A view of MCDM application in education

The effectiveness of the teaching and learning process by educators plays a significant role for countries to prepare students' potential in the forthcoming new industrial revolution (IR). However, the current COVID-19 pandemic and dynamic changes in the curriculum have created a significant shift of emphasis to educators. Hence, the teaching and learning process problems nowadays, including selecting appropriate effectiveness learning, have become a tough decision for educators. It can be solved using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods. The MCDM technique is widely applied and accepted in various fields but less in the teaching and learning context. This paper reviews and analyses the type of decision problems that were paid most attention to MCDM approaches, the adopted fuzzy set theory as well as inadequacies of those approaches. The purpose is to analyse and identify the literature review related to the applications of MCDM in education so new attributes and appropriate MCDM models for decision making can be suggested. The process involved comparing and analysing the MCDM application and fuzzy set theory in education by reviewing related articles in international scientific journals and well-known international conferences. Some improvements and more future works are recommended based on the inadequacies. The reviewed result may create an interest to the Ministry of Education (MoE) as it proposes teaching and learning process improvement, which will help to achieve greater satisfaction among educators and students

Repeated Reading Technique : Solution On Students' English Reading Skill Problems

Membaca teks dalam bahasa Inggris sedikit berbeda dan lebih kompleks daripada dalam bahasa Indonesia. Bedanya tidak sedikit siswa yang mengalami banyak kesalahan saat membaca teks bahasa Inggris, bahkan mereka tidak percaya diri saat diminta membaca. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan praktik yang baik dalam menerapkan teknik membaca berulang dalam mengatasi masalah keterampilan membaca bahasa Inggris. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain kualitatif dengan jenis analisis isi atau dokumen. Dokumen yang dianalisis adalah jurnal ilmiah yang membahas tentang teknik membaca berulang. Selain itu beberapa dokumentasi berupa foto menjadi bahan yang kemudian dianalisis dan diinterpretasikan untuk mencapai tujuan penelitian. Praktik yang baik dalam menerapkan teknik membaca berulang terbukti menjadi solusi alternatif yang baik dan mengatasi masalah dalam membaca teks bahasa Inggris dan menarik perhatian siswa. Banyak produk berupa jurnal nasional bahkan internasional yang membuktikan teknik ini juga dalam bidang membaca cepat. Penerapan teknik membaca berulang dan penerapannya membuat siswa merasa senang bahkan termotivasi untuk membaca teks bahasa Inggris. Siswa merasa lebih percaya diri dan termotivasi untuk meningkatkan kemampuan literasi membaca dalam bahasa Inggris, sehingga mendukung niat baik sekolah untuk keberhasilan sekolah itu sendiri

Mentoring practise during practicum: The perspectives of Malaysian pre-service English language teachers

This study investigates the issues in mentoring practise based on pre-service English language teachers’ perspectives about their mentoring experience. This study involved 56 pre-service teachers who had completed their practicum. The study used a quantitative data collection method whereby a questionnaire survey was distributed to the research participants. The data from the questionnaire was then analysed by using SPSS to generate descriptive statistics for item analysis. The findings were discussed based on five mentoring factors which are personal attributes, system requirements, pedagogical knowledge, modelling, and feedback. The findings show that modelling and pedagogical knowledge received among the lowest mean scores indicating the moderate satisfactory level of mentoring experience received by the pre-service teachers. The data also shows considerable issues in mentoring quality in terms of pedagogical knowledge. Based on the findings, one of the most crucial issues to be addressed was equipping mentor teachers with the knowledge and skill of mentoring. The mentor teachers need to be given a course and guidance on the key aspects of mentoring. A mentoring manual must be given to the mentors in order to guide them in providing quality and structured mentoring.

Uncertain Multi-Criteria Optimization Problems

Most real-world search and optimization problems naturally involve multiple criteria as objectives. Generally, symmetry, asymmetry, and anti-symmetry are basic characteristics of binary relationships used when modeling optimization problems. Moreover, the notion of symmetry has appeared in many articles about uncertainty theories that are employed in multi-criteria problems. Different solutions may produce trade-offs (conflicting scenarios) among different objectives. A better solution with respect to one objective may compromise other objectives. There are various factors that need to be considered to address the problems in multidisciplinary research, which is critical for the overall sustainability of human development and activity. In this regard, in recent decades, decision-making theory has been the subject of intense research activities due to its wide applications in different areas. The decision-making theory approach has become an important means to provide real-time solutions to uncertainty problems. Theories such as probability theory, fuzzy set theory, type-2 fuzzy set theory, rough set, and uncertainty theory, available in the existing literature, deal with such uncertainties. Nevertheless, the uncertain multi-criteria characteristics in such problems have not yet been explored in depth, and there is much left to be achieved in this direction. Hence, different mathematical models of real-life multi-criteria optimization problems can be developed in various uncertain frameworks with special emphasis on optimization problems

Malaysian English language novice teachers’ challenges and support during initial years of teaching

This study investigates the challenges encountered by Malaysian English language novice teachers throughout the initial years of their teaching. This study also explores the support received by these novice teachers at the beginning of their careers. The mixed-method research design was adopted for this study. A number of 80 novice teachers participated in the study. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey and an interview with five novice teachers. The findings indicated that the most frequent challenges faced by the novice English language teachers were (1) workload challenges, (2) instructional challenges, and (3) social status and identity challenges. The results also showed that the most frequent support received by the novice teachers was collegial support. Based on the findings, one of the most crucial issues to be addressed during the teacher training was equipping the novice teachers with the knowledge and skill in managing their multiple work and responsibilities in schools. Training novice teachers in using various instructional methods, particularly on the use of computer technology is also important. The novice teachers also need to be provided with more professional development courses that can develop their confidence in teaching, help them build a relationship with students and colleagues, and educate them on how to manage their problematic learners. A structured support system with good mentoring practices during the initial years of teaching is also crucial in assisting the novice teachers to adapt to the teaching environment and carry out assigned responsibilities

Developing a contextualised framework for culture-led urbansustainable development through creative hub concept(a case study of Iranian free zone)

Regenerating cities and adapting them to contemporary life circumstances is essential for improving cities' economic, social, and cultural situations. In order to regenerate cities, we, therefore, need to pay more attention to the cultural aspects of how they were developed and maintained. The research aims to examine the possible use of the creative hubs, based on their cultural context, to regenerate cities and regions based on social, economic, environmental, and cultural innovations. The creative hub concept aims to build strategies for achieving a new sustainable development model that is consistent with the spirit of the time in response to the following question: How can cities achieve sustainable development through the concept of a creative hub? Moreover, how can we use the interaction between Art & Culture, Knowledge-based organizations, and Community projects in our path to regenerate the economy of our cities? With the increasing share of cultural products, services, and intellectual property in global exchange and the challenges to cultural diversity and cultures raised by contemporary globalisation, the field of culture has gained importance in global development in cities. Furthermore, there is an increasing awareness that cultural understanding and cultural diversity must be preserved and promoted to protect fundamental human rights, democratic freedoms, and genetic and biological diversity. This standpoint is based on the fact that sustainable development can only be accomplished if cultural diversity and social justice, environmental accountability, and economic viability are all in harmony. This study examines culture as the fourth pillar of urban sustainability and its social, economic, and environmental aspects. The thesis examines both the culture of sustainable development in terms of its evolution as a global agenda and how sustainable development can facilitate the cultural arena. This way, the thesis creates a contextualised framework for sustainable urban development through the creative hub concept, allowing developing countries like Iran more policy space and choice. Because of the importance and opportunities that Kish places on the concept of culture in its sustainable growth, this thesis uses Kish (one of Iran's Free Trade Zones) as a case study.This research builds on the relevant literature to demonstrate the importance of the links between local culture and its expectations and the urban sustainable development process. Meanwhile, this thesis looks at a global report to examine the contribution of culture to urban sustainability. Furthermore, Kish Island has been chosen as a case study in this thesis because the emergence of special economic zones (SEZs) and Free Trade Zones (FTZs) has become a significant focus of many developing countries such as Iran for culture-based strategies for achieving sustainable urban development. In this thesis, information is gathered using mixed methods to collect and analyse data in order to develop a contextualised framework for culture-led sustainable urban development in Kish.Culture-led sustainable urban development encompasses multiple steps that may include complementary quantitative and qualitative criteria and multiple decision-makers. Therefore, in this research, a hybrid Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) approach is used for identifying and choosing alternatives based on the values and preferences of the decision-makers. The MCDM model integrates the fuzzy Delphi method (FDM)", fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), and fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method for identifying the priorities of factors that affecting and challenging sustainable development and meanwhile finding the best strategies to overcome these challenges in Kish Island in Iran as a case study.Following these processes, several key recommendations emerge. These recommendations are based on existing problems and opportunities in Kish. These suggestions demonstrate the importance of strategic planning for long-term development on this Island. They also believe that preserving and fostering culture is a prerequisite for achieving this urban growth.In addition, this study's results provide concrete guidelines for Iranian governments to integrate culture into urban policies as a unique resource for urban regeneration and innovation and social, economic, and environmental development

Multi-Objective and Multi-Attribute Optimisation for Sustainable Development Decision Aiding

Optimization is considered as a decision-making process for getting the most out of available resources for the best attainable results. Many real-world problems are multi-objective or multi-attribute problems that naturally involve several competing objectives that need to be optimized simultaneously, while respecting some constraints or involving selection among feasible discrete alternatives. In this Reprint of the Special Issue, 19 research papers co-authored by 88 researchers from 14 different countries explore aspects of multi-objective or multi-attribute modeling and optimization in crisp or uncertain environments by suggesting multiple-attribute decision-making (MADM) and multi-objective decision-making (MODM) approaches. The papers elaborate upon the approaches of state-of-the-art case studies in selected areas of applications related to sustainable development decision aiding in engineering and management, including construction, transportation, infrastructure development, production, and organization management