EFFECTS OF TASK COMPLEXITY ON CHINESE EFL WRITING

The current study explores the effects of task complexity on senior high school students’ writing performance. The participants were 60 Chinese senior high school EFL students. The variable of task complexity is based on the combination of reasoning demands and prior knowledge aspects and the writing performance is measured by syntactic complexity. The results show that the participants produced more complex syntactic structures in task with higher complexity. Meanwhile, the participants’ perception of task complexity can influence the production of writing.

IS ACADEMIC DISHONESTY RELATED TO ACADEMIC PROCRASTINATION IN STUDENT COLLEGE?

This study aims to determine the effect of academic procrastination on academic dishonesty in teaching and education faculties students in Indonesia. Respondents in this study were 260 students (N=260). The data collection method used the procrastination assessment scales-student (α = 0.88) and dishonesty academic scale (α = 0.93). Data analysis in this quantitative study uses Simple Linear Regression. The results of the analysis show that academic dishonesty affects student procrastination. F value = 53.078 with a significant level of 0.000 <0.05, it can be said that H0 is rejected and Ha is accepted, so that it can be said that H0 is rejected and Ha is accepted. From the output of Rsquare = 0.175, this value means that the effect of academic procrastination (x) on academic dishonesty (y) is 17.5%. In comparison, 82.5% of academic dishonesty is influenced by other variables that do not positively impact increasing academic procrastination carried out by a student. It will affect the increase in academic dishonesty in the student. So it can be said that there is a positive and significant influence between academic procrastination and academic dishonesty on students of the faculty of teaching and educational sciences at University X Purwokerto.

NEED ASSESSMENT COUNSELING FOR SCHOOL ADOLESCENT STUDENTS

The youth in the 21st century are facing numerous issues that may affect their ability to do well and properly in school. Every student has strong needs and desires to reach some set goals but in this competitive era, their life is being complicated day by day and vastly affected by various mental health problems in schools, and many other educational, vocational, social, emotional, and behavioral problems among them in our country. One of the reasons for these problems is lack of guidance and counseling services in our schools. According to Şahin Kesici, “a student whose personal guidance and counseling need is satisfied can; establish harmonious relationship with friends and parents, knows his/herself, improve problem solving and communication skills. Besides, s/he can improve social skills, cope with test anxiety and make effective decisions” (Kesici, 2007, p. 1327). On the other hand, when the needs are not met, and a student’s functioning in school suffers for an extended period, the student may break away from school completely (DeSocio & Hootman, 2004). To overcome negative psychological aspects which affect the student’s life, the present research paper is an attempt to identify need assessment counseling for school adolescent students. Need assessment questionnaire (NAQ) constructed and developed by Dogar, Azeem, Majoka, Mehmood, and Latif (2011) which included different areas, i.e. educational, vocational, social, emotional and behavioral needs of students counseling was administered to a sample of 168 (84 male and 84 female) adolescent students of 10th class. The results of the present study indicated that the main effect of gender (male and female) branch of study (science and social science) and the interaction effect between branch of study (science and social sciences) and gender (male and female) were found significant on overall counseling needs. Whereas gender and branch (stream) of study differences were not found in the counseling domains (educational, vocational, social, emotional, and behavioral) areas of counseling needs.

AWARENESS ON CONSEQUENCES OF AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS TOBACCO USE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FROM SOMALIA STUDYING IN DHAKA BANGLADESH

Background: Tobacco use is a global epidemic among young people. As with adults, it poses a serious health threat to youth and young adults in the United States and has significant implications for this nation’s public and economic health in the future (Perry et al. 1994; Kessler 1995). In Somalia, there has been a rapid increase in the prevalence of smoking among the younger generation. Every effort needs to be made to stop the uptake of smoking among this category. Objectives: This study focused on Awareness on consequences of and attitude towards tobacco use Among University Students from Somalia, the study explored the students’ level of awareness in relation to tobacco products and their attitudes towards smoking as well as their smoking habits. Methodology: A questionnaire based survey was carried out among 180 university students from Somalia in Dhaka city of Bangladesh. A cross sectional, descriptive study was carried out to investigate awareness on consequences of and attitude of tobacco use among Somali students studying in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Results: During the study, it was found that 81% respondents Smoked Cigarette, 59.4% were in the age range of 16- 20,58.3% smoke due to peer influence,67.7% of the students did not heard or seen anti-tobacco campaign for the last 30 days, Most of students 72.2% did not discuss the dangers of smoking with their teachers, Among the students 48.3% believe that smoking cause cancer of the lung and esophagus,92.0% of the students agreed that participating health programs related to danger of tobacco use will reduce smoking, In this study, generally it was found (80%) of the Somali students had some awareness on tobacco use, on the other hand It was found that (60%) of the Somali students had some attitude on tobacco use. Conclusion: This study concludes that smoking behavior is still present among male students. The study therefore recommends the need for concerted efforts from government, teachers and parents to educate and protect students from easy access to cigarettes and exposure to tobacco smoke.

THE MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION OF COLLEGE STUDENTS

College Students’ mental health education has become the focus of the whole society, which affects the family and society, and is related to the growth of college students, family happiness and social harmony. In view of the mental health problems of college students, the article is based on the aspects of college students themselves, families, colleges and society, to explore the causes of the problems and make a verification analysis. Through strengthening college students’ self-awareness, improving the content and methods of family education, improving the mechanism of College Psychological education, and purifying the public opinion environment, it promotes the development of College Students’ mental health, and then cultivates a socialist society in China qualified builders of modernization.

IMPROVING THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF FORM TWO ACCOUNTING STUDENTS OF TOASE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN APPLYING THE DOUBLE ENTRY PRINCIPLE THROUGH GROUP LEARNING TECHNIQUE

Action research was used including quantitative research to help the research achieve the stated objectives. The sample size is 45 which was made up of 30 male students, 10 female students, and 5 accounting teachers. The problem under study used classroom tests, questionnaires, observation, and interviews as data collection instruments. Findings revealed that, for effective teaching and learning of the double-entry principle, the Group method is the best way for teaching. Teachers and students agreed that the use of group learning methods during teaching and learning will help improve the academic performance of the pupils. Students develop an interest in learning Accounting during the group learning method. The findings indicated that the use of group learning methods and to enhance teaching and learning will motivate students to learn Accounting and improve their academic performance by providing high classroom participation, a deeper understanding of concepts, and equip them with knowledge and skills.

INVESTIGATING FACTORS AFFECTING POOR READING CULTURE AMONG EFL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Reading books has not become a habit among university students in Kurdistan; one can count the good readers in a class with fingers of a hand. This is a big crisis and needs serious work. The problem is demonstrated through the students’ performance and proven knowledge in the academic years and it matters because when the students graduate in the university and during the university academic years they do not have sufficient knowledge that a university student needs to have. This study aims to investigate the factors that affect poor reading culture of the EFL learners in Kurdistan universities. It provides the major factors that affect the reading interest of EFL learners. For this purpose, a questionnaire, and an interview are used. The questionnaire is designed to obtain certain information regarding the learners’ reading culture, environment, factors that motivate and demotivate them. The interview is designed to ask certain questions which are answered by university lecturers and one of them is the director of the general library in one of the universities. Through the study, it was found that reading books has not become a habit among university students in Kurdistan and they have given little or no attention to reading books, and students’ cultural environment demotivates them from reading books. Kurdish culture, lack of role models, and insufficient libraries are among factors of poor reading culture among university students. However, it was found that university libraries are quite sufficient for reading books. Therefore, the results indicate that the reading culture is not at the needed level and students are not used to providing a decent time for reading daily. They spend their free time on other things rather than reading. The findings of this study may serve as reliable data regarding the culture and habit of reading which shows an up-to-date piece of information about one of the great aspects of EFL learners in universities in Kurdistan which is reading culture.

MODEL OF COMPETENCY DEVELOPMENT FOR COUNSELING GUIDANCE TEACHERS AT SMA X IN MAUMERE CITY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Educators must design ways or strategies to develop competencies so that they are more potential in educating and producing quality human resources in the future. However, because at the beginning of 2020 they were facing the covid-19 pandemic, educators or teachers took up the challenge by adapting online learning methods. This study discusses the phenomenon of guidance and counseling teachers during a pandemic situation. Teacher guidance and counseling is a process of guiding individuals by finding the root of the problem so that it can be resolved. The purpose of this study to analyzed the methods or strategies used by guidance and counseling teachers at SMA X Maumere in developing competencies during the COVID-19 pandemic situation and also the obstacles in developing these competencies. This research is expected to be used for the benefit of teacher knowledge and further research. This study uses a qualitative method with a case study in one of the senior high schools in Maumere. The data collection technique was semi-structured interviews because the interviews were conducted in depth by sending questions via whatsapp. The process of analyzing data using domain analysis is to obtain an overview of the problem, as well as testing the data with credibility test by triangulation of sources from interviews with 3 resource persons. The results of the study found that guidance and counseling teachers in developing competence always chose methods and strategies learned from various schools trainings, courses and the internet. Constraints in the development of teacher competence in the form of limited costs and time. From a case study in a senior high school in Maumere, apart from parents, guidance and counseling teachers in high school play an important role for high school students, because high school is a transition period that is identical with problems. Students need guidance and counseling teachers to guide students and keep students away from all promiscuity and juvenile delinquency. Also directs students before college or work. This research is different from other research, because the research subject is more specific, namely the guidance and counseling teacher for SMA X and the research time during the covid-19 pandemic which causes the information process to be sent via chat on whatsapp.

LEARNING INNOVATION THROUGH FREEDOM LEARNING MANAGEMENT IN MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM

Every academician must be ready to innovate in learning and adapt to technology and information in this era. Besides, they are required to innovate to increase their productivity. Quick adjustment gave helpfullnes in creating a learning model that is more effective and efficient. This research has purpose to explain and describe the learning innovation through freedom learning management in the music education study program. The results showed that management in applying the concept of freedom learning influenced learning innovation, especially in music education program. This innovation lies in e-learning based learning methods, student exchanges to improve competence and learning outside the university.

APPRAISING TEACHERS’ PERFORMANCE IN THE GHANA EDUCATION SERVICE: A CASE OF BIRIM CENTRAL DIRECTORATE OF GHANA EDUCATION SERVICE (G.E.S.)

This study assessed the effectiveness of performance appraisal system in the Ghana Education Service. The study specifically examined the nature of performance appraisal in GES, teachers’ perception about the performance appraisal system, and teachers’ satisfaction with the performance system. Considering the objective of the study, the researcher adopted a descriptive survey design. The mixed research approach was adopted in addition to the research design. Teachers in basic schools in Birim Central Directorate constitute the population of the study. The study sampled 184 respondents for the study. Both questionnaire and interview guide were used to solicit data from respondents. Research instruments were personally administered by the researcher. The quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), while the qualitative data were analysed manually. The study finds out the effectiveness of performance appraisal in GES and the result showed that GES has a performance appraisal system, and performance appraisal is mostly done more than thrice a year. The study also indicated that GES has several methods of appraising employees. Also, it was generally revealed that respondents perceived performance appraisal system positively and that they are satisfied with the performance appraisal system. The study recommends that appraisal should be carried out by experts so that it will serve its purpose. The study highlighted that there is a need for a more formal method to be adopted so that the overall purpose of performance appraisal can be attained. It is again recommended that there is a need for appraisers to adequately discuss every final appraisal report with appraisees. Finally, the study recommends that employees’ appraisal report should be sent to the education office for an effective and efficient decision on training and development program.