Mosses of Gunung Serapi, Sarawak, Borneo

Collections of mosses have been made from the 911 metre high Gunung (Mount) Serapi in Sarawak. A total of 77 species in 37 genera within 17 families were discovered and are enumerated below. Five species are reported for the first time for Borneo: Aerobryidium aureonitens (Hook. ex Schwägr.)Broth., Distichophyllum schmidtii Broth., Mitthyridium fasciculatum subsp obtusifolium (Lindb.) M.Menzel, Papillidiopsis complanata (Dixon) W.R.Buck & B.C.Tan and Trichosteleum stigmosum Mitt. Seventeen species are new records for Sarawak. One family, Bartramiaceae, and 3 genera, Aerobryidium, Leucoloma, Philonotis, are new to Sarawak. The largest family is Calymperaceae, with 6 genera and 21 species, followed by Sematophyllaceae, with 10 genera and 19 species

Metacognition, Study Approaches and Reading Attitude: Towards Improving Reading Efficiency in English

The study investigated aspects of metacognition, study approaches and reading attitude of university students to enhance reading efficiency in English. A total of 503 students enrolled in the proficiency courses at UPM participated in the study. Three hundred and eighty-five students participated in the questionnaire survey and 118 students were involved in the needs analysis. From this population of 503 students, 40 students took part in the quasi-experimental study and out of this sample, ten students were randomly selected for the unstructured interview. It is also important to note that ten lecturers took part in the students'needs analysis. The results of the needs analysis have shown that factors like metacognition, study approaches and reading attitude are important for reading efficiency. It is noted from the questionnaire survey (metacognition and study approaches) that variables like programme of study, home background, gender and race were not related to reading efficiency among students. The main factor that revealed a significant difference in reading efficiency was students' SPM English grades. Students with distinctions and credits in English at SPM appeared to have a high level of metacognitive awareness, effective study approaches and a positive reading attitude in English. Besides, the questionnaire survey has shown a strong relationship between study approaches and reading attitude. In like manner, metacognition is guided by students' positive reading attitude. The results of the quasi-experimental study have shown that average readers at the university level can increase their reading rate by about 27%, and their comprehension score by 22%. A pre and post-test administered for both treatment and control groups have shown a convincing improvement for treatment group students. In fact, all participants of the treatment group gained in their overall score after the eight weeks' (16 hours) of training on reading efficiency. The interview results revealed that both treatment and control group students faced problems in reading. However, most of the treatment group students have learnt to overcome some of these problems. On the other hand, control group students have said that they did not know how to solve their reading problems. Both treatment and control group students have shown elements of metacognitive awareness. However, what were lacking for the control group students were strategies, both reading and metacognitive strategies. The study has proposed a reading efficiency model to enhance speed and comprehension in reading. The reading efficiency model proposed in this study with its three major components that is metacognition, study approaches and reading attitude is felt practical and applicable to students. And finally, the findings of this study have established the need for training in reading efficiency for students taking the English proficiency courses at UPM and similarly placed students elsewhere in the country

Democratic vision of education: three scholars impacting the debates on vision of schooling

In the field of education, the debates on the purpose or vision of schooling are always engaged by educational scholars with strong passion and visionary views—provoking thoughts on educational objectives and changing instructional practices and concepts of learning. Among many, three of the main scholars in the debates on vision of schooling are John Dewey, Paolo Freire, and Lisa Delpit —whose works are always referred to and revered by those in the educational setting. The similarity that these scholars have is their democratic vision of education, i.e., the concepts of democracy in education, social justice, and equality. Their works have been referred to and argued for (and against) since their revelation up to now. Such as their impact, this article is a modest celebration of the lived realities of their ideas and further possibilities for their vision of democratic education. Many times educational debates in the purpose of schooling are not followed through or acted upon in educational policies, curricula, or instructional practices; however, they still impact the way people perceive and discuss about the purpose of education and vision of schooling—hence the future direction of education. As such, the impact the author is referring to is not in the actions taken upon such ideas (i.e., change of educational policies or reforms), but the ways in which scholars and reformers talk about and view education when debating about educational reform, instruction, curriculum, and ultimately the purpose of schooling. In addition, the focus on democratic vision of education promoted by these three scholars is important because the idea of democratic education is the essence to, and sustenance for, a democratic nation whose citizens are active and contributive to the society. In this conceptual paper, the author will briefly describe the essence of their ideas on the vision of schooling, the impact these three scholars have on debates within the education field, and tie the similarities in their ideas for a democratic vision of education

Agricultural jobs in the eyes of college students

There is now a renewed interest in agriculture. The Malaysian government wants to revitalize the agriculture sector to become the third engine of growth after the services and manufacturing sectors. For that matter, a total of RM11.7 billions is allocated under the 9th. Malaysian Plan (9MP) to transform agriculture sector into a modern, dynamic and competitive sector. With the emphasis given by the government, Malaysia has to have her younger generation who are willing to venture into agricultural industries. But, is Malaysian younger generation willing to venture into agriculture? The study aimed at determining the young generation’s (students) interest in agriculture related jobs and their perceptions about occupations in agriculture. The findings indicated that students were moderately interested in agriculture related jobs (M = 2.68; SD =.86). Their perceptions about jobs in agriculture were moderate (M=3.41, SD. = .97). Based on the study actions have to be taken to ensure that young people would want to venture into agricultural careers. Even though they were interested in agriculture but their moderately positive perceptions about agriculture will hinder their movement into agricultural industries

Teacher sense of efficacy among Malaysian agriculture student teachers

This exploratory descriptive study sought to investigate teachers’ efficacy beliefs among agriculture science student teachers in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Specifically, the study explored student teachers’ efficacy beliefs in terms of student engagement, instructional strategies, and classroom management. The study also attempted to explain the relationships between student teachers’ backgrounds variables and teachers’ sense of efficacy beliefs. The study showed that general teacher efficacy beliefs among UPM agriculture science student teachers was high (Mean=4.15, SD. =.33). Male student teachers were found to have a significantly higher general teacher efficacy beliefs than female students teachers (t (79) = 2.20, p=.031). Experienced student teachers were more efficacious than student teachers who have no experience at all (t (79) = 3.072, p=.003). Age correlated significantly with general teacher efficacy belief (r=.51, p <.01). Significant correlations were also found between CGPA and general teacher efficacy belief (r=.31, p <.01

Perceived leadership characteristics of students majoring in Education at Universiti Putra Malaysia

A study was conducted to assess the leadership characteristics of Universiti Putra students majoring in Education. The study showed that in general, UPM trainee teachers possess the leadership characteristics needed to function effectively as a leader. The study also showed that the trainee teachers' involvement in organizational activities was about average. It was also found that the leadership characteristics differed significantly among students with different level of participation in organizational activities, the perceived ability to manage the students' organizations, the perceived amount of knowledge the students have about the management of the organizations, the perceived importance of a student's organization, and the type of teacher education programs

Preparing Malaysian vocational and technology teachers to integrate computer technology in teaching vocational and technology subjects

A study was conducted in three selected states in Malaysia to determine the preparedness of vocational and technology teachers to integrate computer technology in their classrooms. The study showed that teachers did not have a high level of general knowledge about computers (mean=6.3, sd.=2.97). They were not very knowledgeable in some computer software. They thought that they were not skillful in using computer software such as electronic spreadsheet (57.1%), word-processing and desktop publishing (50.8%), and database management (67.9%). Almost two-thirds of the respondents cannot do programming. Realizing that they did not have the necessary knowledge and skills, the majority of the teachers would like to attend training in using computers for instruction

Educational and Occupational Plans of Rural Youths

The purpose of this paper is to describe the educational and occupational plans of rural youths in rural schools and related students’ educational and occupational choice to the needs of the country. The findings showed that almost all students participated in the aspired for education beyond the secondary schools. The two most popular program students expect to enroll at the tertiary level were accountancy and engineering. All of the respondents have tentatively made their career choices. It also shows that respondents have some knowledge as to subjects important for their educational and career choices

Learning to Lead: The Role of a Teacher Training Institution

There is a strong belief that in order to improve classroom process as well as its outcomes, teachers' effectiveness should be enhanced. Effective leadership is the most important determinant for the effectiveness of the organization. In a classroom, a teacher assumes the leadership roles for the effectiveness of the teaching learning process. A teacher has to be an effective leader if he or she wants to bring out successful educational outcomes. To be an effective leader, a teacher has to have certain leadership characteristics. This article will discuss research findings of leadership characteristics possessed by prospective teachers trained in UPM. The findings showed that majority of the respondents felt that they possessed leadership characteristics necessary to be an effective leader