Development of Virtual Laboratory Simulation: e-SCILAB on Waves for Grade 7 Science

Virtual Laboratory Simulation (VLS) enhances student understanding, retention of concepts, and promotes active learning through direct visualization and manipulation of computer animations. This study aimed to develop a VLS with complementary manual for Grade 7 physics that can be utilized by the teachers to address the needs of the students in the new normal learning. The developed VLS is composed of a Teacher’s Instructional Manual and Student’s Learning Manual. The study used Research and Development approach with the ADD (Analysis, Design, and Development) model as the instructional method. These allows the researchers to analyze the need of VLS, identify the design of VLS, and develop the VLS. The VLS was evaluated based on the content quality with a mean of 4.68, technical quality with 4.65, and instructional quality with 4.57. The results for the complementary activity manual in terms of the content quality is a mean of 4.62, the technical quality with 4.54, and the instructional quality with 4.55. The result showed that the developed VLS together with the complementary activity manual satisfied the quality components and attained the intended standards. It is recommended that evaluation of the effectiveness of VLS through pilot tests in public and private schools.

Evaluation of ABLA-R Application Training

The ABLA-R (Assessment of Basic Learning Abilities Revised) is a useful test for assessing the discriminative abilities of individuals with developmental disorders. This study evaluated, with six professionals, the effect of three training components in ABLA-R administration accuracy: ABLA-R self-instructional manual, video feedback and role-play. None of the components, used separately in training, resulted in an accurate application of ABAL-R. The combination of the self-instructional manual with video feedback resulted in performances with more than 90% accuracy. The data corroborate previous evidence on the importance of feedback in professional training and demonstrate that a combination of training components may be more effective in teaching the ABLA-R application than using only the selfinstructional manual.

Dōgena Fukan zazengi jako tekst ujawniający istotne rysy buddyjskiej praktyki

The aim of this article is the presentation and relatively detailed analysis of the text written by the medieval monk Dogen entitled Fukan zazengi. This is one of the most important religious scriptures in the history of Japanese Buddhism and Buddhism in general, constituting the basic instructional manual within the wide Mahayana current. In the article I present the author’s view, which boils down to emphasizing the importance of independent meditation practice based on examples of former masters. At the same time, I emphasize the fi nal mystery of the actual practice itself and Dogen’s advice to reject the understanding of religious practice in terms of profi t and loss. The paper also touches the problem occurring within two versions of the discussed meditation instruction. The diff erences in the two texts are twofold, on the one hand, more or less signifi cant corrections throughout the whole text and on the other hand one fundamental change that determines the core of religious practice, which is, after all, a sine qua non of Buddhism. As I will try to prove, this change, contrary to appearances, is not as revolutionary as it might seem and both versions reveal the same secret of sitting meditation.

A Novel Educational Smartphone Application for Cognitively Healthy Seniors: A Pilot Study

Modern technologies surround people every day, including seniors. The aim of this pilot study was to create a maximally user-friendly mobile application in order to meet older users’ individual needs. The research sample consisted of 13 older individuals at the age of 55+ years with a mean age of 67 years, living in the Czech Republic. The key assessment tools of this pilot study were the developed application and usability testing. The findings confirmed that the newly developed mobile application for teaching English met the needs of cognitively healthy seniors, and was acceptable and feasible. In addition, it indicated what technical (e.g., visual interface or easy navigation) and pedagogical (e.g., an instructional manual or adjusting to seniors’ learning pace or clear instructions) aspects should be strictly followed when designing such an educational smartphone application. In addition, the authors of this pilot study provide several implications for pedagogical practice. Further research should include more empirical studies aimed at the exploration of educational mobile applications for older generation groups with respect to meeting their individual needs in order to enhance their overall well-being. However, such studies are, nowadays, very rare.

Effects of Project and Demonstration Teaching Methods on Male and Female Students’ Achievement and Retention in Basic Electricity in Technical Colleges

The study ascertained the effects of project and demonstration teaching methods on male and female students’ achievement and retention in basic electricity in technical colleges. Quasi-experimental design; precisely, pre-test, post-test and delayed post-test for non-randomized and unequal groups were used. Four research questions guided the study and four hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Four technical colleges in Ebonyi State, each technical college offering basic electricity, were used. The population of the study comprised of 141 Technical College year II (TC II) students (85 males & 58 females). The project method instructional strategy group had 62 male and 13 female students whereas; the demonstration method instructional strategy group had 20 male and 46 female students. The instruments used in the study were Demonstration Method Instructional Manual (DMIM), Basic Electricity Achievement Test (BEAT) and Project Method Instructional Manual (PMIM), which were validated by three experts. The instrument (BEAT) was administered twice to twenty (20) TC11 students in Enugu State and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation was used to obtain a reliability index of 0.89. Data collected for the study were analyzed using mean with standard deviation for research questions, while hypotheses were tested using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The study found that both the project and demonstration teaching methods improved male and female students’ performances in basic electricity. However, male and female students taught basic electricity using project teaching method had better academic performance and retention in basic electricity, indicating that project teaching method was more effective on male and female students’ achievement and retention in basic electricity than demonstration teaching method. The researchers therefore recommended project teaching method as a teaching strategy that could reduce the gender disparity in male and female students' achievement and retention.

Comparative Effectiveness of Project and Demonstration Teaching Methods in Improving Students’ Academic Achievement in Basic Electricity in Technical Colleges

This study determined the comparative analysis of project and demonstration teaching methods in improving students’ academic achievement in basic electricity in technical colleges. The study adopted quasi-experimental design; specifically, pre-test, post-test for non-randomized and unequal groups were used. One research question guided the study and one hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. Four technical colleges in Ebonyi State, each technical college offering basic electricity, were used. A total of 141 Technical College year II (TC II) students formed the population of the study. The instruments used in the study were Basic Electricity Achievement Test (BEAT), Project Method Instructional Manual (PMIM) and Demonstration Method Instructional Manual (DMIM), which were validated by three experts. The instrument (BEAT) was administered twice to twenty (20) TC11 students in Enugu State and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation was used to obtain a reliability index of 0.89. Data collected for the study were analyzed using mean and standard deviation for research question, while the hypothesis was tested using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The study found more improvement in students’ academic achievement when taught basic electricity using project teaching method than when taught using demonstration teaching method. The study therefore showed that project teaching method was more effective than demonstration teaching method in enhancing students’ academic achievement in basic electricity. The researchers therefore recommended among other things that teachers should embrace project teaching method more than demonstration teaching method to enhance students’ academic achievement in basic electricity.

Transhistorical and Transnational James Baldwin in “My Dungeon Shook” or “The Instructional Manual For Black People”

This review provides an analysis of the great social, cultural, political, intellectual and even anthropological contribution about race relations made by James Baldwin through the first essay of The Fire Next Time. Thanks to this valuable, thoughtful and meaningful contribution about race relations between the white people and the black people, James Baldwin can be characterized here as both a transhistorical and transnational writer, thinker and truthteller. Because his realistic good social, cultural, political, intellectual and even anthropological contribution about race relations in the United States goes beyond the developing issues at the time of writing (the historical context of the essay production, the period of the essay production and the borders of the United States) to become a real transhistorical contribution (meaning is out of historical context and historical period) and a real transnational contribution (meaning is out of the borders of the country mentioned). This retrospective on his essay and its re-evaluation shed light on the visionary quality of the writer and also explore the prophetical quality of his contribution. Due to its realistic message and its effectiveness and visionary qualities, the essay “My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation” may serve as a model-paradigm that can be utilized as an “Instructional Manual” by black people to deal with and to handle white people. And namely, it can serve as precisely “The Instructional Manual For Black People” to deal with and “to handle white people” in terms of useful instructions, guidelines and principles for the sake of the black race.

Instructional Practices, Students’ Readiness and Industry Needs: Bases for an OJT Program Framework

The study designed an OJT program framework based on the instructional practices, students’ readiness and industry needs. Survey, interview and documentary analysis revealed that instructional practices of the college faculty are significantly related to students’ readiness. However, there was no significant relationship between students’ readiness and industry needs. The industry needs stressed that matching of OJT assignment required the link of theory and practice which emphasized time management, punctuality and promptness to meet deadlines in workplaces. Provision of ID for OJT, regular monitoring of OJT in-charge and the conduct of culmination program were highlighted to enhance the OJT program implementation. Components of the proposed training program framework were considered in these processes: Designing OJT Program inclusive of OJT Work Analysis, OJT Module Preparation, OJT-MOA Documentation and Training series on OJT matters. Based on the findings of the study, business education faculty are encouraged to use varied instructional practices consistently to ensure readiness of the business education students in having higher level of adaptability and employability. The study identified the need in matching the field of specialization that students get in college and the services which the industries offer for OJT. Drafting of OJT instructional manual to facilitate the framework being proposed be considered as follow-up study to this.

Comparative Effect of Cooperative Learning on Students’ Performance in Mechanics Concepts: A Case of Two Secondary Schools in Berekum Municipality, Ghana

The study sought to establish differences in the effect of cooperative learning strategy with and without the instructional manual on the Senior High School students’ performance in Mechanics concepts in Physics in the Berekum Municipality, Ghana. The research design employed in this study was the experimental using the pretest and posttest equivalent control group design. A sample of 93 SHS 2 students, drawn from two intact classes was used. An instrument known as Mechanics Concepts Test (MCT) was employed in data gathering. Mean score, standard deviation; t-test, mean gain and effect size analysis were used to answer the research questions, while the independent sample t-test was used to test a hypothesis. The results revealed that students taught using the cooperative learning strategy with the instructional manual performed significantly better in the Mechanics Concepts Test (MCT) than those taught using the cooperative learning strategy only. Therefore, it is recommended that physics teachers should use the cooperative learning strategy along with the instructional manual in order to enhance the performance of students in secondary schools.

Effectiveness of Yoga on Memory of Learners in Secondary Level

This experimental research is evaluated the significance of Yoga on Memory of Secondary School Students, aged between 13 and 17 years. Pretest-posttest of control and experimental groups are designed for this study. The total seventy students were included equally in both control and experimental groups. Before the experiment the researcher administered a pretest for measuring memory of the total seventy students which was measured through in terms of number of trials using Instructional Manual for Memory Drum ( Dr. Vivek Bhargava, Chairman, Harprasad Institute of Behavioural Studies, 41-12, Hardeep Enclave, Sikandra. AGRA(U.P.). And the same test was administered as post –test for both groups. The significance was measured through in terms of number of trials. To remove the difference statistically in the initial status of the two groups, the researcher analyzed the data with the statistical technique of Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Thus both groups initial status had been equated. The main findings of the experimental study proved that the regular yoga practicing students develop the homeostasis of persons in a balanced manner. It helps to attain the complete self-realization. This study reveals that Yoga will assist to improve the students’ memory in a magnificent level. So, Yoga should be practiced for students in the schools of Kerala. Through yoga the students’ memory has increased.