Mechanical, physical and thermal properties of rattan fibre-based binderless board

About 50% is of harvest is wasted when producing rattan furniture. With such huge amount of waste, we undertook a study to convert rattan waste into binderless board with superior properties. This study compared the mechanical and physical properties and morphologies of binderless boards manufactured from rattan fibres with boards made from kenaf, coconut husk and sugarcane bagasse using hot press process. Raw fibres were characterised using scanning electron microscopy and thermal analysis to study their suitability in producing self-bonded board, and then dried in the oven before being hot pressed at a pressure of 147.5 kPa. Modulus of rupture (MOR), internal bonding strength, thickness swelling and water absorption of the manufactured binderless boards were evaluated based on the Japanese Industrial Standards. Results showed that rattan binderless boards exhibited slightly lower MOR and higher internal bonding strength with good dimensional stability compared with the rest of the binderless boards. It was concluded that rattan fibres have high potential to be used as binderless boards under hot press conditions

Instructional efficiency of the integration of graphic calculators in teaching and learning mathematics.

This quasi-experimental study with non-equivalent control group post-test only design was conducted to investigate the effects of using graphing calculators in mathematics teaching and learning on Form Four Malaysian secondary school students’ performance and their meta-cognitive awareness level. Graphing calculator strategy refers to the use of TI-83 Plus graphing calculator in teaching and learning of Straight Lines topic. The experimental group underwent learning using graphing calculator while the control group underwent learning using conventional instruction. Three instruments were used in this study namely, Straight Lines Achievement Test, Paas Mental Effort Rating Scale and Metacognitive Awareness Survey. The data were analysed using independent t-test and planned comparison test. The findings indicated that the graphing calculators’ instruction enhanced students’ performance and induced higher levels of metacognitive awareness among students. Less mental effort were invested during the learning and test phases and hence increased 3-dimensional instructional efficiency index in learning of Straight Lines topic. Hence it can be implied that integrating the use of graphing calculators in teaching and learning of mathematics was more efficient than the conventional instruction strategy. Eventhough some students experience difficulties in using graphing calculators initially during learning, they responded overwhelmingly that graphing calculators improves their understanding of the Straight Lines topic. Hence, the usage of the graphing calculator lends as an effective strategy in teaching and learning of mathematics