Effects of a Training Module on Omani Teachers' Awareness of Gifted Students with Learning Disabilities

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the use of online and e-learning in Omani general and higher education institutions. Consequently, the pandemic imposed contemporary technological challenges when considering training programs for Omani teachers. This research seeks to record proactive steps, at the Omani and Arab levels, to examine the effectiveness of online, in-service teacher training programs. In addition, this research seeks to explore the effects of online training modules on teachers' knowledge of Gifted Students with Learning Disabilities (GSLD). In other words, the research aims to examine the effects of a training module on Omani teachers’ awareness of GSLD. According to a convenience sampling method, a total of 60 Omani teachers participated in the research. Participants were teachers of students with Learning Disabilities (LD) at the resource room program in the Muscat Governate, in the Sultanate of Oman. They were distributed equally into two groups: control (n=30), and experimental (n=30). Following the development of a Self-Awareness Scale (SAS) and the training program module, the SAS was administered to both groups as a pre-test and a post-test. The teachers in the experimental group received a two-week online training module to improve their awareness of GSLD. Results indicated that there were significant differences in the post-test of the SAS in favor of teachers in the experimental group

Contextual Sensitivity in Grounded Theory: The Role of Pilot Studies

Grounded Theory is an established methodological approach for context specific inductive theory building. The grounded nature of the methodology refers to these specific contexts from which emergent propositions are drawn. Thus, any grounded theory study requires not only theoretical sensitivity, but also a good insight on how to design the research in the human activity systems to be studied. The lack of this insight may result in inefficient theoretical sampling or even erroneous purposeful sampling. These problems would not necessarily be critical, as it could be argued that through the elliptical process that characterizes grounded theory, remedial loops would always bring the researcher to the core of the theory. However, these elliptical remedial processes can take very long periods of time and result in catastrophic delays in research projects. As a strategy, this paper discusses, contrasts and compares the use of pilot studies in four different grounded theory projects. Each pilot brought different insights about the context, resulting in changes of focus, guidance to improve data collection instruments and informing theoretical sampling. Additionally, as all four projects were undertaken by researchers with little experience of inductive approaches in general and grounded theory in particular, the pilot studies also served the purpose of training in interviewing, relating to interviewees, memoing, constant comparison and coding. This last outcome of the pilot study was actually not planned initially, but revealed itself to be a crucial success factor in the running of the projects. The paper concludes with a theoretical proposition for the concept of contextual sensitivity and for the inclusion of the pilot study in grounded theory research designs

General Principles of Consumer Protection in E-Commerce Trade: A Comparative Study between Islamic Law and EU Laws

This thesis presents the concept of Sharia law and contrasts it with EU laws in the area of e-consumer protection. These two laws have been chosen as they are exercised in more than one country and do not develop their own juridical procedures other than the Common law. The overriding objective of this thesis is to examine the extent to which European Union laws are different from legislations that are influenced by certain principles of Sharia. In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, this thesis approached a number of main issues, namely: the effectiveness of EU legislation in protecting and safeguarding e-consumer rights, the efficiency of Sharia law in protecting and safeguarding e-consumer rights, and highlighting the essential differences between EU legislation and Sharia law in protecting and safeguarding e-consumer rights. The significance of this research lies in the fact that it rationalizes the changes and developments that have so far taken place in the two jurisdictions which dominate significant portions of the world and yet arise from completely different origins. The thesis identified certain procedures in the Sharia that secure the interest of consumers. In this regard, the concept of “Khiyar-al-Tadlis” is well-established in Sharia law and cannot be found in EU laws and, as a consequence, is highly recommended for e-consumer protection. Moreover, the choice-of-law conflict creates deficits in legal applications and the availability of security procedures for e-consumers. EU laws are significantly lacking when it comes to protection of online consumers across borders. This thesis focuses, specifically, on the recovery measures that both the EU and the Sharia law provide for e-consumers if they suffer any loss as a result of an online transaction and enable them to gain justified compensation. The study aims to provide policymakers with effective measures for preserving the rights of e-consumers and therefore promote electronic trade across different countries. Finally, this thesis will address the current inefficient aspects of e-consumer protection in both Sharia and EU laws and will attempt to propose a solution under which the rights of all concerned parties can be balanced

Coexistence of Autism Spectrum Disorders Among Three Children with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex : Case reports and review of literature

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a multisystem neurocutaneous disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant manner and characterised by benign tumours in the brain and other vital organs such as the heart, eyes, kidneys, skin and lungs. Links between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and TSC have been postulated for many decades, with TSC considered to be one of the main syndromic causes of ASD; however, precise confirmation of a relationship between these two disorders required validated diagnostic tools. Fortunately, accurate evaluation of this relationship is now possible with standardised criteria for ASD diagnosis. We report three children who presented to the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, between 2014 and 2015 with ASD and TSC. These cases demonstrate the spectrum of neuropsychiatric involvement in TSC and highlight the importance of screening children with TSC for ASD features in order to encourage the early enrolment of these children in educational and rehabilitation programmes

Effect of Fiber Length on the Short-Term Flexural Creep Behavior of Polypropylene

Injection molded long fiber thermoplastic components are being used in recent days as a viable replacement for metals in many applications .Present work focus on the effect of fiber length on the short-term flexural creep performance of fiber reinforced thermoplastic polypropylene. Unreinforced polypropylene, 20 wt % short and 20 wt % long glass fiber reinforced polypropylene materials was injection-molded into flexural test specimens. Short-term flexural creep tests were performed for 2 h duration on molded specimen at various stress levels with the aid of in-house developed flexural creep fixture. Experimental creep performance of polypropylene composites for 2 h is utilized to predict the creep performance with the aid of four parameter HRZ model and compared with 24 h experimental creep data. Creep strain was found to be increased with respect to time for all the test materials and found to be sensitive with respect to the stress level. Test results also revealed that long fiber reinforced thermoplastic material possessed enhanced creep resistance over their counter parts and HRZ model is sufficient enough to predict creep performance of polypropylene composites over wide range of stress

Comorbidity of Learning Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in a Sample of Omani Schoolchildren

Objectives: The estimated worldwide prevalence of learning disorders (LDs) is approximately 2‒10% among school-aged children. LDs have variable clinical features and are often associated with other disorders. This study aimed to examine the comorbidity of LDs and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among a sample of schoolchildren in Oman. Methods: This study was conducted between January 2014 and January 2015 at the Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman. The Learning Disabilities Diagnostic Inventory (LDDI) and the 28-item version of the Conners’ Teacher Rating Scale was completed by classroom teachers to determine the existence of LD and ADHD symptoms in 321 children in grades 1‒4 who had been referred to a learning support unit for LDs from elementary schools in Muscat. Results: The mean age of the students was 8.5 years. Among the cohort, 30% were reported to have symptoms of ADHD, including conduct problems (24%), hyperactivity (24%) and inattentivepassive behaviours (41%). Male students reportedly exhibited greater conduct problems and hyperactivity than females. However, there were no gender differences noted between LDDI scores. Conclusion: This study suggests that Omani schoolchildren with LDs are likely to exhibit signs of ADHD. The early identification of this disorder is essential considering the chronic nature of ADHD. For interventional purposes, multidisciplinary teams are recommended, including general and special educators, clinical psychologists, school counsellors, developmental or experienced general paediatricians and child psychiatrists

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Effect of Fiber Length on the Short-Term Flexural Creep Behavior of Polypropylene

Abstract-Injection molded long fiber thermoplastic components are being used in recent days as a viable replacement for metals in many applications .Present work focus on the effect of fiber length on the short-term flexural creep performance of fiber reinforced thermoplastic polypropylene. Unreinforced polypropylene, 20 wt % short and 20 wt % long glass fiber reinforced polypropylene materials was injection-molded into flexural test specimens. Short-term flexural creep tests were performed for 2 h duration on molded specimen at various stress levels with the aid of in-house developed flexural creep fixture. Experimental creep performance of polypropylene composites for 2 h is utilized to predict the creep performance with the aid of four parameter HRZ model and compared with 24 h experimental creep data. Creep strain was found to be increased with respect to time for all the test materials and found to be sensitive with respect to the stress level. Test results also revealed that long fiber reinforced thermoplastic material possessed enhanced creep resistance over their counter parts and HRZ model is sufficient enough to predict creep performance of polypropylene composites over wide range of stress

Indications of Validity and Reliability of TIMSS Standards List with the Fourth Grade Cambridge Mathematics Curriculum from Mathematics Teachers and Supervisors Point of View in the Sultanate of Oman

هدفت الدراسة لتوفير قائمة موثوقة تتمتع بدلالات صدق وثبات مرتفعة، لموائمة معايير الدراسة الدولية للعلوم والرياضيات TIMSS مع منهاج الرياضيات كامبريدج للصف الرابع في سلطنة عمان، وتكوّنت القائمة من 39 معيارا، توزعت على خمسة محاور(الأعداد الكاملة، العبارات الجبرية، القياس، الكسور والأعداد الكسرية، الهندسة). طبقت القائمة على عينة تكونت من 616 (584 معلمًا، 32 مشرفًا). توصّلت الدراسة إلى أن المعايير كانت فعّالة لقياس محاور القائمة، وكذلك توصّلت إلى عدة دلالات للصدق تمثلت في الصدق الظاهري وصدق البناء، وتوصلت أيضًا إلى دلالات مناسبة ومرتفعة لثبات القائمة. وأوصت الدراسة باستخدام القائمة لمراجعة منهاج الرياضيات كامبريدج للصف الرابع في سلطنة عمان للحكم على مواءمته لمعايير الدراسة الدولية للعلوم والرياضيات TIMSS