174 research outputs found
Constructivist Versus Traditional Methods in Language Education
My experience as a teacher in a British oriented system of education equipped me with the skills needed to approach teaching from what is called the traditional classroom curriculum. I was introduced to constructivism as an alternate method of teaching through a course in Improved Teaching of Secondary School Language arts. At first I thought this was a great idea and felt that we ought to toss all traces of the traditional approach out the window and fully adopt the constructivist approach. However, this was before I was faced with the practicality of applying all that I had learned in a real life classroom. In the traditional system that I am accustomed to, the curriculum is prescribed. Grammar lessons focus on grammar, mechanics, spelling and vocabulary lists. Students practice their writing skills by writing essays on assigned topics, in prescribed formats. For literature, students study choices picked from a prescribed set of books such as Romeo and Juliet, The Great Gatsby and To Kill a Mockingbird
Assessment of functional characteristics of small GTPases using small molecules
Rab and Rho subfamilies of GTPases are functionally linked to intracellular trafficking and organization of the cytoskeleton respectively. Despite their roles, use of small molecule inhibitors or activators to map the functionality of these GTPases remains largely underexplored due to lack of suitable compounds. In this dissertation, we report on the functional characterization of Rab7 and Rac1 GTPases using small molecules. 2-(benzoylcarbamothioylamino)-5,5-dimethyl-4,7- dihydrothieno[2,3-c]pyran-3-carboxylic acid (PubChem #: CID1067700) has been used to characterize Rab7. Using bead based flow cytometry, CID1067700 was found to have significant inhibitory potency on Rab7 nucleotide binding with a respective inhibitory efficacy of 80% for BODIPY-GTP and 60% for BODIPY-GDP binding. Rac1 has been functionally characterized by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), R-Naproxen in the context of ovarian cancer. R-Naproxen isoform functionally inhibited Rac1 in the cell lines assayed relative to S-Naproxen and structurally similar 6-methoxy-2-naphthylacetic Acid (6-MNA). Inhibition is based on interference with membrane distribution of Rac1 rather than overall protein levels. Taken together, this study has identified the first competitive GTPase inhibitor (CID1067700) and also demonstrated the potential utility of the compound for dissecting GTPase enzymology. The study has also shown that R-Naproxen blocks activation of Rac1 small GTPase in ovarian cancer cells with implications for the inhibition of ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion
An Analysis of the Effect of Digital Badging on Workplace Self-Directed E-Learners\u27 Achievement, Persistence, and Self-Regulation
Despite the advantages and increase in popularity of self-directed e-learning, this mode of learning is still reported to suffer from low voluntary enrollment rates, high learner dropout rates, as well as low retention of learning. Although there is a paucity of motivation research with regard to self-directed e-learning, a considerable number of studies identify shortfalls in factors related to learner motivation as the most prevalent factor contributing to these pitfalls.
The current study investigated the effect of digital badges, an extrinsic reward, on learning effectiveness, persistence and self-regulation in a corporate self-directed e-learning environment. The study employed an experimental between-subjects design with one independent variable, the opportunity to earn digital badges. The dependent variables for the study included learning achievement, learning retention, persistence to course completion, and self-regulation. Participants completed one required e-learning module and had the opportunity to engage with two elective ones. The experimental group had the opportunity to earn digital badges while the control group did not. The study sample (N=76) consisted of new or existing employees working in various roles in a corporate organization.
A series of Mann-Whitney U tests were performed to determine group differences in learning achievement, learning retention, persistence to course completion and self-regulation. The results of these analyses found significant median differences in all four dependent variables on the basis of group, suggesting a consequential relationship between the use of digital badges and the variables examined.
This study contributed to research on the use of gamification as a motivational strategy within the e-learning context. It also helped establish the impact of digital badge use on learning effectiveness and engagement in adult self-directed e-Learners
U.N. Peace-Keeping Policy: Some Basic Sources of its Implementation Problems and Their Implications
Dynamism among the Japanese small and medium manufacturing enterprises and its implications for development of manufacturing SMEs in Kenya
This paper tries to provide an analytical explanation to the dynamic performance of the
Japanese Small and Medium Industries from a technology management and organizational
perspective. First, the transformation stages of these businesses is discussed to give a better
understanding to the issue of dynamism amongst these industries. The approach of these
businesses to technology upgrading and eventual innovation stage is then analysed. The
Japanese system of small inceremental improvements on technology known in Japanese as
kaizen in combination with a system of business conversion method practiced by these
businesses is examined. The organizational structure and characteristics of these businesses is
also assessed since it is inseparable from the technology management method of these
businesses. Enterprise netivorking, the most outstanding aspect of the organizational trait of
these businesses is analysed as to how it facilitates technology upgrading and innovation. It
is from the analysis of this combination of technology management practice and the
organizational form of the Japanese manufacturing SMEs that lessons aimed at the
development of manufacturing SMEs in Kenya is finally drawn in the last section of this
paper
Economic structural transformation and equity in Vietnam: Lessons from Post-War Japan
Duality in economic structure is an enduring characteristic of many developing and emerging economies, and even when economies industrialize, structural and regional imbalance remains a challenging problem in economic development. Japan however managed to solve the problem of duality in its economic structure in the post-war period. This research analyses the Japanese economic transformation experience and draws lessons for Vietnam, which even though has made great strides in reducing poverty, still faces the challenge of economic structural duality and regional imbalance characterized by poverty. The main finding is that raising productivity uniformly across sectors and regions was central to Japanese structural economic transformation, and that such productivity rise can be facilitated by uniform infrastructure development and judicious governmental policies directly impacting the right combinations of factors of production, namely increase in capital and technology in all productive sectors. The lessons drawn for Vietnam are judicious governmental policies providing incentives for increasing technology and capital investments even in rural areas. In addition, governmental policies positively impacting agricultural commodity prices, infrastructure development, and land reforms are recommended for Vietnam. Keywords: Economic Duality, Economic Structural Transformation, Equity, Japanese and Vietnamese Economic Developmen
Enhanced Information Systems Success Model for Patient Information Assurance
The current health information systems have many challenges such as lack of standard user interfaces, data security and privacy issues, inability to uniquely identify patients across multiple hospital information systems, probable misuse of patient data, high technological costs, resistance to technology deployments in hospital management, lack of data gathering, processing and analysis standardization. All these challenges, among others hamper either the acceptance of the health information systems, operational efficiency or expose patient information to cyber attacks. In this paper, an enhanced information systems success model for patient information assurance is developed using an amalgamation of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Information Systems Success Model (ISS). This involved the usage of Linear Structured Relationship (LISREL) software to model a combination of ISS and Intention to Use (ITU), TAM and ITU, ISS and user satisfaction (US), and finally TAM and US. The sample size of 110 respondents was obtained based on the total population of 221 using the Conhrans formula. Thereafter, simple random sampling was employed to select members within each category of employees to take part in the study. The questionnaire as a research tool was checked for reliability via Cronbach’s Alpha. The results obtained showed that for ISS and ITU modeling, only perceived ease of use, system features, response time, flexibility, timeliness, accuracy, responsiveness and user training positively influenced the intention to use. However, for the TAM and ITU modeling, only TAM’s measures such as timely information, efficiency, increased transparency, and proper patient identification had a positive effect on intension to use. The ISS and US modeling revealed that perceived ease of use had the greatest impact on user satisfaction while response time had the least effect on user satisfaction. On its part, the TAM and US modeling showed that timely information, effectiveness, consistency, enhanced communication, and proper patients identification had a positive influence on user satisfaction
Production and Utilization of Multi-purpose Fodder Shrubs and Trees in West Asia, North Africa and the Sahel
Protection of surrogate mothers against exploitation of their reproductive organs in Kenya
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Bachelor of Laws Degree, Strathmore University Law SchoolSurrogacy motherhood, an arrangement involving one woman gestating a baby to be raised by another, is still a relatively 'new' technology in Kenya seeing as the first surrogate birth in Kenya happened in August 2007. Indeed, it is still a new technology in Kenya and this leaves a lot of legal and ethical issues that have not been addressed. The fact that there is no legal and ethical framework to regulate surrogacy arrangements in Kenya, exposes the practice to corruption and other exploitative activities. Lacunas in the legal framework makes it hard to standardize the practice of surrogacy in Kenya, leaving the consumers of the service especially surrogate mothers.at the mercy of the medical doctors as well as the biological parents that have commissioned them. This research seeks to address the lacunas found in the law, how they adversely affect the surrogate mothers and finally, what strides Kenya can take to ensure that there is no exploitation of surrogate mothers that may lead to commodification of their body parts as child trafficking among other atrocities
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