Views of university students in Jordan towards Biobanking

Background Biobanks are considered primary means+ of supporting contemporary research, in order to deliver personalized and precise diagnostics with public acceptance and participation as a cornerstone for their success. Aims This study aims to assess knowledge, perception, and attitudes towards biomedical research and biobanking among students at the University of Jordan. Methodology An online questionnaire was designed, developed, and piloted. It was divided into 5 sections that included questions related to issues of biomedical research and biobanking as well as factors influencing the decision to participate. Results Responses from 435 students revealed that 52.9% previously heard of biobanks. There was an overwhelming acceptance for participation in biomedical, genetic, and biobanking research. A blood sample was the most preferred for donation. Protection of privacy, informed consent prior to donation, approval of an ethics committee, and trust towards researchers were the most important factors associated with willingness to participate. On the other hand, the vagueness of the type of research performed on the biospecimens and the unavailability of general research results to the donor had a negative connotation. There was no clear agreement on the type of informed consent preferred by students, but to be contacted and informed of research results was preferred by the majority. Students also preferred the disposal of biospecimens and information when deciding to withdraw from participation. Conclusion There is strong enthusiasm among students to participate in biomedical research and biobanking with all rights reserved thus providing hope for a very promising future in Jordan.

Paruman The Khemion Master: Learning Chemistry Periodic table with Trading Card game

The purpose of this research is to learn about how IP character can help students remembering their lesson. In this case we apply the research to a subject that majority students having difficulty to learn, it is chemistry. Some students say that chemistry is the hardest subject for them. Some say that the hardest part is to remember codes and elements on chemistry. Even they said it is the most boring subject, and usually they get a bad mark for it. Based on our survey, we find out that most of students having difficulties to study the subject using traditional method. They prefer to learn using graphics, because it is easier to remember the codes. For this case, we create a set of play card that can help students remembering the chemicals codes. Each card has a unique IP Character that resembles chemical element. Writers also add an element, which could make the chemistry lesson easier to understand, that is game. A game rule will be applied on the card game, and it will help student learned chemistry. And to make it more attractive and fun, we also try to put some technology to the game. Using a technology called Augment Reality, we try to engage students more.

COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on the Performance of Educational Process: From Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Student

The following research paper emblazons the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the education sectors of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa University and Colleges students. Data has been collected through Google form, (due to COVID-19 SOP’s) from students. Research Population includes 568 students from different universities programmes and semesters that have presented their views about effect of study in COVID-19 Pandemic. The overall output of the survey highlighted that majority of students were not aware about the digital tools, which they are now apprised of, which according to them will help them in the future career. Majority of the students negate the online classes due to, lack of resources, time issues and no internet facility or the students that devoid of any practical work repealed it. Main problem that has been highlighted is Internet connection problem in newly merged District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Lack of a satisfactory substructure, learning motivation, socialization for majority students, hindrances to perform practical applications, less effective student-teacher interaction and communication, less achievements of the examination objective, online examination e.g., lack of two way communication, more chances of cheating, possibility of mental health and physical deprivation (e.g., spending too much time in front of screens, installation of a deskbound routine. Therefore communication for the contemporary academic year, effective and efficient measures have to be imposed by the university management to solve all the students’ issues (internet issues and relevant data availability) and waive off as much as possible these undesirable issues and to develop a better online education process.

Majority rights and minority responsibilities: young people’s negotiations with human rights

This paper is a case study of student discussions of rights and responsibilities, which contributes to filling the existing knowledge gap on the topic. Tenth grade majority students who participated in three group discussions on inclusive citizenship spoke of rights as belonging to the majority or to the minoritised Other. In line with earlier research findings, students referenced human rights as national rights or values, while making explicit connections between majority rights and minority responsibilities and implicit references to the responsibility of the majority to protect minority rights. This analysis indicates a need in human rights education (HRE) for both legal literacy and a deeper discussion of human rights. This can, for example, be achieved through a focus on the local context so that young people may better understand minority barriers to rights, as well as the role of the majority in issues of social justice.

Non-majority student perceptions of diversity and inclusion at a PWI and an HBCU

Purpose Using survey research, the purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of diversity to examine perceptions of diversity and inclusion among majority and non-majority students at a predominately White university (PWI) and a historically Black university (HBCU) observing any patterns of difference between majority and non-majority groups to make inferences regarding students’ sense of belonging, given current national efforts to establish inclusive excellence on university campuses. Design/methodology/approach Results based on Likert-scale responses on a validated questionnaire were analyzed using independent samples t-tests to identify differences for each survey item. Eta squared was used as an effect size measure. The PWI and HBCU were then compared by item analysis. A two-way factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess the independent impact of each of the universities (i.e. PWI, HBCU) and the interaction of those two factors in their effect on the dependent variables (i.e. race, gender, sexuality). Findings Results indicated significant differences between the majority and non-majority groups on multiple items within each university site. Further, significant differences were observed between the universities in perceptions and experiences of diversity and inclusion. Originality/value Unique in this study was an examination of perceptions of inclusion at a PWI and an HBCU based not only on non-majority status of race, but also on gender and sexuality with the intention of expanding the research base associated with “sense of belonging” to other groups who have existed as “diverse others” in the context of majority culture dominance.

Keberkesanan Aplikasi Mudah Alih ‘Algoritma bersama Algo’ bagi Pembelajaran Topik Algoritma dalam Subjek Asas Sains Komputer

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk membangunkan sebuah aplikasi mudah alih, Algoritma Bersama Algo untuk pelajar tingkatan 1 yang mengambil subjek Asas Sains Komputer bagi topik Algoritma. Pembangunan aplikasi ini berasaskan kepada permasalahan yang berlaku dalam kalangan guru mahupun pelajar yang sukar untuk mencari bahan rujukan. Pembangunan aplikasi ini dapat membantu para guru dan pelajar dengan menerapkan elemen-elemen multimedia dan teknologi maklumat. Seterusnya, kajian ini juga mengkaji persepsi pelajar dan guru terhadap penggunaan aplikasi dalam pembelajaran bab Algoritma. Metodologi kajian yang digunakan sebagai panduan dalam pembangunan aplikasi ini adalah ADDIE. Data kajian dikumpul dengan menggunakan soal selidik yang diedarkan kepada guru dan pelajar melalui Google Form. Hasil dapatan kajian memperlihatkan majoriti pelajar dapat menggunakan aplikasi dengan baik dan menarik minat pelajar untuk belajar. Cadangan pada masa akan datang adalah dalam menghasilkan sesuatu produk pembangun perlu kreatif dalam menerapkan elemen multimedia dalam menarik minat pengguna. Kesimpulan daripada kajian menunjukkan pembelajaran yang menarik mampu dijalankan walaupun diluar bilik darjah dengan menggunakan aplikasi mudah alih yang disediakan.. Usefulness of the 'Algoritma bersama Algo' for Learning Algorithm Topic in Asas Sains Komputer Subjects Abstract: This study aim to develop a mobile application, “Algoritma bersama Algo” for Form 1’s student taking “Asas Sains Komputer” in Algorithm topic. This application development based on problem that occurred within both teacher and student that having dificulity in searching reference materials. This application can help both teacher and student to applied multimedia and information technology elements. Next, this study also examines the perceptions of students and teachers to use this application in learning about algorithm. Methodology used as guide in development of this application is ADDIE model. Data collected using questionnaires which distributed to students through Google Forms. The result showed that majority students can use application properly and it attract students to learn. Suggestion for the future is to produce a creative product as developer needs to implement multimedia elements to interest users. As conclusion, the study showed interesting learning can be carried out even outside the classroom using mobile applications that were develop. Keywords: Learning Tool, Algorithm, Mobile Application.

College Admission with Multidimensional Privileges: The Brazilian Affirmative Action Case

In 2012, Brazilian public universities were mandated to use affirmative action policies for candidates from racial and income minorities. We show that the policy makes the students’ affirmative action status a strategic choice and may reject high-achieving minority students while admitting low-achieving majority students. Empirical data shows evidence consistent with this type of unfairness in more than 49 percent of the programs. We propose a selection criterion and an incentive-compatible mechanism that, for a wider range of similar problems and the one in Brazil in particular, is fair and removes any gain from strategizing over the privileges claimed. (JEL I23, O15, I28, J15, D82, H52)

The role of preservice teachers’ implicit attitudes and causal attributions: a deeper look into students’ ethnicity

Previous research has provided evidence that teachers implicitly hold more negative attitudes toward ethnic minority students than toward ethnic majority students. Furthermore, they attribute the lower educational success of ethnic minority students predominantly to internal causes. So far, it is not known how implicit attitudes and causal attributions are related to preservice teachers’ judgments of students’ academic competencies. We conducted a study to close this research gap. In a sample of preservice teachers, our study showed mainly negative implicit attitudes toward ethnic minority students. On general, the preservice teachers made external attributions. Implicit attitudes as well as causal attributions predicted the judgments. Preservice teachers with more negative attitudes and preservice teachers, who attributed the failure of ethnic minority students to these students’ abilities, less favorably judged the competence of ethnic minority students. Our results highlight the role of teachers’ attitudes and causal attributions in determining the disadvantages that ethnic minority students experience in school.

When Ethnicity and Gender Align: Classroom Composition, Friendship Segregation, and Collective Identities in European Schools

Using survey data on school classes in four European countries, we study how the social relations and identities of adolescents develop depending on the degree to which ethnic and gender boundaries align with each other. Minority students will have mostly same-ethnic friends, we find, when classmates of different ethnic origins tend to be of the opposite sex as well. Within such local topographies of boundaries, minority students will also end up identifying less as members of the nation. In contrast, majority students are not affected by the alignment of ethnic and gender boundaries, and gender identities of both minorities and majorities are less malleable as well: Neither friendship segregation along gender divides nor the development of gender role attitudes depend on the degree to which gender and ethnic origin align. We argue that gender boundaries and feelings of national belonging among majority students are widely taken for granted and thus less sensitive to attribute alignment at the local level. The article builds a bridge between the literatures on ethnic segregation of friendship networks, adolescent ethnic identities, and gender role attitudes by integrating them into a structuralist framework that identifies the conditions under which the local configuration of boundaries affects social life.