Educational Technology

This study endeavored to investigate the relationship between parenting styles and mental health of Iranian elementary students using descriptive research method. To measure the variables used in the study, two questionnaires of parenting style of Bamrynd (1991) and general health (GHQ- 2) were used and the findings revealed that the relationship between authoritative parenting style and mental health was positive. In similar, the relationship between permissive parenting style and mental health of elementary students of Shemiranat was positive. However, there was a negative relationship between authoritarian parenting style and mental health of students. Also, the results of regression test showed that among the three dimensions of parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian and permissive), merely the authoritative parenting style had the ability to predict the mental health of students.

The Kenya Vision 2030 is the economic blueprint towards the achievement of development and the transformation of Kenya into a “newly industrializing, middle income country providing high quality life for all its citizens by the year 2030” (Vision 2030, pg. vii.) To achieve this long term development goals, there is need for the country to invest in training of qualified manpower to drive the wheels of development. Educational institutions and particularly Universities in Kenya have continued to play a significant role in the training of manpower to meet the demands of industry. Universities play an innovative role in tackling the problems of underdevelopment (Mosha, 1986). This paper deliberates the role of Kenyan Universities in the country’s economic development and their contribution towards the achievement of Vision 2030. The discussion will revolve around three themes which form the pillars of Vision 2030 - the Economic Pillar, Social Pillar and Political Pillar, and the role of the University in fortifying these pillars. It is imperative for Kenya to invest in the training of manpower to work on infrastructure because this is critical for accelerated rates of economic development (Bloom et al (2006). The cohesiveness of the Kenyan society is an essential factor in national development too. Higher education fosters national unity by changing people’s attitudes and developing positive mind sets towards each other and various ethnic diversities. This is focal in developing a cohesive society that is free from ethnic prejudices and other social ills buffeting Kenya today. The political pillar of vision 2030 is ‘a democratic political system that is issue-based, people –centered, result-oriented and accountable to the public.’ (Vision 2030, pg. 16). Universities contribute substantially in buttressing this pillar by providing the intellectual citadel where political discourse occurs and ideologies pertinent to policy formulation are generated. It is necessary that dysfunctional systems of the past are replaced with new value systems that will repair the emaciated social fabric. Universities can assist in this by developing individuals committed to democratic values and human rights (Botman, 2011).

The purpose of this study was to discuss the good environment that enhance student engagement for co-curriculum activities in schools. This article was based on the author’s reflection and interpretations on extended literature reviews. The author had a particular interest to discuss and relate the studies conducted with respect to a good school environment in enhancing student engagement for co-curriculum activities and the effectiveness of the co-curriculum environment.

This paper will explain briefly about a selected model of instructional and interaction design. The intensive review from a several literature has done and every fact against each selected model has analyzed to identify their advantages and disadvantages. Based on their advantages listed, in intend to overcome their weakness and enhance the instructional model in order to make the instructional and interaction model more relevant in this age, this paper will proposed a new interaction design model for chronological infographic development. Apps Mobile is a latest technology as a platform to disseminate information and educate people by use infographic approach. To convey the information, which is relate with time line and historical information in 21st century, digital chronological infographic is a appropriates matter to apply.

In-service teacher professional development includes a wide variety of programs designed to promote and support the professional learning of teachers who are already employed and working in classrooms. The goal of in-service professional development is to improve the knowledge, skills, and commitments of teachers so that they are more effective in planning lessons, teaching, assessing students’ learning, and undertaking other responsibilities in the school community. Achieving this goal is critical because the teacher’s role is one of the most important factors contributing to high-quality education and successful student learning.

This study examines the level of computer self-efficacy among English language pre-service teachers at Umm Alqara University in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through self-reported ratings on a 5-point Likert-type scale. “Computer Self Efficacy Scale and demographic information form were used as data collection tools. In the analysis of the data, descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, and percentages), and independent t-test were used. The results of this study revealed that pre-service English teachers had a high level of computer self-efficacy with Mean score (M=3.70) and std. Deviation (SD=0.35). Also, the findings indicated that pre-service English teacher males’ scores are significantly higher than that of the females. In order to increase the level of self-efficacy, training programs should be provided to English language pre-service teachers during their professional development.

This paper discusses the benefit of extra-curricular activities in social skills among students in Malaysia. Student’s participation in extra- curricular activities can increase the social skills in terms of self-confidence, building relationship with the others, collaboration, etc. On the other hand, it can develop positive relationship outside the classroom environment and act as a catalyst for social skills. What's more, through additional curricular exercises, the creation of phenomenal human capital from the physical, passionate, otherworldly and scholarly perspective can be produced.

The major purpose and target of every education activity is to enhance students’ learning. The present paper is an analysis of literature available in the field of techniques that motivate students for learning. For this purpose the available related literature was reviewed. Motivation is considered a permanent tool for students’ success in learning. The sources of motivation can be influenced by external factors as well as internal. On these bases motivation may be extrinsic or intrinsic. However, the intrinsic motivation is more responsible for motivating students for learning. Educators may give heed to the arousing o intrinsic motivation and they may consider this motivation in designing their instruction by incorporating motivational techniques in their in instruction.

Physical exercise provide immense help in assisting an individual to seek his all round growth and development in all the personal dimensions including the union of his self with the greater soul. Physical exercise is based on philosophy that is practical and for our day to day living. Physical exercise produces desirable physiological changes and has sound scientific basis. Physical exercise is the only technique through which the body of any human being can be healthy without any trainer, equipment and medicine. Thus, my purpose of this paper makes an attempt to analyse the role and importance of physical exercise in modern times of 21st Century as well as its effect on human being in this contemporary times. Physical exercise influences cognitive emotional, learning and neurophysiological domains both directly and indirectly, thereby rendering it as essential that this non-invasive, nonpharmacological intervention ought to form a part of children’s and adolescents long-term health programs. Several manifestation of physical exercise providing health benefits for children and adolescents are evident in healthy and functional muscles and bones, increased strength and endurance, angiogenesis and neurogenesis, the reduces risk for chronic disease such as overweight and diabetes, improve self-esteem and psychological well-being and finally higher levels of subjective and psychological well-being as well as reduces stress, anxiety and depression.

Education relevance in any given country is anchored in its philosophy of education. The Kenyan philosophy of education advocates for provision of a holistic education and training that promotes all the domains of learning. However, in practice academically oriented learning is emphasized focusing on cognitive domain while passively imparting the psychomotor and affective domains. This article reports on data from a study that sought to explore the perceptions on the relevance Nyerere’s philosophy of education towards the academically oriented university education in Kenya for sustainable economic development. The research adopted a case study research design. Data was collected from one Dean of students, 5 Coordinators of campuses, 586 fourth education students and 22 lecturers from Kisii University selected using saturated, purposive and simple random sampling techniques. The data was collected using questionnaires and interviews. The items in the questionnaires were tested for content validity and reliability by means of a pilot study in one of the campuses that was not included in the sample. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results of the study revealed that university education was perceived as over-reliant on academic qualifications while neglecting practical learning and values. The study recommended that to offer holistic education require embracing ideals of Nyerere’s philosophy of education in line with the original intended objectives of 8-4-4 curriculum in Mackay report and the current needs of the country to produce liberated self- reliant individuals.