by Jacob Manuputty, Irawan Yusuf, Suryani As’ad and Mochammad Hatta
Original Research
Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with UKDI score amongst medical students in Indonesia. This study also sought to determine which factor that has the strongest association with UKDI score. Method: This is an explanatory research method with retrospective approach, conducted based on past medical students’ record. Samples were medical student who commenced study on year 2006 / 2007 / 2008 when KBK was implemented and they must have had passed one-time UKDI. Data collection was done on medical schools who agreed to provide the record of their medical students. Association between variables was analyzed using Chi-square test and Multiple Logistic Regression analysis. Result: Factors significantly associated with UKDI score were pre-clinical year GPA score category 3.51 – 4.00 (OR = 3.46, CI = 2.06 – 5.81; P < 0.001) and category 3.01 - 3.50 (OR = 4.14, CI = 2.63 – 6.53; P < 0.001), clinical year GPA score category 3.76 - 4.00 (OR = 6.46, CI = 2.91 – 14.34; P < 0.001), and category 3.51 – 3.75 (OR = 4.68, CI = 2.84 – 7.73; P < 0.001). We found no evidence of significant association between gender and UKDI score, and neither between accreditation ranking and UKDI score. Conclusion: Factors significantly associated with UKDI score were GPA. Factor that has the strongest association with UKDI score was clinical year GPA. Medical knowledge obtained when studying cases during clinical year in medical school can be strengthened by the guidance of mentor and clinical supervisors in order to achieve better UKDI results.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2016, 4(19), 1307-1310. DOI: 10.12691/education-4-19-5
Pub. Date: December 24, 2016
9295 Views3356 Downloads
by Ngugi M.N. and Mumiukha C.K.
Original Research
The pivotal role played by education to growth and development of an individual cannot be underestimated. In spite of this, some regions in Kenya, Turkana County included, still experience low level of participation in education. Many factors have been attributed to this phenomenon. However, few studies have addressed the teacher factors influencing the level of participation of secondary school students in school. The study therefore focused on establishing this using descriptive survey design. Simple random sampling was used to select a sample size of 200 students from 8 schools in Lodwar, Turkana County. The study established that teacher qualification, personal characteristics and their role in motivating learners to work hard enhance student performance and shape their decisions about the future. However, there was neither gender nor grade level difference in students determining teacher factors contributing to level of participation. The study recommends that the government should encourage the training of teachers to incorporate not only skills related to pedagogy, but also other skills that necessitate them to work effectively and efficiently.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2016, 4(19), 1300-1306. DOI: 10.12691/education-4-19-4
Pub. Date: December 23, 2016
15597 Views3893 Downloads
by Chih-Hsien Huang
Original Research
In this paper we report a study concerning examples as mediating artifacts in conjecturing. We used activity theory as an analytical framework to analyze students’ behavior and the process of conjecturing. The results show that through the guidance of proceduralized refutation model, most of the students could find the common properties by generating examples, and develop the ability of generalization and further made conjectures.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2016, 4(19), 1295-1299. DOI: 10.12691/education-4-19-3
Pub. Date: December 21, 2016
7005 Views2109 Downloads
by Rosa Pia Fontana and Amelia Manuti
Original Research
Moving from the student retention model developed by Tinto the present longitudinal study aimed at enlarging this paradigm and at investigating the model in the Italian academic context. 227 Freshmen University students participated to a longitudinal study that introduced a new variable in the model: the participation to non-curricular academic activities. Students attending psychology class were divided into two groups: an experimental and a control group, depending on the participation to a more traditional formal lesson or to a more active informal learning experience. Before and after the learning experience they were invited to fill in a semi-structured questionnaire encompassing the main variables investigated by Tinto and some others introduced by this study. Though a significant relationship between participation in community learning and academic and social integration and between participation in community learning and institutional and professional commitment were found, results showed significant differences with the original model. The main differences were discussed with reference to the different context in which Tinto’s theory was validated: Italian universities are indeed very different from the American ones, with the non-residential component on top of the list. Practical implications in terms of vocational guidance programmes were also discussed in the paper.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2016, 4(19), 1289-1294. DOI: 10.12691/education-4-19-2
Pub. Date: December 21, 2016
8097 Views3092 Downloads
by Peiyue Li, Hui Qian and Jianhua Wu
Case Report
Some new situations in China due to student-expansion policy, lack of experienced teachers and inadequate financial support have urged a reform or an update to the old educational system so that talented students in various disciplines can be cultivated. This study reported an updated educational system for cultivating talented students in Hydraulic Engineering. This system was updated in three main parts: updating education concept, establishing integrated practical training system, and improving teaching approaches. After implementation of the updated system, fruitful achievements have been obtained in the university in the field of Hydraulic Engineering education. Experiences and practical applications proved that the updated system is more efficient and effective to cultivate talented students in Hydraulic Engineering. The system reported in this study may be adopted by other universities in China to cultivate talented students in Hydraulic Engineering and related disciplines.
American Journal of Educational Research. 2016, 4(19), 1285-1288. DOI: 10.12691/education-4-19-1
Pub. Date: December 10, 2016
6383 Views2349 Downloads