The purpose of doing practical science activities in urban and rural secondary schools in Solomon Islands

Internationally many science educators have argued that science teachers should ensure that their students have opportunities to engage with and take part in practical work, in order to better understand natural phenomena and learn how science tries to understand and explain these. However, there is ongoing debate about the specific purpose of carrying out practical science activities. Some research suggests that if practical investigations are not prepared well enough, they may not have much impact on improving students’ learning about science. This research study involved two secondary science teachers teaching Form 2 science in urban secondary schools and two from rural. The overarching aim was to explore the science teachers’ perceptions about the purpose of doing practical science activities in secondary schools. The study was conducted in two phases. First, based on the interpretive paradigm qualitative data was generated using semi-structured interview of each teacher. In the second phase the teachers involved in a photo elicitation process where each teacher took photographs of examples of practical science activities they organized for their students. This was followed by a second round of interviews where the teachers told the stories about the photographs they have taken. The data was then analyzed using the grounded theory method. The findings suggest that these teachers saw the purposes of doing practical science activities was to apply theoretical knowledge they learned about in class, develop thinking and process skills, motivate students and raise their interest in science. However, the teachers were not able to articulate the rationale behind doing practical science activities and did not identify it as an important aspect of science. The findings also noted the science syllabus and assessment, impact of access to science resources, training, time and class size as enablers and constraints which science teachers encounter in planning and organizing practical science activities. The findings also showed that there were differences between science teachers in urban and rural secondary schools on how they plan and organize practical science activities. The differences in how schools and science departments were equipped meant that teachers were resourceful and made use of their immediate environment when materials were scarce however they felt that ‘lab’ is best

Fluvial Geomorphology and River Management

This Special Issue deals with the role of fluvial geomorphology in landscape evolution and the impact of human activities on fluvial systems, which require river restoration and management [...

Tools for Semi-automated Landform Classification: A Comparison in the Basilicata Region (Southern Italy)

Recent advances in spatial methods of digital elevation model (DEMs) analysis have addressed many research topics on the assessment of morphometric parameters of the landscape. Development of computer algorithms for calculating the geomorphometric properties of the Earth’s surface has allowed for expanding of some methods in the semi-automatic recognition and classification of landscape features. In such a way, several papers have been produced, documenting the applicability of the landform classification based on map algebra. The Topographic Position Index (TPI) is one of the most widely used parameters for semi-automated landform classification using GIS software. The aim was to apply the TPI classes for landform classification in the Basilicata Region (Southern Italy). The Basilicata Region is characterized by an extremely heterogeneous landscape and geological features. The automated landform extraction, starting from two different resolution DEMs at 20 and 5 m-grids, has been carried out by using three different GIS software: Arcview, Arcmap, and SAGA. Comparison of the landform maps resulting from each software at a different scale has been realized, furnishing at the end the best landform map and consequently a discussion over which is the best software implementation of the TPI method

Morphometry and debris-flow susceptibility map in mountain drainage basins of the Vallo di Diano, southern Italy

In watershed mountain basins, affected in the last decades by strong rainfall events, the role of debris-flow and debris flood processes was investigated. Morphometric parameters have proven to be useful first-approximation indicators in discriminating those processes, especially in large areas of investigation. Computation of morphometric parameters in 19 watershed mountain basins of the western side valley of the Vallo di Diano intermontane basin (southern Italy) was carried out. This procedure was integrated by a semi-automatic elaboration of the potential susceptibility to debris flows, using Flow-R modelling. This software, providing an empirical model of the preliminary susceptibility assessment at a regional scale, was applied in many countries of the world. The implementation of Flow-R modelling requires a GIS application and some thematic base maps extracted using DEMs analysis. A 5-meter-resolution DEM has been used in order to produce the susceptibility maps of the whole study area, and the results are compared and discussed with the real debris flow/flood events that occurred in 1993, 2005, 2010, and 2017 in the studied area. The results have provided a good reliability of Flow-R modelling within small catchment mountain basins

Geoheritage Management in Areas with Multicultural Interest Contexts

Sites of geo-cultural interest are often included in areas where multicultural contexts (geo and non geo) are present. Cultural heritage dissemination is sometimes mono-contextual, paying little attention to the possibility of inclusion in a wider multicultural context. When these different contexts are linkable to each other following a specific theme, multicultural heritage dissemination will be possible, and often the geo context can represent a fulcrum, a resilient tool in doing that. A portion of the Sinni river’s catchment area (Basilicata region, Southern Italy) has been chosen to test and verify the multi-level/disciplinary approach applicability. The area is located on the southeastern edge of the Pliocene to Pleistocene Sant’Arcangelo basin in the Southern Apennines chain of Italy. Here, both basic observations on the physical geography landscape evolution and specialized observations on river dynamics and on the hydrographic network have been carried out. Educational routes will be proposed with different educational levels along a path that will include the San Giorgio Lucano hypogea. This paper represents the results of a qualitative study providing an overview of the possibility, in a multicultural context, about whether, when, and how the geo context may act as a link between the different disciplines and what is the best way to make it. A relational database, organized in contexts, areas, and themes, is planned at different levels of detail, and is currently being developed in order to make final products easily available. Each level will be provided with basic concepts, territorial contextualization, and of activities/itineraries. The goal is to provide a versatile tool that enhances the territorial multi-cultural heritage to reach a greater number of end users interested in both geo and non geo contexts

Musicalbody: A Study of Malaysian 24 Festive Drums with Specific Reference to Pan-Asian Performance Theory

The Malaysian 24 Festive Drums (24 FD) is a new emerging performance form, which was initiated in 1988 in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. The performance concept is derived from the 24 solar terms (minor festivals) in the Chinese lunar calendar system. Yet the performance practice features a combination of ensemble drumming and a wide range of choreographed bodily movements. An actor-drummer’s body is performatively used in the 24 FD performance and training. The current scholarship of 24 FD is situated within the domain of ethnomusicology, which offers an ethnographical description of 24 FD to readers who are not familiar with the form. Ethnomusicology and performance studies, although, offer valuable tools to understand performativity in the context of social and cultural identity, an in-depth discussion of how various factors are related to the performativity of 24 FD has not yet been given. The actor-drummer’s body is the source for creating the performance and performativity. The technical, physical, psychophysical and aesthetic aspects of this form, however, have not been explored seriously in the current academic discourse. A series of significant research gaps lead me to address the inaccuracy of the existing research methods and the necessity of establishing a new methodological framework to thoroughly examine how philosophical concepts are relevant to performance in aesthetic and technical ways, and how this new approach aids the understanding of the aesthetics and performance practice of 24 FD. As a result, in order to frame a pan-Asian foundational framework, I draw theories from selected Asian philosophies, religions, aesthetics, and bodily traditions. Indian, Japanese and Chinese philosophies and aesthetics theories are selected in this project, as these cultures are relevant and play an influential role in Malaysian culture due to their historical interaction and multi-cultural exchanges. By using a specific pan-Asian methodological foundation, 24 FD training will be investigated on the basis of an epistemological debate demonstrated in training to perceive technique as knowledge, and the Chinese concept of yin yang and martial arts in Asian actor training, which are closely associated to 24 FD in philosophical and practical ways. To better understand the performative dynamics of 24 FD, I conceptualise a term musicalbody as a critical term to describe the fusion of musicality and corporality in the phenomenon of 24 FD. The repertoire/performance entitled The Memories will be analysed to illustrate and explain this phenomenon. The foci of the study, therefore, will be: 1) to examine the designated pan-Asian (Indian, Japanese and Chinese) aesthetic and performance theories with a specific focus on the role of the body in Asian concepts, 2) to explore the performance/training principles of 24 FD mainly focusing on the bodily movement, percussion, dynamics and choreography, 3) to contextualise the current research background of 24 FD, updating the contemporary development of the form, 4) to conceptualise critical terms, such as “actor-drummers” and musicalbody in order to facilitate a better aesthetic and artistic understanding of 24 FD

Pathways to student success: An examination of graduation models

National high school graduation rates have been relatively stagnant, hovering around 80% for the past decade according to the National Center for Education Statistics. However, the U.S. falls short of the U.S. Department of Education's goal of a 90% high school graduation rate and ranks in the bottom among other developed countries. Because of this, it becomes imperative to examine potential models in which students are at-risk of not graduating. Using data from the Pathways to Student Success Study (a population based sample using all 7th graders in a large school district in a South Central U.S. city ; N = 1,832), two distinct models were tested, both using the binary outcome of graduated vs. dropped out.The first analysis tested both the favorability and accuracy of 7th grade teacher's predictions of student graduation. This model was then tested with three moderators- student's/mother's/father's attitudes towards the importance of education. Results showed that 7th grade teacher's predictions were significantly related to the future graduation of their students. Findings highlight that teachers were more favorable in their predictions of female and White students (separately), while minority teachers and teachers with more teaching experience were more favorable with respect to all students. With regard to accuracy, teachers were more accurate with female students, minority teachers were more accurate only with White students, and teachers with less experience were more accurate than teachers with more experience (all statistically significant associations). Father's importance of education was found to moderate the relationship as a possible risk factor for students predicted to graduate but dropped out.The second model used a structural equation model to test the longitudinal effects that school mobility has on graduation. The model used two levels of mediators, with the first consisting of student work ethic, parent-child closeness, and delinquent peer selection, and the second consisting of GPA and attendance rates. Without the mediators, school mobility significantly predicted dropout; however, the model fully mediated the relationship such that the original association is non-significant, and is only significant through both levels of mediators.Findings from the present research add to the body of work examining student graduation/dropout rates by investigating predictors from middle school as opposed to the more voluminously researched high school indicators. Results generally suggest that middle school predictors are highly indicative of high school trajectories of graduation or dropout. Implications include increased indicators for at-risk students by middle school teachers, school initiatives that help with school transition, as well as caution for parents seeking to opt for school choice in early adolescence

FUNGSI MANAJEMEN DALAM PROGRAM DAKWAH BIL-HAL DI DAARUT TAUHID PEDULI KECAMATAN ENGGAL KOTA BANDAR LAMPUNG

ABSTRAK Skripsi ini berjudul "Fungsi Manajemen Dalam Program Dakwah Bil-Hal pada Daarut Tauhid Peduli Kecamatan Enggal Kota Bandar Lampung"ditulis oleh Alvin Giano Bilqis NPM 1841030156, Fakultas Dakwah dan Ilmu Komunikasi, Jurusan Manajemen Dakwah, Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Intan Lampung dibimbing oleh Badaruddin, S. Ag, M. Ag dan Rouf Tamim, M.Pd. I Penelitian dalam skripsi ini dilatar belakangi dari kondisi ekonomi dimasyarakat yang memang perlu adanya perhatian khusunya untuk itu di butuhkan lembaga yang dekat dengan masyarakat dan dibutuhkannya aksi nanya yang dilakukan sebuah lembaga tersebut. Lembaga Amil Zakat Nasional Daarut Tauhid Peduli merupakan lembaga nirlaba yang bergerak dipengelolaan dana zakat, infaq, sedekah dan wakaf . Adanya Program Dakwah Bil-Hal atau aksi nyata yang dilakukan Daarut Tauhid Peduli Kota Bandar Lampung yang bertujuan untuk mensejahterakan masyarakat atau dapat dibilang juga memperbaiki kualitas ekononi di masyarakat . Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui bagaimana Fungsi Manajemen Pelaksanaan dalam progran dakwah bil hal yang dilakukan Daarut Tauhid Peduli Kecamatan Enggal Kota Bandar Lampung . Adanya Fungsi Manajemen dalam melakukan Dakwak bil hal mempermudah pihak Daarut Tauhid Kota Bandar Lampung dalam pelaksanaan program agar tidak keluar dari perencanaan yang sudah dibuat. Jenis penelitian yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah penelitian lapangan (field research) yaitu penelitian yang bertujuan mengumpulkan data dari lokasi. Data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini menggunakan data primer yang diperoleh dalam bentuk kata-kata atau lisan. Adapun sumber data yanf diperoleh atau dikumpulkan oleh penulis secara langsung dari Daarut Tauhid Peduli Kecamatan Enggal Kota Bandar Lampung, sedangkan data skunder berila teori-teori tentang fungsi manajemen pelaksanaa , dakwah bil hal yang diperoleh dari berbagai sumber seperti buku, artikel, jurnal dan lain-lain. Temuan yang penulis dapatkan dalam penelitian ini adalah bahwa pada Daarut Tauhid Peduli Kecamatan Enggal Kota Bandar Lampung dalam pelaksanaan program dakwah bil-hal sudah dijalankan dengan baik walaupun masih ada kekurangan yang menjadi faktor penghambat dalam dakwah bil hal , dalam penerapan fungsi-fungsi manajemen sudah dilaksanakan dengan baik dari program miskyat dan UTM sebagai bentuk dakwah bil hal atau sebagai aksi nyata yang dilakukan Daarut Tauhid Peduli Kematan Enggal Kota Bandar Lampung sudah dilaksanakan sesuai dengan perencanaan sebelumnya . Kemudian ditemukan juga dari aspek religi ada kegiatan yang disebut ruhiyah dalam meningkatkan kualitas ibadah para anggota dalam program dakwah bil hal jadi bikan hanya perbaikan ekonomi saja yang didapat tetapi ilmu agama pun didapat. Adanya pengarahan yang baik serta bentuk pemberian motivasi kepsda para anggota dimana semua iti demi terwujudnya masyarakat yang sejahtera dan taat kepada Allah SWT. Kata Kunci : Fungsi Manajemen, Fungsi Pelaksanaan, Dakwah Bil Ha

Captación de modelo de negocio y adaptación al mercado local

Tesis (Maestría en Dirección de Negocios) -- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina, 2016.En la actualidad, los procesos de consultoría organizacional se encuentran íntimamente ligados a desarrollos de diagnósticos, detección de oportunidades de mejora y una posterior presentación de propuestas de mejoras, cuya ejecución queda integramente en manos de la empresa analizada. En muchos casos, el esfuerzo organizacional asociado a la contratación de una consultora, se ve subutilizado por cuanto no logran revertir las debilidades y amenazas surgidas en el diagnóstico en resultados positivos ya que carecen de metodologías que les permitan llevar a cabo esas iniciativas. En otros países, España por ejemplo, existen muchas consultoras que les brindan a las compañías procesos de consultoría integrales que incluyen, en la recta final de su trabajo, un asesoramiento en metodologías de gestión de proyectos las cuales les permiten desarrollar las iniciativas y darle sustentabilidad al proceso diagnóstico llevado a cabo, ya sea que la compañía en observación pertenezca a la industria del servicio o del producto, siendo que tal metodología se asocia frecuentemente a esta última. Estos tipos de consultoría integral, responden al enfoque denominado “Consultoría Colaborativa”, a través del cual, se tiende a fijar cambios para que las soluciones que se adopten surjan de la propia empresa por el convencimiento de la necesidad y la bondad de tales cambios. Su objetivo es lograr esta adhesión y compromiso de la empresa y sus empleados, lo cual permitirá mejorar sus procesos y resultados de forma continua y permanente. El presente trabajo realizará una captación del modelo de negocios de una consultora cuya propuesta de valor se base en un modelo colaborativo y trabajará en la adaptación de la propuesta de valor al segmento de mercado local a través de investigaciones de mercado y la utilización de la herramienta de análisis Business Model Canvas.Fil: Giano, Javier Esteban. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina