“Choice and voice”: elementary teachers’ perceptions of the influence of Edcamps on their professional practice

Created by a group of educators in 2009, Edcamps are “free, voluntary, participant-driven” unconferences for educators to informally learn from one another (Carpenter & Linton, 2016, p. 97). Since the first Edcamp in 2010, over 700 Edcamps have been held across the United States and in 25 total countries (Edcamp Foundation, 2016). In spite of the viral, organic growth of Edcamps and the extensive research literature on the need for high-quality teacher professional development (PD), almost no empirical research exists on this model of teacher PD. As a result, education stakeholders have little understanding of the possible value and influence of Edcamps on teachers’ professional practice. The purpose of this qualitative, multiple case study was to explore U.S. public elementary teachers’ perceptions of their Edcamp experiences and how, if at all, their Edcamp experiences influenced their professional practice, specifically in the areas of student instruction, peer collaboration, and teacher leadership. Two semi-structured interviews were conducted with each of the twelve study participants. During the second of these interviews, participants shared and discussed artifacts demonstrating the influence of Edcamps on their professional practice. A total of 68 unique artifacts were collected and examined from among all participants. A thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) of the interview data revealed that all twelve teachers perceived that their Edcamp experiences were legitimate, high-quality PD. All teachers also perceived that their Edcamp experiences had influenced their professional practice in at least one of the following areas: student instruction, peer collaboration, and teacher leadership. Teachers spoke of applying the discrete knowledge and skills that they had learned during Edcamp sessions as well as applying the format and beliefs of the Edcamp model of PD itself to their professional practice. Based on teachers’ interview responses, three major factors contributed to whether Edcamps influenced teachers’ professional practice: teachers’ motivations, colleague support, and administrator support. Additionally, all participants stated that teachers should have greater choice and voice in their PD. The findings of this study may inform future studies about Edcamps and, more generally, teacher-driven PD. Recommendations for practice and future research are discussed

SOCIO-CULTURAL ATHROPOLOGY OF VIETNAMESE LABOUR EXPORTED TO SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES

Vietnam is evaluated as the nation of young population with the high rate of abor age, making up about 63% of its total population (by the end of 2006 there were 43.3 million labors, in which 22.5 % were trained workers and 5% were managing staff). However, the rate of unemployment is quite high, therefore, employment is an urgent and long-term problem. To solve this problem, it is important to develop local business and production, but also the labor export to neighbor countries and the world should be taken into account.Among Southeast Asian nations, Malaysia considered as a potential market for labor export, because it is available for unskilled workers. It needs about 1 million of foreign workers per year to fill the lacking of its local labor for the strategy of turning Malaysia into a developed industrial nation towards the year of 2020. To carry out the targets of labor export policy, besides the responsibility of concerned agencies and authorities, it is necessary to require the contribution by scientists, including Anthropology. Hopefully, the applied research of anthropology could contribute to the improvement of Vietnamese labor export to Malaysia market, and limit the risks of cultural problems particularly between Vietnamese laborers and local ones in Malaysia which is an Islamic multi-ethnic country

Study of LaSiO3Cl:Ce3+,Tb3+ and Ca5B2SiO10:Eu3+ Phosphors for Improving Hue Standard and Illuminating Beam of WLEDs

Remote phosphor arrangements usually have low color quality and superior lumen output to that of conformal phosphor arrangements and in-cup phosphor arrangements. For this reason, many researches are done so that we could enhance the chromatic quality for the remote phosphor arrangements. For this research, we are suggesting the double-layer remote phosphor arrangement to boost the CRI (short for color rendering index) as well as the CQS (short for color quality scale) in WLED devices. Three identical WLED arrangements which have dissimilar chromatic temperature which covers 5600 K, 8500 K will be used in this paper. The initial idea involves placing one sheet of blue phosphor LaSiO3Cl:Ce3+,Tb3+ or one sheet of red phosphor Ca5B2SiO10:Eu3+ over a sheet of yellow phosphor YAG:Ce3+. After that, seek an appropriate concentration of Ca5B2SiO10:Eu3+ so that we could obtain the most desirable chromatic performance. Judging the result, the element Ca5B2SiO10:Eu3+ seem to help improve the CRI and CQS levels. Particularly, the greater the concentration of La2O3:Eu3+ is, the greater level the CRI and the CQS will get, because of the boost in red illumination within the WLED devices. In addition, the blue phosphor layer LaSiO3Cl:Ce3+,Tb3+ helps increase the lumen output. But the decline of the lumen as well as the chromatic performance manifests if the concentration of LaSiO3Cl:Ce3+,Tb3+ and Ca5B2SiO10:Eu3+ is beyond required level. This is demonstrated by utilizing the theory of Mie-scattering as well as the law of Beer–Lambert. This research’s result is important for the augmentation of white light performance in the WLED devices

The Impact of Public Government on the Relationship Between Consumer Confidence and Stock Market Index: A Study

Purpose:  The article aims to study the impact of public governance on the relationship between consumer confidence and the stock market index.   Theoretical framework: The concept of consumer confidence index: According to consumer confidence, and stock market index is a way to measure expected changes in income. Katona also argues that consumer trust includes emotional and intellectual factors.   Design/methodology/approach: Data is collected from 2012 to 2021 from 10 middle-income countries. The public governance variable is measured by 6 component variables, including (1) Voice and accountability, (2) Political stability, (3) Government efficiency, (4) Regulatory quality, (5) the rule of law, and (6) Control of corruption. Consumer confidence is measured by the consumer confidence index (CCI) and the stock market index (SMI). The authors use P. VAR model to solve the set goal.   Findings: The research results show that public governance positively affects the relationship between consumer confidence and the stock market price index in high-middle-income countries. In contrast, public administration does not influence the relationship between consumer confidence and the stock market index in low-income countries.   Research, Practical & Social implications: Based on the research results, the authors propose policy implications for middle-income countries for investors' confidence and investment activities on the stock market, contributing to boosting capital in the future more efficient circular economy.   Originality/value: Government must increase its accountability to the people and investors for all activities and decisions of the Government. Creating a stable political environment, prioritizing dispute settlement by peaceful negotiations

Application of CaTiO3:Pr3+ Phosphor for Enhancing the Hue Standard of WLEDs with Double-Film Distant Phosphor Structure

Due to its great thermal stability, the WLEDs (short for white-light diodes), which are made of PiG (short for phosphor-in-glass), appear to be an optical source most effective at generating potent white illumination. However, the actual applications they offer are limited by their poor color rendering and color uniformity. To improve the color rendering and uniformity, this study suggested utilizing a configuration involving a PiG-RPL (short for PiG integrated with a lens of phosphor in red). The phosphor YAGG (also known as Y3Al3.08Ga1.92O12:Ce3+) and borosilicate glass powders were printed, then sintered to generate the green PiG, and then using an inverted dispensing approach, we applied the CASN phosphor silicone in red color (also known as CaAlSiN3:Eu2+) to the said PiG. As a result, with a current of 350 mA, the WLEDs made of PiG-RPL exhibit highly remarkable chromatic performance for the CRI (also known as color rendering index) values determined as Ra = 95.6 with R9 = 95.2 and fidelity/gamut values determined as Rf = 92 with Rg = 99.2. The color quality of the PiG-RPL based WLEDs is steady over a wide range of currents, from 100 to 1000 mA. Moreover, PiG-RPL based WLEDs have better color uniformity than typical PiG based WLEDs. The PiG-RPL structure was proposed in this paper to improve the WLEDs’ chromatic generation as well as chromatic homogeneity. We made the PiGRPL via placing a lens of CASN phosphor above a PiG in green color made of YAGG phosphor. For WLEDs, the PiG-RPL provides extremely remarkable chromatic generation. Furthermore, the WLEDs that are made of PiG-RPL have better color uniformity than those made of PiG and PiG-RPP. The PiG-RPL color converters are considered to be promising for high-power WLEDs, offering great color rendering and color uniformity

MODELO DE CONSULTA ESCOLAR NO VIETNÃ: ESTUDO DE CASO DE PROFESSORES EM TEMPO PARCIAL

The school consultation model in Vietnam currently being implemented according to Circular No. 31/2017/TT-BGDDT effective from February 2, 2018, is the “Part-time teacher” model. The purpose of this exploratory study is to test the awareness of officials and teachers about the effectiveness of elements in the “part-time teacher” school consultation model in high schools in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The research sample was randomly selected from 4 high school heads and from teacher pedagogical training courses and management training classes, with 538 participants, of which teachers (69.0%), and managers (31.0%); in the study sample, there were (36.2%) participating in the school’s psychology team. Research subjects (28.6%) were trained in psychological consultation capacity by topic; (8.9%) training in psychological counseling capacity and granting training certificates; (5.4%) training for bachelor of psychology and master of psychology; (57.1%) had not studied through the psychological counseling competency program. The instrument’s validity and reliability were verified through the evaluation of Cronbach alpha analysis, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). When analyzing the EFA factor, the results of the factors in the model have a positive correlation of 76.2% (R2 = 1.00), in the factors of personnel conducting consultations, policies for personnel participating in consultations, and policies for consulting personnel. Joining the school counseling team, the consultation process and the consultation room have not been paying attention.O modelo de consulta escolar no Vietname que está atualmente a ser implementado de acordo com a Circular n.º 31/2017/TT-BGDDT, em vigor a partir de 2 de fevereiro de 2018, é o modelo “Professor a tempo parcial”. O objectivo deste estudo exploratório é testar a sensibilização de funcionários e professores sobre a eficácia dos elementos do modelo de consulta escolar de “professores a tempo parcial” em escolas secundárias na cidade de Ho Chi Minh, Vietname. A amostra da pesquisa foi selecionada aleatoriamente entre 4 diretores de escolas de ensino médio e de cursos de formação pedagógica de professores e turmas de formação gerencial, com 538 participantes, sendo professores (69,0%) e gestores (31,0%); na amostra do estudo havia (36,2%) participantes da equipe de psicologia da escola. Os sujeitos da pesquisa (28,6%) foram capacitados em capacidade de consulta psicológica por tema; (8,9%) formação em capacidade de aconselhamento psicológico e concessão de certificados de formação; (5,4%) formação para bacharel em psicologia e mestre em psicologia; (57,1%) não haviam cursado o programa de competência em aconselhamento psicológico. A validade e a confiabilidade do instrumento foram verificadas por meio da avaliação da análise alfa de Cronbach e da análise fatorial exploratória (AFE). Ao analisar o fator AFE, os resultados dos fatores do modelo apresentam correlação positiva de 76,2% (R2 = 1,00), nos fatores pessoal que realiza consultas, políticas para pessoal participante de consultas e políticas para pessoal consultor. Juntando-se à equipe de aconselhamento escolar, o processo de consulta e o consultório não têm prestado atenção

Growth and morphological responses of Halophila beccarii to low salinity

Halophila beccarii Ascherson is classified as a threatened seagrass species by IUCN because of the reductive tendency of ​​its distribution area. This seagrass is considered a euryhaline species adapted to a wide range of salinities from freshwater and brackish water to marine water. Previous studies showed that the species tends to grow better under low salinity; however, its optimum salinity has not been determined. In Vietnam, H. beccarii grows in habitats with low salinity (0–20 ppt). The results show that salinity affects the growth, survival rate, shoot density, biomass, and morphological characteristics of the grass. The leaf dimension is more prolonged and broader; the petiole and shoot length are longer at 10 ppt salinity. In contrast, both the number of shoots and biomass peak at 5 ppt and decrease at lower and higher salinities. The study reveals that H. beccarii can grow better under mesohaline conditions than freshwater and hypersaline conditions with an optimum salinity at 5–10 ppt. These findings would explain the species’ distribution dynamics in coastal environments and be helpful information for conserving the seagrass populations in habitats with fluctuating salinity as coastal lagoons in Central Vietnam

Advanced SOM & K Mean Method for Load Curve Clustering

From the load curve classification for one customer, the main features such as the seasonal factors, the weekday factors influencing on the electricity consumption may be extracted. By this way some utilities can make decision on the tariff by seasons or by day in week. The popular clustering techniques are the SOM & K-mean or Fuzzy K-mean. SOM &Kmean is a prominent approach for clustering with a two-level approach: first, the data set will be clustered using the SOM and in the second level, the SOM will be clustered by K-mean. In the first level, two training algorithms were examined: sequential and batch training. For the second level, the K-mean has the results that are strongly depended on the initial values of the centers. To overcome this, this paper used the subtractive clustering approach proposed by Chiu in 1994 to determine the centers. Because the effective radius in Chiu’s method has some influence on the number of centers, the paper applied the PSO technique to find the optimum radius. To valid the proposed approach, the test on well-known data samples is carried out. The applications for daily load curves of one Southern utility are presented

MEDICAL STUDENTS’ EVALUATION OF AN ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES COURSEBOOK: A CASE IN VIETNAM

The current study investigates students’ evaluation of the English for Specific Purposes (ESP) coursebook taught at a medical college in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. After using it for a year, the users, including medical students and their teachers, have given some unofficial feedback on the book. This study provided insightful official information about how its student users perceive the coursebook they were adopting. Data on the evaluations of the ESP coursebook were gained from questionnaires administered to 166 students majoring in nursing and pharmacy in charge of ESP programs. Semi-structured interviews were employed with four students to get more specific apprehension. The results of this study indicated that students were satisfied with the ESP coursebook in terms of the covering of four skills, the presence of vocabulary and grammar, relevant content, understandable social and cultural context, suitability for mix-level students. In addition, participants perceived that communicative skills were not sufficiently presented, examples in grammar were not more interesting, the illustrations were not diverse and enough, and the cover was simple but not appealing. Suggestions regarding the pedagogical implications for the adoption and evaluation of the coursebook were discussed