Comparative Analysis of Rote Learning on High and Low Achievers in Graduate and Undergraduate Programs

A survey was conducted to study the preferred learning strategies; that is, surface learning or deep learning of undergraduate and graduate male and female students and the impact of the preferred strategy on their academic performance. Both learning strategies help university students to get good scores in their examinations to meet the demands of industry in workforce. Quantitative research method was used to determine the impact of learning strategy on academic achievements. The R-SPQ2F questionnaire was sent to 103 students through Google forms and hard copies through snowball sampling technique. The results show that rote learning and academic performance are inversely related to each other. In high achievers, deep learning is significant as compared to low achievers. Furthermore, comparative analysis of learning styleson males and females showed that both preferred deep learning strategy equally. Learning strategy is not related to education level of students because there is no difference among preferred learning strategies of graduate and undergraduate students

Gender Differentials Among Teachers’ Classroom Management Strategies In Pakistani Context

The main purpose of this study was to get an insight about teachers’ classroommanagement strategies and explore the gender differences among teachers’ classroomstrategies. The present descriptive study was quantitative in nature andmethod was used. All the teachers, teaching in different Islamabad ModelSchools for Boys and Girls, Islamabad (Urban Sector) constituted the population of the. Data were collected from a sample of 126 secondary school teachers, teaching in 10 different Islamabad Model Schools for Boys and Girls, Islamabad, Pakistan. Data were collected via Classroom Management Inventory (CMI), developed by the researcher, keeping in view the Pakistani context. As a result of pilot study, reliability test of the questionnaire reflected 0.947 value of Cronbach’s Alpha, which showed the high reliability of the instrument. From the findings of the study, it was concluded that teachers’ gender affects their classroom management. Female teachers exhibited more classroom management skills on four out of six dimensions of classroom managementthan the male teachers. Classroom management being a challenging and complex task, demand knowledge and skills on the part of teachers. It is recommended that teacher trainings should contribute to such endeavour, keeping in view the gender differentials. Keywords: gender, differentials, classroom management, strategie

The Socioeconomic Impact of Mirani Dam in District Kech, Balochistan, Pakistan

The purpose of the study was to know the socioeconomic characteristics of sampled households before andafter the construction of Mirani dam right and left bank canal, which were completed in 2006. The distribution ofirrigation water was initiated in 2008 for the cultivation of land. Due to construction of dam, production of all majorcrops has increased significantly. A representative sample of 8 distributaries and 371 farm households (211 from RBCand 160 from LBC) were selected for collecting primary information from the field. According to respondents afterconstruction of both canals their income level, consumption expenditure, and saving increased. The result of this studyrevealed that the economic status of the sampled household changes after Mirani dam right and left bank canal. Withthe increase of income now they are sending more children in school than before. The average number of goats beforeMirani Dam Right and Left Bank Canal were 5.96 TLU with standard error 0.54 and after it, increased to 24.94 withstandard error 1.85. The average number of camels before Mirani dam right and left bank canal was 0.11, Sheep 0.06,Cow 0.20 and the Donkey 0.09 respectively. Whereas the average number of the camel increased to 0.32, Sheep 1.27,Cow 0.20, and Donkey 0.56 respectively. Overall after construction of the dam the production of crops, number oflivestock, dead stocks, income level, expenditure, savings, number of pucca houses and number of schools goingchildren increased significantly because socioeconomic condition of the people in the study area considerablyimproved

Impact of Authentic Material on ESL Learners’ Receptive Vocabulary Size

In Pakistani pedagogical process, English is taught as foreign or second language and as a compulsory subject from class 1 to bachelor level. But the results are unsatisfactory in the whole process. Various studies (Heflin, & Alaimo, 2007) have been conducted to find out the reasons and remedies but vocabulary being the most important part of a language is not given due concern in pedagogical process. This research study is undertaken to observe the impacts of authentic material i.e. newspaper on ESL learners’ receptive vocabulary size at intermediate level. This is basically a quantitative research which borrowed the framework of an experimental research. The population was the ESL learners at bachelor level in Lahore. Through convenience sampling technique, the researchers have selected 50 students and formed them into control and experimental groups. The data were collected with pre-test and post-test tools. Later, data were analyzed statistically and shown in charts. In this research study, the researchers have found that good results can be obtained by teaching ESL learners with the help of authentic material i.e. newspaper as compared to the traditional methods of text book teaching. The EFL process can be enhanced with living and practical settings

Impact of Authentic Material on ESL Learners’ Receptive Vocabulary Size

In Pakistani pedagogical process, English is taught as foreign or second language and as a compulsory subject from class 1 to bachelor level. But the results are unsatisfactory in the whole process. Various studies (Heflin, & Alaimo, 2007) have been conducted to find out the reasons and remedies but vocabulary being the most important part of a language is not given due concern in pedagogical process. This research study is undertaken to observe the impacts of authentic material i.e. newspaper on ESL learners’ receptive vocabulary size at intermediate level. This is basically a quantitative research which borrowed the framework of an experimental research. The population was the ESL learners at bachelor level in Lahore. Through convenience sampling technique, the researchers have selected 50 students and formed them into control and experimental groups. The data were collected with pre-test and post-test tools. Later, data were analyzed statistically and shown in charts. In this research study, the researchers have found that good results can be obtained by teaching ESL learners with the help of authentic material i.e. newspaper as compared to the traditional methods of text book teaching. The EFL process can be enhanced with living and practical settings

Phosphate Solubilizing Rhizobacteria as Sustainable Management Strategy in Agrobiology

Phosphorous limits agricultural productivity due to its limited plant availability. Use of synthetic phosphate fertilizers disturbs soil fertility and ecosystem ecology as it contaminates environment. Plants have developed certain mechanisms to respond to P-scarcity, which involve release of specific chemical messengers through root exudates that attract rhizospheric phosphorbacteria to colonize plant root vicinity. Thus, use of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria/rhizobacteria (PSB/PSR) as biofertilizers is a safer approach toward sustainable agrobiology. These PSR are capable of solubilizing soil phosphate from insoluble to plant available form. Due to instability and slow movement of available phosphates in soils, they readily get incorporated with soil particles or chelates as metal complexes. In this scenario, PSR provide continuous chain of soluble phosphate to plants. PSR direct plant root system architecture toward available phosphate zones in soils. Moreover, there is an increased number of roots, root hair and lateral root, increase root absorbing surface area by increasing contact to soil particles. Hence, PSR-based root system morphology is a significant trait in measuring their agronomic efficiency. Moreover, PSB also possess phytostimulatory properties that significantly contribute to agricultural efficiency. Hence, the use of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria can improve crop productivity by increasing soil P-mobility and soil fertility

Auxins-Interkingdom Signaling Molecules

Phytohormones play a fundamental role in the development of plants. Among various phytohormones produced by the plants, Auxins act as a master hormone that plays a major role during plant development and differentiation through cell division. Besides plants, many rhizospheric microorganisms are also capable of producing auxins specifically indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), that act as signaling molecules for the regulation of gene expressions in plants. However, bacterial IAA is majorly linked with the modulation of plant roots architecture and developing positive plant-microbe interactions. Bacterial auxin modifies root morphology by enhancing root length, forming adventitious root and root hair, thereby, increasing surface area for water and nutrient absorption affecting various aspects of plant biology in a number of ways. Bacteria mostly utilize tryptophan, present in plant root exudates, to synthesize IAA that eventually helps bacteria to colonize roots by establishing beneficial associations with plant roots. Auxins also stimulate the formation of exopolysaccharides and biofilms that help bacterial root colonization. Auxins have given the survival benefit to rhizobacteria that make them more competent to establish symbiotic interaction with plants. Synergistic and antagonistic interactions of auxins (both interkingdom and Intrakingdom) with other phytohormones play a key role in plant development and growth improvement