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Dynamic Assessment of Reading Comprehension Ability: Group or Individualized
Tayebeh Fani,
Mojgan Rashtchi
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 6, November 2015
Pages:
325-331
Received:
28 June 2015
Accepted:
9 July 2015
Published:
7 December 2015
Abstract: According to Dynamic Assessment (DA) the goals of understanding individuals’ abilities and boosting their development are dialectically unified. The possibility of enhancing English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners' reading comprehension ability through dynamic procedures which can be used both individually and collaboratively has scarcely been investigated. This study compared the impact of Individualized and Group DA on reading comprehension ability of EFL learners. One hundred and twenty-four undergraduate female students assigned to three experimental groups and a control group took part in the present study. The meditational protocols used in the intervention programs were based on Campione and Brown’s Graduated Prompt Moves Protocol (GPMP). The study revealed that mediation in Concurrent and Cumulative Group DA, as well as Individualized DA positively affected the Iranian EFL learners’ reading comprehension ability. However, although participants receiving Individualized DA outperformed the participants receiving Group DA, the difference among the effects of the three DA approaches was not significant. The present study proved the feasibility of DA in the large group setting as well as with the individuals.
Abstract: According to Dynamic Assessment (DA) the goals of understanding individuals’ abilities and boosting their development are dialectically unified. The possibility of enhancing English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners' reading comprehension ability through dynamic procedures which can be used both individually and collaboratively has scarcely been...
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The Effectiveness of Using Smart Board Technology in Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Preparatory Year Students at Tabuk University
Abdulrahman Mohammad Alfahadi
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 6, November 2015
Pages:
332-337
Received:
10 September 2015
Accepted:
7 October 2015
Published:
7 December 2015
Abstract: The goal of this research is to investigate the contribution of using smart board technology in teaching English as a foreign language to preparatory year students at a university in Saudi Arabia. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, the researcher used a multiple choice test comprising of 20 items, as well as a questionnaire covering different areas. The sample of the study included 36 preparatory year students, selected randomly, from a Saudi university. The participants of the study were distributed over the control and experimental groups randomly. The experimental group was taught English using the smart board, whilst the control group was taught using conventional methods. Pre-and post questionnaires were distributed to the experimental and control groups after teaching the tenses. The findings of the study showed that there is a statistical significance level of (0,05) for the mean scores on the achievement tests, in favour of the experimental group who were taught using the smart board. Also, the findings of the study showed that the use of the smart board resulted in a statistical significance level of (0,05) in the improvement of preparatory year students’ attitudes toward English. Hence, this research recommends that smart boards be used in teaching all subjects because of the positive effect it has on both student achievement scores and the improvement of student attitudes toward English.
Abstract: The goal of this research is to investigate the contribution of using smart board technology in teaching English as a foreign language to preparatory year students at a university in Saudi Arabia. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, the researcher used a multiple choice test comprising of 20 items, as well as a questionnaire covering d...
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The Issue of Current Financial Education Evaluation System
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 6, November 2015
Pages:
338-342
Received:
11 December 2015
Published:
11 December 2015
Abstract: With the development of Chinese education reform, the independent colleges has became an effective supplement to the higher education, and it cannot be substituted for the expansion of higher education. At the same time, due to the financial talent shortage, finance program has been provided to student by most of independent colleges. However, how to establish an effective evaluation system to evaluate the education result has been faced by all colleges who provide the financial program. This paper would like to discuss the current financial education evaluation system, and study an effective financial education evaluation system.
Abstract: With the development of Chinese education reform, the independent colleges has became an effective supplement to the higher education, and it cannot be substituted for the expansion of higher education. At the same time, due to the financial talent shortage, finance program has been provided to student by most of independent colleges. However, how ...
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Multicriteria Decision Methods as an Alternative for Evaluating the UACh Research System
Sandra Santiago-Rodríguez,
José Luis Romo-Lozano,
Marcos Portillo-Vázquez,
Ma. Amparo M. Borja-de la Rosa
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 6, November 2015
Pages:
343-351
Received:
16 December 2015
Published:
17 December 2015
Abstract: Research is a core university activity that contributes to the formation of critical thinking by students and teachers and promotes knowledge and scientific development that may help built better societies. The good performance of a university research system depends on, among other things, the ability to properly distribute the limited financial resources that are allocated to this activity. A common problem in grading activities usually considered in research is the integration of a long list of criteria and sub-criteria. The aim of this study was to determine how financial resources are distributed among all the research centers and institutes at the Universidad Autonoma Chapingo (UACh). Three methods were used for weighting criteria: simple ranking, point distribution and analytic hierarchy process. The aggregation of the values was carried out using TOPSIS and weighted sum methods and the resulting distributions were compared to the traditional way of distributing resources. It was concluded that although the differences were not significant, the TOSPIS method provides a more reliable allocation.
Abstract: Research is a core university activity that contributes to the formation of critical thinking by students and teachers and promotes knowledge and scientific development that may help built better societies. The good performance of a university research system depends on, among other things, the ability to properly distribute the limited financial r...
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Route Choice: Higher Vocational Education to Further Development in China
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 6, November 2015
Pages:
352-355
Received:
24 November 2015
Accepted:
10 December 2015
Published:
25 December 2015
Abstract: There are two levels of higher education in China: one is higher education institutes, consists of junior colleges, four-year colleges and comprehensive universities. The other one is higher vocational education institutes, consists of higher vocational colleges only, that is to say, the student studying in that ones cannot get the bachelor certification. But with the development of Chinese economy and living standard, the companies need higher skilled talents cultivated. Except for employment, the students long for continuing education. However, they found there was no way to choose when they graduated from the higher vocational colleges. They must enroll four-year colleges to get bachelor degree, not certification, which were not suitable to their learned knowledge. In China, there are two different kinds of higher education, either professional or academic. However there is no higher diploma for students in higher vocational education. It is necessary to build the higher vocational education system including junior colleges, four-year level colleges and graduate level colleges. Here we discuss the route choice including education objective, teaching mode, curriculum, practical exercise and setting standard.
Abstract: There are two levels of higher education in China: one is higher education institutes, consists of junior colleges, four-year colleges and comprehensive universities. The other one is higher vocational education institutes, consists of higher vocational colleges only, that is to say, the student studying in that ones cannot get the bachelor certifi...
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Relationship Between Complex Syntax and Non-native Reading Comprehension
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 6, November 2015
Pages:
356-361
Received:
22 August 2015
Accepted:
21 September 2015
Published:
30 December 2015
Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between complex syntax and L2 comprehension. The participants were selected from among a high school in Rasht. For this purpose, 30 learners, who were in third grade of high school (aged 17 - 18 years old), participated in this study. Having being tested by a questionnaire (20 questions that tested syntax) 16learners were strong students selected and they were allocated into experimental group and 14 students were weak students and were allocated into control group. Then both groups sat for reading test, which was a reading comprehension test from steps to understanding book. The purpose of this test was to measure the learners’ reading comprehension ability. Afterwards, the scores were analyzed and strong students got good marks but weak students got bad marks. It was explored from the study that learners’ reading comprehension improved more when they were provided with the syntax. It was concluded that syntactical knowledge has a positive effect on learners’ reading comprehension ability.
Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between complex syntax and L2 comprehension. The participants were selected from among a high school in Rasht. For this purpose, 30 learners, who were in third grade of high school (aged 17 - 18 years old), participated in this study. Having being tested by a questionnaire (20 questions that tested s...
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