An Investigation of Textbook Vetting and Evaluation Process in Tanzania

Textbook vetting and evaluation process intends to ensure that the materials provided are relevant, of the required quality, suitable ad would enhance learning efficiency and effectiveness. The paper investigates the role of publishers and Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE) in the textbooks vetting and evaluation process; examines factors used to vet, evaluate and approve primary and secondary school textbooks in Tanzania and proposes Strategies that would enhance the textbook vetting, evaluation and process. The study used a mixed method research design. Respondents were selected educational publishers; MoEVT, Baraza la Kiswahili Tanzania, TIE, and Publishers Association of Tanzania. Questionnaire and semi- structured interview were used to collect data which were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. Major findings of the study were; textbooks vetting and evaluation process is not professionally conducted although standard criteria have been established; there is not well established roles among key players involved in the vetting and evaluation process leading to conflict of interest between TIE and the publishers. The study recommends establishing an independent professional evaluation board and a well-defined timetable and effective communication among various players; enacting a book policy and adopting a limited multiple-textbook publishing system.     

Investigating the Role of Problem Severity and Channel Publicness on the Sophistication of Support-Seeking Messages on Social Network Sites: A Replication Study

Oh and LaRose (2016) contended that problem severity and channel publicness shape support seekers’ goals, time spent composing messages, and the sophistication of those messages. The current study seeks to replicate and extend Oh and LaRose’s study to produce a more accurate understanding of the factors that influence the sophistication of support-seeking messages online. Support seekers’ goals varied according to the severity of a stressor and the publicness of a channel, and the amount of time people spent composing a message influenced its sophistication. We extend the original study by examining associations that were not initially tested. Time spent composing messages mediated the influence of problem severity on the quality of people’s messages, and this effect was moderated by channel publicness.     

Critical communication pedagogy and service learning in a mixed-method communication research course

ABSTRACT

Course: Mixed-Method Communication Research Methods

Objective: The purpose of this semester-long activity is to provide students with opportunities to cultivate mixed-method communication research skills through a social justice-informed service-learning format. Completing this course, students will be able to: recognize the unique strengths of quantitative and qualitative research methods; locate, evaluate, and utilize scholarly literature for a literature review; conduct an original research project using quantitative and qualitative research methods to gather and analyze data; and raise self and community awareness about a social issue through collaboration with a community organization.     

Esports players,got muscle? Competitive video game players’ physical activity,body fat,bone mineral content,and muscle mass in comparison to matched controls

BackgroundEsports players, like traditional athletes, practice for long hours and, thus, are vulnerable to the negative health effects of prolonged sitting. There is a lack of research on the physical activity and the health ramifications of prolonged sitting by competitive players. The purpose of this study was to investigate activity levels, body mass index (BMI), and body composition in collegiate esports players as compared to age-matched controls.MethodsTwenty-four male collegiate esports players and non-esports players between 18 and 25 years of age signed a written consent to participate. Physical activity was examined using daily activity (step count) with a wrist-worn activity tracker. A questionnaire assessing physical activity was also administered. Secondary outcomes included body-fat percentage, lean-body mass, BMI, and bone mineral content measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry.ResultsThe step count in the esports players was significantly lower than the age-matched controls (6040.2 ± 3028.6 vs. 12843.8 ± 5661.1; p = 0.004). Esports players exhibited greater body-fat percentage (p = 0.05), less lean body mass (p = 0.003), and less bone mineral content (p = 0.03), despite no difference in BMI between the esports and non-esports players.ConclusionAs compared to non-esports players, collegiate esports players were significantly less active and had a higher body-fat percentage, with lower lean body mass and bone mineral content. The BMIs showed no difference between the 2 groups. Esports athletes displayed significantly less activity and poor body composition, which are all correlated with potential health issues and risk of injury. BMI did not capture this difference and should not be considered as an accurate measure of health in competitive esports players.     

关联理论与汉语句末虚词的语篇功能

现代汉语句末虚词"啊/呀""吧""呢""嘛"等,一般称为"情态虚词",以别于具有较多实质语义或语法功能的"了""吗""的"等虚词.其实,前者固然表达情态,如分别表示,"关注""存疑""深究""确信"等;但此等虚词对于篇章的连接,也具有非常重要的作用.从关联理论及语篇标记的视角,参照以往研究,对该等情态虚词之语篇功能考察,可以看到:(一)"啊/呀"除了对当时的情景或对话内容表示"关注"而外,尚有特别标示"该语句乃针对当前语境而发"的功能;(二)"吧"除了标示"存疑"而外,尚有标示"该句乃针对先前所说或所发生的情景而发";(三)"呢"主要标示两种不同的、但前后呼应的语篇功能:(1)寻求与上文对比,(2)要求继续对话.这三个句末虚词,在语篇组织上,均具有增强关联性的功能.故除了当作"情态虚词"处理而外,还可以看作是"语篇标记".作为语篇标记,其强弱排序应为:呢>吧>啊/呀.此一排序,恰恰与其情态性质之强弱相反:呢<吧<啊/呀.     

高校教师隐性知识转移与共享因素分析

利用对高校教师隐性知识转移的调查,分析了高校教师隐性知识转移的现状、影响因素及对绩效的影响.分析表明,个人接触是最好的隐性知识转移方式,而对人际关系忠诚、情感距离及团队的目标、氛围、领导风格是影响团队成员隐性知识共享的重要因素;在隐性知识共享对绩效的影响方面,普遍认为,隐性知识共享能够增加团队成员科研成果的数量、质量,节约科研时间、成本,同时也有利于团队成员获得更多的发展机会.