Impact of Digital Technology Training on English for Science and Technology Teachers in India

RELC Journal ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-133
Author(s):  
Santosh Kumar Mahapatra

With digital literacies becoming an essential competency for teachers across the world, recent educational policies in India emphasize teachers’ ability to use digital technologies for pedagogic purposes and the use of digital technologies by teachers as one of the evaluation criteria for ranking institutions. In the absence of any properly established policy on in-service training in digital technologies for teachers, such policies cannot be expected to promote effective learning. Moreover, little effort is being made to keep track of the impact of training in digital technologies on teachers’ pedagogic practices. In light of the above background, the proposed multiple-case study aims to explore changes in the practices of three English for Science and Technology (EST) teachers in India. The main objective of the study is to compare the teachers’ technology integration practices before and after they participated in a 12-hour need-based training programme in digital technologies. Data for the study were collected through questionnaires, interviews, classroom observations, field notes and e-portfolios. Results suggest that the programme had a positive impact on their practices and there was difference in the way the three teachers selected, used and thought about digital technologies. Factors such as motivation, administrative support, students’ response to the use of technologies, and awareness about students’ language needs shaped their practices.

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-72
Author(s):  
Herlin Hamimi ◽  
Abdul Ghafar Ismail ◽  
Muhammad Hasbi Zaenal

Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam which has a function of faith, social and economic functions. Muslims who can pay zakat are required to give at least 2.5 per cent of their wealth. The problem of poverty prevalent in disadvantaged regions because of the difficulty of access to information and communication led to a gap that is so high in wealth and resources. The instrument of zakat provides a paradigm in the achievement of equitable wealth distribution and healthy circulation. Zakat potentially offers a better life and improves the quality of human being. There is a human quality improvement not only in economic terms but also in spiritual terms such as improving religiousity. This study aims to examine the role of zakat to alleviate humanitarian issues in disadvantaged regions such as Sijunjung, one of zakat beneficiaries and impoverished areas in Indonesia. The researcher attempted a Cibest method to capture the impact of zakat beneficiaries before and after becoming a member of Zakat Community Development (ZCD) Program in material and spiritual value. The overall analysis shows that zakat has a positive impact on disadvantaged regions development and enhance the quality of life of the community. There is an improvement in the average of mustahik household incomes after becoming a member of ZCD Program. Cibest model demonstrates that material, spiritual, and absolute poverty index decreased by 10, 5, and 6 per cent. Meanwhile, the welfare index is increased by 21 per cent. These findings have significant implications for developing the quality of life in disadvantaged regions in Sijunjung. Therefore, zakat is one of the instruments to change the status of disadvantaged areas to be equivalent to other areas.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 960
Author(s):  
Emanuele Rinninella ◽  
Antonia Strippoli ◽  
Marco Cintoni ◽  
Pauline Raoul ◽  
Raffaella Vivolo ◽  
...  

Background: The impact of the new chemotherapy, fluorouracil plus leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel (FLOT) on body composition in gastric cancer (GC) patients remains unknown. We assessed body composition changes of GC patients receiving the FLOT regimen and their impact on treatment outcomes. Methods: Preoperative pre- and post-FLOT computed tomography (CT) scans of advanced GC patients were studied. Lumbar skeletal muscle index (SMI) and adipose indices were calculated before and after FLOT. Results: A total of 26 patients were identified between April 2019 and January 2020. Nineteen patients were sarcopenic at diagnosis. The mean BMI decreased (from 24.4 ± 3.7 to 22.6 ± 3.1; p < 0.0001) as well as the SMI (from 48.74 ± 9.76 to 46.52 ± 9.98; p = 0.009) and visceral adipose index (VAI) (from 49.04 ± 31.06 to 41.99 ± 23.91; p = 0.004) during preoperative FLOT therapy. BMI, SMI, and VAI variations were not associated with toxicity, Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), response, delay and completion of perioperative FLOT chemotherapy, and the execution of gastrectomy; a decrease of SMI ≥ 5% was associated with a higher Mandard tumor regression grade (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Almost three-quarters (73.1%) of GC patients were sarcopenic at diagnosis. Preoperative FLOT was associated with a further reduction in SMI, BMI, and VAI. These changes were not associated with short-term outcomes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 254
Author(s):  
Roxana Acosta ◽  
Marina Tomás-Folch ◽  
Mónica Feixas

The Faculties of Engineering Sciences at Universidad Católica del Norte in Chile regard teacher training as a necessary tool for its academics’ professional development and as a fundamental way to improve their teaching quality. The Teaching Unit for Innovation in Engineering (UIDIN) has developed a new curriculum and training programme which seeks to support the faculty in its implementation. This article presents some of the outcomes of a study aimed at qualitatively examining the development of the faculty’s conceptions and philosophy of teaching and improvements in pedagogical competencies as a result of the implementation and transfer of the training programme. The teaching philosophy is described in different ways, but overall it considers teaching an act of disciplinary knowledge transfer based on students’ interests, skills and attitudes, and with a heavy emphasis on building students’ core values. Interviews reveal changes in the participants’ learning and competencies due to the training, along with a positive impact on the teachers’ lesson planning and assessment strategies and students’ feedback and the willingness to engage in more reflexive teaching practice.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Qiuxia Li

Background. With the continuous advancement of digital technology and the accelerated development of digital finance, the rise of digital finance has had a vital impact on the true evolution of SMEs. The digital economy has a significant positive impact on the productivity of SMEs. Method. This article first analyzes the digital level of SMEs, studies the incentive effect of digital finance on the level of technological revolution of SMEs, and analyzes the mitigation effect of digital finance evolution on the financing constraints of SMEs. At the same time, it also studies how to develop the digital economy and achieve high-quality business evolution. Result. The digital economy can promote the growth of enterprise productivity through four indirect ways: scale economy effect, scope economy effect, technological revolution effect, and management benefit effect. Conclusion. The Financial Technology Optimization program helps financial leaders adopt new digital technologies to optimize financial processes while minimizing disruption.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 83
Author(s):  
Yayan Hikmayani ◽  
Siti Hajar Suryawati ◽  
Agus Heri Purnomo ◽  
Zahri Nasution

Riset dampak pemberitaan penyalahgunaan formalin di sektor kelautan dan perikanan telah dilakukan pada tahun 2006. Riset ini bertujuan untuk melihat sejauhmana dampak yang ditimbulkan akibat pemberitaan tentang penyalahgunaan formalin di sektor kelautan dan perikanan pada produsen dan konsumen. Pendekatan studi digunakan melalui analisis kebijakan. Data primer dan sekunder dirumuskan sesuai keperluan analisis kebijakan ini yaitu penelusuran terhadap dampak pemberitaan formalin terhadap produsen dan konsumen di sektor kelautan dan perikanan. Kemudian data hasil verifikasi dan survey lapang yang berasal dari kuesioner dan catatan lapangan (field notes) diolah secara deskriptif untuk mendapatkan interpretasi logis. Lokasi studi ditetapkan secara sengaja (purposive) dengan kriteria tersebut merupakan sentra penanganan dan pengolahan produk perikanan dan diberitakan banyak menggunakan bahan kimia formalin yaitu Jawa Barat (Karawang), Jawa Tengah (Semarang), DKI Jakarta dan Bandar Lampung. Hasil studi menunjukkan bahwa bagi produsen yang meliputi nelayan, pengolah dan pembudidaya ikan dampak negatif dari pemberitaan formalin adalah menurunnya permintaan ikan hasil tangkapan dan olahan sehingga pendapatan nelayan dan pengolah menjadi berkurang, sedangkan bagi konsumen dampak negatifnya konsumen jadi takut mengkonsumsi ikan laut dan hasil olahan sehingga lebih memilih mengkonsumsi tempe/tahu dan telur. Dampak positifnya bagi produsen baik nelayan dan pengolah yaitu sebagian dari mereka jadi mengetahui bahwa formalin tersebut membahayakan dan berusaha tidak menggunakan lagi. Dampak positif bagi konsumen bertambah pengetahuan tentang bahaya formalin sehingga mereka akan lebih hati-hati dalam mengkonsumsi ikan dan untuk sementara konsumsi ikan mereka dialihkan ke ikan hasil budidaya yang banyak dijual dalam kondisi hidup. Tittle: The Impact of Announcement on The Mis-used of Formalin in Marine and Fisheries SectorResearch on impact of mis-used of formalin in marine and fisheries sector have been done in 2006. The aim of the research was to show the impact of announcement on the mis-used of formalin to producers and consumers. Policy analysis approach was used as the method of study. Primary and secondary data were formulated accordingly to meet the requirement of the policy analysis, that is impact of media release on both side of producers and consumers. Verified data and field survey processed descriptively to build logical interpretation.The locations of study were specified in purpose to represent the center of handling and processing of fisheries product indicated with formalyn abuse. These location were West Java (Karawang), Central Java (Semarang), DKI Jakarta and Bandar Lampung. The results of study showed that the negative impacts of the news on formalin abuse to the producers were decreasing on demand of catch and processed fish products, which in turn reduce the income of the fisherman and fish processors. On the other side, the consumer shift their preference to other products such as tempe, tofu and eggs. The positive impacts to the fisherman and fish processors were the knowledge of the danger of formalin abuse on their products and they avoid to use the chemical. The positive impact on fish consumers were the awareness on formalin use on health arose and temporary their fish consumption shifted to the aqucultured fish which sold in living form.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-125
Author(s):  
Judy Clegg ◽  
Carla Rohde ◽  
Henrietta McLachlan ◽  
Liz Elks ◽  
Alex Hall

Training early years practitioners to facilitate the language development of young children is a widely used intervention. Evidence to support the effectiveness of training in terms of the impact of children’s language development is limited. The Elklan Talking Matters programme is an accredited training programme for early years practitioners. Practitioners train to be Lead Communication Practitioners (LCPs) who cascade training across early years settings or Key Communication Practitioners (KCPs) who are embedded into these settings. The aim of this study was to identify if the Talking Matters Programme is effective in facilitating the language development of pre-school children. One hundred and twenty-six children from 13 early years settings were recruited (mean age 27.81 months; SD 4.90). Thirteen settings participated in the Talking Matters Programme (five LCP+KCP settings, four LCP settings and four control settings). At time 1, prior to practitioners participating in the programme, children completed the Pre-School Language Scales 5th Edition (PLS-5), a standardized assessment of receptive and expressive language. At time 1, 126 children completed the baseline assessment ( n = 43 in the LCP+KCP settings, n = 43 in the LCP settings and n = 40 in the control settings). Children then completed the post intervention (time 2) assessment approximately six months later. Children in the intervention groups (LCP+KCP settings and LCP settings) made more progress in their language development from time 1 to time 2 compared to the control. The children in the LCP+KCP settings made more gains than the children in the LCP settings. A significant main effect of groups and time was found but not an interaction of group scores with time, meaning the increases in scores were not statistically significant between the intervention and control groups. The study provides tentative evidence that the Talking Matters programme has a positive impact on pre-school children’s language development.


2014 ◽  
Vol 802 ◽  
pp. 383-387
Author(s):  
C.A. Silva ◽  
R.C.R. Nascimento ◽  
M.S. Martins ◽  
M.C.S. Freitas

The article to be presented will cover the whole process done in a fracture test for impact, taking into account the thermal treatment of the sample to be studied. The main objective of this article is to observe, verify, analyze and understand how the temperature difference of several samples influences the type and appearance of the fracture. The impact test have a great importance in industry, is through this that you can verify that the material is ideal for application in the production of equipment and vehicles that operate in high or low temperatures. The evaluation criteria of this trial are the energy absorbed by the sample, and the percentage of its characteristic lateral extension, and the percentage of fracture, ductile or fragile, and corresponding to a ductile fracture mode, in which the test at higher temperatures, the impact energy is relatively large, and fragile fracture mode, being one that as the temperature decreased, the impact energy will suffer decline. The most important result of the impact test is the measure of the energy absorbed by the test body to deform and break, measured by the variance of the gravitational potential energy of the hammer (machine component of the impact test) before and after impact. Therefore, providing the conclusion that the smaller the energy absorbed by the sample, more fragile it is depending on the temperature applied.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-311
Author(s):  
Luc Lapointe

The practice of evidence-informed policy-making (EIPM) consists of systematically searching, analyzing, synthesizing and disseminating the best available research evidence to inform decision-makers about policy problems, policy tools, implementation options, and/or policy evaluation results. Identifying the best available scientific evidence is not a simple task. The vast majority of research evidence contains risks of bias that hinder the reliability of their conclusions. In order to select the soundest available research evidence, policy analysts need to know how to critically appraise research evidence and identify different risks of bias. Formal theories on expertise acquisition in public bureaucracies suggest that these skills and knowledge should be acquired within academia rather than within governmental agencies. We thus created a 45-hour course in EIPM, POL-7061, that was first offered in 2012 to students enrolled in the Master’s Program in Public Affairs at Université Laval (Québec, Canada). The course mainly teaches techniques for searching and appraising different types of empirical studies. In 2013, we conducted a before-and-after study to assess the impact of the course on the methodological knowledge of the students. We repeated the exercise on two consecutive cohorts in 2014 and 2015. Mean percent of pre-post improvement on the knowledge test was 37% for the 2013 cohort, 51% for the 2014 cohort and 31% for the cohort of 2015. Teaching techniques in EIPM to Master’s students in public affairs is thus feasible and can have a positive impact on their basic methodological knowledge.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Hache ◽  
Stéphane Honoré ◽  
Guillaume Hache

Abstract Background Patient-led education contributes to the implementation of practical experience of working with patients in health care professional curricula. There are few descriptions of patients’ involvement in pharmacists’ training and most often, the patients have been used as passive props to facilitate training. More recently, greater emphasis has been given to a more active form of patient involvement but the application in the curriculum of pharmacy has not been conceptualized. Thus, the aim of our study was to implement a workshop involving patients as partners in undergraduate pharmacy educational programme, and to evaluate its impact of on students’ perspectives. Method On a prospective observational study basis, the impact was assessed in terms of relevance, learning outcomes and achievement transfer using the Kirkpatrick training assessment method. In addition, we evaluated social representations of the students before and after the workshop. Results Ninety-four students attended the sessions. All participants were satisfied and emphasized the relevance of the involvement of patients. Postworkshop scores were significantly improved in both competencies to be acquired. At the end of the workshop, students reported two to three actions to implement in order to meet patients’ expectations, illustrating an intent to transfer learning outcomes in professional context. Interestingly, about patients’ expectations on pharmacist’s role, students’ social representations had evolved significantly after the session. Conclusion These results highlight the positive impact of the innovative workshops and the additive value of patients’ involvement in the pharmacy undergraduate programme.


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