Educational Robotics and Attention to Diversity: A Case Study

<p style="text-align: justify;">In this study we focus our research on the case analysis of an eleven-year-old boy and his close relationship with technology, specifically robotics. The methodology of the study is experimental in nature, with the aim of improving the subject's attention span through robotics, thereby favouring his educational process and, consequently, his overall development. To this end, the attitudes, and aptitudes that this technological tool has provided the subject with are evaluated over a period of four years. Three data collection instruments were selected: questionnaire, interview, and observation. Among the conclusions we highlight, on the one hand, that the older the age and the greater the interest in robotics, the greater the individual's attention span and greater psychomotor coordination, increasing the improvement in the educational process and in their daily life. On the other hand, robotics is an effective way of orienting knowledge towards the personal and educational sphere and can provide advantages in integral development. </p>

A review of research on teacher competencies in higher education

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to thoroughly assemble, analyze and synthesize previous research to investigate and identify teaching staff competencies derived from the roles and tasks attributed to university professors. Design/methodology/approach In this literature review, the authors looked at both the conceptual framework exploring the educational concepts and the learning theories focusing on teaching staff roles and competencies in higher education. Thirty-nine scientific papers were studied in detail from a total of 102 results, which were eligible based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses statement. Findings A multi-dimensional approach to teacher competencies in higher education was proposed, which consists of six main dimensions with their respective characteristics. Thirty-two discrete teaching staff competencies were identified and distributed in the aforementioned dimensions. The research revealed that specific competencies, such as the digital competence of teachers, which have lately become of high importance worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic implications, surprisingly, until recently, they were considered secondary in the educational process. Research limitations/implications The study was based on the existing literature without using data drawn from an appropriate questionnaire addressed to students and/or interviews with academics. In addition, in an effort to maintain a homogeneous base of teacher competencies, inclusion of domains of expertise was avoided. Further research should focus on designing and developing a holistic model using analytical learning approaches that will contribute to the assessment of teachers’ competencies and explore the relationship of these competencies to students’ academic achievement, contributing quality to higher education. Practical implications A specific framework of teacher competencies in higher education, in practice, can be a useful reference point not only for ensuring quality in the selection of teachers and their career-long professional development but also for national education policy strategies. The definition of teacher competencies framework contributes to facilitating effective dialogue for the evaluation and quality assurance in education between agencies, authorities, researchers, teachers, policymakers, education managers and different communities at large. Social implications These competencies are at the heart not only of the teaching and learning process but also in the workplace and in society in general and are increasingly recognized as essential. An adequately prepared community and management equipped with the required employee competencies is able to react immediately and in a positive way to any obstacle, yielding optimal results. Originality/value This is the first review, to the authors’ knowledge, to comprehensively explore the literature to identify, classify and rank the teaching staff competencies in higher education, revealing the gap between perceived and actual importance of various competencies.

Essence of Upbringing Process and the Competence Approach in Training

Research relevance: understanding of teaching concept related to main function of а teacher in teaching and educating students. In the learning process, teacher should pay special attention to students’ cognitive activity development and try to use it more in learning process, using innovative technologies and interactive methods. Research objectives: consider issues from the concept of teaching, “learning” and “competence” and their essence, to reveal the importance of the competence-based approach in teaching. Research materials and methods: article analyzes essence of learning process and authors give their point of view. Research results: educational process essence and importance of learning based on modern competencies revealed. Conclusions: learning competence includes set of a student’s educational achievements, expressed by level of basic and subject competence at a certain stage in educational process.

An Investigation of the Educational Challenges During COVID-19: A Case Study of Saudi Students' Experience

<p style="text-align: justify;">The outbreak of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has shaken the world, forcing countries to implement a state of emergency, including the education system. Students have been forced to remain in hostels or houses since they cannot get to university campuses. As a result of this predicament, university authorities have no option but to implement an online learning environment. Specifically, Saudi universities have faced numerous difficulties in bringing the online learning systems to continue the educational process. On the other hand, students faced difficulties to cope with such circumstances (complete online learning) without any preparation or backup plan. According to the findings of the literature research, students experienced difficulties that were difficult to overcome. The aim of this study was to determine the challenges that first-year students of the University faced. The present research got a total of 234 valid responses from the participants. The findings indicate that respondents were not fully prepared in this situation in terms of physical, environmental, and psychological readiness, with some variances in viewpoints depending on their gender and age. Respondents expressed concern about the effect of lockdown on their ability to perform well academically. In this study, the researchers found that switching suddenly to an all-online alternative cause significant obstacles for students. It was determined that the present blended learning model, which utilizes online learning to support face-to-face instruction, has encountered a critical challenge when it comes towards replacing it, particularly with underprepared learners.</p>

Model of Methodology for Organizing Project-based Biology Training in Non-core Institutions of Secondary Vocational Education

Biological knowledge is one of the fundamental components of a common human culture, because without knowledge of biology it is unthinkable to develop an ecological way of thinking, to ensure the perception of the scientific principles of interaction of the Man-Nature system. The formation of a healthy lifestyle, the preservation of ecosystems, and the development of mankind are based on knowledge of biology. The purpose of the article is to develop and use a model of a methodology for organizing project-based education in biology in non-core institutions of secondary vocational education. The interrelation of theoretical knowledge and practical skills is a prerequisite for increasing the level of training of future specialists in any industry. In connection with the introduction of new FSES SPE into the work of educational institutions, secondary schools are required to improve the organization of the educational process and teaching materials. The involvement of students in the implementation of various projects leads to the development and development of project competence, and its level is determined by the number and quality of developed projects. The author concludes that the formation of competencies among students at secondary schools through project activities takes place.

Internet technology as one of distance education during pandemic

The article aims at allowing you to deepen the knowledge of the program material on computer science and, as a consequence, will increase the efficiency of the educational process as a whole during a pandemic, will increase the motivation of students to the subject; will allow developing students' abilities for self-development, self-education. Based on the purpose, subject, hypothesis of the research, the following tasks were solved: scientific methodological and pedagogical literature on the topic of research was studied; revealed the content and essence of Internet technologies; an Internet resource has been developed that allows organizing the process of distance learning in informatics; tested the effectiveness of its use in the process of teaching computer science to students. The practical significance of the study lies in the creation of an educational Internet resource that allows students to acquire the skills to independently create a Web site. This Internet resource can be used for forms of work in informatics in any educational institution during a pandemic.

“Teaching Strategies and Techniques to Motivate Students Learning English in the Preparatory Schools – Qatar”, an Action Study

Educational process has a great impact on the motivation of the learners, and these incentives (motives) are under the control of the teacher who directs the educational process. Accordingly, this action research is carried out to examine the effectiveness of certain teaching/ learning strategies and techniques applied for grade nine students chosen from Fatima Al-Zahra Preparatory School- Qatar to raise their motivation for learning English language. The findings show that external motivations (extrinsic) are among the most important factors in the success of learning English language, which are compensatory factors in the absence of the spontaneous desire to learn that language. The selected students have undergone varieties of active learning strategies, resources and tensive use of modern technology. The methods that are implemented in this study, include the designed questionnaire and the official exams sheets conducted on the targeted students. However, both qualitative and quantitative approaches are used to analyze the data. The present study shows that the students are academically weak in English language, not well motivated to learn English, the learning strategies, resources, and techniques utilized in the classroom proved to be effective to motivate the students and are reflected on the academic performance of the students. Therefore, the data analysis of the success ratio among the targeted students has shown an increase from 41.5% to 91.5% after the application of new strategies and techniques.

PEMBINAAN TEKNOLOGI INFORMASI DAN SISTEM OPERASIONAL BANK SYARIAH

Information technology is a knowledge that is always evolving from tools or communication which is a delivery of information through rapid communications, which relates to information problems in terms of all aspects ranging from data collection, data storage, data processing from information to the process of delivering information to people who need it. The purpose of fostering information technology and healthy internet use is an educational process by providing sufficient understanding of the current latest technology and being educated with the Islamic bank operating system, the owner of the fund invests his money so he can earn interest from the bank. If the profit sharing from the customer's funds is then distributed to those in need (eg venture capital), with a profit sharing agreement according to the agreement. Guidance on the Development of Information Technology and Bank Sariah Operational Systems at the Vocational High School Nang Nadim Batam to find out how to use good information technology and know the operating system of the Sariah bank. With this coaching, it is hoped that students will be helped in understanding the service that was carried out on January 15 and 16, 2019 at SMK Hang Nadim Batu Aji, Batam City.

Increasing the Quality of Life of the Prison Officers and their Families by Recovering their Work Capacity

The prison officers belong to a slightly known category, despite the transparency ensured after 1989 both by strengthening the relationship with the media institutions and by organizing the "open days" activities. They work in a closed environment between 8 and 12 hours a day, inconstant interaction with a relatively stable population the size of the administrative-territorial unit of a village type. The working schedule is on the one hand routine, on the other hand impacted by unforeseen situations, from those of major risk to those related to the management of the relationship and communication issues within the groups formed in the detention rooms. The mission is twofold, one side consisting in actions taken to maintain the security and safety of the community and the place of detention, and the other side represent the contribution to the education / re-education of convicts by influencing them, both directly and indirectly. The prison staff is seen as a teaching tool itself, their example being the trigger factor of the prisoners’ desire to change. Taking in consideration the numerical ratio between staff and prisoners, the situations in which one can ‘abdicate’ from the mission are excluded, so that the efficiency of the activity is conditioned by the maintenance of a continuous state of alert. After the working schedule, the prison officers continue their personal life, ensuring adequate emotional support for family members, participating in activities of the group of friends, etc., without projecting the accumulated stress from the workplace. But, intentionally or not, the transfer occurs, so that the effects of working in a closed environment marked by tensions and negative emotional charge are also felt by those close to them. Through their work, the prison officers contribute to the increasing of the quality of life to the community they belong to and the quality of life in detention (ensuring community security, individual and group safety, supporting the educational/re-educational process, ensuring somato-psycho-emotional health, etc.).Starting from this reality, through an opinion poll, we identified some of the needs to recover the work capacity, a necessary step to ensure a quality life for prison staff.