The Impact of Teacher’s Teaching Experience on the Implementation of English Language Curricula in Public Schools in Aqaba Governorate, Jordan

Purpose: This study investigated the impact of teachers’ teaching experience on the implementation of English language curricula in public schools in the Aqaba Governorate, Jordan. Approach/Methodology/Design: The Rand Change Agent Theory of curriculum implementation guided this study. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The sample included 167 English language teachers who were selected purposively from 240 public school teachers in the Aqaba Governorate, Jordan. A questionnaire was developed as an instrument for data collection. It consisted of 36 items, and it was validated by presenting it to a group of arbitrators. The reliability was assured by carrying out a test-retest on a sample chosen from outside the sample of the study. Descriptive statistics were utilized to analyze data. Findings: The study findings indicated that there are statistically significant differences at (α≤0.05) between the implementation of English language curricula and the teacher’s teaching experience. This means that the teaching experience of the teacher affects the implementation of English language curricula. Practical Implications: The study presents certain implications for curriculum development policies. The study recommends engaging teachers in programs that assist them in exchanging experiences, knowledge, and skills to ensure effective execution of the curriculum in addition to the necessity for teachers to pay attention to self-development. Originality/value: Teaching experience plays a crucial role in curriculum implementation. It enables teachers to gain competence and effectiveness.

An Investigation into Contract Cheating in Tertiary Education, and How to Combat the Problem in a United Arab Emirates Context

This review article investigated the pervasive problem that contract cheating presents in higher education in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and aimed to discover whether a solution could be found to combat the growing use of essay mills among students in the region. This literature review aimed to answer the following research questions; why do students use essay mills? Is current university student academic support adequate to facilitate branch campus learning at a level equivalent to a home campus? What methods can international branch campuses in the UAE employ to discourage the use of essay mills? What type and levels of services can universities provide in the future that better support students and stop them from becoming potential essay mill users? The point of the research was to find a means by which students can be dissuaded from using contract cheating sites by becoming so well-supported, and so aware of the threat that contract cheating poses to the value of their degree, that essay mills become a much less attractive option. The study began with a look into the possible circumstances that lead a student to cheat, which includes exploring the fraud triangle theory, the peer behaviour theory, the planned behaviour theory, and the subsequent methodology used. The study found a variety of reasons students cheat, citing laziness, a lack of ability or adequate depth of academic vocabulary in a second language learner, peer pressure, that it is so easy and convenient to use such sites, and the fact that there is a promise of plagiarism free work with a click of a mouse and simple financial transaction (Clarke & Lancaster, 2013). Furthermore, online contract cheating presents a significant challenge for higher education institutes to keep a check on standards and quality assurance. Many teachers are either unaware of or simply afraid to follow up on instances of contract cheating for fear of recriminations in the form of poor feedback or possible student dropout rates.

Colonialism, Collective Memory, and Memory Politics: Critical Reflections on Narratives and Public Archives of the Algerian War

Purpose: The article examines the trial of French General Paul Aussaresses (b. 1918, d. 2013) in the 2000s for war crimes committed during the Algerian War (1954 to 1962). Approach/Methodology/Design: A historiographical analysis covering topics such as colonialism, public memory, collective memory, counter-narratives, education, forgetting, and authenticity. Findings: Public history without individual memories or lived experiences of communities that have survived historical events can be viewed as inauthentic. It might even be called propaganda to present only state state-sanctioned accounts of historical events. Many governments will consequently enact laws to distinguish between what constitutes official national narratives—and what remains peripheral, or perhaps extremist individual, historical accounts. Practical Implications: This paper contributes to the scholarly literature examining oral testimonials in political and war crime tribunals, and the ethics of conducting public history research using media archives. Originality/value: Towards a greater understanding of collective memory processes, the case of the Algerian War reveals the constant negotiations, formal networks, and informal channels used to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate sources of historical memory—and the consequences on culture, law, and society.

Fatalistic Views and the Impact on Combating COVID-19: Bangladesh Context

Purpose: The main objective of this study is to evaluate whether the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the people of Bangladesh to become more fatalistic or not. Approach/Methodology/Design: The study is of a descriptive design. The study follows a mixed-method research approach where an online survey was conducted among 406 individuals and 15 interviews of experts in different criteria have been assembled to validate the survey results properly. This survey data were analyzed based on the age and economic condition of the respondents. The in-depth interviews were collected based on six categories: Academicians, religious scholars, medical practitioners, Coronavirus-infected individuals, law enforcement officials, and journalists. Findings: The study shows that most of the people of Bangladesh are not influenced by the fatalistic views. The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly made people more dependent on fate lately. Senior citizens of the society and people with low income are more fatalists than other groups of people in the society. Senior citizens are suffering the most from anxiety, youths of Bangladesh are facing the most uncertainty in this pandemic. None of the population groups are completely dependent on fate yet confident about the situation at the same time. Practical Implications: The findings of this study will pave the way forward for further research in this area and help policymakers to take necessary initiatives. In short term, it will help formulating policies for the vulnerable groups. Such as, providing economic assistance for the lowest range of income group, guaranteeing old age pension for the senior citizens, access to right information, and psychological stability. In long term, this study will allow practitioners to create awareness during disasters and pandemics through expert narratives, news, and social media awareness. Originality/value: This paper explores how the belief system of people is influenced by their socio-economic condition and how it affects their behavior in terms of combating pandemics. It also emphasizes that during disasters and pandemics, policymakers should take special initiatives for senior citizens and people with low income.

An Instructional Design Model for TPACK Object-Based Mathematics Card Games

Purpose: This study examined TPACK model as it relates to teacher’s knowledge categories such as methods of teaching subject matter (content knowledge) curriculum knowledge, knowledge about technology and pedagogical know-how etc. Approach/Methodology/Design: Conceptual analysis was discussed to establish content selection, performance procedure and problem-solving while designing an object-based game. Among the templates identified and used for Object-Based Game model are analog game model, managing learning procedure etc. The study adopted formative research in order to elucidate functional concepts and variables within the study. Findings: Games are repertoire of teaching aids and research paradigm which revolves philosophical learning theories and gaming processes. The quality of game developed depends on the qualifications; i.e. proficiency in mathematical theories and their interrelations to suit instructional concepts of game development and creative thinking abilities, pedagogical skills are required to identify learning pattern. There is a need to incorporate self-motivated experience scenes such as gaming, which characterize play and activity as being the young child’s most powerful tool in all areas of learning particularly Mathematics. Practical Implications: The study presents practical implications for teachers of mathematics. Contextualization helps learners to link new ideas to prior knowledge, and the proposed model in this study could be validated and applied in teaching mathematic concepts. Originality/value: The study adopted formative research in order to elucidate functional concepts and variables within the study. Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) object-based Mathematic card games model is designed as powerful and potential learning tools.

Family-Related Determinants and Implications of Low Female Enrolment in Electrical Trade in Adamawa State

Purpose: This study examined the perceived family-related determinants and implications of the low enrolment of female students in electrical installation and maintenance works in government science technical colleges of Adamawa State. Approach/Methodology/Design: A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consisted of 13 Electrical Installation and Maintenance Work Trade (EIMWT) teachers and 129 parents of National Technical Certificate Two (NTCII) EIMWT students (either father or mother) in three Government Science Technical Colleges of Adamawa State. The sample of the study comprised of the entire population, thus no sampling was done. A 20-item questionnaire was developed by the researcher and used for data collection. The questionnaire was validated by three lecturers from the Department of Electrical Technology Education, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Adamawa State. A reliability coefficient of 0.87 was obtained for the instrument using Cronbach Alpha. Mean was used to answer the research questions while a t-test was used to test the hypotheses. Findings: The findings of the study revealed low contribution from the female gender to family income in households and increased level of dependency of the female gender on the males in Adamawa State as major perceived family-related implications. Practical Implications: The study presents practical implications for concerned authorities to work on dismantling the negative perceptions about female education. The results suggest working closely with several institutions to raise awareness and enlighten parents and family members on the prospects of EIMWT, especially to the female gender. Originality/value: The study concludes that EIMWT is a way of investing in the education of females in view of breaking cycles of poverty and social vices that the females might be lured into.

The Influence of French on Vocabulary Knowledge of Arabic-speaking University students learning English as a Foreign Language: A Melting Pot

Purpose: The present study investigated the extent to which background knowledge of the French language could influence English vocabulary learning among EFL university students in Algeria. More specifically, the possible cross-linguistic influence in this context was researched in relation to the growth pattern of the receptive written vocabulary size across the three years of the undergraduate course. Methodology: A cross-sectional research design was used for a total number of 184 EFL Algerian university students. The written receptive vocabulary size was measured using Nation's Vocabulary Size Test (2007) which contained many words with similar orthographic forms as their French equivalents. A comparison between the results of the whole population made it possible to establish the progressive growth pattern from Year 1 to Year 3 of the degree course. Results: Besides a moderate increase of vocabulary size from one proficiency level to the other, and an expected decrease pattern of knowledge from the most frequent English words to the least frequent ones, the positive cross-linguistic influence of French cognates was highly significant as it led to the knowledge of words that were beyond the expected level of most participants. Conclusion/Implication: The facilitative effect of French cognates for EFL learners in Algerian universities is, therefore, an area that instructors and syllabus designers can make use of to maximize the vocabulary learning process.

Early Childhood Development Trainee Teachers’ Perceptions on E-learning Implementation during the COVID-19 era in Harare Metropolitan District, Zimbabwe

Purpose: The study aimed at finding out the extent to which Early Childhood Development (ECD) trainee teachers perceive the feasibility and challenges of online learning platforms and generate strategies for effective implementation. Approach/Methodology/Design: A case study design for which fifteen ECD trainee teachers from two Higher Learning Institutions in Harare were purposively selected in this qualitative study through online structured questionnaires and telephone interviews expressed in English. Data gathered was expanded in thick rich descriptions to form themes. Findings: Innumerable benefits of e-learning were established. E-learning facilitates the continuation of learning, motivates, improves student-to-student interaction, is a convenient way of submitting assignments, reduces commutation and material costs and is an easy way of storing documents. However various setbacks were elucidated. Erratic power cuts and internet failures, exorbitant costs of data bundles and lack of smart devices deter the full embracing of e-learning. Practical Implications: Zimbabwean HLIs have adjusted to the new normal and embraced online learning to ensure the continuation of learning in the midst of the pandemic. Online learning overcomes educational obstacles and students will not only follow courses using the traditional method. Originality/value: The findings suggest trainee teachers require the provision of cheap data bundles, free internet applications and extension of due dates. The use of blended approach/hybrid learning to assist those in remote communities, training workshops and seminars on effective use of e-learning platforms were deemed essential.

Part-Time Working Opportunities and the Impact on Students’ Academic Achievement

Purpose: This research investigates the impact of being part-time-worker students towards their academic achievement. Methodology/Approach/Design: This research used qualitative descriptive research method which is appropriate for the design of this research. The data were collected from 44 higher students for the questionnaire and 10 students for the interview at English Department, IAIN Kediri by administering 32 questions for the questionnaire and 14 questions for the interview. Results: The finding of this research is discovering that there are two main motivations to be a part-time-worker student, financial factor and experience factor. However, the part-time-worker students are still able to achieve good grade point average (GPA) or even they can achieve better academic achievement caused by the experience they got by being part-time-worker student and it cannot be got from only being an ordinary academic student. Therefore, higher students can be a part-time worker students by paying attention on time management which plays a pivotal role and finding out a minimum duration for working but it can cover what their purposes are. Practical Implication: The findings of this study present various implications for concerned authorities to address the emerging issues of university students. Joining a part-time job has its merits and demerits. However, further exploration of this phenomenon has to be implemented. Originality/Value: The study examines a social issue that is continually aggravating. The results of the study offer an insider look into the students’ motifs and pressures exerted upon them to join part-time jobs.

Beliefs and Practices in the Implementation of Performance Tasks (PETAs): Basis for the Development of Enhancement Program

Purpose: The study aimed to determine the respondents’ beliefs and practices in the implementation of PETAs. Approach/Methodology/Design: This is a quantitative study wherein statistical treatments such as mean and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) are utilized. A self-made questionnaire was used that underwent a validity and reliability test. The participants of this study were selected from the seven Senior High School with a tertiary level in the University belt area in the city of Manila. Findings: Results indicated that the commonly held beliefs of the respondents are consistent with the premises of PETAs described by Department of Education and by the literature reviewed in this study. This shows that teachers implement PETAs that are real-life applications of learning. Even though there are difficulties in implementing this type of assessment the respondents apply it in their classes not only because it is mandated by the Department of Education but because they have high beliefs in PETAs being a valid and meaningful way to assess learning. Practical Implications: The study can serve as a basis for the development of an enhancement program for proper implementation and management of PETAs for senior high school teachers. Originality/value: Much research may have been conducted regarding PETAs particularly in the foreign setting, but there is much dearth of literature on this topic in the Philippines particularly in the Senior High School setting. It is expected that most of the research efforts of the Department of Education will focus on studying the many aspects of the K to 12 programs such as the efficacy of the curriculum and instruction. Interestingly, the implementation of the PETAs could be one of those aspects that need empirical data for policymaking in the future.