The Effect of Using Cooperative Learning Strategy on Graduate Students’ Academic Performance and Gender Differences

The study aimed to investigate the effect of using cooperative learning strategy on graduate students’ academic performance and  gender differences  in educational statistics and eduactional research methoud courses. The convenience sample used consisted (23) master’s students’ (18 female and 14 male) who study the educational statistics course, and (24) master’s students’ (13 female and 11 male) who study educational research method course from faculty of education at King Saud University. This study employed a quasi-experimental - nonequivalent control-group design with pretest, posttest and delyead posttest  In this study, educational statistics performance test (ESPT) and educational research method test  was used to measure the students’  performance. The both tests consisted of 30 multiple choice questions to collect the relevant data. The data collected was analyzed using independent samples t-test statistical methods. Findings of this study revealed that there was no significant difference in academic performance of male and female students at the pretest, posttest, and delayed posttest levels respectively. However, further investigations and analysis could be beneficial to obtain a complete vision of cooperative learning strategy for graduate students’ and invest more empirical research studies about teaching and learning strategies. Keywords: Cooperative Learning Strategy, Academic Performance, Gender, Graduate Students’

Correlation between Personality Traits, Learning Approaches and Academic Performance of Dental Students

The present study investigated the correlation between personality traits of dental students and their approaches to learning. Aims were to examine the influence of both measures on the academic achievement of dental students, and to provide recommendations for educators. Personality traits of final year dental students were determined using the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. These students were also asked to complete Bigg’s revised two-factor version of the study process questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F) and provide their grade point average (GPA). The de-identified data were analysed using zero-order correlation, Student t- test and a multiple regression procedures. Of the 170 students who volunteered, a total of 115 (67.6%) students showed deep approach (DA) to learning. Moreover, a significant positive relation between GPA and DA was found, whereas negative relation between GPA and surface learning approach (SA) was reported. Two of the five personality traits, namely conscientiousness and openness were positively related to deep learning approaches. Conscientiousness and DA were the best predictors of GPA. Results from zero-order correlation also revealed that openness significantly predicted deep learning approach and GPA. On the contrary, neuroticism was positively related to surface learning approach and negatively related to GPA. Neuroticism was significantly higher in female students

Foreword

This file includes eight articles stemming from contributions presented during a workshop organized in July 2011 within the framework of a cooperation established between the French Institute of the Near East and the Al-Hussein Bin Talal University in Jordan. The collaboration comes within the scope of a scientific program codirected by W. Abu-Azizeh and M. B. Tarawneh, combining the study of two desert areas (the sector of Al-Thulaythuwat to the south of Al-Jafr Basin and the Eastern Wadi Ba..

THE EXTENT TO WHICH TEACHERS OF TALENTED AND CREATIVE STUDENT POSSES KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS ACCORDING TO CEC-NAGC CRITERIA IN JORDAN

The aim of this study is to identify the extent to which teachers of talented and creative students possess knowledge and skills according to CEC- NAGC criteria in Jordan. The study was carried out on a sample of (36) teachers at king Abdullah II challenging school at Irbid and Mafraq governorates during the 2014/2015 school year in Jordan. Means, standard deviation, and MANOVA were employed in answering the research questions. Results showed that the extent to which teachers of gifted and creative students possess knowledge and skills of Foundations, Development and Characteristics of Learners, Individual Learning Differences, Instructional Strategies, learning environment and social interactions, assessment, Professional and Ethical Practice, and Collaboration was moderate. On the other hand, the extent to which these teachers possess knowledge, skills of language, communication skills, and Instructional planning was high. Results also showed no statistically significant differences in the degree to which these teachers possess knowledge and skills according to CEC- NAGC criteria. Thus, this is due to the subjects of educational qualification, teaching experience, and specialization from the educational supervisor’s point of view. These differences were found in the degree to which respondents possess these knowledge and skills according to CEC- NAGC criteria due to their sex. Thus, this criteria was found from an educational supervisor's point of view. Results also showed the need for finding programs that are prepared and specialized in preparing teachers of talented and creative students. It provides them with a pre service according to CEC- NAGC criteria. In addition, it shows the need to force talented student’s teachers to obtain the certificate for teaching talented students according to these criteria

Issues of self-representation in Islamic community centers in America

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1993.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 147-153).by Wael M. Al-Masri.M.S

MAINTAINING ROOT CANAL CURVATURES AFTER PREPARATION WITH DIFFERENT NICKEL-TITANIUM ROTARY SYSTEMS (A COMPARATIVE IN VITRO STUDY)

The ongoing advancement of materials and methods for root canal instrumentation is resulting in improved techniques with minimal variations to the canal morphology. One standard for assessment of the shaping quality of curved root canals is preparation-induced straightening of the canal. The aim of the study: To compare the effects of 2 Nickel-Titanium rotary systems, 2Shape (Micro-Mega, Besançon, France) and ProTaper Next (Dentsply,Sirona, Ballaigues, Switzerland), on maintaining the distobuccal canals curvature of extracted human maxillary molar teeth using periapical radiographs. Materials and methods: In this study a total of 26 distobuccal roots of upper maxillary molars were used and divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (n=13) root canals prepared with 2Shape system (TS1, TS2) (Micro-Mega, Besançon, France) and Group 2 (n=13) root canals prepared with ProTaper Next (X1, X2) (Dentsply,Sirona, Ballaigues, Switzerland). A buccolingual radiograph was taken for every sample before and after instrumentation in the same position, and the postoperative angle of curvature was measured with the Image J Software and the same principle of the method of Schneider. The post instrumentation curvature degree was subtracted from the pre instrumentation curvature degree and these results represented the degree of straightening. Result: P\u3c 0.05 was significant for ProTaper Next and 2Shape. 2Shape respected better the curvature angulations than ProTaper Next. Conclusion: Selection of the instruments has an important influence on the respect of the root canal curvature angulations

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL LONELINESS AMONG PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

The aim of this present study is to identify the emotional intelligence and its relationship with loneliness among parents of children with autism in Jordan. The study sample totaling 100 families consisted of all the families of autistic children in Amman Governorate in Jordan. The researchers made use of two tools: Emotional Intelligence Scale, and the measure of psychological unity. The results indicated that the level of emotional intelligence of the parents of children with autism in Jordan was at an average. The psychiatric unit level had a very low level because the results showed that the correlation coefficient between emotional intelligence and the level of psychological unity was 0.006 with a level of significance of 0.933. However, this shows a lack of correlation between emotional intelligence and psychological unity

On Optimal Power Allocation for Gaussian Broadcast Channel

We derive the optimal power allocation for Gaussian two users broadcast channel. To find the optimal power allocation between the two users, two optimization schemes are considered. In each optimization scheme, an analytical expression for the optimal power allocation between the two users is derived. The first optimization criterion finds the optimal power allocation between the two users such that they have equal rates. Then, the optimal power allocation that maximizes the sum rate capacity is studied. In addition, numerical examples are provided to verify the optimality of the derived schemes. Keywords: Gaussian Broadcast Channel, Capacity Region, Optimization

Interactivity oriented system architecture for the 21st century classroom : the new smart classroom

University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.The Smart Classroom is now a typical feature in education emerging from Information Communications Technologies (ICT) and the constant introduction of new technologies into institutional learning. The aim of the Smart Classroom is that users develop skills, adapt and use technologies in a learning context that produces elevated learning outcomes. However, research has shown that the use of ICT in the classroom is often confused or poorly adapted to the learning setting. The main goal of this research is to design Smart Classroom solutions particularly modelling, that address key limitations of system architecture design, technologies and practice. Applications of very recent technologies, such as AR, Haptics, Cloud and IoT/WSNs are investigated. The expected outcomes involve: improving the design of systems architecture; an improved selection and use of devices; improved teaching skills deployment. An extended model of the Smart Classroom is developed. A quality measurement tool for the validation of the system architecture is constructed to evaluate the model and its assumptions. Devices are also assessed measuring interactivity, usability and performance attributes, as well as, an assessment of teaching skills used in the ICT context. Finally, an innovative model of the Smart Classroom architecture that integrates an effective and practical pedagogic approach is proposed

A Comparison of Three Different Methods for the Identification of Hysterically Degrading Structures Using BWBN Model

Structural control and health monitoring scheme play key roles not only in enhancing the safety and reliability of infrastructure systems when they are subjected to natural disasters, such as earthquakes, high winds, and sea waves, but it also optimally minimize the life cycle cost and maximize the whole performance through the full life cycle design. In this scheme, system identification is regarded as a major technique to identify system states and related parameter variables, thus preventing degradation of structural or mechanical systems when unexpected disturbances occur. In this paper, three different strategies are proposed to identify general hysteretic behavior of a typical shear structure subjected to external excitations. Different case studies are presented to analyze the dynamic responses of a time varying shear structural system with the early version of Bouc-Wen-Baber-Noori (BWBN) hysteresis model. By incorporating a “Gray Box” strategy utilizing an Intelligent Parameter Varying (IPV) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach, a Genetic algorithm (GA), and a Transitional Markov Chain Monte Carlo (TMCMC) based Bayesian Updating framework system identification schemes are developed to identify the hysteretic behavior of the structural system. Hysteresis characteristics, computational accuracy, and algorithm efficiency are further discussed by evaluating the system identification results. Results show that IPV performs superior computational efficiency and system identification accuracy over GA and TMCMC approaches