Academicians＇ self-efficacy in the application of TEC learning curriculum instructional design in Malaysian public tertiary education

This research is attempted to examine universities＇ academic staffs＇ curriculum instructional design in the teaching and learning process in applying the technology enhanced classroom （TEC） learning. The universities have embarked on a costly project to create an innovative and creative learning and teaching environment to promote and establish a state-of-the-art, smart, efficient, effective and high quality education. The teaching and learning culture of universities have great influence on determining the level of students＇ achievement. Seven dimensions of public universities in Malaysia were examined to determine the percentage of academic staffs＇ self-efficacy in the application of TEC learning. There is a significant difference among factors concerning the academic staffs＇ self-efficacy in their teaching and learning processes in the classroom management. Their self-preparedness in using the provided technology is closely related to the experiences and practicality of the teaching materials. This study represents an addition to the extant literature on universities＇ academic staffs＇ self-efficacy in the application of TEC learning. Academic staffs＇ self-efficacy in using TEC learning instructional design is of the utmost important to disseminate knowledge to students, which will also fully help utilize the government＇s effort in providing technology to the additional instructional design, so as to achieve high quality education and technological enhance education to pave the way to achieve a techno-education environment for all public universities in Malaysia. This study provides furtber groundwork to assist existing tertiary educational managers to improve smart teaching and learning environment and to retain high quality academic staffs in the day-to-day classroom curriculum.     

Output stabilization of a class of second-order linear time-delay systems: An eigenvalue approach

This paper studies linear time-invariant systems with an input delay and two repeated or distinct real poles. The closed-loop system eigenvalue-loci with respect to the output feedback controller gain are investigated by using the Lambert function and root-locus construction techniques. Output feedback stabilization conditions and stability robustness with respect to the delay time uncertainty are established. Also, the response performance is discussed. Three examples and related simulations are presented to illustrate the analysis results.     

软式排球的技术开发与规则改造的实验研究

为满足群众体育活动的需要,通过一系列的实验性研究,就软式排球的技术,进行了探索式技术性开发,并对竞赛规则进行"适合中国特色"的改造,以加速推动软式排球在我国开展的进程,并通过对青少年排球兴趣的激发,促进竞技排球的开展;以此对中老年人群的吸引,满足群众体育活动的需要;使软式排球成为人们能终身从事锻炼和娱乐的活动项目.     

Boot Camps for Graduate Student Success: A Collaborative Initiative

Although graduate students are interested in learning data, grant, literature research, presentation, scholarly communication, and writing and publishing skills – topics not typically taught within their curriculum – scheduling conflicts during the academic year often prevent them from attending workshops that teach these skills. This article describes a grant-funded initiative where multiple campus units collaborated to provide themed boot camps outside of the fall and spring semesters. It also offers recommendations for adapting such a program at other institutions for lower cost, which administrators and practitioners in higher education, especially in academic libraries, may be particularly interested in.     

Globalisation and localisation enmeshed—towards a framework for the development of guidance curriculum in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s 150 years of colonisation by the British is a classic example of how globalisation comes into direct contact with a local Chinese culture and creates cultural hybridities. The paper presents a framework for developing a hybrid guidance curriculum, drawing together western traditions of developmental contextualism in guidance and Chinese traditions of Confucian humanism in moral education. The core of the framework is a hybrid self, integrating the individualist and the embedded self. The paper highlights the importance of culture and context in considering school guidance and the ‘fluid’ and dynamic nature of ‘glocalisation’ working towards integration.     

个案研究方法在教育游戏研究中的应用

个案研究是以一个人或一个团体为研究对象,广泛搜集各种资料,综合运用各种方法,对复杂情境中的现象进行深入探究的研究策略。在我们开展的VISOLE(Virtual Interactive Student-Oriented Learning Environment)研究项目中,就采用个案研究方法来深入研究同学的动机、行为和学习成效,并取得了良好的效果。文章仔细讲解了采用该方法的动机、本个案研究的特点以及具体的研究过程。     

Upper limb muscle fatigue during prolonged Boccia games with underarm throwing technique

This study investigated the acute fatigue pattern in neuromuscular activity after a simulated Boccia game and the effect of fatigue pattern on sport performance. Nine elite Boccia athletes were tested before, during, and after a simulated game. Maximum ball speed was captured with video, and the target hitting rate and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) score were collected and analyzed. Electromyography signals from the upper trapezius, anterior deltoid, posterior deltoid, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, and wrist extensor muscles were collected by surface electrode and were evaluated with mean power frequency (MPF). Only the upper trapezius muscle showed fatigue as demonstrated by a reduction of MPF of 8% (p = 0.027) when comparing the first and last throws in a simulated game. Subjective RPE score increased during the game (118%, p = 0.004), and sports performance in terms of maximum ball speed (-12%, p = 0.004) and target hitting rate (-25%, p = 0.004) also deteriorated. In conclusion, fatigue on the upper trapezius muscle was demonstrated in elite Boccia athletes following a prolonged Boccia game and may have affected Boccia performance. Preventative measures against upper trapezius muscle fatigue and endurance training for synergists of the upper trapezius muscle may be considered in future studies.