Use of ICT and Students' Personal and Social Development at Higher Education Level

The substantive purpose of this study was to identify the effect of using ICT on students' personality development. Population of the study consisted of students of two universitiesof Lahore. Sample of the study comprised randomly selected 242 students. A self-developed and validated instrument was used for data collection. Instrument comprised two sections one contained demographic variables and other statements related to personality development of students.  A pilot study was conducted to validate the instrument. The reliability index (cronbach alpha) was .83 which is statistically significant. Data were analyzed through SPSS. t- test was run to identify mean difference in personality development of male and female students. ANOVA was applied to see mean difference in the responses of students, regarding their personality development in different programs. Results showed that use of ICT has a profound effect on Female students' personality. Results of ANOVA revealed that students of BBA department show more effect of ICT on their personality. Recommendations were made on the basis of findings

Perceptions of Male and Female Teachers About Organizational Culture of Paragon City Schools System Lahore

The study was aimed to investigate the perceptions of male and female teachers about organizational culture of Paragon City School System Lahore. Teachers who were taught students of grade 4-12 were the population of this study. Sample was comprised of 171 teachers selected through census sampling technique. 43 teachers were male and 128 teachers were female in the sample. A Likert type instrument was developed in which 13 statements were related to tacit assumption, 10 statements with values and 9 statements were relevant to the norms. Reliability of the instrument items was 0.818 which showed that the questionnaire was accurate. Findings of the study indicated that male and female teachers have differences of opinions regarding human nature, human relationships, openness, intimacy, teamwork, support colleagues, and students’ help, is being valued in DHA school system in Lahore. Whereas no significant difference regarding truth and reality, trust, cooperation, criticism on principal, and handling discipline, between male and female teachers. It is recommended that principal would create a school culture where discipline handling, criticism on principal, cooperation and trust between teachers may develop

Perceptions of Elementary School Teachers about Effect of Physical and Emotional Violence on Students' Performance

Physical and emotional violence has become a serious problem in schools. Teachers are important part of the whole education system, therefore, their insights into school violence are essential to understand the problem. This study aimed to investigate the teachers’ perceptions about the effect of physical and emotional violence on students’ academic performance. A causal-comparative research design based on a cross-sectional survey was used. A self-developed and validated questionnaire was used to measure the level of teachers’ perceptions about physical and emotional violence and its effect on students’ academic performance. The reliability index (Cronbach’s alpha) of the questionnaire was 0.92. All the teachers of the public high schools of Lahore city were the population of the study. A sample of 300 teachers was taken through simple random sampling technique. Data were analyzed by applying descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that teachers thought that many practices related to emotional and physical violence had positive effects on students’ performance. Majority of the teachers responded that they had to use many of the practices in order to put students’ attention towards their learning which ultimately improved their performance. Result of correlation analysis also confirmed that teachers’ practices related to physical and emotional violence were positively associated with students’ academic performance. It was also found that the physical and emotional violence was a significant predictor of students’ academic performance. On the basis of these results, it is recommended that school education department should conduct seminars and training workshops to educate teachers about negative effects of violent practices they are using to improve students’ performance. Keywords: Emotional violence, physical violence, academic performance Physical and emotional violence has become a serious problem in schools. Teachers are important part of the whole education system, therefore, their insights into school violence are essential to understand the problem. This study aimed to investigate the teachers’ perceptions about the effect of physical and emotional violence on students’ academic performance. A causal-comparative research design based on a cross-sectional survey was used. A self-developed and validated questionnaire was used to measure the level of teachers’ perceptions about physical and emotional violence and its effect on students’ academic performance. The reliability index (Cronbach’s alpha) of the questionnaire was 0.92. All the teachers of the public high schools of Lahore city were the population of the study. A sample of 300 teachers was taken through simple random sampling technique. Data were analyzed by applying descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that teachers thought that many practices related to emotional and physical violence had positive effects on students’ performance. Majority of the teachers responded that they had to use many of the practices in order to put students’ attention towards their learning which ultimately improved their performance. Result of correlation analysis also confirmed that teachers’ practices related to physical and emotional violence were positively associated with students’ academic performance. It was also found that the physical and emotional violence was a significant predictor of students’ academic performance. On the basis of these results, it is recommended that school education department should conduct seminars and training workshops to educate teachers about negative effects of violent practices they are using to improve students’ performance

Identification of Institutionalized Violence in Elementary Schools

Violence unfolds itself in relation to the persons and activities within a specific institution, including violence from custodial authorities such as correctional officers and symbolic violence such as isolation and restriction to developmental resources. This study aims to identify the institutionalized violence prevailing in elementary schools in Punjab. Four subjects were selected at elementary level. Three male and three female elementary school teachers were selected for interview to identify the institutionalized violence. Semi structured interview protocol was used as tool of the study.  Semi structured questions were developed around the following themes: inequalities in number of teaching period, discrimination in time table, demoralization, demotivation in academic activities and imposing extra duties, discrimination in leave and relaxation. The findings of the study revealed that discrimination practices of head teachers are demotivating elementary school teachers which may affect students and school performance. On the basis of findings it is recommended that training might be arranged for improving the teachers’ performance

Job Satisfaction among University Teachers working in Private Sector in the Punjab Province of Pakistan: A Quantitative Investigation

Job satisfaction is a feeling of pride and worker success on the job. It is generally perceived to be directly related to both profitability and personal wellbeing. This study aimed to discover teachers’ perceptions about their job satisfaction based on the demographic characteristics of gender at private sector universities in Lahore district, Pakistan. The population of study consisted of all faculty members of all the private universities situated in district Lahore.  Sample comprised 300 Lecturers, Assistant Professors, and Associate Professors selected through proportionate stratified random sampling technique.  Proportion of male and female teachers was 179 and 129 respectively. A Likert type instrument was developed having 28 statements which were related to the factors of job satisfaction opportunity, organization, safety security, pay, working condition, policies practices, relationship with coworkers, relationship with supervisors, working environment, stress and work load. Reliability of the instrument was 0.781 which showed that the questionnaire was accurate. Findings of the study showed that male and female teachers had perceived equally towards all factors of job satisfaction, whereas no significant difference was found regarding opportunity, organization, pay, working condition, policies and practices, and relationship with coworkers between male and female teachers. It is recommended that universities, administrators, educational consultants, deans of universities should use strategic action for producing and sustaining job satisfaction among university teachers

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Role of Teachers in Career Counseling of Students at Higher Education Level

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a blessing for Pakistan and China. China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) appears as a major ‘Prosperity Tool’ which can help Pakistan to overcome its economic problems. CPEC has been researched up till now in various trade and commerce fields but its most important linkage with education was hard to find. This study was aimed to identify the role of university teachers in developing awareness and providing guidance and counseling to their students regarding career opportunities existing in the projects of CPEC. All the teachers of public and private universities of city Lahore were the population of the study. A sample of 150 teachers was selected randomly from different departments of two public and two private universities of city Lahore. A self-developed and validated instrument was used to identify the role of teachers. Reliability index (Chronbach Alpha) of the instrument was α= .82. Results showed that teachers were playing their role to make students aware of the CPEC projects. They were also providing counseling informally to their students at higher education level regarding the career opportunities existing in the CPEC projects. There was no significant difference found in the role of teachers in providing career counseling to their students at higher education level about CPEC projects with respect to their gender, residential area, type of university, designation and years of working experience. It was recommended that universities should arrange seminars, workshops, conferences, panel discussions and brainstorming sessions for the sensitization of their faculty members so that they could create awareness among their students regarding CPEC and take measures for their career counseling

A Comparative Analysis of Mathematics Curriculum for Students with and Without Hearing Impairment

ABSTRAC

Prevalence of paternal postpartum depression

Background: Postpartum Depression is a type of mood disorder associated with childbirth, which can occur in both parents. It is a major public health concern because it produces insidious effects on the well-being of new born as well as on the whole family. Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence of postpartum depression among fathers in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: This cross sectional survey was conducted among fathers, purposive convenient and snowball sampling was used to approach 120 participants after obtaining permission from Al-Khidmat Hospital and Combined Military Hospital (CMH).Participants were aged between 20-50 years, had a newly born child between the past 6 weeks to 1 year. Each participant was required to fill an informed consent, demographic form and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale’s (EPDS), translated Urdu version. The data was collected and statistically analyzed. Results: The study findings show that 28.3% fathers experienced depressive symptoms, out of which 25.8% experienced mild while 2.5% experienced severe depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Paternal postpartum depression is quite prevalent among new fathers in Karachi. Depression among fathers is an area of substantial significance as it may enhance the risk of mental health problems among children. Health services should support new fathers by providing information about this major transition. These results clearly show that there is a need to assess expectant and new fathers for depression. Prevention, early identification and intervention of paternal post- partum depression are immensely required

Risk assessment across life cycle phases for small and medium software

Risk is labelled as an undesirable event that is encountered by every project irrespective of industry. Most software projects fail to meet the planned targets, i.e., scope, time, cost and quality. Software projects faced a wide range of risks and all risks cannot be dealt with the same priority. Risk can be prioritized by the probability of its occurrence and its impact. Therefore, risk assessment is required to highlight and prioritize serious risks. However, a very few researches targeted risk assessment faced by small and medium software projects. This research performs a risk assessment and highlighted serious risks faced by professionals working on small and medium software projects by documenting probability and impact. The chances of success of software projects can be increased by performing a proper risk assessment. The risks are identified by exploring and reviewing the existing literature. The identified risks are grouped by life cycle phases. This research utilizes a questionnaire-based approach to record the response of 163 software professionals working in Pakistan software industry. SPSS is used for data management and for performing statistical analysis. Probability and impact of each risk are measured to highlight the potential risks. The results concluded that the severity level of the majority of risks faced by small and medium software projects in Pakistan software industry is significant and high. The success of every project matters a lot for the progress of the organizations working on a small and medium level. Therefore, this research guide professionals and organizations to consider and prioritize the risk faced while working on small and medium software projects to increase the chances of the project's success