Challenges Experienced in Distance Education and Solution Suggestions During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period

In this study, which was carried out in order to identify the challenges experienced in distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic period and to propose solutions to these problems, the phenomenology design was used. Twelve experts who had experience of distance education during the COVID-19 period contributed to the study. The findings obtained within the scope of the study show that there are challenges such as the unpreparedness of institutions, insufficient infrastructure, increased digital divide among learners, and difficulties in measurement-evaluation processes and support services processes during the pandemic period. Regarding the solution of these problems, solutions such as investing in infrastructure, revising support services, using teaching techniques suitable for distance education, taking responsibility in learning processes, and changing measurement-evaluation techniques have been presented.

Improvement of Automatic Measurement Evaluation System for Subway Structures by Adjacent Excavation

This study evaluated the structural stability of subway structures based on adjacent excavations by comparing automatically measured and numerically analyzed data. The reliability of the automated measurement methodology was evaluated by first applying probability statistical analysis to the measured results and then comparing these results with the numerically analyzed results. An improvement in the calculation method evaluation system, including the method of processing and analysis of the automatically measured data of subway structures through the average value of probability density, was proposed. As a result of the field measurement and numerical analysis, the measured results of tunnel displacement and track deformation exhibited some differences. However, it was determined that the construction stage and location where the maximum values of the tunnel displacement and track deformation occurred had similarities.

Investigation of Science Teachers’ Integrating Edutional Technologies into the Covid-19 Pandemic Process

The ability to use edutional technologies in distance education is very important during the covid pandemic process. The aim of this study is to determine the competencies and needs of science teachers in using technology in the covid-19 pandemic distance education process. The research was carried out with phenomenology techniques, one of the qualitative methods. Data were collected by applying semi-structured interview forms containing 7 open-ended questions to 21 science teachers working in the central districts of Manisa province, then analyzed via consent analysis method. Finally, by creating themes and codes, frequency and percentage distributions were revealed to understand and. When the findings were examined, the biggest obstacles to distance education were the internet connection, infrastructure-hardware problems and the inability to discipline students. Students’ entering the online lesson with their cameras closed, the noise from the home environment, and could not join online lesson were reflected in the opinions of the participants as problems. If our students are more active by making presentations, these problems will be minimized and the quality of distance education maximize. It was observed that although science teachers having experience in using technology are more active, science teachers with insufficient experience in using technology could not conduct scientific experiments for their students in the distance education process. In addition, integrating different student-centered educational techniques and measurement-evaluation activities with technology are other problems.

Providing Measurement, Evaluation, Accountability, and Leadership Support (MEALS) for Non-communicable Diseases Prevention in Ghana: Project Implementation Protocol

Background: This study describes the rationale, adaptation, and final protocol of a project developed to address the increase in obesity and nutrition-related non-communicable diseases (NR-NCDs) in Ghana. Code-named the Measurement, Evaluation, Accountability, and Leadership Support for NCDs (MEALS4NCDs) project, it aims to measure and support public sector actions that create healthy food marketing, retail, and provisioning environments for Ghanaian children using adapted methods from the International Network for Food and Obesity/NCDs Research Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS).Methods: The protocol for this observational study draws substantially from the INFORMAS' Food Promotion and Food Provision Modules. However, to appraise the readiness of local communities to implement interventions with strong potential to improve food environments of Ghanaian children, the MEALS4NCDs protocol has innovatively integrated a local community participatory approach based on the community readiness model (CRM) into the INFORMAS approaches. The setting is Ghana, and the participants include health and nutrition policy-makers, nutrition and food service providers, consumers, school authorities, and pupils of Ghanaian basic schools.Results: The study establishes a standardized approach to providing implementation science evidence for the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Ghana. It demonstrates feasibility and the innovative application of the INFORMAS expanded food promotion and food provision modules, together with the integration of the CRM in a lower-middle income setting.Conclusion: The research will facilitate the understanding of the processes through which the INFORMAS approach is contextualized to a lower-middle income African context. The protocol could be adapted for similar country settings to monitor relevant aspects of food environments of children.

Performance measurement, evaluation and accountability in public philanthropic foundations

Philanthropic foundations routinely evaluate and measure the performance of nonprofit organisations to which they distribute funds, as well as the programmes that are funded. Another aspect of philanthropic foundations’ evaluation processes, which receives comparatively little attention within academic or practitioner literature, concerns evaluations of grant applications. While the focus of philanthropic evaluation literature is mainly on ‘how evaluation is done’, the focus of this article is on ‘how evaluation is understood’. This article details perspectives from interviews with 28 managers and trustees of Public Ancillary Funds as part of a wider study on the accountability of foundations. These public foundations must fundraise from the public, and donations to them are deductible against the taxable income of the donor, resulting in a significant element of accountability to the public for their effectiveness and evaluation of the distribution of their funds. Four main themes emerged through the exploration of how evaluation is understood from the perspective of these senior foundation leaders: motivations, values, criteria and processes of evaluation.

Change of driver’s response time depending on light source and brake light technology used

This paper deals with finding out the influence of the type of light source of car brake lights on the reaction time of the driver of the preceding vehicle. The driver’s reaction time was measured in the form of pressing the brake pedal depending on the lighting of brake lights on the leading vehicle. The measurement evaluation consists of a comparison of the phase shift between the brake light signal of the first vehicle and the brake light signal of the second vehicle. The experimental measurement was performed for five people using the classic light bulb, afterwards, an LED light source for the brake lights of the first vehicle. The records confirmed that the driver’s reaction time depends on many factors, with the source and intensity of the brake lights also playing an important role. Further, it affects the reaction time and the activity or inactivity of the rear sidelights. The reaction time of the driver of the preceding vehicle was extended with their activation.

Providing Measurement, Evaluation, Accountability, and Leadership Support for NCDs Prevention in Ghana: Adapting the INFORMAS Approach

BackgroundLike most other countries, Ghana is experiencing an increase in obesity and nutrition-related non-communicable diseases (NR-NCDs). The need to adopt effective and comprehensive interventions/approaches to address this burden at global, regional, and national levels has been recognized. However, there is limited contextualized evidence on the implementation, and efficacy of approaches that can address NCDs in Ghana. In an earlier study, we assessed food environment priorities, and programme implementation gaps in Ghana. Building on that, this paper describes the rationale, adaptation and final protocol of a project developed to address this: The Measurement, Evaluation, Accountability, and Leadership Support for NCDs (MEALS4NCDs) project. The MEALS4NCDs project aims to measure and support public sector actions that create healthy food marketing, retail and provisioning environments for Ghanaian children, using adapted methods from the International Network for Food and Obesity/NCDs Research Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS). The research will facilitate understanding of the processes through which the INFORMAS approach is contextualized to a lower-middle income African context. MethodsThe protocol for this observational study draws substantially from the INFORMAS’ Food Promotion and Food Provision Modules. However, to appraise the readiness of local communities to implement interventions with strong potential to improve Ghanaian children’s food environments, the MEALS4NCDs protocol has innovatively integrated a local community participatory approach based on the Community Readiness Model (CRM) into the INFORMAS approaches. DiscussionThe study establishes a standardised approach to providing implementation science evidence for NCDs prevention in Ghana. It aims to demonstrate feasibility and innovative application of the INFORMAS expanded Food promotion and Food provision modules, together with the integration of the CRM in a lower-middle income setting. The protocol could be adapted for similar country settings to monitor relevant aspects of children’s food environments. Trial registrationNot applicable