Organization,management and academic problems in the Arab University: The Kuwait University experience

The modern university is essentially an alien phenomenon in the Arab world where it lacks the societal support base enjoyed by the western university. Moreover, many of the new Arab universities, like Kuwait University, established in 1966, were either modeled after the French influenced Egyptian university — in-turn based on semi-independent colleges — or received their initial administrative and teaching faculty from Egypt. From this legacy is derived a significant share of the obstacles hindering organization and management reform. At the same time a variety of governmental traditions and regulations binding the university to general civil service regulations, an under-developed tradition of university autonomy and faculty participation in university decision-making, and a utilitarian concept of formal education which associates degress with employment status are among the more serious problems confronting the Arab university.Kuwait University can be seen as a microcosm of the organizational, management and academic problems encountered in the Arab university. Although Kuwait University enjoys adequate financial support and is not forced to accommodate an unreasonable number of students, it has peculiar problems arising from unequal admissions standards (Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti), traditional societal values, paucity of indigenous staff, inexperienced administrators, lack of balance in academic ranks, absence of tenure, a fragmented physical plant, inadequate support staff as well as insufficient societal understanding and support. Like most other Arab universities Kuwait University not only reflects the rudimentary societal development but is located on the frontier of that development. Given the small population of Kuwait, the university is especially important in this development role. As the university and its distinctive needs become better understood the total society will be strengthened.     

The validity of multiple choice practical examinations as an alternative to traditional free response examination formats in gross anatomy

Traditionally, an anatomy practical examination is conducted using a free response format (FRF). However, this format is resource‐intensive, as it requires a relatively large time investment from anatomy course faculty in preparation and grading. Thus, several interventions have been reported where the response format was changed to a selected response format (SRF). However, validity evidence from those interventions has not proved entirely adequate for the practical anatomy examination, and thus, further investigation was required. In this study, the validity evidence of SRF was examined using multiple choice questions (MCQs) constructed according to different levels of Bloom's taxonomy in comparison with the traditional free response format. A group of 100 medical students registered in a gross anatomy course volunteered to be enrolled in this study. The experimental MCQ examinations were part of graded midterm and final steeplechase practical examination. Volunteer students were instructed to complete the practical examinations twice, once in each of two separate examination rooms. The two separate examinations consisted of a traditional free response format and MCQ format. Scores from the two examinations (FRF and MCQ) displayed a strong correlation, even with higher level Bloom's taxonomy questions. In conclusion, the results of this study provide empirical evidence that the SRF (MCQ) response format is a valid method and can be used as an alternative to the traditional FRF steeplechase examination. Anat Sci Educ. © 2013 American Association of Anatomists.     

Integrated Science Students’ Assessment of their Teachers for Characteristics of Effective Science Teaching

This study explored views held by pre-service and in-service science teachers regarding the nature of science and technology particularly: (a) the characteristics of science and technology; (b) the aim of science and scientific research; (c) the characteristics of scientific knowledge and scientific theories; and (d) the relationship between science and technology. The views held by science teachers at pre-service and in-service levels were assessed using a questionnaire. The findings revealed that generally science teachers at both pre-service and in-service levels showed similar views in relation to the nature of science and technology. While the participants displayed mix views regarding science as content oriented or process oriented, technology was viewed as an application of science. Implications of these views for classroom teaching and learning are presented.     

Effectiveness of instruction based on the constructivist approach on understanding chemical equilibrium concepts

The purpose of this study was to identify misconceptions concerning chemical equilibrium concepts and to investigate the effectiveness of instruction based on the constructivist approach over traditional instruction on 10th grade students' understanding of chemical equilibrium concepts. The subjects of this study consisted of 71 10th grade students from two chemistry classes of the same teacher. Each teaching strategy was randomly assigned to one class. The data were obtained from 32 students in the experimental group taught with instruction informed by the constructivist approach and 39 students in the control group taught with traditional instruction. The data were analysed using analysis of covariance. The results indicated that the students who used the constructivist principles-oriented instruction earned significantly higher scores than those taught by traditional instruction in terms of achievement related to chemical equilibrium concepts. In addition, students' previous learning and science process skills each made a significant contribution to the achievement related to chemical equilibrium concepts. In light of the findings obtained from the results, an additional misconception of chemical equilibrium concepts was determined in addition to the misconceptions in related literature. This misconception is that when one of the reactants is added to the equilibrium system, the concentration of the substance that was added will decrease below its value at the initial equilibrium.     

Teaching Scientific Analogies: a proposed model

The purpose of this paper is to propose a model for teaching scientific analogies. This model is called: ‘The General Model of Analogy Teaching’ (GMAT). A theoretical framework is developed first for this model. The following points are covered in this framework: (1) definition of the analogy, (2) analogical learning, (3) variables related to the analogical learning, (4) evaluating the outcomes of analogical learning, and (5) limitations of using analogies in teaching. The General Model of Analogy Teaching proceeds in the following nine stages: (1) measure some of the students’ characteristics related to analogical learning in general, (2) assess the prior knowledge of the students about the ‘topic’ to be taught, (3) analyse the learning material of the ‘topic’ to be taught, (4) judge the appropriateness of the analogy to be used, (5) determine the characteristics of the analogy to be used, (6) select the strategy of teaching and the medium of presenting the analogy, (7) present the analogy to the students, (8) evaluate the outcomes of using the analogy in teaching, and (9) revise the stages of the model.     

An extended discrete particle swarm optimization algorithm for the dynamic facility layout problem

We extended an improved version of the discrete particle swarm optimization （DPSO） algorithm proposed by Liao et al.（2007） to solve the dynamic facility layout problem （DFLP）. A computational study was performed with the existing heuristic algorithms, including the dynamic programming （DP）, genetic algorithm （GA）, simulated annealing （SA）, hybrid ant system （HAS）, hybrid simulated annealing （SA-EG）, hybrid genetic algorithms （NLGA and CONGA）. The proposed DPSO algorithm, SA, HAS, GA, DP, SA-EG, NLGA, and CONGA obtained the best solutions for 33, 24, 20, 10, 12, 20, 5, and 2 of the 48 problems from （Balakrishnan and Cheng, 2000）, respectively. These results show that the DPSO is very effective in dealing with the DFLP. The extended DPSO also has very good computational efficiency when the problem size increases.     

Application of automated image analysis to the identification and extraction of recyclable plastic bottles

An experimental machine vision apparatus was used to identify and extract recyclable plastic bottles out of a conveyor belt. Color images were taken with a commercially available Webcam, and the recognition was performed by our homemade software, based on the shape and dimensions of object images. The software was able to manage multiple bottles in a single image and was additionally extended to cases involving touching bottles. The identification was fulfilled by comparing the set of measured features with an existing database and meanwhile integrating various recognition techniques such as minimum distance in the feature space, self-organized maps, and neural networks. The recognition system was tested on a set of 50 different bottles and provided so far an accuracy of about 97% on bottle identification. The extraction of the bottles was performed by means of a pneumatic arm, which was activated according to the plastic type; polyethylene-terephthalate （PET） bottles were left on the conveyor belt, while non-PET bottles were extracted. The software was designed to provide the best compromise between reliability and speed for real-time applications in view of the commercialization of the system at existing recycling plants.     

An optimization methodology of susceptance variation using lead-lag controller for grid connected FSIG based wind generator system

In wind power system, low frequency oscillations are observed due to imbalance between mechanical input and electrical output. Hence, variable susceptance controllers are being adopted to mitigate these oscillations. However, improper modulation of control parameters also leads to system instability. Therefore, we propose an optimization methodology for mitigating low frequency oscillations in wind power generation system. To visualize our methodology, we use a lead-lag type variable susceptance controller for fixed speed induction generator (FSIG) based wind generation system. Then, we optimize gain and time constants of lead-lag controller using three optimization algorithms: particle swarm optimization (PSO), genetic algorithm (GA), and flower pollination algorithm (FPA). Later, we perform non-linear time domain simulation and quantitative analysis to find average fitness, standard deviation, run time, and iteration number for these optimization algorithms. Moreover, non-parametric statistical analysis, such as Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests are employed for identifying statistically significant differences among these algorithms.     

Childhood Problems in a Sudanese City: A Comparison of Extended and Nuclear Families

The relation between emotional and social development and family structure in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, was examined. Children between the ages of 4 and 9 living in extended and nuclear families were compared on mothers' ratings of a range of childhood problems. Analysis revealed that children in nuclear families had more conduct, emotional, and sleep problems, poorer self-care, and were more likely to be overdependent than those living in extended families. They were also less likely to be breast fed, to be weaned later, and to have grandmothers involved in child care. Linear multiple regression revealed that, of these 3 childcare factors, grandmother's involvement was the strongest predictor of normal social and emotional adjustment. The possible protective characteristics of the extended family are discussed in relation to the importance of the grandmother as maternal advisor, social support, and socialization agent.