Confirmatory factor analysis of the Conception for Teaching and Learning Questionnaire (CTLQ)

The two-factor (traditional conception, constructivist conception) of the Conception about Teaching and Learning Questionnaire (CTLQ) was examined through confirmatory factor analysis with a sample of 877 pre-service teachers from the National Institute of Education in Singapore. Analysis of the results indicated that the two-factor structure of the CTLQ was not supported. A principal axis factor analysis revealed a five-factor solution. By testing two alternative (4-factor and 5-factor) models for model fitness, the 5-factor was found to have the best fit. This study concludes with suggestions for further study with more diverse samples and cultures. © 2008 De La Salle University, Philippines

An initial study on the influences of problem solving in children's learning

Researchers have advocated problem solving to induce learners in conceptual change process as problem representation is central to whether or not learners achieve the intended change [1]. One way to help learners develop their problem representations is through tools that will enable them to externalize problem representations [2] and this can be done by encouraging learners to build dynamic models of the real world systems as it not only supports problem solving but also the transfer of knowledge. This study which included a sample size of 70 fifth grade students was conducted in a public elementary school in two science classrooms. Students who received the treatment were given an ill-structured problem to solve by building dynamic system models as a form of external representation. Quantitative data were collected through a pre and post test quasi experimental design. Responses from Knowledge Tests and Problem Solving Skills Tests were pilot tested for reliability prior to the actual study. Results gained from the pre and post tests showed that students who had gone through the problem solving activity achieved better conceptual understanding on the two main concepts of the water cycle-evaporation and condensation than those who were not given the treatment. This group of students also managed to build more sophisticated conceptual models. This suggest that a problem solving environment may enable students to develop or activate their problem solving skills and enabled them to see the value of meaning making in science

Singaporean and Taiwanese pre-service teachers' beliefs and their attitude towards ICT: A comparative study

Teachers' epistemological and pedagogical beliefs and their attitude about ICT are identified as the second-order barrier for the integration of ICT into classrooms. In this paper, we report the findings obtained from our recent survey and conducted among Singaporean and Taiwanese pre-service teachers (N=108). The results indicate that the teachers' epistemological beliefs were generally relativistic. They were also inclined to believe rather strongly the constructivist notion of teaching. The profile we obtained in this study seems to suggest that pre-service teachers from Singapore and Taiwan are holding beliefs that are congruent to the education reform efforts. However, the teachers' attitude about ICT use does not seem to relate to their epistemological and pedagogical beliefs. The findings suggest that further effort needs to be taken in order to foster more productive use of ICT to support constructivism-oriented teaching. These results need to be verified with further study

Closing the gap: Pre-service teachers' perceptions of an ICT based, student centred learning curriculum

As technology continues to influence many aspects of our social and work lives, it is important that school experiences equip students the skills and knowledge that will enable them to develop into effective independent, creative, and lifelong learners to cope with the influx of changes. Given that teachers play a key role in the effective use of technology in education, there is a need to ensure that teacher education programs prepare teachers for the effective integration of ICT in the classrooms. We believe that there is a need to adopt a student-centered learning framework to design our ICT based Student-Centred Learning (SCL) curriculum for all pre-service teachers. In this paper, we presents parts of the findings from a curriculum review which evaluated 483 pre-service teachers' overall satisfaction level towards an ICT based SCL course. We also provide some recommendations to the ICT curriculum based on the results found. © 2007 Chwee Beng Lee, Timothy Teo, Ching Sing Chai, Doris Choy, Ashley Tan and Jimmy Seah

Green supply chain nuances in east malaysian construction industry

The antecedent influence of technology innovation, regulatory regimes and stakeholders’ pressure on green supply chain management have been investigated disparately, with mixed results. This study aimed to explore the potential and specific effects of these selection pressure among sampled construction organizations in Sarawak Malaysia using the Triple Embeddedness Framework as an underpinning theory. Using a self-report online survey instrument, we sampled 350 contractors in Sarawak, and 114 responses were received after repeated reminders. However, after removing seven incomplete responses, only 107 usable surveys were considered for data analysis, denoting a response rate of 30.6%. Data screening was then carried out using SPSS version 23, while SmartPLS version 3.2 was used to assess the measurement and structural models. The findings suggest that regulatory pressure and technology orientation positively relate to the contractors’ green supply chain management. There is also a significant mediation of technology orientation in customer, regulatory pressure and green supply chain management relationships. This study contributes to the construction project supply chain body of knowledge by channelling the Triple Embeddedness Framework toward green supply chain management by providing empirical grounds from the hypothesized relationships. Stakeholders’ unification is also suggested for sustainable upstream and downstream integration

Quality of Life and Treatment Satisfaction Among Patients on Long Term Oral Anticoagulant in A Developing Country

Background: Randomised phase III studies had proven the efficacy and safety profile of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) over warfarin in stroke and systemic embolism prevention for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and venous thromboembolism (VTE). Nevertheless, patients’ quality of life (QOL) and treatment satisfaction was not explored in these studies. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to compare the QOL and treatment satisfaction of patients on long term warfarin versus DOACs in a tertiary hospital in Malaysia. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of patients with nonvalvular AF (NVAF) or VTE on long term warfarin versus DOACs attending the cardiology clinic and anticoagulation clinic of University Malaya Medical Centre from 1 st July 2016 to 30 st June 2018. Patients’ QOL was assessed by using Short Form 12v2 Health Survey (SF12v2); while treatment satisfaction was assessed by using Perception of Anticoagulation Treatment Questionnaire 2 (PACT-Q2). Results: Of 208 patients, 52.4% received warfarin and remaining 47.6% received DOACs. The warfarin group was significantly younger and had longer treatment duration (p b 0.001); while DOAC group had significant more underlying NVAF (p b 0.001) and polypharmacy (p= 0.003). There was no significant difference in the score of physical component summary (PCS) (p= 0.083), mental component summary (MCS) (p = 0.665) and each domain of SF-12v12 (p = 0.058 – 0.953) between anticoagulant groups. There were no differences between the 2 groups of anticoagulants even after adjustment of age. The satisfactionscore was significant higher in DOACs group compared to warfarin group (p = 0.003); but there was no difference in the convenience score (p= 0.234). Hospitalisation rate was significantly higher (p = 0.002) in warfarin group. Only 45.0% of patients achieved good time in therapeutic range (TTR). Conclusions: Despite no significant difference in QOL, patients with AF or VTE who were treated with DOACs demonstrated better efficacy, safety, and satisfaction profile, as well as a relatively stable within-group QOL

Cost-benefit analysis of introducing next-generation sequencing (metagenomic) pathogen testing in the setting of pyrexia of unknown origin

Pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO) is defined as a temperature of >38.3°C that lasts for >3 weeks, where no cause can be found despite appropriate investigation. Existing protocols for the work-up of PUO can be extensive and costly, motivating the application of recent advances in molecular diagnostics to pathogen testing. There have been many reports describing various analytical methods and performance of metagenomic pathogen testing in clinical samples but the economics of it has been less well studied. This study pragmatically evaluates the feasibility of introducing metagenomic testing in this setting by assessing the relative cost of clinically-relevant strategies employing this investigative tool under various cost and performance scenarios using Singapore as a demonstration case, and assessing the price and performance benchmarks, which would need to be achieved for metagenomic testing to be potentially considered financially viable relative to the current diagnostic standard. This study has some important limitations: we examined only impact of introducing the metagenomic test to the overall diagnostic cost and excluded costs associated with hospitalization and makes assumptions about the performance of the routine diagnostic tests, limiting the cost of metagenomic test, and the lack of further work-up after positive pathogen detection by the metagenomic test. However, these assumptions were necessary to keep the model within reasonable limits. In spite of these, the simplified presentation lends itself to the illustration of the key insights of our paper. In general, we find the use of metagenomic testing as second-line investigation is effectively dominated, and that use of metagenomic testing at first-line would typically require higher rates of detection or lower cost than currently available in order to be justifiable purely as a cost-saving measure. We conclude that current conditions do not warrant a widespread rush to deploy metagenomic testing to resolve any and all uncertainty, but rather as a front-line technology that should be used in specific contexts, as a supplement to rather than a replacement for careful clinical judgement