Gamification in Everyday Classrooms: Observations From Schools in Hong Kong

Gamification refers to the use of game elements in non-game context to improve user experience and engagement (Deterding et al., 2011a). The potential of games to make learning more engaging has been widely noted by educators and researchers. Many of the applications and research studies in this area focused on non-customizable digital games that are designed for a specific group and a narrow range of subject content. In actual classrooms, however, non-customizable digital games may not be flexible enough to enable teachers to adapt gamification into practice. Hence, teachers sometimes use a mixed set of strategies to flexibly embed game-based mechanics into their teaching. How can different gamification tools be applied in classrooms? Based on classroom observations and teacher interviews from schools from primary to secondary level in Hong Kong, this paper explores the role of gamification in real practice. We frame the discussion based on the following approaches with ranging levels of flexibility: versatile gamification, gamification platform, and rigid gamification. Versatile gamification was seen as more feasible compared with the other two approaches. We also examine how game-based mechanics such as competition, rules, graphics, and achievements are used to enrich classroom interaction. It was found that gamification is already popular in the classroom. Follow up interviews with teachers suggested that game is a powerful way to engage students. Good practices in game-based lesson design and potentials for further development of gamification tools are discussed.

What Has Changed in European Concept of Undertaking? From „FENIN“ to „EASY PAY“

Competition is the main self-regulatory principle of the market in general, internal market included. Competition law has the form of general clauses making its application dependant on the correct interpretation of general concepts. Core competition rules of the Functional Treaty („TFEU“) are addressed to undertakings; undertaking thus belongs to key concepts of competition law. Interpretation of this concept is decisive for the scope of competition rules application. So, the article explores different approaches of the case law to the interpretation of the concept of undertaking based on economic activity. It compares the FENIN doctrine and the new functional test of separability developed in EASY PAY. It drives attention to the impact of this new test for the evaluation of procurement activities under competition scrutiny.

The effect of score types on total score in trampoline gymnastics: Example of the European Championship in Sochi 2021

Background and Study Aim. Trampoline gymnastics has a versatile scoring system that has evolved and become more complex over the years. This study aimed to find the effect of the difficulty (D), execution (E), time of flight (TOF), and horizontal displacement (HD) scores on the total score in male and female trampoline gymnasts. Material and Methods. The results of the first round in the qualification round in the individual senior category of the 27th European Championships in Trampoline Gymnastics were used for evaluation. Multiple regression analysis (the enter method) was performed to build a model between the total score and D, E, TOF, and HD scores. Results. According to multiple regression analyses, respectively E, TOF, D, and HD scores were predictors of the total score in the men’s first routine, and D, E, TOF, and HD in the men’s second routine (p<0.05). Although women have the same ranking as the men of the second routines, respectively E, D, TOF, and HD scores were predictors of the first routine (p<0.05). Conclusions. The results show that the E score is critical for the first routines and the D score is critical for the second routines. The fact that the first and second routines were constructed with different strategies as per the competition rules may have caused this result. By reminding coaches and athletes of the fact that the types of scores can affect each other, it can be suggested that they adjust their target scores according to the type of routine and the stage and type of competition.

Constructing and Standardizing Cognitive Test in Artist Competition Rule for Epee Referees

The research aimed at constructing and standardizing a cognitive test in competition rules for epee referees as well as identifying the validity of these tests. The problem of the research lies in the lack of cognitive tests made for fencing referees. The researchers used the descriptive method on (50) referees and the pilot study was conducted on (3) while constructing subjects (47) and standardizing subjects were (45). The test was distributed, collected, and treated using proper statistical operations to conclude that there are differences between referees in their level that proves the validity of this test to measure cognitive knowledge of competition rules.

PROBLEMS OF WESTERNIZATION OF THE CONTEMPORARY RUSSIAN POLITICAL CULTURE

In 1993 Russia announced the westernization of its political system. Its main institutions were enshrined in the Constitution of the Russian Federation (democracy, republic, separation of powers, rule of law). However, the researchers note that the reform failed. Russia only simulates the transition to Western standards of life. The author of the study sets himself the task of identifying the reasons for failure in the nature of the country's political culture. Applying a dialectical and materialistic approach to the problem, the author reveals the influence of the economic system of the country, the social structure of society, imitative changes in the political system, socialization, and traditions of society on the nature of the political culture of Russia. Based on his previous research, the author introduces a number of new explanatory theories. In his opinion, the movement towards the Western model is slowed down by the administrative class which does not want to lose its dominant position. It is not ready to move to a competitive political system, in which it loses its power and turns into a bureaucracy dependent on public politicians representing society. The service intelligentsia is engaged in spreading the public consciousness that is beneficial to the administrative class. Together, they support the type of consciousness of the population that is beneficial to them. Western political ideology is spread in society by the civil intelligentsia, but its significance is not great. The majority of the population agrees with the rule of the administrative class and votes in support of it. Therefore, there is no competitive political system in Russia. The mass consciousness of Russians remains irrational, which allows them to control it with the help of symbolic actions. It retains such archaic features as herd status and infantilism. An infantile person needs a master who decides for him in which direction society will develop, organizes this development, takes care of the population. People express dissatisfaction with this master, but accept his power and obey him. The degree of westernization of Russia's political culture is still very insignificant. The author defines it as 3 points out of 10. The political culture of Russia will be westernized as competitive capitalist relations develop in the country. Competition rules based on the law will gradually be introduced into the political life of the country.

Implications of the Digital Economy on Merger Control in Pakistan and China: Policy Implications for Pakistan

The rise of the digital economy has challenged the foundation of competition law frameworks the world over. Today, the antitrust doctrine finds itself confronting a new economy; an econo-my wherein data acts as a currency, markets are without prices, market collisions are based on algorithms, and the market is &lsquo;infinite&rsquo;. Several jurisdictions such as Germany, Austria, and China have developed new regulations or amended existing legislations to confront the chal-lenges presented by the digital economy. A dearth of theoretical and empirical literature has evaluated whether digital markets are so fundamentally different as to require a different set of rules. Of specific interest to this paper is whether current competition rules are sufficient to deal with mergers and acquisitions (M&amp;As) in digital markets. This paper assesses M&amp;A regulations in China and Pakistan in light of the new digital economy. Expert interviews were conducted using semi-structured interviews to investigate the comparisons between Pakistan&rsquo;s and China&rsquo;s merger control regimes. The findings indicate that China&rsquo;s merger control regulations are better adopted for the digital economy than Pakistani&rsquo;s. It also sets out the policy implications for competition policy makers in Pakistan.

Hospital management strategy in the aspect of visualization of the pandemic COVID-19

The article addresses an important issue regarding the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the operation of hospitals and the use of management strategies at the present time and in reality after the pandemic. Based on the analysis performed, the article indicates four key areas that require immediate action to improve the functioning of the health care system and maintain the public health of the population. Based on the analysis of 9 crisis levers of the business model of A. Osterwalder, Y. Pigneur, four main areas requiring immediate intervention were identified, namely: development of medical personnel, development of computerization and digital competences, optimization of revenues and costs, identification of decision-making centers - appropriate division of tasks and responsibility. In these areas, the Polish health care system has failed, they require urgent strengthening and strategic long-term solutions, which will translate into optimization of activities aimed at securing the health of the society. It turns out that during the pandemic, it was not costs that turned out to be the biggest problem, but above all staff shortages, lack of access to health services, or equipment and organizational shortages. The time of the pandemic has shown that the researchers' theories that quality and not cost are the most important have proved successful. According to M.E. Porter and E. Teisberg, despite the limitations, the health care system can achieve excellent results in terms of both quality and effectiveness, which, however, often requires transformation and implementation of new competition rules aimed at increasing the value created.

Effect of Dynamics Control Strategy on Performance of FSEC Racing Car

The control strategy of driving system for the distributed electric drive DRe20 car of Tongji University DIAN Racing team is developed and optimized according to the competition rules of Formula Student Electric China (FSEC). The VI-grade and Matlab Simulink cosimulation experimental platform is established to study the effects of different dynamic control strategies, such as equal distribution, open-loop electronic differential and limited slip differential, on the performance of the DRe20 racing car. The simulation platform is also used to optimize the control algorithm and the setting of different parameters in the program, then the results of simulation analysis and optimization are applied to the actual car experiment, providing a lot of reference data for the adjustment of suspension system and electronic control system of the DRe20 car. The simulation and actual test results show that the limited slip differential control strategy we developed and optimized in 2020 can give full play to the design performance of the DRe20 car, and the comprehensive performances have been improved compared with those in previous years. The optimized dynamics control strategy has been applied to Tongji DIAN Racing car during the 2020 Formula Student Electric China competition, in which Tongji DIAN Racing Team wins the championship.

EU competition rules for cloud firms will hit US ties

Headline EU: Competition rules for cloud firms will hit US ties