Problem-Based Learning: Implications for the Allied Dental Sciences Program at Jordan University of Science and Technology

The purpose of this paper is to review the problem-based learning literature and recommend changes to the Allied Dental Sciences curriculum at Jordan University of Science and Technology so that problem-based learning can be incorporated into the curriculum. Characteristics of problem-based learning include students\u27 active participation in learning, and interpersonal skills development through discussion, social interaction, collaborative teams or tutorial groups. Problem-based education encourages students to develop communication and critical thinking competencies, enhance self-directedness and ownership of their own learning, and improve, students\u27 knowledge, and independence. For example, two courses in the current Al lied Dental Sciences curriculum, Dental Radiology and Dental Materials were revised to reflect a problem-based philosophy. Weaknesses in the current Allied Dental Sciences curriculum include a teacher-centered approach instead of a student-center approach to learning, and minimal strategies to encourage critical thinking, self-directedness and communication skills. Therefore, the following changes are recommended to make the Allied Dental Sciences curriculum problem-based and to facilitate lifelong learning: 1. Apply a student-centered approach rather teacher-centered approach to learning, e.g., students become the center of the learning process by increasing assignments that require working in small collaborative or tutorial groups to explore real-world problems. 2. Employ small group learning strategies in didactic course work to challenge students to discuss and solve case-based problems instead of the traditional course work with emphasize on learning subject matter via lectures. 3. Develop students\u27 competence in searching the professional literature by using library resources and electronic databases. 4. Utilize electronic communication systems such as asynchronous, on-line discussion with other universities to maintain a current curriculum. 5. Develop on-line lecture information with self-assessment quizzes for use by students. 6. Implement evaluation strategies such as rubrics for oral presentations, group problem solving, debates, and papers to measure problem-based learning outcomes. 7. Introduce an on-line clinical problem-solving series that is illustrated with high quality photographs, graphics, and videos a variety of dental diseases. After a set time, students can compare their problem solving and clinical decisions to that of a faculty expert. 8. Encourage students to use the steps of the problem-based learning model to develop their self-directedness and confidence in their own-self learning. The steps include: Encounter the instructional problem. Problem solving by use of professional and reasoning skills. Identify the needs of learning. Use the gained knowledge to solve problem. Summarize what has been learned. 9. Develop instructional website for each full-time faculty member and have at least one course connected to professional website. 10. Redesign each didactic course into a problem-based curriculum, using the newly revised ADS 326 Dental Radiology II and ADS 212 Applied Dental Materials as a guide. 11. Use quantitative and qualitative measures to assess the problem-based learning curriculum outcomes. The formal evaluation can include on-line questionnaires, focus groups, in depth interviews of students, analysis of recorded communications among students or analysis of students\u27 products, discussion, comments and feedback from students

Internet Characteristics and Online Alternative Dispute Resolution

Electronic commerce is important, and perhaps, inevitable. Thus, to consider the legal implications of the growth and development of electronic commerce is essential. However, the lack of suitable dispute resolution mechanisms in cyberspace will constitute a serious obstacle to the further development of electronic commerce. Bearing this in mind, this thesis argues that when Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) moves to cyberspace, particularly arbitration and mediation as the main types of ADR, the form of Online Alternative Dispute Resolution (OADR) can maximize the growth of e-commerce. This paper argues that the advent of the internet has created challenges and opportunities for dispute resolution mechanisms and particularly ADR. These challenges and opportunities are interconnected inexorably with each other and with internet characteristics. This paper concludes that a number of technical issues need to be addressed if there is to be a swift and successful deployment of OADR mechanisms in a cross-border environment. Some uncertainties remain due to technological limitations. Indeed, the growth of OADR is tied to the development of technology

The Case of Income Tax Evasion in Jordan: Symptoms and Solutions

The purpose of this paper is to examine income tax evasion in Jordan and set forth various cures for this problem.The paper investigates the phenomenon of income tax evasion. In doing so, the paper reviews reports from academics and statistics from the Income Tax Department. The paper begins with an overview of the Income Tax Law. The paper then distinguishes between tax evasion and tax avoidance and provides empirical data on the size of income tax evasion in Jordan. A study of article 42 of the Income Tax Law, the anti-tax evasion provision, is made. In the final analysis, the paper suggests several means that can be used to address income tax evasion

Assessments of Guest Technologies in Five Stars Hotel at Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA)

The purpose of this study is to look at the effects of website management, technology level, and innovation on customer satisfaction in five-star hotels in Aqaba, Jordan. Among the 450 surveys distributed to hotel guests, 235 were filled out completely and returned. To investigate the connections between the variables, an (Smart PLS 4) analysis was used. Website management was shown to have a positive and statistically significant link (T = 2.909, p = 0.004) with customer satisfaction. There was a significant positive link between the hotel technology level and customer happiness (T = 10.160, p 0.001). The research found a statistically significant positive link between innovation and consumer happiness (T = 2.160, p = 0.031). In terms of the moderating effects of innovation, the research discovered that innovation did not substantially modify the link between website management and customer satisfaction (T = 0.636, p = 0.525). The research revealed a substantial moderating effect (T = 2.822, p = 0.005), however innovation was shown to reduce the influence of technology level on consumer satisfaction. In light of these results, it is suggested that the management of five-star hotels in Aqaba place a greater emphasis on better website management techniques and the enhancement of technical services. Furthermore, encouraging innovation should be approached cautiously due to the lack of data on the impact it has on the link between technology and consumer happiness. The findings of this study provide Aqaba hotel managers with useful information for improving guests experiences, which should result in happier visitors who are more likely to return and spread the good news about their stay

A Comparative Earthquakes Risk Assessment Approach Applied to the United Arab Emirates

This paper presents the preliminary results of a long research project on the assessment and mitigation of seismic risk in major cities in the UAE. UAE’s earthquake activity has long been recognized as one of the lowest in the world. All cities have experienced moderate earthquakes in the past, and will again do in the future. Recent earthquakes in Iran (e.g., Bam in 2003, --- in 2005) have killed thousands of people. Because of the different design and construction practices, different population density concentrations and economic activities in the UAE, different damages and losses are likely to be experienced. The impact of an earthquake is not limited to direct losses, such as the loss of life, loss of structures and business interruptions. Earthquakes also cause indirect losses by producing supply shortages and demand reductions in various economic sectors. In a country such as the UAE, which is undergoing an unprecedented constructionbased development with high-rise buildings being the main feature, a large earthquake in a major city can actually cause a considerable economic loss. In this study, a framework for assessing and comparing the risk associated with the adverse consequences of earthquakes in the UAE is presented. The framework is based on a simple risk-characterization model that is used to assess the health risks associated with toxic chemicals. The model: Risk = D × RF × Pop × ER, adopted to fit our purpose of estimating the risk associated with the consequences of earthquakes, the various parameters in the above mentioned model are translated as follows: Dose (D)= seismic “force” at a specific location or weighted for an area; Response Factor (RF) = degree of damage or losses per unit “force”; Population (Pop) = a factor representing exposed population. Equivalent populations may also include exposed environment or exposed infrastructure. Emergency Response (ER) = effectiveness of available emergency response programs to reduce risk immediately as the adverse effects take place. It should be noted that emergency response in this case is different than deliberate risk management. First, the earthquake hazard and risk in the UAE, including the estimation of the amplitudes of the ground motion parameters, is stochastically assessed. Then the comparative risk framework to assess the relative impacts on people and buildings in the seven emirates and the major cities of the UAE is applied. The result is a ranking system for risk that is being integrated within a geographic information system (GIS). The database is intended for detailed development to maximize benefits to the various stake holders in the community

Internet of Things Based Monitoring System of Leaks in Water Supply Networks Using Pressure-Based Model

Leaks in water distribution networks impose several impacts on economy, freshwater resources, water quality, health and safety. Fast leak detection and reparation is a key for lowering its negative impacts and associated costs with conventional detection techniques. This study has been used a pressure-based model to detect leaks events and its coordinates based on pressure and flow measurements. Pressure and flow data for systems that having leaks in their structure were analyzed and compared with data generated from non-leaking systems using EPANET software packages. An extension package of EPANET software (EpanetWaterGen) has been used as it has the advantage of its ability to better simulate leaks. The results show the ability of the model to detect leaks in a small and large water distribution networks with uncertainty level associated with low pressure change. The developed leak detection model utilizes pressure and flow sensors and enables the network managers and administrators to optimally place the sensors in a manner to increase efficiency and optimize cost. The system allows operators to detect leak location and volume of lost water, thus enabling a better and more efficient response to leaks, such that the network managers can address and respond to most urgent leaks and optimize the time end efforts of technical and maintenance personnel

Internet of Things Based Monitoring System of Leaks in Water Supply Networks Using Pressure-Based Model

Leaks in water distribution networks impose several impacts on economy, freshwater resources, water quality, health and safety. Fast leak detection and reparation is a key for lowering its negative impacts and associated costs with conventional detection techniques. This study has been used a pressure-based model to detect leaks events and its coordinates based on pressure and flow measurements. Pressure and flow data for systems that having leaks in their structure were analyzed and compared with data generated from non-leaking systems using EPANET software packages. An extension package of EPANET software (EpanetWaterGen) has been used as it has the advantage of its ability to better simulate leaks. The results show the ability of the model to detect leaks in a small and large water distribution networks with uncertainty level associated with low pressure change. The developed leak detection model utilizes pressure and flow sensors and enables the network managers and administrators to optimally place the sensors in a manner to increase efficiency and optimize cost. The system allows operators to detect leak location and volume of lost water, thus enabling a better and more efficient response to leaks, such that the network managers can address and respond to most urgent leaks and optimize the time end efforts of technical and maintenance personnel

Predicting System Performance with Uncertainty

The main purpose of this research is to include uncertainty that lies in modeling process and that arises from input values when predicting system performance, and to incorporate uncertainty related to system controls in a computationally inexpensive way. We propose using Gaussian Processes for system performance predictions and explain the types of uncertainties included. As an example, we use a Gaussian Process to predict chilled water use and compare the results with Neural Network. As an initial step of our research, we examine how variation in AHU supply air temperature affects chilled water use in summer time. We briefly discuss the advantages of our proposed method and future research topics in the concluding remarks