Patterns of Teaching-Learning Interaction in the EFL Classroom

The successfullness of teaching-learning process is highly influenced by the patterns of interactions appeared in the classroom activities. Through this case study, the purpose of this paper is to explore the patterns of interaction during teaching and learning proccess. Two accellerated classes were observed and recorded to gain the data. The findings revealed that the patterns of interaction emerged in the first class were group work, choral responses, closed-ended teacher questioning (IRF), individual work, student initiates-teacher answers, open-ended teacher questioning, and collaboration. Meanwhile, the patterns of interaction in the second class showed closed-ended teacher questioning (IRF), open-ended teacher questioning, choral responses, student initiates-teacher answers, group work, and individual work pattern. The patterns of interaction were produced from teacher and student(s) and/or student(s) and student(s) in relation to the teacher talk and the students talk categories used during learning activities. These patterns were produced constantly. They are to show that the teaching-learning process was not always dominated by the teacher. Most students actively participate as well in any classroom activity. Thus, these patterns absolutely increase the students talk and students' participation in the class. It is necessary for teachers to reorganize the active activities which might foster more interaction in the classroom

Comparison of Career Decision Difficulties Between Nursing Freshmen and Interns

Career selection is one of the most important decisions an individual makes in his life. High career expectation could result in career decision difficulties. This study aimed to compare and analyze the career decision difficulties between nursing freshmen and interns. This cross-sectional study involved 110 and 66 nursing freshmen and interns respectively (n=176) in two private nursing colleges. Career decision difficulties questionnaire was used in data collection. Descriptive statistic and independent sample t test were used in data analysis (α<.05). Results showed that most respondents experienced moderate difficulties in both groups. Overall, there was no significant difference of career decision difficulty found between groups (p=.057), but indecisiveness, dysfunctional myths, lack of knowledge about the process of career decision making, lack of information, lack of information about occupations, lack of information about ways of obtaining additional information, and internal conflicts were significantly different between groups (all p<α). Career decision difficulties occur similarly both in nursing freshmen and interns

Educational Leadership in Haiti: A Case Study of Innovative and Exemplary Leadership in a Fragile State

In this study, we consider three school leaders in Haiti who provide examples of innovative and exemplary leadership practices in the midst of challenging circumstances. Using a framework of innovative (Moolenaar, Daly, & Sleeger, 2010; Rogers, 2003) and exemplary leadership practices (Kouzes & Posner, 2006), we examine three themes that emerged from interviews with the three participants, observations of their work in the field, and interviews with other educational stakeholders in their communities. We raise considerations for leadership practices that include: The importance of social and professional networks, barriers and opportunities to innovative practice, and collaborations involving community, regional, national, and international partners. The paper provides suggestions for further exploration in examining educational leadership in fragile states such as Haiti

A NEURAL NETWORK BASED TRAFFIC-FLOW PREDICTION MODEL

Prediction of traffic-flow in Istanbul has been a great concern for planners of the city. Istanbul as being one of the most crowded cities in the Europe has a rural population of more than 10 million. The related transportation agencies ill Istanbul continuously collect data through many ways thanks to improvements in sensor technology and communication systems which allow to more closely monitor the condition of the city transportation system. Since monitoring alone cannot improve the safety or efficiency of the system, those agencies actively inform the drivers continuously through various media including television broadcasts, internet, and electronic display boards on many locations on the roads. Currently, the human expertise is employed to judge traffic-flow on the roads to inform the public. There is no reliance on past data and human experts give opinions only on the present condition without much idea on what will be the likely events in the next hours. Historical events such as school-timings, holidays and other periodic events cannot be utilized for judging the future traffic-flows. This paper makes a preliminary attempt to change scenario by using artificial neural networks (ANNs) to model the past historical data. It aims at the prediction of the traffic volume based on the historical data in each major junction in the city. ANNs have given very encouraging results with the suggested approach explained in the paper

The Hypermasculine and Ubersexual Men in the Harlequin Novels of the 1980s and 2000s

Harlequin novels are so popular that Harlequin romance emerges as a genre. Unlike on the heroines, there are scarcely any studies or works on the heroes, thus, I want to focus my study on the heroes of Harlequin Romance. By analyzing using the Male Sex Role in the 1980s and themes of masculinity in the 2000s, I will prove that there are four types of ideal men in the 1980s Harlequin novels whose characteristics originated from the ideal men in the society at that time, the Hypermasculine men with extreme masculinity and avoidance of any feminine sides. I will also prove that there are three types of ideal men in the 2000s Harlequin novels whose characteristics are in accordance with the Ubersexual men\u27s, the ideal men in the society in 2000s having positive characteristics of traditional manliness with some “feminine“ characteristics. The reason behind these changes is because of the changes in the heroines and the characteristics of men in the society in time and these push for the changes in the heroes. As a publisher, Harlequin\u27s goal is the highest selling rate, thus, they adjust to the market\u27s demand

The Best Predictor of Anxiety, Stress, and Depression Among Institutionalized Elderly

Anxiety, stress, and depression are the three most common negative emotional constructs found in the elderly. Evidences available worldwide about how psychological problem could be resulted in mental disorder, and there is significant difference in the context of living in the nursing home and in community setting. This study aimed to determine the best predictor of anxiety, stress, and depression in elderly living in the nursing home, useful for future modification and intervention development. This cross-sectional study involved 145 elderly in a private nursing home in Surabaya, Indonesia. HARS, SPST-20, and GDS were used in data collection. Linear regression and one way ANOVA tests were used in data analysis (α<0.05). Results showed that mostly in old individuals, mild anxiety and stress, and undepressed state were found. Sensory problems and concentration difficulties were the best predictor of anxiety and stress respectively, which were accounted for 61.2% and 65.6% variances of anxiety and stress in nursing home residents respectively. Spirits, life energy, happiness, and feeling wonderful to be alive could not predict depression significantly. Feeling inferior to others is the best predictor of depression, which was accounted for 25.9% variance of depression in this population. Low self-esteem leads to depression in nursing home residents

Predictors of Post Prandial Glucose Level in Diabetic Elderly

Post prandial glucose (PPG) level describes the speed of glucose absorption after 2 hours of macronutrient consumption. By knowing this, we could get the big picture of insulin regulation function and macronutrient metabolism in our body. In elderly, age-related slower glucose metabolism leads to diabetes mellitus (DM) in older age. This study aimed to analyze the predictors of PPG level in diabetics elderly which consist of functional status, self-care activity, sleep quality, and stress level. Cross-sectional study design was applied in this study. There were 45 diabetic elderly participated by filling in study instruments. Pearson and Spearman Rank correlation test were used in data analysis (α<.05). Results showed that most respondents were female elderly, 60-74 years old, had DM for 1-5 years with no family history, and only 33.33% respondents reported regular consumption of oral anti diabetes (OAD). Hypertension was found to be frequent comorbidity. Statistical analysis results showed that functional status, self-care activity, sleep quality, and stress level were not significantly correlated with PPG level in diabetic elderly (all p>α), therefore these variables could not be PPG level predictors. Other factors may play a more important role in predicting PPG level in diabetic elderly

Blended-Learning: the Responses From Non-English Students in the Indonesian Tertiary Context

The process of language teaching and learning has undergone major changes due to the developments of technology. The use of technology in education field has paved the way for higher education institution to innovatively shape their modern media in a language teaching and learning. Subsequently, the implementation of blended-learning has aroused at the Universitas Teknokrat Indonesia for approximately one and a half year ago to maximize the use of technology. Most lecturers in all study programs have increasingly utilized the social network sites such as Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc. for the successfulness of blended-learning. This present study aims at exploring the students' responses on how blended-learning might be used to develop their language learning and discovering their attitudes towards the implementation of blended-learning as an interactional teaching and learning tool in English for Business course. Employing a qualitative in form of a case study, eighty-two undergraduate students from study program of Informatics Engineering were observed, interviewed, and distributed questionnaires. The data were performed to collect the students' responses and students' attitudes toward the implementation of blended-learning in the process of their language learning. The findings were found out that most students from Informatics Engineering major showed their positive responses and positive attitudes using blended learning for the language teaching and learning. They also gained some educational benefits for their English language development. Thus, this blended learning brings us to the new trend for language teaching and learning media in order to motivate the students in enhancing their language acquisition

Power Density Spectra of Gamma-Ray Bursts in the Internal Shock Model

We simulate Gamma-Ray Bursts arising from internal shocks in relativistic winds, calculate their power density spectrum (PDS), and identify the factors to which the PDS is most sensitive: the wind ejection features, which determine the wind dynamics and its optical thickness, and the energy release parameters, which give the pulse 50-300 keV radiative efficiency. For certain combinations of ejection features and wind parameters the resulting PDS exhibits the features observed in real bursts. We found that the upper limit on the efficiency of conversion of wind kinetic energy into 50-300 keV photons is $\sim$ 1%. Winds with a modulated Lorentz factor distribution of the ejecta yield PDSs in accord with current observations and have efficiencies closer to $10^{-3}$, while winds with a random, uniform Lorentz factor ejection must be optically thick to the short duration pulses to produce correct PDSs, and have an overall efficiency around $10^{-4}$.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, Latex, submitted to The Astrophysical Journal (05/04/99