Language of Instruction for Teaching Mathematics at Primary Level: Controversy in Pakistan

One of the factors credited to the poor performance of students inPakistan is the medium of instruction used at primary level. More than70 languages are alive languages/spoken languages of Pakistan and itsgovernment is confused which language to select as MOI (medium ofinstruction) at primary level, i.e. Urdu which is the national language ofPakistan. This paper explores the MOI controversy in Pakistan it alsosought to explore the possibilities and effectiveness of using Englishversus Urdu as a medium of instruction for the teaching of Mathematicsin primary schools in Pakistan. A teaching experiment was conducted tocompare the use of English as a medium of instruction with Urdu asmedium of instruction in the teaching and learning of Mathematics tograde 3 class. t-test was applied to find of the difference of the progressbetween two groups, one group taught in Urdu as MOI and second inEnglish as MOI. Major findings of the research indicated that the use ofUrdu as a medium of instruction in the teaching of Mathematics toprimary school students had a more positive impact upon the teaching ofMathematics. This discussion contains language controversy from thepre-partition time (1835-1947) till date in different political regimes tounderstand the causes of disagreement upon the selection of a singleMOI in education. Applicable recommendations were made in the lightof the findings

A CORRELATIONAL STUDY BETWEEN LEARNING MOTIVATION AND SATISFACTION IN ONLINE COURSES

Purpose of the study: The current study was carried out to find out the correlation between Learning Motivation and Learning Satisfaction of graduate students enrolled in English online courses in Alama Iqbal Open University which is one of the oldest distance education institutes of Pakistan having 1.7 million enrolments every year. Methodology:  Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS) measuring four types of motivation. The scale consists of 16 items. 150 students were selected through a convenient sampling method from the two-degree programs studying English Language as a compulsory offered online by the University. The data collected was quantitative in nature and it was analysed through Pearson correlation. Main Findings: Pearson correlation of the data reveals that there exists a strong positive correlation between different types of Learning Motivation and Learning Satisfaction. The data reveal a strong correlation between motivation and satisfaction and tutor and tutorial and weak correlation Course content and organization. Applications of this study: The study suggests that through the use of more advanced technology and more integrated technology these educational goals for distance learners can be achieved. Therefore, while preparing lessons teachers should keep in mind the maximum utility of resources, use of internet and multimedia in the most effective way to relate them to course contents for the attainment of objectives of the course. Novelty/Originality of this study: Online distance education is not a very common research area in Pakistan. Only a handful of studies have been conducted especially considering the motivation and satisfaction of these students. Hence it is a first-hand study of its kind, and the results will be useful for Higher Education Institutes

Estimation of macro and micro nutrients in some important medicinal plants of Soon Valley, District Khushab, Pakistan

Plants are potential source of therapeutic values in different traditional medicine systems of the world. Ethnomedicinal uses of 10 medicinal plants (MPs) of soon valley (Khushab) of Pakistan were documented and explored for trace (Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Co, Cd, Pb, Mn and Fe) and major (K, Na, Ca and Mg) elemental composition by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Results depicted that Zn was 15.36 ppm in Convolvulus arvensis. Cu showed max conc. was in P. harmala (18.72 ppm). Cr was highest in Cannabis sativa (30.39 ppm). Ni conc was 30.39 ppm in C. sativa. B. campestris had highest value of Co (8.44 ppm) in analyzed specimens, while H. vulgare recorded least amount of 0.98 ppm. Cd concentration was 2.76 ppm in A. aspera. H. vulgare exhibited higher Pb higher concentration (32.64 ppm). The occurrence range of Mn was 74.60 ppm in P. harmala and 105.56 ppm in A. aspera. Fe in the studied plants was max in H. vulgare (1889.69 ppm). B. campestris exhibited higher concentration of Ca (4210.92 ppm). The contents of Mg were 13342.88 ppm in C. arvensis and 6350.63 ppm in A. aspera, respectively. The quantity of macro and micro elements in analyzed MPs was high and beyond the safety standards of WHO. It demonstrates that use of botanical medicines or its products by man may be fatal and injurious for health and culminating into death. It is necessary to study and accomplish thorough analytical research on herbal medicines (MPs) of Pakistan in order to bring them at par with international standards.Key words: Soon valley, elemental contents, medicinal plants, safety standards, Khushab, Pakistan

STRESS, SMARTPHONE USE, LIFE SATISFACTION AND LEARNING PERFORMANCE: A STUDY AMONG YOUNG COLLEGE ADULTS

Smartphone now days are come to be a common fragment of students’ life. Studies revealed that smartphone addiction caused psychological disorders and negatively affect mental health of learners. Current study aimed to examine the association between effects of smartphone use with life satisfaction intervened by stress and learning performance. It was also tried out to find the life satisfaction interceded by stress and learning performance encourages cell phone habit. To meet the set targets, a lump of 504 students enrolled at post graduate level from Bahawalpur were identified as sample of this study. The overview survey gathered demographic data and reactions to measures comprising the Smartphone Addiction Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, and theSatisfaction with Life Scale. The outcomes demonstrated that smartphone use was positively identified with stress, but adversely identified with life satisfaction. Furthermore, a smartphone usage was adversely identified with learning performance, but positively related with life satisfaction of young adult Pakistani students

Identifying the critical success factors and their relevant aspects for renewable energy projects; an empirical perspective

Owed to their enormous impact on the sustainable development of energy security, climate change, and the economy, multiple renewable-energy projects are carried out around the world, both in developed and in developing countries. Since the construction of renewable energy project is an entrepreneurial activity, there is a big concern about the success of such projects. Although pertinent literature suggests several methodologies to enhance the success of various projects, renewable-energy projects are still overlooked. This study identifies multiple critical success factors (CSFs), required for renewable-energy projects. Using a sample of 272 firms working on renewable energy projects in Pakistan, a quantitative and causal study was undertaken to identify the critical success factors (CSFs). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to test and verify hypothesis. The results show that there is a strong direct dependency of project success over the proposed factors, however environmental factors are found to be the only predominant CSFs which show the significant indirect effect over project success. The study expected to contribute towards and widen up the existing knowledge base for the project performance of renewable energy projects by adding on the findings regarding critical success factors

Virtual Content, Screen Time and Health

In today's digital era, the consumption of virtual content and screen time have become integral aspects of daily life. This study examines the interplay between virtual content consumption, screen time, and their impact on mental health outcomes, specifically focusing on depression, anxiety, and stress. The study used quantitative research approach. The study selected 384 participants using Cochran’s equation from three districts i.e. Okara, Pakpattan, and Sahiwal, of Division Sahiwal. Using simple random sampling, the researchers approached the selected respondents and collected data through face-to-face interview schedule of survey method. Statistical analysis, including correlation and regression analyses, was conducted to examine the interrelationships among these variables and explore potential gender differences. The study's findings show an association between mental health difficulties and screen time, with more screen time connected with higher stress, anxiety, and depression. These findings highlight the potential adverse effects of prolonged exposure to virtual content and extended screen time on psychological well-being

Determinants of COVID-19 Anxiety in Pakistan Through Binary Logistic Regression

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the determinants of anxiety among the people living in hassled environment for last few months due to outbreak of COVID-19.Methods: 279 participants were interviewed through a questionnaire about COVID-19 anxiety on four likert scales. Data was analyzed by using statistical software IBM SPSS Statistics 21. A binary logistic regression was used to estimate relationship between anxiety and T.V news, social media news, social isolation, disturbance of sleep and decrease in daily income. Significance of these factors are tested at 5 percent level of significance.Results: 90.33 percent of the respondents are feeling COVID-19 anxiety while 9.67 percent peoples are taking it mild. The values of test statistics for the variables listening of T.V news, social media news, social isolation, disturbance of sleep and decrease in daily income are highly significant at p < 0.05.Conclusion: The existence of anxiety was found to be highly significance due to listening of T.V news, social media news, social isolation, disturbance of sleep and decrease in daily income.Keywords: COVID-19; Anxiety; T.V news; Social media news; Social isolation; Binary logistic regression 

STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF DAUD KAMAL’S POEM THE STREET OF NIGHTINGALE

This research work is concerned with the stylistic analysis of the representative poem The Street of Nightingales by Daud Kamal. Stylistics and level of languages like phonological and semantic, structural and syntactical, semantic and pragmatic, morphological and lexical analysis of the poetry is done in this study. The study aims to describe the explanation and understanding of stylistics a branch of linguistics and its concern while formation of constructing the literary text. This research also provides an extensive discussion for the level of languages used in producing the structure of poetry and creating of ideas in the poetry. This research deals with the analysis in understanding the basic concepts and ideas of the poem. The study analyzes the tone and mood of the poem and describing that poem contain the touch of romantic life and glumness of the modern life is also described by the poet. In this poem, researcher analyze the variety of themes and handling of deep philosophy of change of time, era and traditions in life. By the use or lexico-syntactic pattern of style poet conveyed his massage of joy and love of nature. He also put emphasis on the rapid change of environment. Daud kamal in this poem criticized the hurry of modern life and praise the rustic life romantic time

An Analysis of the use of Emojis in Digital Communication

The current study aims to explore whether emojis render same meanings to all individuals. It also discusses different interpretations of whatsapp emojis results in miscommunication. Writing, pictograms, symbols, signs and other modes of communication when used collectively, reinforce each other to make communication more effective. Emojis, an advanced form of pictograms and one of the most used means of communication by new generation are graphical by nature and are open to interpretation. In this digitalized world, emojis are universally used by everyone to presents one’s feelings and thought vibrantly. Quantitative research design was employed. A sample size of 100 learners from 2 public and 2 private universities was selected to get data through a closed ended questionnaire carrying 50 randomly selected emojis used in whatsapp having different meanings. Data were analyzed through SPSS software for interpretation of results by employing standard deviation, and independent sample t-test. It was concluded that different participants were of varied opinion about the same emojis. Difference in gender also affects the interpretation of meaning due to their own sub-culture