The Role of Mosque Committee in Empowering Mosque’s Educational Programmes: Case Study of Mosques in Gombak District, Malaysia (Peranan Ahli Jawatankuasa Masjid dalam Penambahbaikan Program Pendidikan Masjid: Kajian Kes bagi Masjid-Masjid di Daerah Gombak)

This article analyses the roles of the mosque committee in enhancing the mosque’s educational programmes in Gombak, Selangor. Gombak as an administrative district that is located inside the hectic and modernized area of Klang Valley is prone to foreign ideologies and socio-cultural issues. This study aims to broaden the understanding of how the mosque committee in Gombak could empower the mosque’s educational programmes in addressing these issues. This study also aims to discover creative improvision that the committee could make in making the mosque’s educational programmes attractive to the surrounding community. This study focuses on the role of the mosque committee in improving their mosque’s educational programmes with a specific case study on selected mosques in the Gombak district. It is a qualitative study that utilizes the deductive and inductive methods derived from surveys collected from Focus-group Discussion (FGD) and literature studies. Recordings from the FGD survey and recent literature studies related to this topic are examined and analysed according to its appropriation. The result indicates the importance of the mosque committee and their significant roles in enhancing the mosque’s educational programmes such as adjusting the curriculum to cater the diversity of people and continuously improvising the lesson through feedback taken from the surrounding community. Keywords: Mosque Educational Programme, Mosque Committee, Islamic Education, Gombak District, Majlis Agama Islam Selangor. Abstrak Artikel ini mengkaji peranan yang boleh dimainkan oleh ahli jawatankuasa masjid dalam usaha penambahbaikan program pendidikan masjid di sekitar kominiti Gombak, Selangor. Gombak merupakan sebuah daerah pentadbiran terletak di dalam kawasan Lembah Kelang yang sibuk dan moden terdedah kepada ideologi asing dan permasalahan sosio-budaya. Kajian ini bermatlamat untuk memperluaskan kefahaman berkaitan tentang bagaimana ahli jawatankuasa masjid boleh menambahbaik program pendidikan masjid untuk menanggapi permasalaha-masalah tersebut. Kajian ini juga bertujuan untuk menemukan kaedah penambahbaikan kreatif yang boleh dilakukan oleh ahli jawatankuasa masjid untuk menjadikan program pendidikan masjid menarik bagi masyarakat sekitar. Kajian ini juga memfokuskan kepada peranan ahli jawatankuasa masjid dalam menambahbaik fungsi program pendidikan masjid dengan kajian kes keatas masjid terpilih di daerah Gombak. Ini adalah kajian kualitatif yang menggunapakai kaedah deduktif dan induktif yang berasal dari hasil dapatan tinjauan Diskusi Kelompok Terfokus (FGD) dan juga kajian literatur. Rakaman dari tinjauan FGD dan kajian literatur terkini yang berkaitan dengan topik ini akan dikaji dan dianalisa mengikut kesesuaiannya. Hasil menunjukkan kepentingan ahli jawatankuasa masjid dan peranan besar mereka dalam menambahbaik program pendidikan masjid contohnya dalam menyesuaikan kurikulum untuk menyantuni kepelbagaian masyarakat dan penambahbaikan berterusan pengajian melalui maklum balas yang diperolehi dari masyarakat setempat. Kata Kunci: Program Pendidikan Masjid, Ahli Jawatankuasa Masjid, Pengajian Islam, Daerah Gombak, Majlis Agama Islam Selangor.

PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF THE COURSE ON INTRODUCTION TO GERMANIC LINGUISTICS

The present article investigates foreign language teacher training quality enhancement by surveying pedagogical university students’ opinions on important aspects of the course of Introduction to Germanic Linguistics within the Educational Programme for Bachelor’s Degree in Education. The prime purpose is to study the perception of the above-mentioned optional course by Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University (DIFSPU) students, with a focus on its content, organization and relevance to foreign language teacher training as well as on its professional competence formation efficiency. The complexity of the problems involved requires a combination of different methods, i.e. empirical, theoretical and statistical ones. 42 undergraduate DIFSPU students majoring in 014 “Secondary Education (English Language and Literature)” and 014 “Secondary Education (German Language and Literature)” took part in the experiment. The main survey tool was a questionnaire reflecting the parameters of assessing the course of Introduction to Germanic Linguistics. The data collected provides a solid basis for the revision of the course content, structure, organization, educational significance and efficiency, based on the direct participants’ assessments and comments. The students’ feedback reveals: 1) unanimous approval of the content and organizational principles of the discipline; 2) mixed opinions on its importance in the structure of the Educational Programme for Bachelor's Degree in Education; 3) variability of the course efficiency assessments. The data obtained allow for determining the conditions of an efficient implementation of Introduction to Germanic Linguistics into educational practice, such as prior familiarization of students with its aim and essence, emphasis on its applicability and optionality as well as its adaptation to the level and needs of future teachers. The data interpretation equally contributes to establishing the prospects of enhancing the course: 1) proportionalizing diverse types of educational activities; 2) increasing flexibility and variability in the educative process organization; 3) more efficiently interiorizing its content in terms of professional education priorities for future teachers of the English and German languages.

Effect of an educational programme on critical care nurses’ competence at two tertiary hospitals in Malawi

BackgroundCritical care specialty deals with the complex needs of critically ill patients. Nurses who provide critical care are expected to possess the appropriate knowledge and skills required for the care of critically ill patients. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of an educational programme on the competence of critical care nurses at two tertiary hospitals in Lilongwe and Blantyre, Malawi.MethodsA quantitative pre- and post-test design was applied. The training programme was delivered to nurses (n = 41) who worked in intensive care and adult high dependency units at two tertiary hospitals. The effect of the training was assessed through participants’ self-assessment of competence on the Intensive and Critical Care Nursing Competence Scale and a list of 10 additional competencies before and after the training.ResultsThe participants’ scores on the Intensive and Critical Care Nursing Competence Scale before the training, M = 608.2, SD = 59.6 increased significantly after the training, M = 684.7, SD = 29.7, p <.0001 (two-tailed). Similarly, there was a significant increase in the participants’ scores on the additional competencies after the training, p <.0001 (two-tailed). ConclusionThe programme could be used for upskilling nurses in critical care settings in Malawi and other developing countries with a similar context.

‘Healthy Children, Healthy Planet’: A pilot school-based educational intervention

Objectives: Healthy and sustainable eating should be encouraged in children. This study aimed to create, apply and evaluate the effectiveness of a specially designed, school-based educational programme to promote healthy and sustainable eating in children. Design: Pilot, school-based educational intervention, aimed at promoting health and sustainable eating patterns in children. Setting: Four schools (two primary schools and two kindergartens) in Attica, Greece. Method: The 3-month, pilot intervention consisted of a teacher training session, an educational package (11 teaching sessions, 1 session/per week), 3 separate parents and teachers’ educational sessions, and 2 teacher feedback meetings. In total, 290 children (intervention group n = 230, control group n = 60) aged 5–11 years old from four schools in Attica, Greece, participated in the study. Parents completed a specially designed questionnaire before and after the intervention, assessing children’s anthropometric characteristics, children’s adherence to a Mediterranean Diet (MD) and physical activity levels, together with usual eating and food waste behaviours in the household. Results: Children’s adherence to a MD was not significantly affected by the educational intervention. However, there was a significant increase in children’s fruit consumption, with 48% of the children eating at least two portions of fruit per day after the intervention. With respect to the food sustainability behaviours of the household, the intervention group threw away less food and, in particular, fewer fresh fruit and less bread, following the intervention. Conclusion: There is evidence that the educational programme can positively affect certain healthy eating behaviours in participating children.

Who are the music student teachers in Norwegian generalist teacher education?

This study is based on data from a national survey of generalist student teachers specialising in music in the new five-year primary and lower secondary school teacher education programme in Norway. The study aims to map students’ backgrounds, experiences of the educational programme and visions for their future practice as generalist music teachers in schools. The theoretical perspective is cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT). The findings suggest that generalist teacher education music programmes reproduce patterns of inequality. These patterns should be addressed in the future development of the programmes; however, the current lack of diversity may inhibit conditions for transformation and change.

Improving the Quality of Patient Care and Healthcare Staff Well-Being through an Empathy Immersion Educational Programme in New Zealand: Protocol of a Feasibility and Pilot Study

Empathy is positively related to healthcare workers and patients’ wellbeing. There is, however, limited research on the effects of empathy education delivered in acute clinical settings and its impact on healthcare consumers. This research tests the feasibility and the potential efficacy outcomes of an immersive education programme developed by the research team in collaboration with clinical partners and a multidisciplinary advisory group. Healthcare worker participants in the intervention ward will receive an 8-week immersive empathy education. The primary outcome (feasibility) will be assessed by evaluating the acceptability of the intervention and the estimated resources. The secondary outcome (efficacy) will be assessed using a quasi-experimental study design. Non-parametric tests will be used to test healthcare worker participants’ empathy, burnout, and organisational satisfaction (within-group and across groups), and healthcare consumer participants’ satisfaction (between-group) over time. Despite growing interest in the importance of empathy in professional relationships, to our knowledge, the present pilot study is the first to explore the feasibility and efficacy of an immersive empathy education in New Zealand. Our findings will provide critical evidence to support the development of a randomised cluster trial and potentially provide preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of this type of empathy education.

Educational needs and type 1 diabetes mellitus: The voices of adolescents, parents and caregivers

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the needs of adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus for acquiring self-care and psychosocial skills for the progressive self-management of the disease, as a prelude to the development of an educational programme. The parents and health care professionals who supported young people were also asked to provide their insight into adolescents’ needs. Methods, design and setting: Qualitative focus group design with a thematic analysis informed by social-cognitive theory. Results: Findings highlight gaps and divergence in the perceived needs of adolescents engaged with in existing structured educational programmes. Suggestions for change to future programmes were identified, including the implementation of educational follow-ups outside of hospital settings and an educational programme open to family and friends to foster support from the adolescents’ social circle. The use of digital media is proposed as an on-demand (rather than planned) educational method. Conclusion: This study provides information relevant to the development of new educational programmes for adolescents with type 1 diabetes in the south of France. Future programmes should be structured so as to promote active participation by adolescents from the start of the programme through to its evaluation.

A Study to assess the knowledge attitude and practice regarding Breast Cancer screening among Women in reproductive age (15-45 years) in selected rural areas of Chamarajanagar district with a view to develop educational programme

Objective: To assess the knowledge attitude and practice regarding Breast Cancer screening among Women in reproductive age (15-45 years) in selected rural areas of Chamarajanagar district and to find the association between the knowledge attitude and practice scores with the selected demographic variables. Methodology: Questionnaire on demographic Performa. Knowledge about breast cancer screening was used to collect the data. An explorative descriptive method has been adopted and 150 Women were selected for the study using simple random sampling technique.5-point likert scale and interview schedule was performed with the help of structured and semi structured questionnaire to collect data. Results: Result of the study revealed that of Out of 150 participants only 0.7% of participants having moderate knowledge and 99.3% of participants having inadequate knowledge The large proportion of participant (90.7%) have moderately favourable attitude towards screening of breast cancer and 9.3% participant of have unfavourable attitude towards screening of breast cancer and none of the participant have favourable attitude towards screening of breast cancer High majority of the participants (100%) do not practice breast self-examination and having poor practice. Conclusion: The knowledge regarding Breast cancer screening is lacking in many participants, many women have moderately favourable attitude regarding breast cancer screening and majority of women having poor practice regarding screening of breast cancer so there is need for educational programme which helps in prevention and early detection of Breast cancer. IEC activities should gear up in rural areas.

The Oxford Handbook of Quintilian

M. Fabius Quintilianus was a prominent orator, declaimer, and teacher of eloquence in the first century ce. After his retirement he wrote the Institutio oratoria, a unique treatise in Antiquity because it is a handbook of rhetoric and an educational treatise in one. Quintilian’s fame and influence are not only based on the Institutio, but also on the two collections of Declamations which were attributed to him in late Antiquity. The Oxford Handbook of Quintilian aims to present Quintilian’s Institutio as a key treatise in the history of Graeco-Roman rhetoric and its influence on the theory and practice of rhetoric and education, from late Antiquity until the present day. It contains chapters on Quintilian’s educational programme, his concepts and classifications of rhetoric, his discussion of the five canons of rhetoric, his style, his views on literary criticism, declamation, and the relationship between rhetoric and law, and the importance of the visual and performing arts in his work. His huge legacy is presented in successive chapters devoted to Quintilian in late Antiquity, the Middle Ages, the Italian Renaissance, Northern Europe during the Renaissance, Europe from the Eighteenth to the Twentieth Century, and the United States of America. There are also chapters devoted to the biographical tradition, the history of printed editions, and modern assessments of Quintilian. The twenty-one authors of the chapters represent a wide range of expertise and scholarly traditions and thus offer a unique mixture of current approaches to Quintilian from a multidisciplinary perspective.