scholarly journals Motivating Female Students for Computer Science by Means of Robot Workshops

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Keller ◽  
Isabel John

As women belong to a minority in computer science, this work aims to provide possible STEM education initiatives for middle to high school students. These initiatives are designed for institutions to contribute to increasing the proportion of women in computer science by using robots. Through applying these initiatives, institutions such as computer science faculties can help to reduce the gender imbalance, increase diversity and the amount of computer science specialists, who are requested immensely. Based on the results of conducted requirements elicitation a concept for programming an application with the NAO robot which trains vocabularies, as well as a concept with the Cozmo robot which piles up cubes, were developed. First tests were performed with female and male high school students. Either concept consists of an introduction of possible robotics application fields, a presentation explaining the Python program code of the concept as well as corresponding exercises with the robot and Python. Evaluation of the workshop concepts through questionnaires showed that both concepts have the potential to increase the proportion of women and to motivate female as well as male students for computer science. Moreover, recommendations for further robotics projects with respect to motivating young women for STEM can be made based on the insights of the requirements elicitation and the evaluation of the concepts. Nevertheless, further refinement and validation has to be undertaken. Long-term as well as short-term initiatives are feasible with the developed concepts. All participating schools showed high interest in both types of initiatives and further cooperation.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed K. Al-Delaimy ◽  
Waleed AT Al-Ani

Abstract Background The use of the hookah-smoking device is increasing at a large scale in the Eastern Mediterranean region and reaching to Western countries. Hookah smoke users are exposed to a lot of chemical compounds and several chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of hookah use among male high school students and to study different associated factors linked with hookah smoking and provide tobacco control officials an understanding of this public health problem.Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among students in three high schools in Al-Karkh District, Baghdad. The study period was from Oct. 2017 till Jan. 2019 and included 847 male students aged 15–18 years old. A convenient non-probability sampling within one of the two districts in Baghdad was selected to be place of study. Descriptive, chi-square test of significance, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis of data was carried out for identifying risk factors associated with hookah smoking among high school adolescence.Results The overall prevalence of hookah smoking among high school male students was high (46.1%). More than two-thirds (70.6%) of them think that hookah smoking is acceptable socially more than cigarette smoking. Hearing first about it from friends, the media and presence of a café for hookah near residence were found to be significantly associated (p > 0.05) with hookah smoking among students. Similarly, having friends surrounding students who used hookah were found to be significantly associated with hookah smoking among students. Among hookah smokers, they were less likely to say it is forbidden in Islam and more likely to say it is allowed in Islam than non-hookah users.Conclusions Hookah smoking is high among high school students and becoming a socially acceptable behavior. Social and religious factors play a role in that. Family members, relatives and peers have an important role in prevention of hookah smoking among these students. Teenage students need to be educated about hookah effects on their health.


2020 ◽  
pp. tobaccocontrol-2019-055310
Author(s):  
Wayne Gao ◽  
Mattia Sanna ◽  
Enkhzaya Chuluunbaatar ◽  
Min-Kuang Tsai ◽  
David T Levy ◽  
...  

IntroductionIn Taiwan, national tobacco use surveys show that e-cigarette use has increased since 2014 among youth, while, at the same time, conventional cigarette smoking has continuously decreased. The purpose of this study is to examine whether the increased popularity of e-cigarettes has undermined this favourable declining trend for cigarette smoking.MethodsWe examined conventional cigarette and e-cigarette prevalence among male high school students (aged 16–18 years) and adults from 2004 to 2017, using data from cross-sectional nationally representative surveys. Applying interrupted time series analysis, we assessed whether there was a change in trend in 2014, when e-cigarette use started to gain popularity from long-term trends in prior years (2004–2013).ResultsE-cigarette use prevalence increased from 2.5% in 2014 to 6.4% in 2017 among male high school students but was negligible among male adults, declining from 1.4% in 2015 to 0.8% in 2017. The annual relative decline in the cigarette smoking rate after e-cigarettes started to gain popularity was greater (−10%) than the long-term trend (−2%) among high school students. Among adults, the change in trend over time after e-cigarettes started to gain popularity was not significant (ie, not significantly different from 0).ConclusionsThe increased popularity of e-cigarettes since 2014 is associated with a greater decline in youth smoking, compared with previous years. On the contrary, e-cigarette use has remained very low among Taiwanese male adults and no additional impact on the conventional smoking trend is found.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed K. Al-Delaimy ◽  
Waleed AT Al-Ani

Abstract Background The use of the hookah-smoking device is increasing at a large scale in the Eastern Mediterranean region and reaching to Western countries. Hookah smoke users are exposed to a lot of chemical compounds and several chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of hookah use among male high school students and to study different associated factors linked with hookah smoking.Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among students in three high schools in Al-Karkh District, Baghdad. The study period was from Oct. 2017 till Jan. 2019 and included 847 male students. A structured Knowledge Attitude and Practice questionnaire was used to identify their knowledge and use of hookah smoking. Descriptive, chi-square, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis of data was carried out using the available software statistical package of SPSS-25.Results The overall prevalence of hookah smoking among high school male students was high (46%). More than two-thirds (70.6%) of them think that waterpipe smoking is acceptable socially more than cigarette smoking. More than half of the participants (55%) first heard about hookah smoking from friends and friends constitute close to two-thirds (65.2%) of those who smoke hookah around students. Almost half of the respondents think hookah smoking is not encouraged in the faith of Islam (47.3%) and less than a quarter (20.9%) think it's completely forbidden in Islam.Conclusions Hookah smoking is increasing among high school students and becoming a socially acceptable behavior that needs preventive strategies targeting this age group.


Author(s):  
Edward Browne

The dropout phenomenon involving Black Virgin Islands male high school students residing in the United States Virgin Islands has become a major area of concern for parents, educators, policy makers, and other community stakeholders. However, little is known about the direct or indirect factors that lead many Black Virgin Islands male students to drop out of high school. For the actual study, the researcher used a qualitative phenomenological approach to examine the experiences of seven Black Virgin Islands males who dropped out of high school. The study results revealed seven important themes (a) grade retention, (b) disengagement with school officials, (c) adequate intake, (d) stress, (e) socioeconomics, (f) parental disengagement, and (g) low effort. These findings have important implications for parents and school officials, with respect to designing and implementing effective intervention strategies that will aid in Black Virgin Islands male students remaining in and graduating from high school.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Khalaf Soofi Al-Delaimy ◽  
Waleed Al-Ani

Abstract Background: The use of hookah smoking device is increasing at large scale distributing from Eastern Mediterranean region reaching Western countries. Hookah smoke users exposed to a lot of chemical compounds and to several chronic diseases. The purpose of this study is to confirm the prevalence of hookah use among a sample of male high school students in Iraq, and to provide a better understanding of cessation-related behaviors and cognitions of hookah only users.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among students in three high schools (for males only) at Karkh District, Baghdad. The study period was from Oct. 2017 till Jan. 2019 including a total of 847 male students. A structured KAP questionnaire was used to identify their knowledge and use of hookah smoking. Analysis of data was carried out using the available statistical package of SPSS-25.Results: the overall prevalence of hookah smoking among high school male students was high (46%). More than two-thirds (70.6%) of them think that water pipe smoking is acceptable socially more than cigarette smoking. More than half of participants (55%) first heard about hookah smoking from friends and close to two-thirds (65.2%) who smoke hookah from those surround students were also friends. Almost half of respondents think hookah smoking is not encouraged in the faith of Islam (47.3%) and less than quarter (20.9%) think it’s completely forbidden in Islam.Conclusions: Hookah smoking is increasing among high school students and becoming a socially acceptable behavior that needs more public and adolescent education about its harmful effect.


2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 268-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aida Orgocka ◽  
Jasna Jovanovic

This study examined how social opportunity structure influences identity exploration and commitment of Albanian high school students. A total of 258 students completed a questionnaire that gauged their identity exploration and commitment in three domains: education, occupation, and family. ANOVA results indicated that, overall, students scored highest in exploration in the domain of education and in commitment in the domain of family. Students' exploration and commitment were linked to gender. Albanian female students scored higher than male students in exploration and commitment regarding education and family. Perceived work opportunities in Albania or abroad also significantly moderated participants' exploration in the domain of education and were associated with commitment in education and occupation. As one of the first studies to explore Albanian youth's identity development in relation to social opportunity structure, findings are discussed in light of furthering the field of Albanian adolescent and youth development.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoine Taly ◽  
Francesco Nitti ◽  
Marc Baaden ◽  
samuela pasquali

<div>We present here an interdisciplinary workshop on the subject of biomolecules offered to undergraduate and high-school students with the aim of boosting their interest toward all areas of science contributing to the study of life. The workshop involves Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science and Biology. Based on our own areas of research, molecular modeling is chosen as central axis as it involves all disciplines. In order to provide a strong biological motivation for the study of the dynamics of biomolecules, the theme of the workshop is the origin of life. </div><div>All sessions are built around active pedagogies, including games, and a final poster presentation.</div>


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