Accepted Papers
- A Case Study of Using Web-based Tools to Support Postgraduate Students’ Learning in a Blended Learning Environment
Xingmei Qiao,Sichuan Radio and TV University, ChinaABSTRACT
This paper explores the implementation of Web-based tools in postgraduate students’ courses and concentrates on students’ participations and perceptions in such a blended learning environment. In this study, the focus is on the problem of how postgraduate students use web-based tools for learning support. Moreover, the writer discusses the factors that influence students’ use of web-based tools in the learning process. - Effects of Activity Based Blended Learning Strategy on Prospective Teachers’ Learning and Self efficacy
Ahmed Abdelraheem,Sultan Qaboos University,OmanABSTRACT
Blended learning (BL) strategies play an important role in collaboration, communication skills, motivation, attitudes, interaction with the subject and practical skills. However, their relationship with students’ learning and self efficacy were not studied enough and this wase the focus of this study. Therefore, The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of blended learning strategy on enhancing students’ learning and raising their self efficacy. A sample of 28 students participated in the study. They were divided randomly into two groups. One group studied through blended learning (BL) strategy and the other through regular conventional methods. Both groups were asked to respond to a self efficacy scale and take achievement test. The results indicated that students in the blended learning strategy group outscored in grades significantly their counter partners in conventional method. However there were no significant differences among the two groups in the self efficacy measures. Within the scope of this study, the results implied that BL in teacher education might be applied in order to provide better learning environment. - Pronunciation Support for Arabic Learners
Majed Alsabaan and Allan Ramsay,The University of Manchester, UKABSTRACT
Our proposed work is aimed at teaching non-native Arabic speakers how to improve their pronunciation. This paper reports on a diagnostic tool for helping non-native speakers of Arabic improve their pronunciation, particularly of words involving sounds that are not distinguished in their native languages.This tool involves the implementation of several substantial pieces of software. The first task is to ensure the system we are building can distinguish between the more challenging sounds when they are produced by a native speaker, since without that it will not be possible to classify learners’ attempts at these sounds. To this end we carried out a number of experiments with the HTK, a well known speech recognition toolkit, in order to ensure that it can distinguish between the confusable sounds, i.e. the ones that people have difficulty with.
The tool provides feedback in three different forms: as an animation of the vocal tract, as a synthesised version of the target utterance, and as a set of written instructions. We have evaluated the tool by placing it in a classroom setting and asking 40 Arabic students to use the different versions of the tool. Each student had a thirty minute session with the tool, working their way through a set of pronunciation exercises at their own pace. Preliminary results on this pilot group show that their pronunciation does improve over the course of the session, though we have not been able to determine whether the improvement is sustained over an extended period. - Society of graphs
Krishnendu Basuli and Samar Sen Sarma,West Bengal State University, IndiaABSTRACT
At eleven P.M. we say good night. Alas why night and day are complementary but not constant factor for animal kingdom as well as time and space is also a dominating factor. We are trying here to describe an universe of graphs. Where our root is on the earth and head is towards infinity if any. We are introducing the term canopy which encompasses the whole graph theoretic structure under one head. The root of canopy may be zero (of course not well defined) but mind set dictates that the universe may be partially visual. - A Study of Software Quality Models
Tharashasank Davuluru, Jayapal Medida and V.S.K.Reddy,Malla Reddy college of Engineering and Teechnology ,IndiaABSTRACT
In this paper we analyze what is the quality of software product and how to bring the quality and what are the models used for improving the quality of the software and analyze each and every model individually and at the final we compare the models with each other in the terms of their characteristics. - E-Learning: Gender Analysis in Higher Education in North India
Manu Sood and Virender Singh,H.P. University, IndiaABSTRACT
E-Learning is an adaptable technology that can be used to cover different areas of interactive or live learning as well as training needs. It makes skills available through newer technologies and reduces the learning time even for complex topics. E-Learning is a changing trend in education that no longer limits the education to the four walls of a class room. Measuring the efforts to improve the learning skills with technology is utmost essential in order to effect any change in the education policies. This paper focuses on the analysis of the genders’ interest in e-Learning in higher education in the northern part of India. A questionnaire survey designed for the purpose gathered information on students participation and opinions about the use of e-Learning in higher education. The analysis of the data thus collected shows that there is a definite change in trend among genders as far as the regular participation in e-Learning components are concerned. - An Approach for Teaching First Year Introductory Programming Course Using Agile Process: University of Venda Perspective
Bassey Isong and Gilbert Dzawo,University of Venda,South AfricaABSTRACT
Today, one of the greatest challenges in computer science education area is how to teach programming. A particular case is the teaching of computer programming for first year students where most are characterized as under-prepared, have poor background, computer illiterate, and so on. While the traditional objectivist lecture-based approach have failed to actively engage the students to achieve their learning outcome, incorporating agile processes and practices into programming teaching activities could be valuable. This is in line with the wide popularity and acceptance of agile software development in the software industry. However, while the positive impact of agile principles has been felt on student’s projects, much has not been done on the teaching aspect. Therefore, in this paper we propose the use of agile process in the teaching of beginner’s programming course in the University of Venda. The aim is to help beginners to develop their programming skills and provide a teaching technology that maximizes the chances of engaging students' learning processes, helping teachers improve their teaching by reflect on what they are teaching and what the students are learning. This methodology will help beginners to operate the computer, program, and improve their programming skills through active team collaboration as well as managing large classes effectively and get students to engage in their learning process. - Simplest Information Retrieval for Kids
Chkiwa Mounira, Jedidi Anis and Faiez Gargouri,Sfax University, TunisiaABSTRACT
In this paper, we present an approach which aims to facilitate information retrieval for kids by proposing simplest documents first of all in the results lists. A simple document is a concise and non exhaustive document focusing mainly on the user queries' terms. In order to valorize such documents, we propose a valorization process which allows adding a specific value to a score relevance of a document referring to its nature and the user age. The added value could be negative (penalizing therefore long and detailed documents) or positive enhancing therefore the score relevance of documents concentrating on the user query. To get a flexible valorization value, we apply some fuzzy rules.