Solfeggio learning and the influence of a mobile application based on visual,auditory and tactile modalities

Traditional methods of learning solfeggio (music theory) generally do not take advantage of computer-based support, meaning that, when learning individually, students cannot receive instantaneous feedback on their activities. The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of an interactive mobile application, mySolfeggio, for learning solfeggio. Using a mobile device, students can take advantage of visual, auditory and tactile modalities to recognise musical notes. Students can also practice and learn notation, rhythm and melody, for which the mobile application provides corrective feedback. To evaluate students’ perceptions of the mobile application and its effect on knowledge, we conducted an experiment with 42 students, from 9 to 13 years old. After learning a particular song during a regular lesson, one group of students practiced it individually with only the musical notation, while the other group used both the musical notation and the mobile application. The results of the experiment illustrated only a small effect on students’ performance in singing and tapping when using the mobile application. However, they demonstrated higher scores in terms of musical intervals and rhythmic accuracy when compared to students in the control group. The students did not find the use of the application difficult, thus allowing it to be used as a tool for improvement of their homework practice.     

Transformation of the Adult Education System in Slovakia

This article examines trends in adult education in Slovakia since it became a separate republic in 1993. Economic and social transformations during this period have led to a re-thinking of the adult education system. The author describes four basic modalities for providing adult education in Slovakia: (1) schools and colleges; (2) cultural centres and similar institutions; (3) institutions for vocational training; (4) voluntary organizations such as trade unions, political parties and ethnic minority groups.     

Validation of a Tennis Rating Score to evaluate the technical level of children tennis players

The purpose of this study was to create a valid and reliable assessment scale for the evaluation of three basic tennis strokes (forehand, backhand, serve) for 6–12-year-old tennis players, named the Tennis Rating Score for Children (TRSC). Altogether 60 players (21: forehand, 22: backhand, 17: serve) were video recorded (30 frames per second) while performing three main tennis strokes and later evaluated using the TRSC by five tennis trainers at Day 1 and Day 7. Agreement between days and raters was examined using the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). A Pearson’s correlation was calculated to determine convergent validity (score related to participant’s level of experience). The reliability between raters was very high for all three main strokes (ICC_FOREHAND = 0.874; ICC_BACKHAND = 0.877; ICC_SERVE = 0.877). The intra-rater test-retests ICCs were also very high (ICC_FOREHAND = 0.885; ICC_BACKHAND = 0.891; ICC_SERVE = 0.887). A large (r_FOREHAND = 0.660) and very large (r_BACKHAND = 0.730; r_SERVE = 0.772) Pearson’s correlations were found between all the ratings and the level of experience. The TRSC is shown to be highly reliable and valid when assessing technical skills in novice players, when compared to actual assessment from coaching experts; this tool may be helpful for tennis coaches to make a more objective diagnostic of the technical level of young tennis players.     

National vs. international journals: views of medical professionals in Croatia

Scholarly journals, especially in non‐English‐speaking countries, may perform very different functions depending on whether they are published for national or international audiences. Four hundred and sixty‐six academic physicians and non‐academic general practitioners in Croatia were surveyed on their knowledge about two Croatian medical journals: Lije?ni?ki vjesnik (published in Croatian) and Croatian Medical Journal (published in English). The physicians were also surveyed about the importance of all national and international journals published in Croatia, and the types of articles they thought should be published in these journals. More respondents rated national (n = 329, 72.6%) than international journals (n = 275, 63.5%, P < 0.001, Wilcoxon test) as very important for the medical profession. On the other hand, publishing in international journals was more often rated as important than publishing in national journals (n = 184, 42.5% vs. n = 125, 27.8%; P < 0.001, Wilcoxon test). Guidelines for clinical practice were rated as the most important publication item in national journals, and original scientific articles in international journals.     

Pupils’ humour directed at teachers: its types and functions

Based on an analysis of 137 texts written by pupils, this paper examines pupils’ humour directed at teachers, its types and social functions. The collected data are divided into three categories that describe different modes of teachers as targets of pupils’ humour. The first mode describes teachers as unintentionally comical, the second as duped by their pupils and the third as intentional users of humour. The analysis focuses on different functions that pupils’ humour directed at teachers fulfils in the social life of the classroom. The paper concludes by showing how key functions of social humour (such as creation of solidarity, negotiation of power and realisation of personal needs) are connected to the three modes of pupils’ humour directed at teachers.     

Attitudes of Anatomy Students toward Commemorations for Body Donors: A Multicultural Perspective

Many medical schools practice commemorative ceremonies to honor body donors. Attitudes of medical education stakeholders toward these ceremonies have not yet been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to explore anatomy students' attitudes toward commemorations at a multicultural institution which has not introduced these ceremonies yet. A survey was carried out on different groups of anatomy students that were exposed and not yet exposed to human remains. The survey was used to record basic demographic data from the respondents, ask if they would support the establishment of an anatomy commemoration and in which format. A total of 756 anatomy students participated in the survey (response rate 69.8%). The majority (76.3%) were in favor of introducing a commemoration for donors. The associations of students' gender, attitude toward body donation, and level of exposure to human remains with attitudes toward commemoration for donors were identified (P < 0.05), whereas ethnicity and religion seemed to have no influence on attitudes (P > 0.05). Most students believed that anatomy staff and students should organize the commemoration. There was a preference for the commemoration to be secular with revealed identities of donors, and not recorded for social media. The support for the establishment of commemorations transcended cultural and religious differences and confirmed students' respectful attitude toward donors. Anatomy commemorations seem to have potential not only to engage students with one another, and donor families, but also to pave the way for students to become life-long ethical and empathetic learners and practitioners.     

Handbook of Asian education: A cultural perspective

International Review of Education -     

The Value of a Library Catalog for Selecting Children's Picture Books

The aim of this study was to determine how parents select picture books for their children and which bibliographic data are important as they choose between different versions of the same title. Thirty-six parents of preschool children aged one to six years were interviewed and observed as they chose one version of the picture book Cinderella from among six bibliographic records and then selected from among six physical versions. Parents described the criteria and the reasons for their selections. The results indicate that the parents experienced difficulties using the library catalog and that the current bibliographic elements are inadequate.