An investigation of teacher experiences in learning the project-based learning approach

Project-based learning (PBL) has a positive impact on student motivation, students’ perceived learning, and performance. However, many teachers are reluctant to adopt PBL. This mixed-methods study examined in-service teachers’ learning experiences of planning and implementing PBL situated in a graduate level PBL course and sought insight into the challenges and ways to overcome the challenges in implementing PBL in practice. Results indicate that teachers’ confidence about their ability to plan and implement a PBL project improved upon completion of the course. Nevertheless, teachers cited various obstacles, such as a lack of mentoring, planning time and implementation experiences, which had prevented them from complete implementation of PBL in teaching. Possible ways to overcome the challenges in adopting PBL include school support, opportunities for experience and practice with PBL, and peer collaboration. The study also showed that a semester-long course focused on designing and developing a PBL project of teachers’ choice was effective in helping increase their confidence and experience in potential implementation of PBL in classroom practice. This study contributes to the implementation of PBL in classrooms and teacher education as well as teacher professional development on the PBL approach.

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Gamblers’ Perception of the Playscan Risk Assessment: A Mixed-Methods Study

Journal of Gambling Studies ◽

10.1007/s10899-021-10043-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

David Forsström ◽

Alexander Rozental ◽

Emma Wiklund ◽

Per Carlbring ◽

Philip Lindner

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Responsible Gambling ◽

Gambling Behavior ◽

Mixed Methods Study ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

General View ◽

Insight Into ◽

Qualitative Analyses

AbstractResponsible gambling (RG) tools are globally widespread; they aim to prevent or decrease the harm caused by gambling. However, existing research suggests that several included features do not decrease gambling or significantly reduce the subsequent harm. Most of the previous studies have used gambling data to understand the changes in gambling behavior. However, the literature lacks research regarding gamblers’ experience and perception of RG tools, which may provide insight into increasing the usage and effectiveness of RG tools. This mixed-methods study aimed to explore gamblers’ perception of their risk assessment in the RG tool Playscan regarding developing harmful gambling problems. Overall, 757 participants rated the perceived accuracy of their risk assessment and their perception of the overall RG tool that conducted the assessment. Participants were also allowed to leave a comment providing feedback, which was analyzed using thematic analysis. Quantitative data was analyzed using logistic regression and structural equation modeling. Qualitative analyses revealed that most of the participants were pleased with the risk assessment and found it helpful. Moderated mediation analysis showed that participants’ assessment agreement partially mediated the association between expressing a negative view and their general view of Playscan. These results highlight the need to decrease the level of disagreement for promoting a better general view of RG tools to potentially increase their usage and effectiveness.

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Analysis of Financial Performance of Public Sector Banks in India: CAMEL

Arthaniti-Journal of Economic Theory and Practice ◽

10.1177/0976747920966866 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 097674792096686

Author(s):

Yudhvir Singh ◽

Ram Milan

Keyword(s):

Public Sector ◽

Banking Sector ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Capital Adequacy ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Public Sector Banks ◽

The Government ◽

And Performance ◽

Asset Quality

Public sector banks have been merged by the government in the last few years. This is the rationale behind conducting this study. The purpose of this article is to determine the factors affecting the performance of public sector banks in India and the interrelationship between bank-specific determinants and performance of public sector banks. In this article, we shall analyse the financial data of all the public sector commercial banks for a period spread across 11 years (2009–2019); Capital adequacy, Assets quality, Management efficiency, Earning, and Liquidity (CAMEL) has been used as a performance determinant; system generalised method of moments (GMM) analysis has been used to find the effect of determinants on the performance measurement of public sector banks; and CCA (canonical correlation analysis) has been used to find the interrelationship between the bank-specific determinants and the performance of public sector banks. The finding has important implications in terms of performance in the banking sector. Certain limitations of this study are: It is based on secondary data. The study only covers the financial aspects and not the non-financial aspects. It is found that the asset quality is negatively related with performance of public sector banks. Liquidity and inflation are inversely related to performance of public sector banks in India. Capital adequacy is positively related with banks’ performance, but inversely related with banks’ interest margin. GDP growth has a significant positive impact on banks’ performance, but inversely related with banks’ interest income. Inflation rate is inversely related with banks’ performance. Banking sector reforms are insignificantly related with banks’ performance.

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The Relationship between Strategic Orientation, Service Innovation, and Performance in Hotels in Angola

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13116256 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 6256

Author(s):

Gerdina Handa Serafim ◽

José Manuel Cristóvão Veríssimo

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Customer Orientation ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Group Analysis ◽

Strategic Orientation ◽

New Business ◽

Competitor Orientation ◽

And Performance ◽

Technology Orientation ◽

The Impact

This paper aims to investigate the impacts of customer orientation, competitor orientation, learning orientation, technology orientation, and entrepreneurial orientation on hotel innovation and performance. Data from 69 hotels in four Angolan provinces were analyzed using the partial least squares (PLS) approach and multi group analysis. The results show that learning and entrepreneurial orientations have a positive impact on hotel innovation. As anticipated, innovation has a positive impact on performance. According to the multigroup analysis, only the hotel category has a moderating effect on performance. Results suggest that hotels in developing countries could add value to both customers and shareholders by promoting new services and exploring new business opportunities. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the few studies that has researched the impact of strategic orientation on hotel innovation and financial performance in developing countries.

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Teacher Perspectives on Teaching the STEM Approach to Educational Coding and Robotics in Primary Education

Education Sciences ◽

10.3390/educsci11020064 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 64

Author(s):

Christian García-Carrillo ◽

Ileana María Greca ◽

María Fernández-Hawrylak

Keyword(s):

Primary Education ◽

Classroom Practice ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Practical Training ◽

Training Process ◽

Integrated Stem ◽

Teaching Learning ◽

And Robotics ◽

Insight Into

An analysis is presented in this study that provides insight into a practical training process and its impact on teachers and their viewpoints toward the integrated STEM approach used in that training process, together with educational coding and robotics, over the first years of compulsory primary education, where STEM implementations are relatively new. A case study was developed by two teachers following the practical training course, including pre- and post-interviews and nonparticipative observation of their classroom practices during the teacher-training sessions. The results revealed the positive perspectives that the teachers held toward the STEM-integrated approach and educational coding and robotics, despite the difficulties that arose in classroom practice. It was concluded that the STEM approach and its methods were beneficial both to pupils and to teachers alike for improving the teaching–learning process.

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Does corporate governance affect the performance of Islamic banks? New insight into Islamic countries

Corporate Governance ◽

10.1108/cg-11-2019-0350 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (6) ◽

pp. 1073-1090 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ejaz Aslam ◽

Razali Haron

Keyword(s):

Corporate Governance ◽

Audit Committee ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Islamic Banks ◽

Governance Mechanism ◽

Method Of Moment ◽

Content Type ◽

Return On Equity ◽

Islamic Countries ◽

And Performance

Purpose Corporate governance plays a significant role to overcome agency issues and develop the culture of transparency and openness. In this context, this paper aims to examine how corporate governance mechanisms affect the performance of Islamic banks (IBs). Design/methodology/approach Stepwise, two-step system generalize method of moment estimation technique is used in the analysis in which control variables are added into the model sequentially. This study used data on 129 IBs from 29 Islamic countries (Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia) during the period of 2008 to 2017. Findings The findings suggest that the audit committee (AUDC) and Shariah board (SB) have positive impact on the performance of IBs (return on assets and return on equity). However, board size and risk management committee have negative and significant effect on the performance of IBs. CEO duality and non-executive directors have mixed relationship with the performance of IBs. These results support the argument that IBs need to improve their financial performance through appropriate governance mechanism. Research limitations/implications The findings of the study added a new dimension to the governance research that could be a valuable source of knowledge for policymakers and regulators to improve the existing governance mechanism for better performance of IBs. Originality/value The study fills the gap in the literature by addressing the issue of corporate governance on performance of IBs across countries. Agency theory is discussed to explain the relationship between corporate governance mechanism and performance.

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Newsmaking criminology in Australia and New Zealand: Results from a mixed methods study of criminologists’ media engagement

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology ◽

10.1177/0004865819854794 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 53 (1) ◽

pp. 84-101 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mary Iliadis ◽

Imogen Richards ◽

Mark A Wood

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

News Media ◽

The United States ◽

Mixed Methods Study ◽

The Past ◽

Professional Duty ◽

The Subject ◽

Survey Responses ◽

Insight Into ◽

Newsmaking Criminology

‘Newsmaking criminology’, as described by Barak, is the process by which criminologists contribute to the generation of ‘newsworthy’ media content about crime and justice, often through their engagement with broadcast and other news media. While newsmaking criminological practices have been the subject of detailed practitioner testimonials and theoretical treatise, there has been scarce empirical research on newsmaking criminology, particularly in relation to countries outside of the United States and United Kingdom. To illuminate the state of play of newsmaking criminology in Australia and New Zealand, in this paper we analyse findings from 116 survey responses and nine interviews with criminologists working in universities in these two countries, which provide insight into the extent and nature of their news media engagement, and their related perceptions. Our findings indicate that most criminologists working in Australia or New Zealand have made at least one news media appearance in the past two years, and the majority of respondents view news media engagement as a professional ‘duty’. Participants also identified key political, ethical, and logistical issues relevant to their news media engagement, with several expressing a view that radio and television interviewers can influence criminologists to say things that they deem ‘newsworthy’.

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Enhancing EFL Teachers’ Pronunciation Pedagogy Through Professional Learning: A Vietnamese Case Study

RELC Journal ◽

10.1177/0033688220952476 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 003368822095247

Author(s):

Loc Tan Nguyen ◽

Jonathan Newton

Keyword(s):

Professional Learning ◽

Classroom Practice ◽

Teaching Practice ◽

Teaching Skills ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Teachers Perceptions ◽

Efl Teachers ◽

Teacher Professional ◽

Teachers Professional Development ◽

The Impact

The role of teacher professional learning (TPL) in assisting teachers to teach pronunciation in English as a second/foreign language (ESL/EFL) contexts has received little attention. The study reported in this paper extends this line of research by investigating how six EFL teachers at a Vietnamese university transform and integrate the pronunciation pedagogical knowledge they received from a TPL workshop into teaching practice. It then examines the teachers’ perceptions of the impact of the workshop on their knowledge gains and pronunciation teaching skills. Data were collected from seven lesson plans designed by the teachers, video recordings of 24 subsequent classroom observations, and six individual semi-structured interviews. The study adopted a content-based approach to qualitative data analysis. The findings show that the teachers were all able to translate TPL into classroom practice of pronunciation teaching. The findings further show that workshops designed and implemented in accordance with research-based TPL principles can be effective for promoting teachers’ knowledge of pronunciation pedagogy and refining their pronunciation teaching skills. The study has implications for ESL/EFL teachers’ professional development in pronunciation teaching.

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