Utilising social networking sites to improve writing: a case study with Chinese students in Malaysia

With the advancement of technology, writing in English is no longer confined to the classroom as nowadays students are exposed to various forms of writing on the Internet. Specifically with Generation Y in mind, online writing is a new method that needs to be implemented to enhance Malaysian students’ writing skills. This article aims at identifying what motivates English as a Second Language students to write in English on Facebook. Ten Chinese-speaking students from a private urban school were selected for this study. These students had just started secondary education after being educated in Chinese-vernacular elementary schools for six years. The students were required to participate in an ongoing discussion on their Facebook class page in order to complete a writing task. Data for this study comprised both online discussions and interviews. The findings suggest that peer influence and school surroundings motivated the students to write better in English on Facebook. The findings also imply that the use of technology in writing tasks made students write better in English owing to the exchanges of feedback and ideas that took place through this social networking site.     

浅议国有企业财务管理现状及发展趋势

财务管理在市场经济体制国家已有数年历史，是企业管理的核心，一直倍受国内外企业管理者的关注。为此，本文从我国国有企业财务管理的现状出发，探讨我国国有企业财务管理的发展趋势。     

多媒体CAI课件及其与教学的关系

分析了多媒体CAI课件的现状，对常用的多媒体CAI课件的制作工具进行了介绍，并讨论了多媒体CAI课件的类型。     

重民强国联外多种经济共荣--全面建设小康社会与岳阳经济发展的战略思考之三

岳阳的地理位置、自然资源、经济条件和发展现状，决定了岳阳在全面建设小康社会，实施“跨一攻二兴三，经济协同发展”“绿蓝并举，实虚结合”经济发展战略的同时，还要实施“重民强国联外，多种经济共荣”的发展战略，即重视民营经济的发展，强化国有经济的实力，加强与外国、外省、外市的联系，发展外向型经济，以实现多种经济齐头并进、共同繁荣。     

影响教师教学水平提高因素的研究

本研究运用统计分析方法，对影响不发达地区教师教学水平的因素进行了研究，研究发现：教师们认为影响教学水平提高的因素可分为五个方面：1．教师自身素质；2、教师的心理环境；3、教学条件状况；4．学生环境；5．教师的地位问题。这对我们采取措施是提高教师的教学水平，提供了依据。     

The predisposition of school culture towards change in public primary education in Greece

Educational reform attempts in Greece have been increased during the past decades, but research has shown negative change and innovation introduction and implementation results [Spiropoulou, Dimitra, Agapi Varvouraki, Chrisoula Koutra, Louka Eleni, and Mpouras Sarantos. 2007. “Innovation Programs in Education.” Review of Educational Matters 13: 69–83; OECD. 2011. Education Policy Advice for Greece. Strong Performers and Successful Reformers in Education. OECD Publishing. doi:10.1787/9789264119581-en; Kiriakodi, Despoina, and Athanasios Tzimoyiannis. 2015. “Educational Innovations in Primary Education. A Study of the Awarded Work of the Action ‘Institution of Excellence and Promotion of Good Practices’.” Issues of Science and Technology in Education 8 (3): 123–151]. The present article discusses those elements of school culture that impede educational change or can serve as resources for its more meaningful and effective implementation, as they are investigated with the use of a quantitative questionnaire. The findings from the responses of the participants, teachers (n?=?385) and headteachers (n?=?31), point to the need for an integration of the families in the educational processes, for a shift to the development of skills rather than mere academic achievement and for enhanced cooperation within the school environment. The role of the headteacher is recognised as an element that can improve the reform implementation results. Further qualitative research is suggested.     

从教学媒体看教育技术的发展

本文描述了20世纪以来教学媒体和教育技术的发展情况,并结合各时期的教学媒体理论阐明了教学媒体的发展规律以及教学媒体与教育技术的关系。     

英语学习中的听力障碍与对策

听力教学是听、说、读、写四项基本技能的基础,克服听力过程中的障碍,采取有效的对策,提高英语听力水平,培养学生的学习兴趣,是提高英语水平的有效途径。     

庐山旅游客源市场及开发策略

客源是决定旅游发展的重要力量,通过对庐山近几年客源市场状况的研究,利用亲身调查资料和相关部门的统计数据进行分析比较,发现庐山客源市场开发中存在的问题,并根据问题提出了相关的开发策略．     

Problem-based learning: student perceptions of its value in developing professional skills for engineering practice

ABSTRACT

This study explores students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) design project, taken as part of a first-year engineering module, in developing professional skills needed for engineering practice. Students completed surveys before and after the PBL group project, and produced personal reflections on the process. The closed survey questions were analysed quantitatively and the main themes from the reflections outlined using General Inductive Analysis. Students rated themselves as having improved across a range of professional skills as a result of the project, with particular emphasis on teamwork, communication skills, understanding of the design process and self-directed learning. In addition, they highlighted improved confidence, as well as new friendships they developed, an important element of a module like this as they transition from secondary to higher education. They were particularly positive about the scaffolded approach taken within the PBL project in terms of its contribution to their learning.