Search

Purpose: The language load within mathematics test items can lead to inaccuracy in assessing "Orang Asli" pupils' mathematical ability due to their struggle in comprehending the academic language. This study aims to determine the validity of using test accommodations in the form of oral academic language and oral native language when administering mathematics computation and word problem test items among the "Orang Asli" pupils. Methodology: By employing a quantitative approach, this study utilised random equivalent group design to examine the validity of using oral test accommodations among 334 Grade Four "Orang Asli" pupils. Three testlets were constructed and used in this study: written test in the academic language (WAL), oral test in the academic language (OAL), and oral test in the native language (ONL). The three testlets comprised Paper 1 and Paper 2, each consisting of 20 mathematics computation and 20-word problem test items, respectively. One-way ANOVA was used to analyse and examine if there were differences in the mathematics performance between the three groups of tests administered to the "Orang Asli" pupils. Findings: The results indicated that the test scores of the pupils on the oral tests were higher compared to the written test administered to the pupils for both mathematics computation and word problem items. For computation items, the pupils performed better in the OAL testlet, followed by the ONL testlet. On the other hand, the pupils obtained the highest test scores in the ONL testlet compared to the OAL testlet for word problem items. Furthermore, the results illustrate that there is a difference in the mathematics performance of the "Orang Asli" pupils between the oral tests in both languages and written tests in the academic language. Significant: This study clearly shows that language plays a prominent role in affecting the "Orang Asli" pupils' mathematics performance. By utilising the oral test as a promising test accommodation, this measure could help address the language barrier faced by the "Orang Asli" pupils in mathematics testing.

Academic writing is a salient skill for medical students all over the world. Academic writing starts with composing effective paragraphs, laying the foundation for students' advancement in writing during college. This study investigated common mistakes in English paragraph writing committed by the first-year medical students of the Medicine Faculty at Kabul University of Medical Sciences. Additionally, it measured the challenges that Medicine Faculty students tackled in paragraph writing. This quantitative study was conducted through an action research design. The data were collected from 52 medical students, and their work was analyzed using the developed rubrics. The data were analyzed in the SPPS 26 version, and the descriptive statistics were reported. The findings revealed that participants obtained the highest means in the mechanics of paragraph writing (22 out of 25), and they received the lowest means (12 out of 25) in the contents of a paragraph. In English for Medical Purposes (EMP), students should improve their content finding, paragraphing, summarizing, and referencing skills for their assignments and research writings. Medical students should give detailed attention to every characteristic of academic paragraph writing because they give readers a full grasp of the contents of their written works.

The examination of the testing mode effect has received increased attention as higher education has shifted to remote testing during the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe the testing mode effect consists of four components: the ability to physically write on the test, the method of answer recording, the proctoring/testing environment, and the effect testing mode has on instructor question selection. This paper examines the first component, the ability to write on the test, which we believe is a neglected area of study. Using a normalization technique to control for student aptitude and instructor bias, we find that removing the ability of students to physically write on the test significantly lowers student performance. This finding holds across multiple question types classified by difficulty level, Bloom's taxonomy, and on figure/graph-based questions, and has implications for testing in both face-to-face and online environments.

Digital history-based project-based learning (PjBL) in history learning is a learning medium that can provide a special attraction for students who can improve historical concept skills and historical awareness. However, there are still many teachers who have not used it, so it is very important to study it. This research aims to analyze the influence of the digital history based PjBL model in improving historical concept skills and historical awareness. The method used is quasi-experimental with two classes, experimental and control. The population used class XI high school students in Lampung, Indonesia and the sample size was 213. Cluster random sampling was used to determine sampling, while data collection was in the form of test instruments. The test instrument questions were analyzed using the gain score and Kruskal-Walli's test to determine the increase in historical concept skills and historical awareness with the help of statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) 26. The research results confirmed that digital history based PjBL was effective in increasing historical concept skills and historical awareness with a high score, making it the best choice to overcome obstacles in history learning.

The use of linguistic features in school assessments, as well as the impact of these factors on the outcome of assessments have received limited attention in the literature. With this study I aimed to analyse linguistic features of accounting examinations. A quantitative technique, using tests for correlation, was employed to analyse the Grade 12 National Senior Certificate accounting examinations from 2011 until 2021. Advanced textual analysis software was used to identify connections between specific linguistic features and the marks obtained in these examinations. The findings of this study suggest that increasing the levels of linguistic features associated with analytical thinking, emotional tone and big words, which may be assumed to promote comprehension, may in reality be counterproductive, consequently potentially resulting in poorer marks attained in assessments in the future. The findings of this study are important for the creators of assessment to consider when developing accounting assessment. Given the effect of linguistic features on assessment results as identified in this study, it contributes to the debate on the use of certain linguistic features in assessment.

The academic success of first-year students' learning in science faculties is by no means assured, especially in an Open Distance Learning setting with its limited number of face-to-face encounters between students and lecturers or tutors. Therefore, such encounters should be highly efficient in view of the considerable amount of knowledge transfer to students. The University of South Africa (Unisa) makes provision for contact sessions of 15 hours per semester for selected modules in an attempt to elevate the pedagogical efficiency of these sessions by focusing on the threshold concepts as an innovative way of learning. This paper shows that tutorials adopting the threshold concepts approach have the potential to make students academically more successful. The focus of this study is an introductory information systems module that teaches the Python programming language. Our statistical analysis demonstrated that the year marks and final exam scores of the participating students were frequently higher than those of the students in the control group.

Although there is increased interest in social and emotional competence and mental health in Croatia, there are currently limited measurement options available for early childhood settings. Thus, the SSIS SEL Brief Scales (SSIS SELb), an efficient measure of social and emotional learning competencies developed in the United States, was translated to Croatian and used by 49 early childhood educators to rate a sample of 685 children (average age 4.3 years) from several counties in Croatia. Regarding measurement invariance, the final model cohered substantially with a CASEL-inspired framework. Overall reliability was also high especially for the SEL Composite ([alpha] = 0.94), with notably lower reliability for subscales. Regarding cross-group concurrent validity, concurrent coefficients were largely similar across age and gender, but there were regional differences in validity. Likewise, validity correlations were in line with expectations, with moderate relationships observed between the SSIS SEL Composite and Child and Youth Resilience Measure scores. In sum, the high level of reliability provided a foundation for applied and research usage of the Croatian SSIS SELb, although further validation research will continue to be necessary before widescale implementation. Limitations to the study are discussed and also point to needed additional research before utilizing the Croatian translated SSIS SELb for applied decisions with young children.

Background: PIRLS 2021 results revealed that South African Grade 4 learners performed significantly lower compared to other countries in reading comprehension and that they did not reach the standardised international mean score of 500. It was also evident from the results that English learners performed relatively higher than isiZulu learners. Objective: This study was initiated to investigate whether possible measurement invariance can help explain the difference in the scores of English and isiZulu learners. Measurement invariance is concerned with the metric and functional equivalence of the items in the two languages examined. Method: A quantitative approach was utilised to reanalyse the PIRLS 2021 numerical data sets. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the mean and raw scores. Rasch analysis was conducted to look for any Differential Item Function (DIF) in the items. Results: Statistics revealed that there is a significant difference in the mean scores of the two languages. Analysis of raw scores provided evidence that some of the items lacked metric equivalence. Rasch analysis displayed that some of the items lacked functional equivalence. Conclusions: The significant difference found in the scores implies that Grade 4 learners need more attention mastering the skill of reading literacy. The lack of metric and functional equivalence suggests that items in the passages need to be investigated and improved. Contributions: This study has contributed to the International Large-Scale Assessment literature specifically relating to the equivalence of ILSA across languages. A significant gap in the learners' scores was identified and measurement invariance helped explain the gap in the learners' reading scores.

As a form of implementing Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in educational institutions, an appropriate learning model is needed, which also accommodates aspects of spirituality. Before developing a model, baseline data is needed, so a broad-scale or national needs analysis is needed. This research aims to determine the profile of spirituality-based action competence for sustainability (ACS) among prospective biology teacher students throughout Indonesia. This research is a cross-sectional survey. The target respondents are students of LPTK biology education study programs in Indonesia. The target population size is 650 people, so based on the Krejcie and Morgan table, the minimum sample size with a confidence level of 95% and a margin of error of 5% is 620 students. The data collection instrument used in this research is the action competence for sustainability instrument based on spirituality (ACSIS). Data on respondent characteristics were analyzed using frequencies and percentages. The mean and standard deviation of scores were calculated for each item. Comparisons of two groups of students were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U Test, while comparisons of more than two groups used the Kruskal-Wallis H Test. We discuss interesting findings in this research, including the aspects of spirituality in ACS among prospective biology teacher in Indonesia.

This study introduces a novel learning management model aimed at enhancing Thai language proficiency in sixth-grade students. Confronting challenges such as inadequate teaching resources and a lack of student-centric, practical activities in current Thai language education, this model integrates six key components: foundational principles and theories, clear objectives, diverse learning processes, social systems, responsive teaching, and supportive resources. The approach emphasizes student engagement, self-directed learning, critical thinking, and applicability in real-life situations. Employing a rigorous research and development (R&D) methodology, the study involved analyzing existing educational conditions, developing the instructional model, assessing its impact, and seeking expert validation. The model demonstrated substantial improvements in students' knowledge, skills, and attributes, as evidenced by the effectiveness index (E.I.) and expert assessments. These evaluations confirmed the model's suitability, practicality, and beneficial impact on language proficiency. The results indicate that integrating self-directed learning, experiential activities, and collaborative techniques significantly enhances language skills. The study underscores the need for adaptive learning strategies, varied instructional media, and comprehensive assessment methods. The model's success in improving national test scores showcases its potential applicability and effectiveness in diverse educational settings. This research contributes a validated, effective framework for Thai language teaching, highlighting experiential learning, social collaboration, and the integration of ICT. Its successful application in Thai educational contexts suggests its potential for broader adoption in primary language education globally.

The research explores the potential of incorporating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education approach and critical thinking to enhance historical consciousness. The study employs an ex post facto quantitative method, specifically a correlational design to analyse the variables. The research population comprises 425 students from diverse backgrounds in Banten Province schools that have implemented the STEM approach. A sample size of 202 students is determined using a predefined error rate. Data collection involves tests and questionnaires assessing historical thinking skills, STEM approaches, and historical consciousness. Statistical analysis, including partial and simultaneous multiple correlation tests, reveals a significant and very strong positive relationship between STEM approach, historical thinking skills, and historical consciousness. This suggests that the interplay of these factors enhances history learning and encourages a deeper understanding of historical events, promoting critical thinking, and historical consciousness. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating STEM methodologies into history education to provide students with a holistic understanding of historical events and their societal implications. Such an approach bridges the gap between STEM and history, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and promoting informed and empathetic citizens. Future research should explore diverse samples, employ qualitative methods, and investigate curriculum designs and teaching strategies that effectively integrate STEM and history education.

Service-learning is a form of experiential-learning being incorporated into many academic programs to enable students to practice skills learned in class while providing a service to communities in need. Being able to justify the implementation of service-learning experiences can be a challenge. Some benefits include increased awareness of global health, development of comparing and compassion for the community and patients, development of critical and clinical thinking, and practice of skills learned. This study assessed Core Value Self-Assessment of students from a cohort of entry level Doctor of Physical Therapy students who had a mix of participation in service-learning (local, regional, and international). It was hypothesized that students who participated in international service-learning experiences would score higher on the Core Value Self-Assessment tool (total score and each individual core value). One-Way ANOVAs were used to assess the data. Results found that international service-learning participants scored highest in social responsibility. The results were not statistically significant. Participation in service-learning is an option to consider for experiential learning to help develop professional behavior. Future research could consider Core Value Self-Assessment pre and post service-learning experience to consider more causative relationship between service-learning and Core Value Self-Assessment changes.

In today's technology-driven world, digital citizenship is vital in fostering responsible technology use and essential skills for learning, problem-solving, and community participation. However, a significant focus emerges within digital citizenship--empowering individuals with disabilities. This research addresses this crucial area by spearheading the creation of a specialized Thai Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) meticulously designed for hearing-impaired learners. The core objective is to equip these individuals with indispensable digital citizenship skills for seamless integration and active engagement in digital environments. The study progresses through three key phases. Phase 1 involves crafting the MOOC course to meet the needs of hearing-impaired individuals. Phase 2 develops a course on the Thai MOOC platform, using the MOOC-based Design Thinking Model and universal design learning principles. Phase 3 assesses 20 hearing-impaired learners in the "Utilizing Online Media as Digital Citizenship Course." The research reveals two significant outcomes, highlighting the course's impact. First, an evaluation of digital media quality and learning activities was conducted by five experts with 15 to 30 years of experience in the field, the result was an impressive performance rating of 4.56 on a 5-point Likert scale, indicating the course's high suitability for hearing-impaired learners. Such findings validate the precise alignment of the course with its intended objectives. Second, the outcomes of learning achievement tests on the Thai MOOC platform involving 20 high school hearing-impaired learners revealed that 15 learners scored above 70 (passing), representing 75%. The average posttest score was higher than the pre-test, with an average score of 72.05 points. These results demonstrate the course's effectiveness in improving learning outcomes and meeting predetermined criteria, while also indicating that adopting the MOOC-based Design Thinking model has led to the creation of high-quality media that delivers tangible results for hearing-impaired individuals. This research contributes to the eLearning field by addressing the specific needs of hearing-impaired individuals in digital citizenship education through tailored online learning courses designed to bridge existing gaps.

In this new era, computational thinking is becoming increasingly intriguing for indepth study. The 2022 PISA framework illustrates that computational thinking can play a significant role in solving real-world mathematical problems, both in formulating problems and in mathematical reasoning processes. Many countries have integrated computational thinking into their curricula, starting as early as elementary education. The 2022 PISA framework marks the first time that substantial attention has been given to the intersection between computational thinking and mathematical thinking. Consequently, research was conducted to analyze the validation process, practicality, and effectiveness of using integrated computational thinking and mathematical practical design thinking to enhance students' computational thinking skills. The research results demonstrate that the integrated computational thinking and mathematical thinking learning design are highly suitable for implementation. According to expert judgment, its validity rate is 95.5%, with a practicality score of 93.75%. The instructional design applied in this study has proven to be effective in enhancing the computational thinking skills of elementary school students. It's important to note that this research is limited to elementary school students, and further studies are needed to explore this topic at higher education levels.

Past studies have explored student self-perception within chemistry courses. Various factors have been explored including course level, student academic background, and gender. However, it appears that there are few (if any) studies that have looked at whether students are aware of how they have performed previously in the course. Through a study over a two-year period, students at all levels (freshman through M.S.) of a chemistry program were surveyed and asked to self-report predictions of their score on examinations as well as several other items including their recall of previous course grades. At all levels, poorer performing students were less likely to be able to recall previous examination scores.

Reading, which improves language and mental skills, is the most effective way to reach information from the past to the present. The study tried to determine the relationship between the metacognitive reading awareness, reading intrinsic motivations, and reading motivations of eighth-grade students. The study group consists of 132 eighth-grade students in a secondary school in the Battalgazi district of Malatya province--the research design is a relational screening model. The metacognitive reading awareness scale," "Intrinsic Reading Motivation Scale," and "Book Reading Habit Scale" were used as data collection tools. As a result of the analyses, the students got moderate scores from the metacognitive reading awareness, intrinsic motivation, and book reading habit scales. Moreover, no notable difference was found in students' metacognitive reading strategies, reading motivations, and reading habits according to gender. The study suggests no significant link exists between "metacognitive reading awareness" and "intrinsic motivation to read," based on the correlation analysis conducted on the three scales. Nonetheless, there were exceptionally high positive correlations among the sub-dimensions of the scales.

This study examined the impact on the motivation of students toward learning physics upon applying the Nikola Tesla Center (NTC) learning system. The research was conducted using a quasi-experiment with a pretest-posttest non-equivalent control group design. The participants considered were a large group of 1371 students, from various grades and mixed genres, selected from the same district in Serbia. The instrument of this research was the students' motivation toward science learning (SMTSL), which has been adapted to measure the motivation of students and their learning strategies for physics. Statistical analysis included calculations of Cronbach alpha, chi-square, Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test, independent Samples t-test and ANCOVA, and Pearson correlation test. The study found that using the NTC learning system had a positive effect on students' motivation to learn physics. The experimental group had significantly higher scores on various subscales of motivation such as self-efficacy, active learning strategy, physics learning value, performance goal, and learning environmental stimulation compared to the control group. The research results determined that the NTC learning system is an effective method for promoting motivation of students toward learning physics and it can be recommended for implementation in schools.

In Taiwan, the education system places a strong emphasis on higher education. Students who perform well in the National High School Entrance Examination are given priority admission to public high schools, while those with lower scores tend to enroll in vocational schools. It's worth noting that students with low scores in this examination often struggle with reading and natural literacy, typically scoring below level 2 in PISA assessments. This study examined the impact of implementing the mobile platform OK4R reading strategy on students' comprehension of popular science reading and their logical thinking abilities. The research was conducted with two classes of first-year vocational school students. The findings indicate that when students used the OK4R mobile platform for popular science reading, it had a positive effect on their popular science reading comprehension and their logical thinking skills. Notably, female students outperformed their male counterparts. The study also revealed that several factors, including gender, basic abilities, and other variables, influenced the effectiveness of the OK4R mobile platform for vocational students. Those with lower science scores appeared to benefit the most from this approach.

The study aims to determine the impact of blended learning on the performance of science students and their self-regulation and to identify effective recommendations to improve the effectiveness of blended learning. Third-year students of Kazan Federal University took part in the study. The measurement scale tools adopted in this study included pre-test, post-test and self-regulation questionnaires. Analyses showed that participants in the experimental group scored higher on the final test than students in the reference group. The experimental group scored significantly higher than the reference group on the self-regulation questionnaire. It can be concluded that the blended learning model can significantly improve students' self-regulation compared to the traditional approach to learning. Recommendations were made to improve blended learning.

The aim of the research is to investigate the academic achievement of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence based chatbot, in a national mathematics exam. For this purpose, 3.5 and 4 versions of ChatGPT were asked mathematics questions in a national exam. The method of the research is a case study. In the research, 3.5 and 4 versions of ChatGPT were used as data collection tools. The answers given by both versions of ChatGPT were analyzed separately by three researchers. As a result of the analysis of the data, it was found that ChatGPT-4 was more successful in the exam compared to ChatGPT-3,5 version, was better at understanding the questions asked, understood the instructions better and included more details in the question solution, and at the same time, both versions made common and different mistakes. According to the findings of the study, it was concluded that ChatGPT sometimes worked very well, sometimes only worked well and sometimes failed. In the light of the findings of the study, it can be suggested to use ChatGPT versions in mathematics education to obtain basic information and to get supervised help.

English speaking accuracy is one of the most important aspects of Business English. While most studies are conducted to improve English speaking accuracy, they neglect phrasal semantics. This present study involves 30 participants from Phu Em Company. The study employs a mixed-methods design in which the quantitative approach helps quantify the speaking accuracy scores made by learners while the qualitative approach explores how learners perceive the use of interrogative constructions. The instruments are a questionnaire and an interview. Data analysis procedures include a theme analysis of the interview data, a statistical analysis of the test and survey data, and integrated findings. The findings from this research provide evidence that using interrogative constructions does not improve grammatical or phonological accuracy but improves expressing accuracy. The study also reveals that 58% of EG learners provide positive feedback on the use of interrogative constructions in learning English speaking skills. Based on the findings, several suggestions are offered to teachers and learners.

This study delves into writing scores in both tests, aiming to uncover the reasons behind score differences. Through comprehensive comparative analysis, this research explores scoring patterns, criteria, and score distributions in IELTS and PTE writing sections. It investigates sources of score variation, including task design, rating criteria, and test administration. This study utilizes interviews as the primary instruments for data collection. The combination of these instruments allows for a comprehensive exploration of the factors leading to disparity scores in writing between the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Pearson Test of English (PTE). The culmination of this journey traverses the intricate pathways of language proficiency assessment, revealing that the writing score differences between PTE and IELTS are not mere numerical variations. They encapsulate a lot of factors, from automated scoring intricacies and assessment criteria nuances to task types and test takers' perspectives. These differences, rather than being divisive, reflect the diverse dimensions of linguistic communication and evaluation. These findings serve as guideposts. They illuminate the nuanced forces that shape candidates' performance, perceptions, and trajectories in these assessments.

This study aimed to reveal the attitudes of the students who were subjected to measurement and evaluation in an online testing environment towards the computer based testing (CBT) platform and the factors that affect their attitudes. It also examined the students' cognitive loads in the exam designed with multimedia elements from message design principles by using the facilities of this platform. The study was conducted with a case study design. The participants consisted of 32 students. Participants took a previously used and redesigned English achievement test based on the multimedia design principle. Then, cognitive load scale and attitude towards computer scale were implemented. In addition, seven volunteer participants were interviewed. The results of the study showed that factors such as students' equipment advantage, time, success, flexibility, individuality and less mental effort affected the participants' attitudes towards the CBT environment. A significant difference was found between the scores of the participants in the cognitive load scale and the duration of the exam. There was a low and positive correlation between the cognitive load score of the participants for the listening test and the time to complete these questions, and a low and negative correlation between the correct answer scores of the participants in the listening test.

The present study explored the effects of interactionist Dynamic Assessment (DA) and age on the writing accuracy of IELTS candidates. This research investigated the existence of an interactional effect between the age of learners and the type of treatment they received. First, 140 IELTS candidates were split into two age groups, adult and young. Each group was divided into two equal smaller groups, randomly assigned to two types of DA. All four groups took a writing pre-test. After a nine-session treatment of interactionist DA in study groups and interventionist DA in control groups, all groups took a writing post-test. The data collected during the post-test were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and compared with the pre-test data. The findings showed that implementation of interactionist DA significantly improved the learners' writing accuracy while the learners' age had no significant effect on their writing accuracy. With respect to the study findings, EFL teachers could use interactionist DA to enhance the accuracy of learners' writing skills by providing more opportunities for the learners to interact.

This study sought to identify the challenges and needs of TOEFL iBT candidates in achieving C1 level scores in the speaking and writing sections of the exam. To this end, the researcher employed a mixed-method approach to collect data from a population of 46 students, both male and female, between the ages of 22 and 30. The participants were enrolled in two TOEFL preparation classes at Universidad Nacional de Educación. The data were collected through a survey, class observations, and TOEFL speaking and writing mock tests, and were subsequently analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The findings indicated that the participants encountered challenges in discussing unfamiliar topics fluently, struggled with producing language at the C1 level while employing a variety of grammar and vocabulary, and demonstrated reduced accuracy due to influences from their first language (L1). To address these challenges, it is recommended to offer a bridging course prior to exam preparation courses wherein the primary focus is devoted to enhancing candidates' accuracy and communicative competence in discussing unfamiliar topics through corrective feedback. The findings of this study could offer valuable insights to TOEFL iBT test preparation instructors, enabling them to better understand the challenges students face and plan strategies to address these challenges effectively within preparation courses.

The study aims to investigate the impact of implementing the Numbered Heads Strategy on developing oral expression skills among Arabic learners who speak languages, as well as their attitudes towards this teaching method. The research involved 50 participants, both male and female, at the fourth level of a language center within Al al-Bayt University. These participants were divided into two groups: a control group, which received traditional instruction, and an experimental group, which was taught using the Numbered Heads Strategy. The study designed an achievement test and an attitudinal scale to assess the participants. The results revealed a statistically significant difference in favor of the experimental group, with higher mean scores in both the oral expression skills test and the post-attitude scale. However, no significant differences were found between the mean scores of the experimental and control groups in the oral expression test and attitude scale when considering the interaction between teaching strategy and gender. Based on these results, the study recommends the utilization of the Numbered Heads Strategy in teaching oral expression skills to Arabic learners who speak languages other than Arabic.

Every year, several teachers retire from the education sector in Rivers State and these teaching retirees still have a lot they can contribute to the education system but can only deliver lifelong educational services when life after retirement is patterned to what is obtainable during active service. The study investigated teaching retirees' life adjustment pattern for lifelong educational service delivery in Rivers State. The study's design was descriptive survey and 18,073 retirees formed the population of the study out of which 391 retirees were sampled through multistage sampling. Data were collected using questionnaire which was face and content validated by experts in University of Port Harcourt with a Cronbach alpha determined reliability index of 0.94. Answers were provided to the research questions using mean score and SD while at 5%level of significance the hypotheses were tested using z-test statistics. The study revealed that retired teachers adjust economically using different patterns including engaging in paid employment. The retirees also adjusted socially through different patterns. Conclusively, the study identified that the retirees had economic and social adjustment patterns needed for providing lifelong educational services in Rivers State.

The prediction of physical ability is a key point to understand the physical training effect of college students. This paper uses the error Back Propagation neural network algorithms to investigate the college students' physical test results, and predicts the future trends of the results. The findings indicate that, in future ten years, the physical test grades of both men and women will slip to a certain extent. It implies that the indicators of speed, power, endurance level and physical strength of college students keep going down. This phenomenon should be paid attention to. It is necessary to strength the exercise consciousness, and stimulates the enthusiasm of students' exercise.

In April 2023, a group of 1 administrator, 5 faculty, and 20 students from the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) traveled to the Dominican Republic to participate in an interdisciplinary service-learning project lasting six days. Disciplines involved included pharmacy (2 faculty members and 9 students), physical therapy/kinesiology (1 faculty member and 5 students), social work (1 faculty member and 4 students), and political science (1 faculty member and 2 students). The home base for the group while in the Dominican Republic was Abba's House Children's Center, a nonprofit Christian organization tasked with feeding, educating, and providing limited medical care to approximately 125 children living in the barrio of Cienfuegos. During the service-learning experience, ULM students engaged in various service and learning activities tied to their programs of study. Students and faculty completed the "Community Service Attitude Scale" (CSAS) before and after the service-learning experience (Schwartz & Howard, 1977). A total of 14 students (70%) submitted both a pre- and post-trip CSAS survey. There was a significant improvement in scores for 21 out of 25 items on the CSAS. This international interdisciplinary service-learning program positively impacted students' attitudes toward community service including awareness of global needs.

Various studies have shown that critical thinking development is vital in language learning as it facilitates language acquisition, helps communication skills improvement, and boosts language proficiency. This study aims to investigate the potential impact of the APD technique on students' critical thinking skills development. Conducted in SMA Negeri 71 in Jakarta over a period of over 3 months data was collected through a pre-test and a post-test employing a critical thinking test called Watson-Glaser Test. The results indicated that APD has a significant effect on students' critical thinking abilities. The mean scores of the pretest and post in the experimental group were 45.2 and 62.3 respectively while the mean pre-test and post-test scores in the control group were 40.56 and 52.1 respectively. The experimental group's critical thinking improved from a good level to an excellent level, while the control group's critical thinking improved from a good level to a very good level. Based on the findings, it was concluded that APD is beneficial in enhancing students' critical thinking skills.

The Question-Answer-Relationship (QAR) strategy has been suggested to improve EFL students' reading comprehension. Nonetheless, disappointing outcomes when using the QAR instruction were noted. The current study seeks to: (1) add the Review (R) component to the instruction; and (2) assess the effectiveness of the developed Question-Answer-Response-Review (QARR) instruction to improve reading comprehension among Thai EFL university students. Instructional concepts such as common question types (Yathip & Chanyoo, 2022), the Question-Answer-Relationship strategy (Raphael & Au, 2005), the experiential learning approach (Kolb, 2014), and the reading instruction principle (Raphael, Highfield, & Au, 2006) were synthesized to create the instruction. The developed curriculum was implemented with 58 Thai EFL students. Data were examined using frequency, mean, standard deviation, and F-test. As for the findings, the experts' high degree of agreement (M = 0.96) demonstrated the efficiency of the developed instruction. One-way repeated measures revealed that the posttest (M = 21.74, SD = 4.12, d = 0.89) and delayed posttest (M = 22.19, SD = 4.23, d = 0.95) were substantially higher than the pretest mean scores (M = 16.86, SD = 5.59, p <0.001) with a large effect size ([eta squared] = 0.209). Participants' satisfaction surveys strongly agreed with the created instruction (M = 4.36, SD = 0.63), consistent with interview data.

The study was aimed to examine the use of Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) through Cake application in improving speaking skill of grade 6 Bhutanese ESL students and to find out students' learning satisfaction about the use of MALL through Cake. A quasi-experimental research design was incorporated by selecting one section of 30 participants from two sections through a simple random sampling. The quantitative data gathered using pretest, posttest and questionnaire were analyzed and interpreted applying inferential statistics t-test with p < 0.05 level of significance, mean, and standard deviation. Likewise, qualitative data through focus group interview were condensed, coded and analyzed by a theme-based approach. The results based on the pretest and posttest showed that the students' posttest mean score of 13.50 was higher than the pretest mean score of 7.77 with a mean score difference of 5.73. Further, the significant p value was 0.01 which indicated that MALL through Cake was effective in teaching English Speaking. Besides, the findings of questionnaire and focus group interview showed that the students developed much better in speaking skill which was interpreted as a high level of satisfaction; therefore, the use of MALL through Cake application was an effective tool to teach English speaking skill.