Using ICT to foster collaborative writing for EFL university students in Vietnam

The development of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has changed most aspects of life, and its diffusion into education was inevitable. Vietnam is a developing country where English and ICT are highly valued as two of the most important instruments of industrialisation and modernisation. These instruments help facilitate the country’s integration into the globalised world. Thus, the use of ICT in English language teaching and learning has received much attention from both policy makers and researchers. In this study, the possibilities of using ICT in fostering English as a Foreign Language (EFL) university students’ collaborative writing in a Vietnamese context were examined. Teachers’ and students’ readiness for ICT-supported collaborative writing as well as their attitudes and perceptions toward this learning mode were investigated. Pedagogical implications for ICT-supported collaborative writing are also discussed. A case study methodology using both quantitative and qualitative data was employed. The study consisted of two phases. Phase 1 was a preliminary investigation in which online surveys were distributed to 16 English language teachers and 315 first year students at FPT University. The results of the surveys suggested that it was feasible to implement ICT-supported collaborative writing in this university and that the most suitable ICT applications to use were Facebook and Google Docs. In Phase 2, an intervention, in which Facebook and Google Docs were used as ICT platforms for collaborative writing was conducted with three EFL classes of three English levels: elementary, pre-intermediate and intermediate. During Phase 2, methods of data collection such as observations, focus group interviews and experience-of-change interviews were employed. This study found that successful ICT integration in English language teaching and learning required not only the readiness of teachers and students to engage with technology, but also the pedagogy to use that technology informed by an understanding of the cultural characteristics of the learners. Based on the main findings, a number of recommendations have been suggested in relation to policies, teacher training, curriculum design, and future research

Replacing Face-To-Face Classes by Synchronous Online Technologies: The HOU Experience

AbstractSince 2009, HOU has been providing live virtual classes for various distance learningprograms.This paper will provide an opportunity to look at the issues involved in the use of thesemultimedia-enabled delivery approaches, the technology behind them, the logistics involved,and to provide an HOU perspective of the experiences encountered.The goal of research was to provide a systematic methods to implement the highlyinteractive live session. The additional goals was to design the portable hardware and easy touse software toolset as well as easy to follow guidelines on how to propel the lectures fromthe conventional dull chalk and talk and to minimise the number of staff required to give thelectures.Through a combination of surveys and feedback from lecturers and students, we are ableto better understand the obstacles and to continuously improve on the effectiveness of theseinteractive delivery approaches

Polyamorphism and Two State Model in Liquid GeO2_{2} under Compression: Insight from Visualization of Molecular Dynamics Data

The polyamorphism and two-state model based on the coordination number distribution in liquid GeO$_{2}$ at 3200~K and in a wide pressure range are investigated by molecular dynamics simulation. Results show that the structure of liquid GeO$_{2}$ mainly consists of GeO$_{x}$ coordination units $(x=4,5,6)$ and OGe$_{y}$ linkages $(y=2, 3)$. The distribution of OGe$_{y}$ linkages in network structure is not uniform but tends to form clusters of OGe$_{y}$. The cluster of OGe$_{2}$ will form low-density phase region, conversely the cluster of OGe$_{3}$ will form high-density phase region. In other word, under compression, in the liquid GeO$_{2}$ coexist two states: low-density and high-density. The size of phase regions significantly depends on compression

Synthesis of some derivatives of n-(2,3,4,6-tetra-o-acetyl-õ-d-glucopyranosyl)-n’-(benzothiazole-2’-yl) thioureas

Some compounds of N-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-N’-(benzothiazole-2’-yl)thioureas have been synthesized from corresponding 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl isothiocyanate and the substituted derivatives of  2-aminobenzothiazoles executing in home microwave oven. Their spectroscopic properties have been recorded and the relationships between their structures and spectral properties (IR, 1H- and 13C-NMR) have been discussed

Factors Affecting Cooperation in the International Supply Chain of Seafood Enterprises: the Case of Vietnamese

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to analyze and evaluate factors affecting cooperation in the international supply chain of Vietnamese seafood enterprises.   Theoretical framework: Operations in international business context are associated with high risks, so cooperation in supply chain helps to improve management flexibility. On the other hand, acccording to the theory of resource dependency, resource sharing and information sharing strategies can affect the quality and the level of cooperation among supply chain partners.   Design/methodology/approach: To achieve the aim of this study, a literature survey related to supply chain and supply chain cooperation is carried out, and empirical analysis is conducted among 327 partners in seafood industry with the results analyzed using Cronbach’s Alpha analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and linear regression analysis (RA).   Findings: Research results have confirmed that there are six main factors directly affecting the international supply chain cooperation of Vietnamese seafood enterprises including: (1) Trust; (2) Power; (3) Distance; (4) Government policy; (5) Cooperation strategies and (6) Information sharing.   Research/Practical & Social implication: The encouraging policies and simplified export regulations are to be implemented by the government, VASEP and enterprises so the knowledge about international supply chain cooperation will be promoted with the help of comprehensive future research directions.   Originality/value: This is literally one of the first research works in Vietnam to incorporate the information sharing component into the model of affecting factors for international supply chain cooperation. Regardless of business uncertainties, the study shed new light on supply chain cooperation and promote firms to gain an edge in the global marketplace

Constraints on Early Star Formation and Mixing from Nucleosynthesis in Protogalactic clouds

We calculate the stochastic chemical evolution of pre-galactic clouds as a means to constrain the degree of mixing in the early Galaxy. We employ a model based upon the cold-dark-matter paradigm for hierarchical galaxy formation. We argue that a significant dispersion in the metallicity for the alpha elements as a function of heavy elements is unavoidable for models with realistic stellar nucleosynthesis yields and a reasonable initial mass function. Although the calculated scatter in light-element abundance can be reduced by restricting the stellar initial mass function. The observed lack of dispersion requires inevitably requires that extensive mixing of the supernova eject containing alpha elements to have occurred. We use the difference between the observed and calculated dispersion of alpha to determine the degree of mixing of the early Galaxy. We argue that the large dispersion for heavy r-process elements suggests that they arise from rare events which did not have time to mix during the formation of the Galactic halo

Development of a diagnostic scar marker for Vibrio shilonii caused acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease in whiteleg shrimp

Background: In a previous report, we showed that Vibrio shilonii was found on whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) with acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease in Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam. This study was performed to develop a diagnostic molecular marker generated by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) for V. shilonii rapid detection.Methods: Pathogen Vibrio spp. were isolated from shrimps and fishes, and were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. Genetic diversity of Vibrio strains was analysis by RAPD technique. Specific PCR product for V. shilonii was cloned and sequenced. SCAR marker was developed from specific PCR product.Result: Twenty random primers were evaluated for RAPD to identify DNA polymorphisms between Vibrio species. The random primer OPN-06 generated a 468-bp DNA fragment specific for V. shilonii. This was then converted into a sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker designated N6-441.Conclusion: Specific primers (Vshi-441F/Vshi-441R) amplified a unique DNA fragment in all V. shilonii isolates but not in the other Vibrio spp. This PCR assay showed significantly sensitive to the target DNA and reliably for the amplification the V. shilonii genome.Keywords: AHPND; RAPD; SCAR; Vibrio shilonii; Vietna

Influence of Blocking Effect and Energetic Disorder on Diffusion in One-dimensional Lattice

The diffusion in one-dimensional disordered lattice with Gaussian distribution of site and transition energies has been studied by mean of kinetic Monte-Carlo simulation. We focus on investigating the influence of energetic disorders and diffusive particle density on diffusivity. In single-particle case, we used both analytical method and kinetic Monte-Carlo simulation to calculate the quantities that relate to diffusive behavior in disordered systems such as the mean time between two consecutive jumps, correlation factor and diffusion coefficient. The calculation shows a good agreement between analytical and simulation results for all disordered lattice types. In many-particle case, the blocking effect results in decreasing correlation factor F and average time $\tau _{jump}$ between two consecutive jumps. With increasing the number of particles, the diffusion coefficient $D_{M}$ decreases for site-energy and transition-energy disordered lattices due to the F-effect affects stronger than $\tau$-effect. Furthermore, the blocking effect almost is  temperature independent for both lattices

Impact of Strategic Management Accounting on Operating Performance: Research in Public Universities of Vietnam

Purpose: The study aims to evaluate the impact of strategic management accounting (SMA) on the operating performance of Vietnamese public universities in terms of autonomy, student size, and number of years of establishment.   Theoretical framework: The paper is based on the theory of strategic management accounting, including the use of strategic management accounting as well as the characteristics of organizations in general and universities in particular.   Design/Methodology/Approach: Survey data were collected from 142 accountants of 102 public higher education institutions, cleaned data, and used regression analysis by SPSS 22 software.   Findings: The results showed that with 07 factors of SMA stands for Strategic Application (AD), Strategic Planning (LKH), Strategic Management Accounting (KT), Financial Measures (TC), Non-Financial Measures (PTC), Reporting strategy (BC), and Strategic Management Decision Making (RQD), there are only 3 factors that have an impact on the performance of quality universities (Application of Strategy, Quality Management Accounting Techniques, and Financial Measures). Considering the control variable, only the degree of autonomy, and the number of students have a positive effect on the impact of quality management accounting information and the performance of universities.   Research, practical & social implications: The results contribute to additional evidence for managers to pay more attention to quality management accounting information, thereby improving the universites' operational performance. In addition, this study complements the literature review documents related to the content of SMA and the impact of using SMA on the performance of universities.   Originality/Value: The study provided an extension on the impact of SMA on the performance of universities as well as the mediating role of the control variable on the relationship between SMA and performance. Research results provide useful references for research on related issues