The Training Needs of Primary School Teachers According to the Principles of Sustainable Professional Development

This study aims to uncover the training needs required for the teachers of the first three primary school grades according to the principles of sustainable professional development from the viewpoint of school principals in Jordan. The descriptive and analytical method was used, and to achieve the goal of the study, a questionnaire was developed consisting of 57 items distributed in four areas: planning, teaching strategies, classroom management, human relations, and evaluation strategies and tools. The study was applied to a sample consisting of 33 female principals from public schools in the Jordanian Directorate of Education of Ain Al-Basha for the academic year 2020/2021. The results showed that the training needs of the teachers of the first three primary school grades from the viewpoint of the school principals were high, whether in the main four fields of study or even the paragraphs within the same field. Their arrangement of the order of needs came as follows: (evaluation strategies and tools, classroom management and human relations, teaching strategies, and planning). The results also showed that there are statistically significant differences at the level of significance α≥0.05 for school principals’ responses to training needs in the fields of planning and teaching strategies in favor of female principals with experience of 10 years or more. Whereas there are no statistically significant differences at the level of the significance of α≥0.05 for responses of school principals to training needs in the fields of classroom management and human relations, assessment strategies, and tools attributed to the experience variable. In light of the results, it is recommended that training programs should be chosen according to the actual needs of teachers, with the participation of school principals in their preparation, and further studies should be conducted on other samples to accurately determine their needs and work to satisfy them

The Experience of Developing a Module on Energy-Efficient Buildings for Architecture Students

This paper presents a practical experience of developing a module on energy-efficient buildings for architecture students. The module was developed by a team of staff from the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) and Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) as part of an academic partnership project funded by APPEAR program and Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC). The study highlights the various steps followed by the teams to develop the module and then integrate it into the curriculum of the architecture department at IUG. The development of the module contents, including the theoretical and practical parts, was also presented. In addition, the paper focuses on the evaluation processes carried out by different bodies at IUG to find out to what extent the module development and implementation were successful. The results clearly indicate that the developed module contributed considerably to promote energy-efficient approach of building design and construction. And significantly succeeded to increase the students’ knowledge and improved their skills in creating such type of buildings

Evaluating Travelers Experience with Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) And Citizens Band Radio Advisory System (CBRAS) On Florida\u27s Turnpike Enterprise Toll Roadways And Florida Interstate Highways

The goal of this thesis is to evaluate travelers\u27 experience with Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) and Citizens\u27 Band Radio Advisory System (CBRAS) technologies on both Florida Interstate Highway system (FIH) and the Florida Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) toll roads. To achieve this goal, two different survey tools were used. The first tool is a random digit dialing phone survey known as CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing). The second tool is a field survey that intercepts travelers at the Florida Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) service plazas and the Florida Interstate Highway (FIH) rest areas. HAR and CBRAS are traditional components of the Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS). This thesis pays special attention to the effectiveness of HAR and CBRAS in improving travelers\u27 experience. Feedback to analyze these two technologies was collected via a telephonic survey and a field survey. Two different field surveys (one for HAR and one for CBRAS) were designed and implemented to obtain feedback on these technologies. The field survey for CBRAS is unique and has never been done before for this purpose. A sample size of 1000 HAR surveys was collected through the CATI phone survey. Field surveys were collected at five locations across the state, including central, southeast, and southwest regions of Florida. The HAR field survey sample size was 1610 and the CBRAS field survey sample size was 613. All field surveys were conducted by UCF students at each of the five locations, over a 13-week data collection period. The HAR messages were designed to alert drivers of any adverse roadway traffic or weather conditions. The CBRAS is limited to truck drivers with the closed system radio pre-installed in their vehicles. However, truck drivers were also asked some questions on HAR if they do not use CBRAS. Basic statistical analysis was used to determine a number of performance indicators which include system\u27s use and awareness, usability of provided information, route diversion, and travelers\u27 demographics. In addition, the two HAR phone and field samples were combined together and examined using a decision tree model. Target questions were selected from the survey to build the tree network. The tree model aimed at identifying trends between categorical differences of travelers with respect to specific questions. Understanding travelers\u27 satisfaction with HAR is critical to knowing its benefits. The ending results indicated that both basic statistical analysis and the decision tree model are in agreement. A comparison between HAR phone and field surveys indicates the following. Travelers interviewed for the HAR field survey were more aware of the HAR than travelers surveyed by phone. A small portion of the surveyed samples used HAR (22% and this was consistent between the phone and the field surveys). Also, 80% or more were satisfied with HAR for both phone and field samples and the majority (85% or more) supported its continuation as an indication of willingness to use it in the future, especially in emergency conditions. In terms of the types of messages they want to hear from HAR, traffic congestion was the most common. Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) were the most preferred source of travel information and were the alternative for HAR, if HAR gets terminated. This was followed by smartphone applications which received twice as much support from field surveyed travelers (28%) when compared to phone surveyed travelers (15%). The CATI Phone Survey was biased towards elderly people (60% of the sample) and mainly females (58%) that use the FTE roadway system. Users satisfied with the system are those who only use these roadways once per week or less. The survey ultimately shows that travelers rely on modern modes of obtaining traffic information than traditional ones, such as HAR. DMS, and smart phone applications are leading communication tools among all type of travelers. The HAR field survey was less biased with respect to age and gender distribution (56% were under 50 and 62% were males). Both surveys indicate that the sample is well educated (about 60% have an associate degree or higher). CBRAS serves a small segment of commercial truck drivers (only 12% out of 613 used CBRAS). However, this small segment used it heavily (84% used it sometimes, often, or always). And 92% of CBRAS users were satisfied or strongly satisfied with it. CBRAS was used mostly for route divergence, with 72% of the drivers relying on it for this purpose. Truck drivers who never used CBRAS (88% of the sample) were asked questions about HAR. Only 27% of them used HAR and 57% of these used it sometimes, often, or always with 72% of the truck users being satisfied with HAR compared to the 92% satisfied with CBRAS. The most common complaint about HAR by truck drivers was that it is not easy to access or understand. Based on responses of truck drivers for both HAR and CBRAS field surveys above, it seems that GPS navigation was the most preferred source of travel information (28%). In addition to the basic statistics, a decision tree model, using SAS Enterprise Miner was performed. The statistical analysis results indicated satisfaction of travelers. The decision tree model was used to predict and profile responses to all answered questions that each survey shared. Training data was included in the model and the model was able to leverage the questions. Results of the decision tree model predicted high user satisfaction rates. Analyses of the three implemented surveys show that HAR and CBRAS technologies are not used by a large proportion of travelers, but their users are typically satisfied with these technologies. A small portion of the surveyed sample of truck drivers uses CBRAS but they use it heavily and were very satisfied with it. The travelers\u27 satisfaction level with HAR was high. The HAR and CBRAS systems are in the middle of a heated competition lead by digital communication, it may be a sign of the time to create HAR/CBRAS smart phone applications for the longevity of these traditional technologies

Shading Potential of Semi-spherical Roof Dome, with Special Reference to Gaza Strip

This paper examines the shading potential of a semi-spherical roof dome in a temperate climate with special reference to Gaza Strip. It highlights the capability of the roof dome to reduce the amount of solar radiation incident on its surface, naturally, through its curvature shape, which is partially shaded at any time during the day. A case study of Al-Said Hashim Mosque in Gaza was studied as a typical religious building with semi-spherical roof domes. Also, the paper presents a computer model developed specifically to calculate the shaded area produced on a semi-spherical dome located in any place on the earth at any time during the year. Using the developed program, a parametrical study was carried out to investigate the effect of changing the time on the shading performance of the dome. The results showed a direct relationship between the time during the day and the shaded area produced on the dome’s surface

The Influence of Canyon Asymmetry on Heating and Cooling Energy Demand of Buildings in the Mediterranean Climate of the Gaza Strip

This paper shows the effect of canyon asymmetry on the energy consumption of buildings in the Mediterranean climate of the Gaza strip. The study was conducted using threedimensional computer models, namely, ECOTECT and IDA ICE. The ratio of the opposite buildings heights ranging from 0.2 to 3.2 were examined in the study at two different orientations, which are (EW) and (NS). The results showed that the asymmetrical profiles seemed to have a significant influence on the thermal response of buildings. The ratio which ranges between 1.2 to 2.0 is more preferable for both cooling and heating requirements. The received solar radiation is reduced by 14.02% and 55.02% in summer with increasing the buildings heights ratio at (NS) and (EW) streets respectively from 1.0 to 3.2. Asymmetrical canyon with the highest ratio provides the maximum energy savings throughout the year especially in the upper floors. About 29.53% of energy consumption can be reduced by choosing the opposite building height equal to the examined building height+ 5floor. Therefore, the study recommends to utilize the advantages of the different heights of buildings in achieving shading on the roof and building’s façades for the purpose of energy saving

The Experience of Developing a Module on Energy-Efficient Buildings for Architecture Students

This paper presents a practical experience of developing a module on energy-efficient buildings for architecture students. The module was developed by a team of staff from the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) and Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) as part of an academic partnership project funded by APPEAR program and Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC). The study highlights the various steps followed by the teams to develop the module and then integrate it into the curriculum of the architecture department at IUG. The development of the module contents, including the theoretical and practical parts, was also presented. In addition, the paper focuses on the evaluation processes carried out by different bodies at IUG to find out to what extent the module development and implementation were successful. The results clearly indicate that the developed module contributed considerably to promote energy-efficient approach of building design and construction. And significantly succeeded to increase the students’ knowledge and improved their skills in creating such type of buildings

Towards an E-Learning Platform for Translator Training: Getting Stakeholders Involved

The dynamic nature of the language industry and the current and future demands of the translation market have increased the need for integrating web-based collaborative learning and teamwork techniques into translation training classrooms. However, the absence of specialized eLearning platforms for translation training makes it difficult for translation trainers to execute collaborative translation tasks that mimic real-life situations.The present paper discusses online collaborative learning in translation classrooms and argues for involving translator training stakeholders in the process of designing and developing web-based collaborative learning tools for translator-training purposes. The paper proposes a software design workflow that can be followed by eLearning software engineers when designing online learning tools for translatortraining purposes based on Jirava’s (2004) software application life cycle. The paper also displays different functions of an underdevelopment online-software specialized for translator training institutions. The design is inspired by translators, translation students, and trainers. The paper ends by measuring students’ perceptions of the proposed tool in terms of its ease of use and usefulness using Venkatesh and Bala\u27s (2008) Technology Acceptance Model

Continuity and Contradistinction: A Geography of Religion Study of the Ancient Near Eastern Storm-God Baal-Hadad, Jewish Elijah, Christian St. George, and Muslim Al-Khiḍr in the Eastern Mediterranean

For at least the past 800 years in the Eastern Mediterranean, communities of Muslims, Christians, and Jews have venerated three important figures: Christian St. George, Muslim al-Khiḍr, and Jewish Elijah. This is paradoxical, considering that common wisdom, and even religious studies discourse, suggests that Muslims, Christians, and Jews are distinct and separate, and particularly in the contentious Levant. Moreover, the figures there also share \u27peculiar\u27 characteristics: associations with rain, greenness, and fertility. One past study of this phenomenon argued that the figures\u27 similarities arose from the fact that they were each a continuation of an important earlier regional religious figure: the Syrian Storm-God, Baal-Hadad. This study also considers the figure of Baal-Hadad, but not within a genealogical framework. Traditionally, each of the figures in this study has been investigated from what is known as a World Religions perspective - studied from within their particular religious traditions. This study critiques that perspective and proposes instead the approach of Geography of Religion, which it argues is a more efficacious framework for understanding the figures and the phenomenon. A fundamental precept of Geography of Religion theory is the notion that religions are always geographically contextualized - that is, they are always a product of both the time and place in which they emerge or exist. In this project, each of the figures\u27 earliest and/or canonical religious texts, common images, and important geographical sites are investigated and compared for evidence within them of contemporaneous religious, political, and geographical influences, in order to produce a view of each of the figures from within their specific temporal and geographical contexts at the time when that text or image or site was created. This fruitful methodological approach demonstrates the enduring influence of geography upon a continuity of agricultural motifs which all four figures share; it illuminates a common pool of compelling figures, narratives, and motifs in the Near East; it argues for monotheism as a specific strand of religious thought that characterized Jews, Christians, and Muslims in contradistinction to one another and to the majority pagan traditions of the Near East; and it demonstrates that these religious traditions are distinct but not in fact separate, underscoring the significance of the phenomenon involving St. George, al-Khiḍr, and Elijah as a belonging to the authentic historical heritage of the Eastern Mediterranean, and to the region\u27s shared religious practices