Teacher autonomy in Finnish primary school: An exploratory study about classroom teachers’ perceptions.

Recently researchers have shown an increased interest in teacher education. Theoretical perspectives on the concept exist abundantly in the literature, but empirical research into the views of teachers themselves has been very little. This study explores how Finnish primary school teachers define teacher autonomy and their perceptions towards the influencing factors on their sense of autonomy during their teaching career. The sample of this study was 8 class teachers from three Finnish primary schools. The study was conducted using qualitative research method. Data were collected using semi-structured in-depth interview. Regarding data analysis, thematic research approach was applied In seeking out teachers’ perceptions of teacher autonomy, four broad themes emerged from the analysis. Overall, findings suggest that Finnish class teachers’ conception of autonomy was similar in terms of the complex nature of the concept. In this study, autonomy entails autonomy inside classrooms and at the school level. With respect to their definitions, the teachers all incorporated into their understanding of teacher autonomy several key components. The results also show that teacher autonomy played an important role in teaching profession and that not only was teacher autonomy beneficial to teachers themselves, but also to their students. Moreover, six major interrelated factors were perceived to influence their autonomy by the interviewed teachers. Last but not least, this study concludes with highlighting the importance of autonomy in teacher training programs and some theoretical and practical implications are proposed

EFL HIGH-SCHOOL TEACHERS’ PRACTICES OF STRATEGIES FOR CRITICAL THINKING INSTRUCTION IN WRITING CLASSES

This study aims to investigate EFL high-school teachers’ practices of strategies for CT instruction in their writing classrooms. The study was designed as a mixed-method one, using a questionnaire, and classroom observation as collecting data instruments. The sample consists of 103 EFL teachers from 21 high schools in Camau province, in the Mekong Delta region for quantitative data; five out of 103 teachers were purposely chosen to be observed to collect qualitative data. The finding of the study revealed that EFL high-school teachers’ practices of CT strategies used in writing classrooms were at a high level but at the lowest rate. At the same time, the results from classroom observation showed that EFL teachers used three more including setting real writing tasks, presentation, and student questioning in addition to the seven CT strategies presented in the research. From the findings, some pedagogical implications and recommendations are promoted in the hope that EFL teachers can effectively employ strategies for teaching CT in writing classrooms. Finally, the study’s limitations and suggestions for further research were also highlighted.  Article visualizations

THE CURRENT CONDITIONS OF PROMOTING THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS AT VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HO CHI MINH CITY

The purpose of the study was to have a comprehensive understanding of the existing conditions assured to give physical education (PE) programs to students at Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM). Through document synthesis, interviews, and statistical processing, the article gained a general evaluation of the current PE conditions according to the following aspects: facilities, administration, and curriculums. In terms of facilities, the total space for sports activities at VNUHCM is measured at 25,454m2, besides, the ratio of sports field area per student is 0.44m2/student. This indicates that VNUHCM’s students do not have enough space for their sports practice as standard. In terms of faculty, teachers at VNUHCM Sports Center are comprised 67.6% male, 88.2% at the age of thirty to fifty, and 100% holding postgraduate qualifications. In addition, 79.4% of the staff at the VNUHCM Sports Center graduated with PE specialized degrees, and 64.7% of them have less than five years of seniority. However, 68.8% of those who are currently delivering PE courses at this Center are visiting teachers. The statistic number reveals that the ratio of students per teacher at VNUHCM is 814.75 students/teacher, which reveals that the number of PE lecturers has not met the standard, and they have been in charge of a large teaching volume. In terms of curriculums, PE programs are conducted with 06 credits in total (90 periods), divided into 02 modules with 3 credits per each (45 periods). Students are allowed to choose their favorite PE content among 10 sports courses including football, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, tennis, badminton, martial arts, aerobics, swimming, and chess. The results indicate that VNUHCM’s students actively participate in sports training and competitions to advance their physical fitness.  Article visualizations

Isolation and identification of phenolic compounds from the leaf extract of Cassia alata L.

Cassia alata is one of the most important species of the genus Cassia which is rich in anthraquinones and polyphenols. This plant is used as a medicinal material of which the leaves are known to have laxative and antibiotic properties. In our study, the methanol leaf extract of C. alata showed a significant antibacterial activity against human pathogenic bacteria strains Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus. The organic layers such as n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous layers, were prepared by partitioning the methanol extract with n-hexane and ethyl acetate successively.  We successfully isolated and identified the structures of five compounds from C. alata leaves. Their structures were elucidated by MS and NMR spectroscopic methods as well as comparison with literature data. These compounds were determined to be methyl 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoate (1), kaempferol (2), (-)epiafzelechin (3), kaempferol-3-O-glucoside (4) and kaempferol-3-O-gentiobioside (5). Keywords. Cassia alata L., epiafzelechin, kaempferol, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-gentiobioside

Chemical profiles and biological activities of acetone extracts of nine Annonaceae plants

This study investigated the chemical components and bioactivities of acetone leaf extracts of nine Annonaceae plants collected in the Binh Chau-Phuoc Buu Nature Reserve, Vietnam. A total of 182 constituents were identified, with linolenic acid, diaeudesmin, germacrene D, 1-octadecenoic acid, 8-(3-octyl-2-oxiranyl)-1-octanol, oleic acid, and phenylmethyl ester being the major compounds. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was evaluated using a disc diffusion assay. Eight of the nine extracts, except for the Mitrephora thorelii extract, showed an inhibition effect against Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was determined using DPPH assay, and the cytotoxic activity was deter mined using SRB assay. The results showed that the acetone extracts of Artabotrys hexapetalus, Uvularia grandiflora, Polyalthia luensis, Xylopia pierrei, Sphaerocoryne affinis, Desmos cochinchinensis, Uvaria littoralis, Mitrephora thorelii, and Goniothalamus touranensis had significant activity with IC50 for the DPPH radical scavenging activity ranging from 18.56 to 702.33 μg/mL, and the IC50 for the cytotoxic effects ranged from 5.39 to 251.77 μg/mL. Overall, the results obtained provide experimental evidence for the potential use of these plants in medicine and other related fields

Teacher autonomy in Finnish primary school: An exploratory study about classroom teachers’ perceptions.

Recently researchers have shown an increased interest in teacher education. Theoretical perspectives on the concept exist abundantly in the literature, but empirical research into the views of teachers themselves has been very little. This study explores how Finnish primary school teachers define teacher autonomy and their perceptions towards the influencing factors on their sense of autonomy during their teaching career. The sample of this study was 8 class teachers from three Finnish primary schools. The study was conducted using qualitative research method. Data were collected using semi-structured in-depth interview. Regarding data analysis, thematic research approach was applied In seeking out teachers’ perceptions of teacher autonomy, four broad themes emerged from the analysis. Overall, findings suggest that Finnish class teachers’ conception of autonomy was similar in terms of the complex nature of the concept. In this study, autonomy entails autonomy inside classrooms and at the school level. With respect to their definitions, the teachers all incorporated into their understanding of teacher autonomy several key components. The results also show that teacher autonomy played an important role in teaching profession and that not only was teacher autonomy beneficial to teachers themselves, but also to their students. Moreover, six major interrelated factors were perceived to influence their autonomy by the interviewed teachers. Last but not least, this study concludes with highlighting the importance of autonomy in teacher training programs and some theoretical and practical implications are proposed

DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY INDEX METHOD TO ASSESS FRESHNESS AND SHELF LIFE OF BLACK TIGER SHRIMP (PENAEUS MONODON) STORED AT 0 °C

Black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) was harvested and stored at 0 °C for study. A quality index method (QIM) developed to evaluate the freshness of black tiger shrimp is presented in this study. The terms used to describe all the changes related to the texture, colour, and odour are carefully chosen. The development of the QIM scheme includes three main steps: a preliminary scheme to evaluate all the changes of attributes related to quality; a final QIM scheme and training; and a validation of the QIM scheme and an estimation comparing the remaining shelf life and the actual shelf life. The results show that the shelf life of the black tiger shrimp in the ice storage is 8 days. The quality score involving attributes decreases with the storage time and has a correlation close to the linear regression equation. The scheme of the validation quality of the black tiger shrimp using the QIM method allows the estimation of the remaining shelf life

Transformacja cyfrowa w sektorze wydobywczym w Wietnamie

Digital transformation is one of the inevitable trends in today’s world. Vietnam is one of the pioneer countries following this trend and has launched a national digital transformation program. Digital transformation has attracted great interest from both the community of scientists and managers in general and in the field of coal mining and other minerals. Currently, researchers have been focusing on issues, such as the theory of digital transformation in both state and the business sector, the relationships between digital transformation and the building of e-government or digital government, and between digital transformation and effective national administration. In this study, the method of document-based analysis (Desk review) was used to analyze and evaluate the current situation of digital transformation of the coal and mineral mining industry and identify achievements as well as limitations of the digital transformation process in the coal and mineral mining industry in Vietnam. The study presents the following issues: (1) Some general issues about digital transformation, in which the concept of digital transformation is clarified; Meaning of digital transformation in the field of coal and mineral mining; Requirements for digital transformation in the field of coal-mineral mining. (2) The current status of digital transformation in coal-mineral mining in Vietnam, including applying advanced technologies in exploration and mining, and application of advanced technologies in mining and environmental protection.Cyfrowa transformacja to jeden z nieuniknionych trendów w dzisiejszym świecie. Wietnam jest jednym z pionierskich krajów podążających za tym trendem i uruchomił krajowy program transformacji cyfrowej. Transformacja cyfrowa cieszy się dużym zainteresowaniem zarówno środowiska naukowców, jak i menedżerów w ogóle oraz w obszarze górnictwa węgla kamiennego i innych kopalin. Obecnie badacze koncentrują się na takich zagadnieniach, jak teoria transformacji cyfrowej zarówno w państwie, jak iw sektorze biznesowym, związki między transformacją cyfrową a budową e-government lub cyfrowego rządu oraz między transformacją cyfrową a efektywną administracją państwową. W niniejszym opracowaniu metoda analizy dokumentów (Desk review) została wykorzystana do analizy i oceny aktualnej sytuacji transformacji cyfrowej górnictwa węgla kamiennego i kopalin oraz identyfikacji osiągnięć i ograniczeń procesu transformacji cyfrowej w górnictwie węglowym i mineralnym. przemysł wydobywczy minerałów w Wietnamie. W opracowaniu przedstawiono następujące zagadnienia: (1) Niektóre ogólne zagadnienia dotyczące transformacji cyfrowej, w których doprecyzowano pojęcie transformacji cyfrowej; Znaczenie transformacji cyfrowej w obszarze górnictwa węglowego i mineralnego; Wymagania transformacji cyfrowej w obszarze górnictwa węglowo-mineralnego. (2) Aktualny stan transformacji cyfrowej w górnictwie węglowo-mineralnym w Wietnamie, w tym zastosowanie zaawansowanych technologii w eksploracji i wydobyciu oraz zastosowanie zaawansowanych technologii w górnictwie i ochronie środowisk