The relationship between the anxiety level of Iranian elementary EFL learners and their vocabulary learning strategies

The current study aimed at examining the relationship between anxiety level of Iranian elementary English as a foreign language learners and the strategies that they adopt for learning English vocabulary. To this end, based on the performance of the participants on the Quick Placement Test, the researcher recruited 100 participants through availability sampling. To determine the strategies that the participants employ for learning English vocabulary, Schmitt’s taxonomy of vocabulary learning (VL) strategies questionnaire was administered. Also, the Spearman correlation was run to determine the correlation between various levels of anxiety and different VL strategies. The findings of the current study indicated that the effects of anxiety can adversely affect a person’s use of VL strategies. Likewise, when there is an increase in anxiety, VL strategy use decreases to a significant extent. Keywords: Vocabulary learning, strategies, foreign language, classroom, anxiety scale.

Prospects, challenges and evaluation of the BSc in EEE programme for diploma in engineering holders

The acquisition of a BSc in EEE is a requirement for a successful career in engineering. However, not all students in Bangladesh have the opportunity to gain admission into degree programmes. The aim of this research is to report the challenges that the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering faced in attracting students to the BSc in EEE programme, as well as how they assessed and evaluated the students. The research was a case study conducted in the fall semester of 2020 during the period of online education due to the COVID-2019 pandemic. Various examination and assessment tools were used for the student performance evaluation. Some of the statistical parameters like average, maximum and median were used for the comparative analysis of the student performances on online quizzes, assignments and the obtained letter grades of the regular and evening programmes. It was found that in most of the cases evening programme students performed better in the same course. Keywords: Diploma in Engineering, evening programme, online teaching–learning, performance assessment and evaluation.

Research on key influencing factors of university students' digital competence in blended teaching

Understanding the current state of information and communication technology (ICT) use in teaching situations will help schools better develop students' 21st-century skills to meet the digital age's challenges and opportunities. The purpose of this paper is to provide reference for colleges and universities to formulate the framework and implementation strategies of digital literacy education, by analysing the key factors that influence the digital literacy education of college students. Firstly, based on literature research and activity theory, this paper integrates and refines the influencing factors of digital literacy education of college students from five dimensions, and analyses the key factors affecting digital literacy education. Then, experts were invited to fill in the questionnaire to obtain sample data, and the interaction between the factors was analysed by using the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory method to identify the key influencing factors. The results show that university policy, cultural environment, ICT infrastructure, teaching management and evaluation system are the five key influencing factors. Keywords: ICT, digital literacy education, university students, activity theory, DEMATEL

Learning styles and vocabulary learning by Iranian undergraduate EFL learners

Each English as a foreign language (EFL) learner may have a particular learning style which may affect the mastering of new language skills and components, one of which is vocabulary. The current study aims to find out the preferred learning style(s) of Iranian undergraduate EFL learners and their achievement in the vocabulary test. Forty-four undergraduate students took part in the study. visual, auditory, reading/writing and kinaesthetic learning style questionnaires and the teacher developed test of vocabulary were used in this study. The validity and reliability of the learning style questionnaire and the teacher developed test of vocabulary were determined. The data were collected and analysed using appropriate statistical analyses including descriptive statistics and one way analysis of variance. The results indicated that the participants were mainly auditory learners. Moreover, it was found that visual and multimodal learners had the best performances on the vocabulary test. Keywords: Learning style, vocabulary learning, undergraduate EFL learners.

Flipped learning – Pedagogic dilemmas

Scientific and practical examinations of pedagogues, educators and teachers are directed to finding the approach, methods and strategies which would motivate students and make them more active in the learning process. One of the ways to achieve this is flipped learning. This article aims to describe some characteristics of flipped learning, and also questions the pedagogic foundation, justification and limits of the usage possibilities and the potential challenges in the implementation of this model into the educational system. The research reports findings based on the trends in flipped learning. By replacing activities carried out in the classroom and at home, students are put into a new situation. A student independently realises the initial contact with the teaching content at home, whereas in the classroom, the activities (with the teacher and other students) that provide understanding and application of the learned are implemented. Keywords: Education, flipped learning, students, teacher, pedagogic.

The vocabulary learning strategy use of Iranian elementary EFL learners

In order to learn vocabulary efficiently, the utilisation of learning strategies is very important and surely it depends on learners’ attempts. The current study aimed at examining the strategies that Iranian elementary English as a foreign language (EFL) learners adopt for learning English vocabulary. To this end, based on the performance of the participants on the Quick Placement Test, the researcher recruited 100 participants through availability sampling. To determine the strategies that the participants employ for learning English vocabulary, Schmitt’s taxonomy of vocabulary learning strategies (VLSs) questionnaire was administered. The findings of the current study indicated that Iranian elementary EFL students were medium VLS users. The social strategy was found as the most frequently used category of strategies, followed by memory, determination, cognitive and metacognitive strategy. Keywords: Language, learning strategies, vocabulary, Iranian, elementary.

Development of the Anxiety Scale for Chemistry

Chemistry as a subject is seen by many students as an abstract and difficult lesson that bears no relationship to life. This study aimed to develop an ‘Anxiety Scale for Chemistry’, which is essential to setting an alternative for existing tools to determine anxiety for chemistry of students. This study has been carried out to develop a tool to measure the level of anxiety of students studying in the high schools in Turkey. The scale was developed as a result of the following processes: literature scan and creation of the item pool, taking expert opinions, item-total correlation, item distinctiveness features, exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency reliability, examination of correlation between sub-dimensions and confirmatory factor analysis. According to the results obtained, the scale is acceptably reliable for the research in social sciences. This study recommends that the Anxiety Scale for Chemistry should be administered to students of other fields also. Keywords: Anxiety, scale, chemistry, reliability, validity, factor analysis.

Iranian English as a foreign language teachers’ personality types and classroom management orientations: A correlational study

Language learners’ achievement relies to a great extent on what goes on inside the classroom. The teacher personality types (PTs) and their classroom management orientations (CMOs) play a critical role. The present study intended to explore Iranian English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers’ major PTs and CMOs. Sixty EFL teachers were chosen through the convenience sampling method from foreign language institutes in Isfahan, Iran. They were asked to complete two questionnaires including the Myers–Briggs type indicator and the Behaviour and Instructional Management Scale. Descriptive analysis and Fisher’s exact test were conducted to answer the research questions. The results showed that the extroverted–sensing–thinking–judging (ESTJ) type was the most frequent PT and the interactionalist approach was the major CMO among Iranian EFL teachers teaching at language institutes. The results enhance the understanding of EFL teachers and directors of language institutes on the PT as one crucial factor related to EFL teachers’ behaviour management approaches. Keywords: Classroom orientations, EFL, Iranian teachers, personality types, management orientations.

Social justice issues in education and management of student development in Nigeria

This study attempted to investigate social justice issues in the education and management of students’ development. This study seeks to find the relationship between equal opportunity to learning, provision of basic needs, teacher preparation of lesson and students’ development in Kwara State, Nigeria. To achieve this aim, the researcher conducted a descriptive research with a quantitative approach to test the hypotheses. A proportional sampling procedure was used to select participants from sample public senior secondary schools in Kwara State, Nigeria. A questionnaire was used to gather data which were analysed with the use of quantitative statistics tools. The outcomes show that there is no significant difference between equal opportunity to learning, provision of basic needs, teacher preparation and management of students’ development in Nigeria. The researcher recommended that educational managers should provide equal access to schooling for all learners irrespective of their age so as to encourage students to empathise with others and develop the skill of critical thinking. Keywords: Social justice, development, basic needs, management, Nigeria.

Impact of adding mindfulness practices to a bachelor of social work direct practice course

This study sought to determine whether mindfulness increased or decreased for Year 4 Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) students. Twenty-four participants received a brief mindfulness practice each week at the start of class and completed the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in the first and last class. Results showed a decrease from pre-test to post-test on the non-reactivity to inner experience facet of the scale. In addition, in a post-test, those participants who came to the BSW programme from secondary school had an overall higher score than those participants who came to the programme from community college. Moreover, participants who had no prior practice in mindfulness and those who did not practice mindfulness during their practicum saw an increase in scores. These findings are discussed and recommendations for future research are offered. Keywords: Mindfulness, BSW students, practices, social work, course.