and Laia Arias Solé

Original Research

The Organic Law 3/2007, dated 22^nd of March, for the effective equality between women and men (LOI, Ley Orgánica de Igualdad) provided by the directive 2002/73/CE of the European Parliament and of the Council on gender equality, dated 23^rd of September 2002, forces public authorities to guarantee mainstream incorporation of the gender perspective in public policies and to preserve the acknowledgement of the role of women in cultural, historical and economical fields, responding to this national equality policy in Spain. Hence the Spanish Higher education institutions’ regulation (Law 6/2001, dated 21^st of December, about Universities, (B.O.E., Boletín Oficial del Estado 24/12/2001), modified by the Organic Law 4/2007, dated 12^th of April, (B.O.E. 13/04/2007), considers the creation of Equality Bodies (12^th additional provision). In this communication, we present a general overview of how the European Community and Spanish universities apply this principle of equality by means of different supporting bodies, units, commissions and observatories, as well as the foreseen actions. All of this, to understand the intentions, decisions, objectives and adopted measures by the public authorities regarding gender equality.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 1104-1109. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-17
Pub. Date: December 01, 2014

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Restructuring Science Teaching in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions

by AbdulRahaman I. Ibrahim

Original Research

only few, if at all there is any, teachers who did not desire in their hearts to do what is best but the question is, why the poor students performance? One of the basic qualities of a curriculum is dynamism, therefore there is need to examine those activities that could promote Science teaching in Tertiary Institutions. Of course the general observation of current happenings in Nigerian tertiary institutions revealed that there is a decline in student enrolment in science courses, students are performing poorly academically and that science has not been taught as expected. For these reasons there is a need for science teachers to adopt practices which will encourage students to put more efforts in their study and analyze data as scientists do. Recommendations are made toward promoting science teaching and at the same time assist in increasing the number of trained and qualified science teachers in Nigerian schools.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 1100-1103. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-16
Pub. Date: December 01, 2014

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Understanding and Responding to the Change of Curriculum in the Context of Indonesian Education

by Abdul Muth’im

Original Research

The government of the Republic of Indonesia represented by the Ministry of Education and Culture has stipulated that the new curriculum, the 2013 curriculum, should be implemented in all levels of education all over Indonesia starting from 2013-2014 academic year. This change, of course, result in a number of consequences for the stakeholders. One of the stakeholders that will directly experience the consequences most is teachers. The teachers who have begun to feel convenient and be accustomed to with the implementation of the School-Based Curriculum (SBC), suddenly have to shift their mind and teaching practices to this new curriculum. This can make teachers, included English teachers, worried. They are worried if this new curriculum is more complicated to implement than the previous one, the SBC. Actually, the change of curriculum is something common in the world of education. In Indonesia, every eight to nine or ten years, a curriculum changes. That is why the change of curriculum should not be understood as something extraordinary; rather, it should be understood as something common. This perception is important because the way to understand the change of curriculum will influence the way to respond it. If it is thought of as something extraordinary, it should be responded in extraordinary way too. However, if it is considered as a common something it will make teachers’ job be more proportional as well as more professional. This paper tries to discuss and explore the essence of curriculum in general and suggest how Indonesian teachers should respond to the new curriculum, the 2013 curriculum within the context of Indonesian education.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 1094-1099. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-15
Pub. Date: November 30, 2014

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Entanglement of Higher Education and Strength of Open and Distance Learning in Nepal

by Jiwak Raj Bajracharya

Review Article

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the major entanglement of Higher education in Nepal and to find out the strength of Open and distance learning in Nepalese context. This study was based on empirical literature review including previous research, national and international reports regarding higher education of Nepal, whichhad been studied to investigate the major hurdles and then, analyzed the strength of Open and distance learning to overcome those hurdles. This paper found six major hurdles as 1) Lack of enough educational institutions (universities and campuses) around the country, 2) Limited capacity of admissions at public institutions, 3) Geographical barrier, 4) Highly expensive fees at private institutions, 5) Lack of national educational budgets, and 6) Strikes. Based on the characteristic and application of Open and distance learning, this paper suggests that, those six hurdles could be removed with the appropriate application of ODL programs to increase the strength of higher education in Nepal.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 1091-1093. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-14
Pub. Date: November 26, 2014

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What Matters Most? Determinants of Administrative Effectiveness

by Khuda Bakhsh, Azhar Mumtaz Saadi and Shafqat Rassol

Original Research

The study focused on certain factors influencing the effectiveness of Heads of Departments in public sector universities. The researcher developed a questionnaire to measure the determinants and the effectiveness was measured by Leadership Practices Inventory LPI. A sample of five hundreds teachers from twenty one randomly selected universities participated in the study. Regression analysis of the collected data was made to answer ‘How well the selected factors influence the administrative effectiveness of Heads of Departments (HoDs)’. It was found that all the selected factors are positively correlated with administrative effectiveness. Personality Traits proved as strongest determinant followed by organizational climate with significant predictive powers.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 1088-1090. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-13
Pub. Date: November 26, 2014

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A Qualitative Study on Status of Implementation of School Health Programme in South Western Nigeria: Implications for Healthy Living of School Age Children in Developing Countries

by Oluwakemi M. Ademokun, Kayode O. Osungbade and Taiwo A. Obembe

Original Research

Over the past decade, effective school health programme has attracted much attention in addressing various issues pertaining to school age children. This study assessed the implementation of school health programme in selected public secondary schools in Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria. Key informant interviews of 21 school head teachers were conducted while observational checklist/proforma was used to document the components of school health programme being implemented. Data from key informant interviews were analyzed using thematic approach. The assessment of the implementation of the various components of the school health programme revealed that school-feeding services and sanitary conditions could be better implemented in majority of the schools. Implementation was poor, most especially in the areas of school health services and healthful school environment. Reported reasons for poor implementation from key informant interviews were lack of funds and inadequate health facilities. Concerted efforts are required to intensify awareness campaign on National School Health Policy. The implementation of School Health Programme should be strengthened through advocacy to relevant stakeholders for provision of funds and health facilities.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 1076-1087. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-12
Pub. Date: November 26, 2014

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Human Rights and Socialculture: An Exploration

by Manoj Kumar Choudhary

Original Research

Social culture is critical to just about every area of society. The right to culture is meant to secure individual access to the cultural framework dominating the public institutions that have the authority to deliberate, interpret, and enforce human rights. This is made possible through the acquisition of the suitable “cultural equipment” mentioned in the first part of the paper. Such acquisition is a prerequisite for the exercise of the right to cultural participation as well as a range of other individual rights and freedoms similarly recognized inhuman rights law, from this viewpoint, the aim of the article is to focus on the concept of culture and its place in human rights law. This interdisciplinary theoretical understanding of the concept of “culture” serves to redirect attention towards a range of issues that have long been marginalized, but which warrant culture a central place in human rights research and on the international human rights agenda. As a consequence, the main argument developed throughout this paper consists in a summon for the human rights agenda on culture to reaffirm the universal and overarching importance of culture in advancing respect for human rights and to seek to rebalance the present agenda dominated by a right to cultural identity with an urgent emphasis on the fundamental importance of “Cultural equipment” and cultural infrastructure for individual freedom.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 1069-1075. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-11
Pub. Date: November 24, 2014

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Music and Tourism: Their Roles in Generating Employment in Nigeria

by SUNDAY N. NNAMANI

Original Research

Apart from education, culture is another factor on the wheel of development of any nation. A society is distinguished from another as a result of culture. Culture constitutes the totality of customs, rituals, music, food, patterns of building houses, norms and values that regulate the people’s way of life. Music, festivals and tourist centres are part of culture. This paper examines the role of music in festivals in Nigeria. It noted that specifically that during festivals people travel from far and near, play vital roles in the celebrations as it serves as an important source of information. Festivals are integral parts of tourism. It further examined the extent of development of tourism in Nigeria, types of tourism, investment opportunities available and mentioned some of the tourist sites. Their roles in generating employment were enumerated emphasizing that as labour-intensive industries, they have the potential to create more jobs per unit of investment. There is a conclusion and recommendation urging governments to make investments on music, culture and tourism top priorities in their development agendas.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 1065-1068. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-10
Pub. Date: November 24, 2014

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Academic Dishonesty/ Corruption in the Period of Technology: Its implication for Quality of Education

by Mebratu Mulatu Bachore

Review Article

Cheating has reached alarming proportions in all segments, creating widespread cynicism and an erosion of trust. The root of the problem can be found in our schools, where academic dishonesty is rampant. We, academic communities, are in deep trouble if young people, students, maintain these habits as the next generation. The advancement of technologies, such as cell phones, iPods, internets, has broadened the ways by which people can achieve the goal of cheating. Traditional methods of detection may no longer be wholly successful in fully preventing cheating in examinations. New strategies need to be considered and employed to better manage the advancement of technology use for illegitimate purposes. Therefore, this review article will thoroughly discuss the nature of academic dishonesties (traditional and the ‘modern’ ones), their causes, their diverse natures, the shift from traditional to modern era and measures to be applied to shape the values and attitudes of young people engage in thoughtful, systematic and comprehensive efforts to promote integrity and prevent cheating, especially compatible with the advancement of technology.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 1060-1064. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-9
Pub. Date: November 19, 2014

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An Exploration of the Effects of College EnglishTeacher Misbehaviors on Students’ Willingnessto Communicate in English Classes

by Lisa Hsu

Original Research

This study aims to investigate teachers’ inappropriate teaching misbehaviors in relation to students’ willingness to communicate (WTC) in English classes by positing a mediational effect of students’ affective learning. This study argues instead of an indirect effect on students’ affective learning from teachers’ misbehaviors—derisiveness, incompetence, irresponsibility, and non-immediacy—which occur in the classroom and could directly impact students’ WTC. The participants were asked to respond to three instruments designed for this study. Three hypotheses were posed and found that teacher misbehaviors were correlated negatively at a significant level on four aspects of students’ affective learning. Though teacher misbehavior only showed a minor negative relationship with students’ WTC, but SEM analysis indicated that students’ WTC was directly affected by teacher misbehavior than via indirect effect from students’ affective learning. Implications of these findings are addressed. The limitation and future research suggestions are discussed in the end.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 1050-1059. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-8
Pub. Date: November 18, 2014

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Teacher Training and the Development of First Language Reading Strategies

by Carla Dimitre Dias Alves and Maria de Nazaré Castro Trigo Coimbra

Original Research

This study concerns the professional development of first language teachers, in order to improve students´ reading skills. The research analyzes the implementation of The National Programme for Portuguese Teaching (NPPT), in primary schools, as well as its influence on teacher training. It is important to determine whether teachers’ reflective practices, about reading strategies, can improve students’ reading skills, as a result of continuous professional training. The study took place in 2012, in primary schools of Oporto, Portugal, using both quantitative and qualitative data, including a questionnaire and categorical analysis of teachers’ portfolios. The results show that the NPPT Programme helped to train teachers who, by changing and innovating their practices, improved primary students’ reading skills. Furthermore, the study confirmsthat teachers need continuous training, in order to strengthen first language reading strategies and improve teaching practices, using school community resources.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 1044-1049. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-7
Pub. Date: November 12, 2014

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Effect of Blended Learning on Newly Nursing Student's Outcomes Regarding New Trends in Nursing Subject at Ain Shams University

by Fathia Ahmed Mersal and Nahed Ahmed Mersal

Original Research

Blended learning refers to a method of instruction that utilizes two or more complementary approaches to teach the same material. By combining classroom lectures, activities, discussions, and/or web-based modules. Aim: Examine the effect of blended learning on newly nursing student's outcomes regarding new trends in nursing subject at Ain Shams University. Hypothesis: The Students who will be exposed to blended learning (Study group) will have improved Outcomes compared to the Students in the control group who will be exposed to lecture regarding new trends in nursing subject. Design: A quasi experimental study design was utilized to accomplish the aim of this study. Setting: Faculty of Nursing Ain Shams University Cairo Egypt. Sample: Two purposive samples of all available first year students' from the previously mentioned study setting in 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 academic years as control group and study group respectively. Students were included in this study were from both gender, and willing to participate in the study. Tools for data collection: A self-administered structured questionnaire to assess demographic characteristics and learning needs, student's satisfaction questionnaire sheet, student's academic achievement sheet. Results: There was improvement regarding satisfactory level of achievement and decrease in the percent of poor and very poor of blended learning group with no statistical difference between two groups. There was improvement in student's satisfaction of blended learning group regarding the course and teaching method with highly statistical significant difference between two groups. Conclusions: blended learning improved newly nursing student's Outcomes both academic achievement and student's satisfaction than lecture regarding new trends in nursing subject at Ain Shams University. Recommendations: blended learning can be used to facilitate nursing education, more researches done to determine durability rate of the information of this methods.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 1036-1043. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-6
Pub. Date: November 10, 2014

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More than Spelling and Grammar: Students Who Prefer to Write Outperform Students Who Prefer to Present

by Krassimir Yankulov

Original Research

Oral presentations and posters are becoming key assignments in a growing number of university courses. While the enhancement of presentation skills is highly desirable, the learning benefits of these assignments have rarely been evaluated. Here I report the learning outcomes of students who prefer a presentation assignment versus students who prefer a writing assignment. Both groups are students in a 4^th year molecular biology course. The period of analysis spans 7 years. The performance of these two cohorts (total of 393 students) has been measured by their marks in the midterm and final exams and by their engagement in class discussions. Statistical analysis of the data indicates that the writers have slightly but consistently outperformed the presenters. Considerations of teaching style variations could not explain the higher marks of the writers. These observations suggest that strong writing skills can provide a sizeable gain to overall learning skills and can enhance the overall learning outcomes.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 1029-1035. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-5
Pub. Date: November 09, 2014

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Enhancing Transition and Empowering Students with Disabilities in Higher Education

by Edith F. Miller and Julianne Albiero-Walton

Original Research

College Achievement Training Seminars is a first-year transition program that consists of a series of 15 non-credit workshops with a mentoring component that pairs the first-year participants with upper-class or graduate mentors who are active members of Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society, the primary collegiate honorary recognizing high-achieving students with disabilities. This qualitative, comparative study examined the first-semester grade point average and first-to-second year retention rates for students with disabilities who successfully completed College Achievement Training Seminars with those who were eligible for and invited to participate but chose not to attend. Participating students had a higher first-semester grade point average and higher first-to-second year retention rates. The mean aggregate retention rate over an eight-year period was 91% for students who completed College Achievement Training Seminars versus 52% for those who did not participate in the program.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 1023-1028. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-4
Pub. Date: November 09, 2014

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“…it is not just a game”: Connecting with Culture through Traditional Indigenous Games

by Maree DinanThompson, Kathryn Meldrum and Juanita Sellwood

Original Research

Traditional Indigenous Games (TIGs) have been played in Indigenous Australian communities as a means of teaching children life skills as well as a general leisure pursuit. This paper presents the findings of a small study in one north Queensland public school, Australia, where school students engaged in TIG through their physical education (HPE) classes. Twelve regional games were introduced to students in years five and six. They were played in HPE classes with a focus on inclusivity and gaining an understanding of culture. A culminating TIG carnival was also conducted. Students reported that playing the games and participating in the carnival was a positive experience. All students described the nature of the games in traditional communities, not only as a means of teaching children life skills but as community social practice. Students’ participation resulted in enhanced cultural knowledge and cultural significance.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 1015-1022. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-3
Pub. Date: November 09, 2014

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Teacher-Student Attachment and Student School Adaptation: A Variable Centered and Person Centered Analytical Approaches

by David Granot

Original Research

The present study followed the attachment perspective for assessing the contribution of teacher-student relationships to the explanation of student school adaptation. The study sample included 100 pairs comprised of Israeli homeroom teachers and their school-aged students (mean age=10.7 years). Participating teachers and students reported on their perceptions about their reciprocal relationships on dimensions used for the evaluation of parent-child attachment relationships, such as availability, acceptance, closeness, rejection, conflict, and dependence. Additionally, 56 of the children's subject-matter teachers reported on the children's school adaptation. Person-centered cluster analysis identified two teacher-student ad hoc attachment-like relationship groups: secure (n=72), characterized by high levels of acceptance and closeness, and by low levels of rejection, conflict, and dependency; and insecure (n=28), characterized by high levels of rejection, conflict, and dependence, and by low levels of acceptance and closeness. After controlling for children's socio-demographic indicators (gender, age, class size, and family socioeconomic status), analysis revealed that children in the secure teacher-student attachment-like group showed lower levels of behavior problems (externalizing, internalizing), difficulties in learning self-regulation, higher levels of frustration tolerance, task orientation, popularity among peers, and better academic achievement than did the children in the insecure teacher-student attachment-like group. Implications for educational counseling intervention for teachers and for research are discussed.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 1005-1014. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-2
Pub. Date: November 09, 2014

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Strategy Instruction for Macao EFL Students

by Mei Lan Chan

Original Research

Strategy Instruction (SI) has been in much debate on its effectiveness on students’ language learning strategies (LLS) use, proficiency and the four main English skills (speaking, listening, writing and reading). In addition, most research studies on SI focus on one main English skill and train students with one or a few groups of LLS. Still fewer research has looked into the details of changes (or students’ learning processes) using diaries. This research used an embedded mixed methods quasi-experimental design to collect in-depth data to assess the effectiveness of SI on higher education nursing students’ changes of LLS, English achievement and learning processes. These quantitative and qualitative methods included questionnaires, group interviews, diaries, pre- and post-tests and class observations. One treatment group and one comparison group, a total of 59 university freshmen in Macao SAR participated in this study. All six groups of LLS (memory-related, cognitive, compensatory, metacognitive, affective and social) were taught and their effects on all four main English skills were discussed. Quantitatively, two groups (affective and compensatory) of LLS use and qualitatively, the learning processes of students had been improved after SI but no improvement was obtained in students’ achievement from the Oxford Placement Tests quantitatively. In this study, recommendations are made for utilizing SI in improving LLS in EFL.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2014, 2(11), 990-1004. DOI: 10.12691/education-2-11-1
Pub. Date: November 09, 2014

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