Saudi Higher Education has started to move with the international trend towards blending face-to-face with online instruction when developing new educational processes. As a contribution to the innovations in Saudi Higher Education, this study explores the perceptions of Saudi female lecturers and undergraduate students towards blended learning from their experience as participants in blended courses. The advantage of blended learning was recognized by the Ministry of Saudi Higher Education as a solution to the challenge of providing college education to the rapidly growing student population. As the move to a blended learning model represents a radical shift in the Saudi educational system, this study shows how Saudi students and lecturers reacted to this change and how it affected the quality of their learning and teaching experience. The objective of the study is to identify Saudi female undergraduate students’ and lecturers’ perceptions of the advantages, challenges and future of blended learning. Consequently, the key factors that influence the lecturers’ and students’ views are discussed, and recommendations for future research, strategy and practice are provided. Qualitative methods were used to obtain rich descriptive data to facilitate the exploration of the phenomena. Based on interpretative philosophy, the data was analysed in the form of explanation and interpretation of the participants’ perceptions of blended learning. The study concludes that blended learning has the potential to offer a successful learning experience in Saudi Arabia. As there are always challenges of adaptation when a new approach is employed, this research provides insight into how the challenges of implementing blended learning in Saudi Higher Education could be addressed. A theoretical blended learning framework is introduced to provide the factors that influence the implementation of blended learning. One of the major conclusions is that a blended learning environment offers Saudi females the flexibility to continue their higher education while maintaining their own cultural values and traditions.

Research in the area of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teacher satisfaction and teacher motivation has recently gained momentum, and several studies completed in different parts of the world have contributed to this growing field (Al Hashmi, 2004; Al-Maawali, 2003; Dörnyei, 2001; Gheralis-Rouss, 2003; John, 2011; Kızıltepe, 2008; Manuel and Hughes, 2006; Menyhárt, 2008; Shoaib, 2004). However, studies from Oman, particularly with expatriate teachers, are still limited. The purpose of the current naturalistic qualitative research is to explore the factors that motivate and discourage expatriate EFL teachers in a public university in Oman. The conceptual framework of this study is based on the Needs Hierarchy theory (Maslow, 1954) and the Motivation-Hygiene theory (Herzberg, 1976). An exploratory methodology was used, and the sample selected for this study comprised exclusively expatriate teachers whose average number of years of experience in Oman is 18.75 years. In-depth semi-structured interviews with sixteen expatriate teachers revealed several intrinsic and extrinsic factors that motivated teachers to work and live in Oman, such as, interaction with students, job security, and living in Oman. Teachers also expressed several discouraging factors that affected their personal and professional life in Oman. Examples include difficulties in getting promoted, faculty evaluation surveys, and bureaucratic administrative policies. This study is significant in giving voice to experienced expatriate teachers who share their vast experience and suggestions and offer recommendations to administrators and managers on adopting policies that are holistic and present optimal working conditions to teachers.

This thesis address the study of the recently popular Apple iOS platform, and its online application marketplace, called the ¡§App Store¡¨. The thesis examines the relation in Youtube videos and raking of the Apps. According to the research result, over 25% people use mobile device to watch the Apps videos. If marketer can manage the result of the searching and embedded the video in high traffic website, it can get more higher Apps ranking and Youtube video views. In addition, people/App player upload the video and share it with friends. It is just like the word and mouth marketing. Whenever people upload a lot of videos and get more video views, it can get higher App ranking. Furthermore, the video type is belonged to game trailer and walkthrough will has more views. In the other hand, the KUSO video will spread quickly in social network website and it brings more video views and Apps downloads potentially.

Passed in 1985, the Texas Education Code (TEC) §38.003, Screening and Treatment of Dyslexia and Related Disorders, required public school districts and charters to identify and provide remediation services for students with dyslexia. While Texas was the first state to pass such a requirement, the question remains: What is the prevalence and proportionality of dyslexia in Texas public school districts and charters? In Phase 1 of this study, a secondary analysis using point prevalence and disproportionality calculations was conducted to analyze the impact of this more than 30-year-old law. In order to better help understand these findings, semi-structured interviews with district leaders were conducted in Phase 2 to gain insight on how students were identified with dyslexia across the state. The results of Phase 1 showed the estimated prevalence of dyslexia in Texas public school districts and charters to be low in comparison to the literature. Additionally, the findings suggested a discrepancy in identifications between gender and district type (public school versus charter) and across racial and ethnic groups. Meanwhile, the results of Phase 2 revealed that leadership, support, funding, and accountability impact dyslexia identifications. This study emphasizes the need to further explore and analyze how to best identify and service all students with dyslexia, regardless of gender, race and ethnicity, district type, and geographical location.

Yes / The recent growth of the Web of Data has brought to the fore the need to develop intelligent means to support user exploration through big data graphs. To be effective, approaches for data graph exploration should take into account the utility from a user’s point of view. We have been investigating knowledge utility – how useful the trajectories in a data graph are for expanding users’ knowledge. Following the theory for meaningful learning, according to which new knowledge is developed starting from familiar entities (anchors) and expanding to new and unfamiliar entities, we propose here an approach to identify knowledge anchors in a data graph. Our approach is underpinned by the Cognitive Science notion of basic level objects in domain taxonomies. Several metrics for extracting knowledge anchors in a data graph, and the corresponding algorithms, are presented. The metrics performance is examined, and a hybridization approach that combines the strengths of each metric is proposed.

This research attempt, as its title witnesses, aims to build interdisciplinary approaches and to bridge gaps within management. Management and more specific, management of industrial organizations is a scientific discipline that consists of many different fields of interest. In industrial organizations, different parties of people, such as managers, engineers and workers are asked to communicate and collaborate towards common organizational targets and goals. This is were this research finds fertile ground, and tries to bridge the gaps between the quality management philosophy and corporate culture and the evolving, value adding functions and processes of logistics. In particular, the gaps between quality management and logistics were bridged by a demonstration of the applicability of quality management practices –tools and methodologies- in a logistics context. This was conducted by an extensive exploratory research by means literature analysis of both management disciplines. The present situation, put in academic literature, was investigated and thoughtful reflections and suggestions for further use of quality management practices within logistics were provided. All the quality management tools and methodologies examined were found, with one or another way, to be employed in logistics processes. Numerous examples demonstrating the universality of quality management concepts and techniques were identified. When it comes to the specific management area of logistics, eight quality management practices were found particularly useful, with three of them, namely Service Quality, SPC and Benchmarking to be well known, and to some extent, mature within logistics. However, empirical research, of qualitative and quantitative nature, is needed to confirm the trends recognized here. The suggestions and reflections provided throughout this work indicate actions to be taken by logistics managers, in order to apply well known and widely accepted, cost saving and quality improvement, practices to their operations. In addition, these suggestions and their potential, constitute a challenging field for further research were new, applicable to logistics, quality management tools and methodologies can be found and ones that already exist can be enhanced. The originality of this work can be found in that it thesis tries to bring conceptually closer two management areas that although have many values in common are not perceived as working on the same track, towards the same goals. This research adds value in the way that illustrates, in an extensive and formal way, that there should be no barriers within management.

<p>This research attempt, as its title witnesses, aims to build interdisciplinary approaches and to bridge gaps within management. Management and more specific, management of industrial organizations is a scientific discipline that consists of many different fields of interest. In industrial organizations, different parties of people, such as managers, engineers and workers are asked to communicate and collaborate towards common organizational targets and goals. This is were this research finds fertile ground, and tries to bridge the gaps between the quality management philosophy and corporate culture and the evolving, value adding functions and processes of logistics.</p><p>In particular, the gaps between quality management and logistics were bridged by a demonstration of the applicability of quality management practices –tools and methodologies- in a logistics context. This was conducted by an extensive exploratory research by means literature analysis of both management disciplines. The present situation, put in academic literature, was investigated and thoughtful reflections and suggestions for further use of quality management practices within logistics were provided.</p><p>All the quality management tools and methodologies examined were found, with one or another way, to be employed in logistics processes. Numerous examples demonstrating the universality of quality management concepts and techniques were identified. When it comes to the specific management area of logistics, eight quality management practices were found particularly useful, with three of them, namely Service Quality, SPC and Benchmarking to be well known, and to some extent, mature within logistics. However, empirical research, of qualitative and quantitative nature, is needed to confirm the trends recognized here.</p><p>The suggestions and reflections provided throughout this work indicate actions to be taken by logistics managers, in order to apply well known and widely accepted, cost saving and quality improvement, practices to their operations. In addition, these suggestions and their potential, constitute a challenging field for further research were new, applicable to logistics, quality management tools and methodologies can be found and ones that already exist can be enhanced.</p><p>The originality of this work can be found in that it thesis tries to bring conceptually closer two management areas that although have many values in common are not perceived as working on the same track, towards the same goals. This research adds value in the way that illustrates, in an extensive and formal way, that there should be no barriers within management.</p>

Focusing on the potential use of telemedicine among other efforts for better treatment of stroke patients, this study explored the role of telemedicine in the management of stroke patients and knowledge sharing among health care providers in Afghanistan. To this end, fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with physicians, specialists, neurologists, and decision makers from the Afghan Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). Actor-network and diffusion of innovations theories provided a theoretical framework for this exploratory qualitative study. The study was intended: 1) to find out about the major challenges and problems associated with managing stroke patients in Afghanistan; 2) to explore the perceptions of Afghan health professionals about the application of telemedicine as a means of improving the delivery of health services for stroke patients in Afghanistan; and 3) to understand the perceived barriers to knowledge sharing and to ascertain the potential role of telemedicine in knowledge sharing among health care providers in Afghanistan. The findings of this study demonstrated that almost all of the participants were optimistic about the potential positive role telemedicine could play in the management of stroke patients and knowledge sharing among health care providers in Afghanistan. Some important existing organisational, socio-economic, geographical, security, and cultural barriers to the management of stroke patients and knowledge sharing among health care providers in Afghanistan were revealed. To the best knowledge of the researcher, there has been no study of this kind conducted in Afghanistan yet; thus, the findings of this study will likely contribute to the development of health communication in the context of Afghanistan, and could likely be used as a resource for future research about the applications of telemedicine in various medical specialities.

abstract: This study explored the Web resources used by four students enrolled in an introductory university-level Medical Translation course over a period of one semester. The research examined the students’ use of time, information needs and searches, and whether user attributes (translation experience and training, specialization and familiarity with the text, previous Web search training, and effort) or task-related factors (perceived task difficulty) had a relationship with the Web searching behavior of the participants. The study also investigates how this behavior might have been reflected in the quality of the product. The study focused on two translation tasks extracted from medical texts selected by the instructor that had to be translated from English into Spanish. Data was gathered by means of various instruments: translated texts, Think-Aloud Protocols, computer screen recordings, and questionnaires. The results of the data gathered from these instruments were triangulated in an effort to find relationships between the translation process and the translation product. Results were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The findings of the study revealed that the students spent a considerable amount of time looking for information on the Web during their translation assignments, and that the students exhibited an inclination toward bilingual Web sources. An analysis of user attributes suggested that translation experience might have had a relationship with the resources used, and the frequency of their use. Data showed that the more experienced students in the translation program received higher scores in their translations. It was also found that the higher the level of familiarity with the topic, the fewer the number of total searches. In addition, previous Web search training appeared to have a relationship with where and how information was sought. It was observed that in one of the two translation tasks, the more effort the students declared, the more Web searches they carried out. A look at perceived task difficulty indicated that in one of two tasks, this factor had an impact on the number of Web searches, which in turn, seemed to influence the time spent on the translation process, and the translation scores. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Spanish 2015

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:24:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-08-26Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:31:36Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 seren_lg_me_arafcl.pdf: 446687 bytes, checksum: 86301c4e4f87b3963ed6b9c03e00b99c (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O trabalho que ora se apresenta busca contribuir com os estudos que versam sobre o gosto musical dos jovens estudantes, pontuando também reverberações para o campo educacional. A investigação caracteriza-se, no plano metodológico, como uma pesquisa exploratória, posto que permite avaliar a feição qualitativa das informações para, posteriormente, quantificá-las. Tal agregação equilibrada desses dois polos metodológicos (qualitativo e quantitativo) confere um caráter de complementaridade a pesquisa, possibilitando, assim, uma melhor compreensão do fenômeno estudado. Objetivou-se sinalizar pontos de intersecção entre educação e cultura a partir do referencial bourdieusiano, tratando de maneira relacional a reprodução sociocultural, o capital cultural e o papel da escola no processo de formação do habitus. Utilizamo-nos também dos fundamentos teóricos lançados por Bernard Lahire, sociólogo que flexibiliza e adensa os estudos de habitus iniciados por Bourdieu. De posse das constatações acerca do indivíduo híbrido e plural, nos termos de Lahire, pudemos empreender uma análise mais adequada sobre a construção dos sujeitos juvenis na sociedade contemporânea. Lahire propõe uma sociologia da pluralidade disposicional em que os indivíduos são submetidos a experiências socializadoras heterogêneas e muitas vezes contraditórias, chegando a frequentar sucessiva ou alternativamente vários registros culturais. Esse fenômeno é peculiarmente observado no consumo cultural e musical dos jovens. Entramos também na complexa e ampla seara da música, com o objetivo de mostrar a importância e as possibilidades de compreensão da sociedade a partir desses estudos. Além disso, buscamos delinear a categoria de juventude, rastreando o conceito nas suas modulações sociohistóricas ao longo do tempo até chegarmos a atual paisagem contemporânea... / The present work aims to contribute to the studies related to the musical taste of students, dealing as well with its implications for the educational field. The research is methodologically characterized, as an exploratory research, since it allows evaluating the qualitative feature of the information for later, quantifying them. The balance of these two methodological poles (qualitative and quantitative) provides a complementary character of the search allowing, as a result, a better understanding into the phenomenon. The objective was to identify points of intersection between education and culture reviewing the literature of Bourdieu, which allows us to realize the socio-cultural reproduction, the cultural capital and the role of schools in the formation of the habitus. The study also relies on the theoretical references of Bernard Lahire, who have makes flexible the category habitus coined by Bourdieu. In the possession of defining characteristics of the hybrid and plural individual, in terms of Lahire, we undertook a more appropriate analysis on the construction of youth people in contemporary society. Lahire proposes a sociology of dispositional plurality in which individuals are exposed to heterogeneous socializing, often contradictory, attending successively or alternatively various cultural practices. This phenomenon is particularly observed in the musical and cultural consumerism of young people. We also entered in the complex and wide field of music as an important key to understand the society. Furthermore, we delineated the category of youth, by tracing the concept in its socio-historical modulations over the times, reaching up the current landscape ruled by the sign of contemporary globalization. The reception and use of audiovisual and electronic technologies reflect on youth attitudes, on their lifestyles, on patterns of taste and forms to express their demands... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)