Merancang, melaksana dan mentaksir dalam konteks pentaksiran berasaskan sekolah : kajian kes guru-guru prinsip perakaunan tingkatan empat

School Based Assessment (PBS) was relatively recently introduced into the Malaysian education system to complement the existing conventional standardized examination. PBS is intended to prepare Malaysian learners with skills that are needed for future employability. Past research has revealed conflicting findings on the implementation of PBS and most studies have focused on specific aspects of the implementation process rather that studying it holistically. This research aimed to explore PBS implementation for form four accounting subject. Specifically, the researcher examined teachers' understanding of PBS, how they planned to implement PBS, the ways they carried out PBS in the classroom, and the measures they took to assess students' learning through PBS. This qualitative study investigated ten accounting teachers who were identified through purposive sampling. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews, classroom observation and document analysis and were analysed thematically. Triangulation of the different data types was carried out to increase the validity of the findings and interpretation. Research findings indicated that the teachers understood PBS differently. These different understandings seemed to relate to the ways the teachers implemented PBS, from planning right through assessment. The findings also reveal that there were some elements of autonomy that some teachers exercised in making decisions on teaching and learning. This was evidenced by the fact that the teachers modified the PBS manual to suit the contextual needs and challenges. However, the continued existence of exam oriented system has constrained some teachers' efforts to implement PBS for learning. Based on the findings, it is suggested that ongoing trainings and in-service supports are provided to facilitate accounting teachers' developing understandings and implementation of PBS in order to meet the aims as intended by the Malaysia Ministry of Education

Hydrostatic pressure effect on Tc of new BiS2 based Bi4O4S3 and NdO0.5F0.5BiS2 layered superconductors

We investigate the external hydrostatic pressure effect on the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of new layered superconductors Bi4O4S3 and NdO0.5F0.5BiS2. Though the Tc is found to have moderate decrease from 4.8 K to 4.3 K (dTconset/dP = -0.28 K/GPa) for Bi4O4S3 superconductor, the same increases from 4.6 K to 5 K (dTconset/dP = 0.44 K/GPa) upto 1.31 GPa followed by a sudden decrease from 5 K to 4.7 K upto 1.75 GPa for NdO0.5F0.5BiS2 superconductor. The variation of Tc in these systems may be correlated to increase or decrease of the charge carriers in the density of states under externally applied pressure.Comment: 3 pages text +Fig

Teachers’ understanding of school based assessment: A case study of Malaysian primary school teachers

School Based Assessment (SBA) was introduced in Malaysian Primary Schools in 2011 with the intention to integrate assessment into teaching and learning process. Past studies have indicate that teachers often face difficulties in applying new ideas into classroom practices due to unclear understandings about what the new curriculum entails.This qualitative case study examined five teachers’ understanding of SBA and how they integrated SBA into the teaching and learning process.Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and classroom observations.Data analysis revealed differing understanding of SBA, namely SBA as a new way of assessing students learning and SBA as a new teaching methodology. Additionally, it was found that the teachers’ application of SBA in the classroom matched with their professed understanding of SBA.Findings suggest that the teachers are in need of continuous support to apply SBA in the classroom. Ongoing and onsite training may best help them to have a clear understanding of SBA and how it can be integrated into teaching and learning

Iron environment non-equivalence in both octahedral and tetrahedral sites in NiFe2O4 nanoparticles: study using Mössbauer spectroscopy with a high velocity resolution

Mössbauer spectrum of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles was measured at room temperature in 4096 channels. This spectrum was fitted using various models, consisting of different numbers of magnetic sextets from two to twelve. Non-equivalence of the 57Fe microenvironments due to various probabilities of different Ni2+ numbers surrounding the octahedral and tetrahedral sites was evaluated and at least 5 different microenvironments were shown for both sites. The fit of the Mössbauer spectrum of NiFe 2O4 nanoparticles using ten sextets showed some similarities in the histograms of relative areas of sextets and calculated probabilities of different Ni2+ numbers in local microenvironments. © 2012 American Institute of Physics

Malaysian accounting teachers’ preferences and practices towards assessment

Past studies have reported differently on teachers’ assessment preferences: Some documenting preferences for the traditional pen and paper examination while others reporting preferences for school-based assessment. The Malaysian Examination Syndicate has introduced a mix of both assessment approaches in accounting education with the aim to improve overall student learning. This qualitative study explores ten Malaysian secondary school accounting teachers’ assessment preferences, the reasons for their choices and how their preferences were translated into practice. Findings from semi-structured interviews and document analysis revealed a complex interplay of teachers’ preferences and their teaching practices due to various contextual factors

Synthesis, characterization, structural, redox and electrocatalytic proton reduction properties of cobalt polypyridyl complexes

A monoanionic amido pentadentate ligand bpaqH (2-(bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)-N-(quinolin-8-yl)acetamide) and its corresponding cobalt(III) chloro complex [Co(bpaq)Cl]Cl: 1 and aqua derivative [Co(bpaq)(OH2)](ClO4)2: 2 were successfully synthesized and fully characterized by different analytical and spectroscopic techniques such as FT-IR, 1H NMR, UV–vis spectroscopy, ESI mass spectra. The structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Spectral and redox properties were investigated along with free ligand under electrochemical conditions. Both complexes performed proton reduction activity under soluble, diffusion-limited conditions in acetonitrile with acetic acid as an external proton source with overpotentials of 0.412 V for 1 and 0.394 V for 2. The stability of the catalysts was inspected by the time-dependent UV–vis spectroscopy; 1 and 2 were found to be highly stable in the absence and presence of acetic acid. There was no significant spectral change before and after the controlled potential electrolysis suggesting no change in molecular integrity during electrocatalysis

Calf massager: intervention for body muscle discomfort during prolonged standing

Many occupations require workers to stand for long periods of time without proper interventions, which causes discomfort in the back and lower limbs. Therefore, this study aims to assess the effectiveness in alleviating body muscle discomfort during prolonged standing through the use of a calf massager. This study was conducted among male workers at a manufacturer with production line workers and the list was obtained from the HR Department and simple random sampling was done by number categorization. A total of 100 respondents (50 respondents for both the control and the experimental groups) participated in this study. The experiment took place in a room with a similar setup for the production line. Each respondent was requested to perform the simulated task for 2 hr. For the experimental group, the calf massager was turned on every 15 min. At every 15‐min interval after turning on the calf massager, respondents from both groups were required to evaluate their discomfort level on a Borg's scale CR‐10 questionnaire. The results showed that the level of body discomfort among respondents in the experimental group reduced (20–30%)compared with that of the control group. Multivariate analysis results revealed that the discomfort rating for the lower back, knees, thighs, calves, and feet was significantly lower (p < .05) among the experimental group compared with the control group. For lower body parts, the lower back region was statistically significant(p < .05) at the 90th, 105th, and 120th min; the thigh region was statistically significant (p < .05) at the 120th min; the knee region was statistically significant(p < .05) at the 105th and 120th min; the calf region was statistically significant(p < .05) at all minute intervals except the 15th and 45th min, while the feet region, was statistically significant at the 105th and 120th min. Therefore, this study indicates that calf massage treatment is capable of reducing body muscle discomfort during prolonged standing and highlights the significance of calf massage

Effects of calf massage on standing discomfort and muscle activity due to prolonged standing in upright position among production line workers

Introduction: Many occupations (especially in assembly production lines) require the workers to stand for prolonged periods of time without enough interventions such as breaks or resting periods. Previous studies have shown that prolonged standing is the cause of pain and discomfort in the back and lower limbs. During prolonged standing, the muscles and ligaments undergoes static loading which causes the compression of tissue in the joints and venous pooling in the leg areas which leads to the cause of fatigue. Objective: Therefore, the aims of this study is to determine the effect of intervention (calf massage) on discomfort due to prolonged standing in upright position. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted among male workers at a manufacturing with production line workers. List of all production workers were obtained from HR Department and simple random sampling were done by number categorization. A total of 108 respondents (54 respondents for each control and experimental group) participated in this study. The experiment took place in a room with a similar setup of production line. Each respondent was requested to perform simulated task for 2 hours. For the experimental group, the calf massager was turned on at every 15 minutes. At every 15 minutes interval, respondents from both groups were required to evaluate their discomfort level on Borg’s scale CR-10 questionnaire. Meanwhile, surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to monitor the muscle activity (right and left lower leg around calf area specifically at gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles in both experimental and control groups) throughout the experimental durations. Results and Discussion: The discomfort rating of the experimental group had showed reduction compared to the control group during the testing period. Results revealed that the discomfort rating for lower back, knees, thigh, calf and feet were significantly lower (p<0.05) among experimental group compared to the control group. Muscle activity of respondents showed that there are reductions of electromyography levels for both right and left calf muscles. The results also revealed that there were significant decline (p<0.05) of electromyography levels among experimental group compared to the control group with 2 hour prolonged standing process. Conclusion: This study has provided new insights into the effects of calf massage prototype usage on prolonged standing workers in a controlled laboratory session. The use of calf massage prototype has provided a beneficial ergonomic feature which reduces muscle and body’s discomfort. This also increases the workers comfort with less negative impact on muscle activity. Calf massage prototype could be an intervention that can provide better comfort for prolonged standing and eventually increase worker’s performance