Incorporating Andragogy and Cognitive Theory Of Multimedia Learning Into Self-Paced Training and Development Programs

In the modern higher educational system, technology permeated almost all the provisions of educational processes and transformed individual learning transactions. Empirical evidence reveals students’ skill gaps in the digitized campus and the real-world work environment driven by technology. Technical training is of high value and in high demand in helping students to develop the skills necessary to carry out schoolwork and be prepared for the real-world work environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the combined method of Andragogy and Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML) in enhancing learning results and optimizing students’ learning experience in an asynchronous Excel training program designed on Storyline 360. This study utilized a mixed-method design and was conducted in a private religiously affiliated university on the west coast of the U.S. Quantitative data (i.e., control group n=22; Treatment group n=22) were collected through quiz and survey to measure learning results and learning motivation, autonomy, and satisfaction respectively. Qualitative data (n=4) were collected through semi-structured individual interviews to obtain a deeper insight into the different learning experiences between conventional instruction and the Andragogy and CTML-enhanced instruction. The first finding of this study was the effectiveness of the interventional training designed with a combined method of Andragogy and CTML in improving students’ learning outcomes in the post-test (i.e., t (42) = 2.65, p-value = 0.01\u3c0.05, Cohen’s D = 0.80)) and maximizing gained scores (i.e., (t (42) = 2.23, p-value = 0.03), Cohen’s D = 0.67). iii The second finding of the research was that the interventional training designed with a combined method of Andragogy and CTML had a significant effect on improving students’ learning motivation (t (42) = 2.71, p-value = 0.0096 \u3c 0.05, Cohen’s d = 0.82,), but no effect on improving learning autonomy (t (42) = -0.17, p-value = 0.87 \u3e 0.05, Cohen’s d = -0.05,) and learning satisfaction (t (42) = 1.43 p-value = 0.16 \u3e 0.05, Cohen’s d = 0.42). The third finding of this research revealed: (1) learners found both the conventional and the Andragogy and CTML-enhanced training beneficial as it met their current or future needs; (2) learners in both groups were engaged in the micro-learning experience multimedia-based (i.e., simulations and mind maps); (3) Project-based assessment and brief course navigation instructions are preferred in the self-paced training. This study formulated an evidence-based framework to design effective online technical capability-building solutions that are centered on the needs of learners. Educational leaders should enable instructional technologies and define governance and processes to support the integration of the combined andragogy and CTML method. Additional research implementing the andragogy and CTML approach with learners in different educational settings and subject matters would further expand the findings and drive teaching innovations

Actual Measurement and Analysis on Microbial Contamination in Central Air Conditioning System at a Venue in Dalian, China

AbstractActual measurement and analysis were carried out on microbial contamination in central air conditioning system at a venue in Dalian. By studying the microbial contamination in two air handling units with different thermal environments, we found that the fungi and bacteria were common existing on the surface of filter, and the trend of cell density distribution was center > against the wall > corner; The microbial pollution associated in the dust and floating in the air was extremely serious. By comparing the two units, we observed that fungus concentration: Unit A > Unit B, and bacteria concentration: Unit A < Unit B,. And the candida spp. accounted for 80 percent of the sample in Unit A; while in Unit B the cladosporium spp. occupied up to 50%. At the end of the paper, according to the results of measurement and analysis, the methods of controlling microbial contamination in HVAC system have been proposed

Acquired retinoschisis resolved after 23Gage pars plana vitrectomy in posterior microphthalmos

BACKGROUND: Posterior microphthalmos combined with acquired retinoschisis is a rare entity. This report presents a case of acquired retinoschisis in a patient with posterior microphthalmos and discusses the management for such disease. The patient exhibited acquired peripheral retinal schisis in both eyes. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient presented with a fix scotoma and decrease in visual acuity for 2 weeks in his left eye. Ocular examination revealed that his best-corrected visual acuity was 0.6 in right eye and 0.2 in left eye. The patient had amblyopia because of hyperopia with spherical equivalent of +11.75 diopters in the right eye and +12.00 diopters in the left eye. The axial lengths were 18.41 mm in right and 18.43 mm in left eyes respectively. Slip lamp examination found normal anterior segments. Funduscopy showed bilateral retinoschisis in inferotemporal retina. The schisis in right eye was limited to peripheral retina whereas the schisis in left eye was bullous type. The schisis in the left eye extended from the periphery to the posterior macular region in left eye. A pars plana vitrectomy was performed in the left eye and visual acuity was restored to 0.6. CONCLUSION: Posterior microphthalmos combined with retinoschisis is rare. When it appears in peripheral retina, the schisis remains stable. In cases where the schisis extends to posterior pole and affects the macula, surgery in the form of pars plana vitrectomy could be an option

China’s Response to the Financial Crisis and the Impacts on the Chinese Economy and Financial Markets: (A Risk Management perspective)

The paper involves discovering how the Chinese government response to the recent financial crisis. The goal is to show that China’s particular situation of its financial market and government intervention was the main reason that China’s banking sector not suffered from the global systematic risk. This has been done by examining policies such as risk management policy. Upon examination of these policies, it becomes clear that government intervention done by the government were not perfectly resisting the risks from financial crisis. However, risk tolerance in Chinese banking sector is higher than others, since Chinese government acts behind it. Through the comparing of the policies’ changes before, during, and after the financial crisis, this paper highlights the dominant power of the government in China’s economic and financial market