Implementation of Linguistic politeness throughout Online Lectures via WhatsApp during the Covid-19 Pandemic

This research aims to investigate the implementation of politeness in the language of lecturers and students as well as students and students through online lectures at the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Sembilanbelas November Kolaka on the WhatsApp application. The research methodology used is descriptive qualitative with a focus on research, namely the fulfillment and violations of the principles of politeness in the language contained in online lecture conversations on WhatsApp. The data collection technique uses documentation or screenshots, and the data analysis technique uses content analysis methods with inductive procedures. The results indicate that the communication of lecturers to students and students to students based on the WhatsApp social network still pays attention to the principles of linguistic politeness in communication discourse. Based on the WhatsApp social network, students and lecturers can meet the principles of linguistic politeness, including maxim of wisdom, generosity, appreciation, simplicity, compatibility, and sympathy. However, there were also still some violations of the principle of politeness.

Development of Web-Based Science Learning Module in Improving the Students’ Understanding of Eco-Literacy

This study aims to determine the feasibility of the module in improving students' understanding of eco-literacy. This research is development research using the 4D development model with ten students as research participants. The learning module developed is validated by two competent validators from internal and external campuses. The feasibility of the module includes the validity and reliability of the module as measured by the validation questionnaire sheet. The validation results show that the module obtained an average score of 3.66 (very valid category), with the reliability score of 0.83 (real category). The research data were analyzed descriptively and quantitatively. Students' understanding was measured on the competency test in the module on the pretest and posttest after giving the treatment. The results of the module trial calculated using the N-gain formula indicate that the effectiveness was under the high category with a score of 0.703 with an average pretest and posttest values of 43.7 and 83.49, respectively. Based on the study results, it can be concluded that the web-based science learning module developed is valid, reliable, and effective in improving students' understanding of eco-literacy.

The Impact of Guided-Discovery-Learning Model on Students' Conceptual Understanding and Critical Thinking Skills

The current study describes how the guided-discovery-learning model impacts students' conceptual understanding (SCU) and students’ critical thinking skills (SCTS) on the topic of solubility. The quasi-experimental research with a posttest-only nonequivalent control group design was used in this study. The experimental group (45 students) and the control group (47 students) were selected by the saturated sampling technique. Data on SCU was collected using an objective true false test instrument with correction/proofing, while data on critical thinking skills was collected using an essay test instrument. The research data were analyzed descriptively and statistically (Mann-Whitney U). The research found the SCU (mean= 81.51 vs. mean= 72.81) and SCTS (mean= 70.46 vs. mean= 58.43) in the experimental group was better than the control group, both descriptively and statistically (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that the guided-discovery-learning model significantly impacted SCU and SCTS on the solubility topic.

Forward Osmosis for Produced Water Treatment: A Comprehensive Review

During crude oil and natural gas extraction from a reservoir, a large amount of water is also produced. The water fraction contains oil, grease, organic and inorganic constituents, called produced water (PW). Over the years, efficient treatment of PW has been concerned. PW has been treated with various technologies, namely floatation, filtration, coagulation/flocculation, or biological processes. Those technologies were assembled to achieve discharge standards while minimizing the cost. Exploration of membrane-based technologies for the treatment of PW has recently been reported, including the emerging forward osmosis (FO) process. This paper reviews the research progress on the FO process for PW treatment. A brief introduction to the traditional treatment technologies is first provided. Next, the basics of the FO process and research progress on the application of FO on PW treatment are discussed. Finally, techniques for fouling control in FO are reviewed, namely osmotic backwashing, ultrasound, chemical cleaning, and air sparging.

Scientific Method in Physical Education Learning: A Cross-Sectional Study

The physical education learning process through the scientific method emphasizes finding information about the basic techniques/skills taught and game rules to find solutions to every problem encountered. This study aims to determine the results of the implementation of the scientific method in learning physical education. The study design was a cross-sectional study. There were 386 students and three physical education teachers participants. The data collection procedure in this study used an assessment questionnaire for students and an interview protocol for physical education teachers. Two research instruments were used: student questionnaire sheets and teacher interview protocols. Student questionnaire data were analyzed using quantitative descriptive and physical education teacher interview data were analyzed using qualitative descriptive. The results of the assessment of the response of class students indicate that the implementation of the scientific method in physical education learning has been going very well. This is evidenced by the percentage value of the assessment of more than 75%, both in the initial, core, and final activity variables. This research has an impact on increasing the knowledge and competence of teachers related to scientific methods and improving the quality of physical education learning.

STEM Approach: The Development of Optical Instruments Module to Foster Scientific Literacy Skill

The STEM is an approach that seemly considered will be useful in online learning, because it can facilitate students to learn some skills from about 21st century. This study was aimed to develop module-based STEM in improving scientific literacy skills in distance learning through e learning. Because this research developed module-based STEM, this study was named developmental research. The research procedure follows the stages of the R & D method developed by Barg and Gall which includes the studies of preliminary, product planning, development, validation (validation by experts), and  revision, lastly field testing. Moduls that have been declared valid by experts are field tested using one group pretest-posttest design in an experimental class. The results show that the feasibility of module-based STEM in distance learning model to increase students' skills within scientific literacy was valid with the average score of 4.28 by two experts. In addition, the application of integrated STEM teaching materials through e-learning has a moderate effect on students' scientific literacy skills since the N-gain score was 0.6.

The Liquid Phase Deposition of ZnPtBNs: Study on Structural, Morphology, and Their Sheet-Resistant

This paper reports ZnPt bimetallic nanoparticles (ZnPtBNs) synthesis through the liquid phase deposition (LPD) of of Zn(NO3)2.6H2O onto the indium-titanium oxide (ITO) substrates at various concentrations. The Effects of growth solution, the morphology, structural, and sheet resistance were studied. After preparation, the materials were characterized by using field emission electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Four Point Probe (FPP) measurement by using Keithley 2401 source-meter. By inserting a growth solution into the ITO substrate the ZnPtBNs was successfully in-situ prepared. The synthesized ZnPtBNs exhibited homogeneous, fibrous at the (111) orientation with an average diameter of 100-700 nm. The atomic ratio of Zn:Pt and sheet resistance of ZnPtBNs decreased with the increase of Zn(NO3)2.6H2O concentration. The optimal elemental composition of the sample was at a ratio of Zn:Pt (1:25) obtained at 0.467 mM of Zn(NO3)2.6H2O. It showed the smallest sheet resistance (13.41 ?) which was 38% lower than the ITO sheet resistance (18.44 ?).

Online learning in the post-Covid-19 pandemic era: Is our higher education ready for it?

This study aimed to describe the challenges of higher education in implementing online learning during the pandemic Covid-19 outbreak. This study was a qualitative research with a phenomenological approach. Data were collected from 408 students and 20 Lectures from 6 public universities and 6 private universities in Java, Sumatera, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, and Maluku, by filling out online questionaires and in-depth interviews via social media. The process of data analysis was data reduction, identifying themes, mapping interrelationships between themes, and concluding findings The results of data analysis showed that there were two main challenges, both for lecturers and students. First, limited resources, such as electronic devices (laptops/smartphones/others), learning resources, electricity, and internet connections. Second, lack of knowledge/skills on how to use the online learning media, finding and/or providing learning resources, managing online learning, providing online measuring tools, and carrying out online assessments. This condition has the greatest impact on students from low economic families, and who live in areas with limited access to learning facilities, such as electricity, and internet connections. Most of them lose learning opportunities because of these limitations. Third, the difficulty of time management during the online learning period.

Teachers Perception, Usage of Community Resources in Social Studies and Civic Education, Delta State, Nigeria

The study aimed at reporting the perception and usage of community resources by Social Studies and Civic Education teachers in Delta State, South South, Nigeria. Two research questions and one hypothesis were raised to give the study a direction. A sample of 196 out of a population of 656 Social Studies and Civic Education teachers was used for this study. Instrumentation was done with researcher’s designed questionnaire with a reliability index of 0.89. Data was analyzed with percentage for research questions and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the hypothesis of the study. Findings of the study demonstrated that Social Studies and Civic Education teachers of public schools in Delta State perceive the use of community resources to be high for effective teaching but usage of the resources was relatively low. Hence the study concluded by recommending that spirited effort be made by all the stakeholders involved to employ the judicious use of community resources for Social Studies and Civic Education instructions in secondary schools of Delta State.

Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO Thin Layers using Sol-Gel Spin Coating Method

The potential of thin layer in many applications has led to research on the development of many new materials and their fabrication methods. This study aimed to synthesize a thin layer of ZnO using the facile and low-cost sol-gel spin coating method. The ZnO thin layer is deposited on a glass substrate and analyzed to observe the influence of the deposition variables such as heating and rotation speed, and its aging. The characterization methods include the identification of the formed phase using X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD), and the microstructure and elemental composition using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectrometer). The study shows that a thin layer of ZnO is successfully deposited on a glass substrate by heat treatment at temperatures of 300 oC and 500 oC. Furthermore, XRD reveals that higher heating temperatures result in higher diffraction peak intensity. At a heating temperature of 300 °C crystals are formed but are not yet perfectly oriented, while they are at 500 °C. On the other hand, higher spin coating rotation speed gives rise to lower intensity of diffraction peak. The ZnO crystallization is easier to form in the coating process with a lower rotation (1500 rpm). Interestingly, the thin layer is stable over time where there is no significant change in each sample, both in terms of intensity and width of the ZnO crystal peak. The results indicate that gel precursor aged less than two days can form ZnO crystals. Finally, SEM results show that the surface morphology of the ZnO layer heated at 500 oC has an average grain size of 300 nm. Based on the cross-sectional results of SEM shows that the higher the coating rotation speed has resulted the thinner of the ZnO layer, where the thickness of the resulting layer is on order >5 mm.