Questionnaires to Inform a Usability Test Conducted on a CALL Dictionary Prototype

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 56-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Josée Hamel
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Central Component ◽  
Usability Test ◽  
Double Function ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Development Context ◽  
Effectiveness And Efficiency ◽  
Insight Into

Questionnaires are often considered a suitable instrument to gather data on language learners’ experiences. To test the usability of an online dictionary prototype, a series of questionnaires were distributed to a class of language learners before and after they completed a language task at the computer using the dictionary prototype. Measures of task effectiveness and efficiency were obtained and correlated with the questionnaires’ results. This study shows how the questionnaire results informed the overall measure of usability and, in particular, addressed user satisfaction, a more subjective yet a central component of this measure. Pre-questionnaires prepared learners for the task, whereas post-questionnaires fostered a reflection about the task process and its outcome. Hence, it is argued that combining observation and questionnaire techniques in that context was effective in providing a fuller insight into the learner-task-tool interaction at the computer. In this CALL research and development context, questionnaires served a double function as an evaluative and a pedagogical instrument.

scholarly journals Systemic Lupus Erythematosus before and after COVID-19 Lockdown: How the Perception of Disease Changes through the Lenses of Narrative Medicine

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 726
Author(s):  
Fulvia Ceccarelli ◽  
Venusia Covelli ◽  
Giulio Olivieri ◽  
Francesco Natalucci ◽  
Fabrizio Conti
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Narrative Medicine ◽  
Good Control ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Systemic Lupus ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Text Content ◽  
Insight Into

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic contributes to the burden of living with different diseases, including Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). We described, from a narrative point of view, the experiences and perspectives of Italian SLE adults during the COVID-19 emergency, by distinguishing the illness experience before and after the lockdown. Methods: Fifteen patients were invited to participate. Illness narratives were collected between 22 and 29 March 2020 using a written modality to capture patients’ perspectives before and after the COVID-19 lockdown. We performed a two-fold analysis of collected data by distinguishing three narrative types and a qualitative analysis of content to identify the relevant themes and sub-themes reported. Results: Eight narratives included in the final analysis (mean length 436.9 words) have been written by eight females (mean age 43.3 ± 9.9 years, mean disease duration 13.1 ± 7.4 years). Six patients provided a quest narrative, one a chaos and the remaining one a restitution narrative. By text content analysis, we identified specific themes, temporally distinct before and after the lockdown. Before COVID-19, all the patients referred to a good control of disease, however the unexpected arrival of the COVID-19 emergency broke a balance, and patients perceived the loss of health status control, with anxiety and stress. Conclusions: We provided unique insight into the experiences of people with SLE at the time of COVID-19, underlining the perspective of patients in relation to the pandemic.

An analysis of pragmatic content in EFL textbooks for young learners in Croatia

2021 ◽  
pp. 136216882098693
Author(s):  
Eva Jakupčević ◽  
Mihajla Ćavar Portolan
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Speech Acts ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Communicative Competence ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Pragmatic Competence ◽  
Young Learners ◽  
Language Classes ◽  
Insight Into

Pragmatic competence is an essential element of communicative competence, which makes it relevant for speakers of all ages, including young language learners (YLLs). Despite the recognized importance of pragmatics, research of textbooks for adult second language (L2) learners to date has found them lacking in their approach to this key aspect of language. However, there is very little research of pragmatics in textbooks for YLLs, which would provide insight into the extent to which these materials can support teachers in including elements of pragmatic competence into their language classes. The present study aims to fill this gap by determining how much pragmatic content is included in 18 textbooks used in Croatian primary schools with learners aged 9–12 years. The textbooks are compared in regard to the percentage of pages with pragmatic content as well as the different speech acts that receive explicit attention in them. The main finding of the study is the great amount of inconsistency when it comes to the scope and treatment of pragmatic content, with some textbooks proving extremely lacking. The results present a concerning picture as all of the students using these diverse textbooks should be following the same curriculum which emphasizes the development of communicative competence.

scholarly journals Discoloration of Historical Plastic Objects: New Insight into the Degradation of β-Naphthol Pigment Lakes

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 2278
Author(s):  
Anna Micheluz ◽  
Eva Mariasole Angelin ◽  
João Almeida Lopes ◽  
Maria João Melo ◽  
Marisa Pamplona
Keyword(s):  
Light Exposure ◽  
Molecular Structures ◽  
Conservation Science ◽  
Organic Pigment ◽  
Organic Pigments ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Determining Factor ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Historical Samples

Light is a determining factor in the discoloration of plastics, and photodegradation processes can affect the molecular structures of both the polymer and colorants. Limited studies focused on the discoloration of heritage plastics in conservation science. This work investigated the discoloration of red historical polyethylene (PE) objects colored with PR 48:2 and PR 53:1. High-density and low-density PE reference polymers, neat pigment powders, and historical samples were assessed before and after accelerated photoaging. The applied methodology provided insight into the individual light-susceptibility of polyethylenes, organic pigment lakes, and their combined effect in the photoaging of historical plastic formulations. After light exposure, both PE references and historical samples yellowed, PR53:1 faded, and PR 48:2 darkened; however, both organic pigments faded severely in the historical samples. This highlights the role played by the plastic binder likely facilitating the pigment photofading. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry techniques—EGA-MS, PY-GC/MS, and TD-GC/MS—were successfully employed for characterizing the plastic formulations and degradation. The identification of phthalic compounds in both aged β-naphthol powders opens new venues for studies on their degradation. This work’s approach and analytical methods in studying the discoloration of historical plastics are novel, proving their efficacy, reliability, and potentiality.

Improving Communicative Competence Levels of Pre-Service Teachers Through Spoken-Based Reflection Instruction

2021 ◽  
pp. 002205742110445
Author(s):  
Chinaza Solomon Ironsi
Keyword(s):  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Teaching Method ◽  
Communicative Competence ◽  
English As Foreign Language ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Listening And Speaking ◽  
Speaking Skills

This study investigated the use of spoken-reflection instruction to improve the communicative competence level of English as Foreign Language learners in a second language acquisition classroom. A listening and speaking test was administered before and after the study to determine the participants’ level of speaking competence. A quantitative research design was adopted for the study. A 3-credit unit language course was designed and implemented for the study. The course was built on the core principles of reflective practice. Participants were taught using the normal language teaching method and spoken-based reflection instruction. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 65 English as Foreign Language learners who willingly participated in the study. At the end of the course, a questionnaire was used to obtain information from the participants about their perceptions of using spoken-based reflection instruction to improve their speaking skills. In addition, participants were administered a Reflection-Listening, and Speaking Skills Test before and after each experimental phase to determine whether their listening and speaking skills had improved. Most learners found the use of spoken reflections to be a fun way to learn. However, they expressed anxiety about doing teacher-student reflection because they felt intimidated by the presence of their language teacher, although sending recordings of their reflections to their teachers was more convenient than interacting with them on a one-to-one basis.

scholarly journals Developing Extensive Reading Materials Using Arabic Story Book Based on Bilingual Parallel Text/ تطوير مواد القراءة الموسعة باللغة العربية في كتاب القصة على أساس نص متواز ثنائي اللغة

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amin Nasir ◽  
Salamatun Nafi’ah
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Needs Analysis ◽  
Research Needs ◽  
Extensive Reading ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Student Responses ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Reading Materials ◽  
Parallel Text ◽  
Effectiveness And Efficiency

This research is a research and development on Arabic extensive reading materials using storybooks based on bilingual parallel text. The purposes of this research are to find out the steps in developing Arabic extensive reading materials using storybook based on bilingual parallel text for MA NU Miftahul Falah students and to find out the feasibility of the storybooks and the students responses. This research is a type of research and development. This study uses Richey and Kleins’ model but with some modifications, the stages of this research are: Planning, which is the activity of making a product plan that will be made for a specific purpose. This stage begins with a needs analysis carried out through research and literature study. Production, which is the activity of making products based on the designs that have been made. Evaluation, namely the activity of testing and assessing how high the product has met predetermined specifications. The results of the study, namely the average validity of the storybook that has been developed with all evaluation aspects is 3.49 so it is classified as valid. The evaluation results also show that the product is suitable for use, and the average value of student responses is 84.2 and is in the very good category. Further research needs to be done to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the product with a wider sample

scholarly journals The development of a CEFR-based scale for assessing young foreign language learners’ writing skills

Linguistica ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 241-259
Author(s):  
Karmen Pižorn
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Classroom Assessment ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Young Learners ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
The Common ◽  
Literacy Research ◽  
Insight Into

The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) was designed with adults in mind, which is clearly reflected in the six levels encompassing a range of proficiency that represents lifelong learning. Therefore, any use of the CEFR levels as a basis for describing the ability of young learners requires adapting the content of each level, as well as identifying which levels on the scale are appropriate for children.The present article examines the contribution that feedback, in the form of an assessment scale, can make to valid classroom assessment of the writing of young learners, in the age group of 9–13 years. It shows that a scale of descriptors adapted from the CEFR can play a central role in this assessment. The article presents the AYLLIT (Assessment of Young Learner Literacy) research project, which developed a CEFR-based writing scale and guidelines for teachers, enabling them to provide their students with feedback, and to gain a clearer insight into their students’ progress. After describing the procedures followed in the project, the article examines the extent to which its outcomes may enable teachers to give feedback that could contribute to valid classroom assessment.

scholarly journals Characterization of Chicken Skin Yellowness and Exploration of Genes Involved in Skin Yellowness Deposition in Chicken

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingwen Wu ◽  
Zetong Lin ◽  
Genghua Chen ◽  
Qingbin Luo ◽  
Qinghua Nie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skin Color ◽  
Skin Pigmentation ◽  
Differentially Expressed ◽  
Economic Trait ◽  
Chicken Skin ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Skin Coloration ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Selection Of

Skin color is an important economic trait in meat-type chickens. A uniform bright skin color can increase the sales value of chicken. Chickens with bright yellow skin are more popular in China, especially in the broiler market of South China. However, the skin color of chickens can vary because of differences in breeds, diet, health, and individual genetics. To obtain greater insight into the genetic factors associated with the process of skin pigmentation in chickens, we used a colorimeter and high-resolution skin photographs to measure and analyze the skin color of chickens. By analyzing 534 chickens of the same breed, age, and feed condition, we found that the yellowness values of the chickens varied within this population. A significant positive correlation was found between the cloacal skin yellowness values before and after slaughter, and the cloacal skin yellowness value of live chickens was positively correlated with the overall body skin yellowness value. Additionally, chicken skin yellowness exhibited low heritability, ranging from 0.07 to 0.27. Through RNA sequencing, 882 genes were found to be differentially expressed between the skin with the highest and lowest yellowness values. Some of these differentially expressed genes may play an important role in yellow pigment deposition in chicken skin, which included TLR2B, IYD, SMOC1, ALDH1A3, CYP11A1, FHL2, TECRL, ACACB, TYR, PMEL, and GPR143. In addition, we found that the expression and variations of the BCO2 gene, which is referred to as the yellow skin gene, cannot be used to estimate the skin yellowness value of chickens in this population. These data will help to further our understanding of chicken skin yellowness and might contribute to the selection of specific chicken strains with consistent skin coloration.

scholarly journals Effect of Pedestrian Penalty on Pedestrian Behavior in Qatar

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar Khaled Ghonim ◽  
Deepti Muley ◽  
Mohamed Kharbeche ◽  
Yousef Mohamed ◽  
Ahmed Madkoor
Keyword(s):  
Behavior Changes ◽  
Actual Behavior ◽  
Crash Data ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Twitter Account ◽  
The Law ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Before And After Study ◽  
Insight Into

Crashes involving pedestrians are a major concern for authorities in many developed and developing countries. To refrain pedestrians from illegal or unsafe road behavior, authorities introduced three pedestrian penalties in the State of Qatar from August 2019. This paper assesses the awareness, perception, and adaptive intentions of the new amendment to the pedestrians’ law. A questionnaire survey, designed in three languages, was distributed online using Qatar University contacts and Twitter account of the General Directorate of Traffic at the Ministry of Interior, State of Qatar. A sample of 521 complete responses was obtained and used for statistical analysis. The results indicated that only 32 % of the respondents were aware of the law amendment before taking this survey. Further, the higher score for perception, adaptive intentions and awareness showed that the respondents were aware of the risks and the law amendment will have a positive effect on their behavior on road as pedestrians. The outcomes of the analysis show the efficacy of the law amendment. However, the actual behavior changes need to be studied by analyzing the pedestrian crash data and conducting a before and after study. Moreover, the study of the effects on pedestrians’ behavior, through empirical observations, is proposed to get insight into actual behaviors after law amendment as a part of future work on the topic.

scholarly journals Development Framework for the Evaluation of Usability in E-Government: A Case Study of E-Finance Government of Malang

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivin Ayu Lestari
Keyword(s):  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
User Testing ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Development Framework ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Important Quality ◽  
Effectiveness And Efficiency

E-government is an effort to utilize information and communication technology especially internet to improve public service quality which generally implemented in a web based application. Usability is one of the important quality criteria for the success of a web. In this study we developed a framework for evaluation of usability in e-government consisting of  eight stages: (1) determining the evaluation objectives, (2) determining the usability aspects, (3) determining the metrics usability, (4) selecting usability evaluation method candidates, (5) determining the required criteria of the method to be evaluated, (6) evaluating the method, (7) selecting and making the instrument, and (8) evaluate usability.. The results of the application of this framework in the case study of e-finance resulted in two methods used: user testing and questionnaires. The evaluation of usability in e-government for e-finance case studies using the proposed framework results in usability level of e-finance in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction are 96%, 92%, and 70 respectively. Which can be identified to be grouped into 16 problems consisting of aspects of effectiveness and efficiency.

scholarly journals MODEL MANAJEMEN PEMASARAN BERSAMA BERBASIS INTERNET DALAM UPAYA MENINGKATKAN SISTEM PENJUALAN PRODUK MASYARAKAT DESA DI KABUPATEN SERANG

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-29
Author(s):  
Deviyantoro Deviyantoro ◽  
Wahyudin ◽  
Amarul
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Research And Development ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Sales Performance ◽  
Marketing Management ◽  
Management Model ◽  
Performance Effectiveness ◽  
Is Research ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Product Sales

The research purpose was to produce a model of marketing management, the model is  joint marketing management of Internet-based for village product. The results of this research are expected to overcome the deadlock village product marketing that is less extensive and often trapped by realtor marketing system. This research method used is research and development approach.The results of comparative hypotheses on marketing management model shown significant differences product sales performance effectiveness of rural communities in the district Waringin Kurung and Keramatwatu before and after implementation of the model joint marketing management based onInternet or the  joint marketing management of Internet-based for village product is effective   Tujuan penelitian ini adalah menghasilkan suatu model manajemen pemasaran, hasil inovasi berupa cara pengelolaan pemasaran bersama produk unggulan desa berbasis internet. Hasil penelitian ini diharapkan dapat mengatasi kebuntuan pemasaran produk desa yang kurang luas dan sering terjebak oleh sistim makelar pemasaran. Metode penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan penelitian dan pengembangan (research and development).Berdasarkan hasil pengamartan serta analisis data penelitian menunjukan bahwa pengujian hipotesis atas penerapan model yang dilakukan secara terbatas hanya pada 2 kecamatan menunjukkan terdapat perbedaan secara signifikan efektifitas kinerja penjualan produk masyarakat desa di kecamatan Waringin Kurung dan Kecamatan Keramatwatu  sebelum dan setelah penerapan model Pemasaran bersama berbasis Internet.

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