• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.407-417
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• 2021

This study aims to establish the relationship between the Green Marketing Orientation (GMO) variables and the performance of Green Small and Medium Enterprises (GSMEs) across the building and energy sectors in Malaysia, using customer satisfaction as a means of performance measurement. The GMO variables examined include Greening the Process (GTP), Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM), Green Strategic Policy Initiatives (GSPI), Proactive Energy Conservation (PEC) and Green Promotion (GP). The items used to measure these variables were extracted from literature and adapted to the context of the variables based on feedback from Focus Group Discussions and Expert Opinion sessions. This study employs a survey sample of 300 respondents but only 238 completed questionnaires were returned. The results reveal that GTP, GSCM and PEC have a positive impact on Customer Satisfaction but not GSPI and GP. The findings suggest that owners or managers of GSMEs should focus on maintaining and improving GTP, GSCM and PEC in order to create greater satisfaction among their customers. The significance of this study is that it enables the creation of a framework that enables GSMEs to design a pathway towards achieving a cleaner production of goods and services in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.93-94
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• 2017

This study have derived the big issue of overseas construction through big data analysis. For identification of big issues on overseas construction, domestic online articles, 30 daily newspapers like the JoongAng Ilbo, 7 construction related articles including construction economy and 1,759 local newspapers and small media companies were analyzed from October 1st, 2015 to September 30th, 2016. 13,884 cases in total were used for big data analyses and big issue candidates were identified. The analysis result is as shown below. First, looking into major issues on overseas construction for a year, construction orders in the Middle East decreased because of the drop in oil prices. Accordingly, there were discussions on concerns and crises we may face as profitabilities worsened in overseas construction. Second, analyzing main concern based on 8 key words on overseas construction among construction issues for the last one year, it was found as following: Region (29.4%), Business environment (21.4%), Group (15.8%), Profitability (14.5%), Policy and Institution (7.8%), Market environment (4.2%), Business (project) (4.15%), and Education (3.2%). Third, among 30 issues on 8 key words, 10 key issues that are likely to spread and continue were identified. Then, a semantic network map among key words and centrality were analyzed.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.203-216
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• 2015

This study analyzed changes of representations which had come up in the problem-solving process of math-gifted 6th grade students that ACODESA had been applied. The class was designed on a ACODESA procedure that enhancing the use of varied representations, and conducted for 40minutes, 4 times over the period. The recorded videos and interviews with the students were transcribed for analysing data. According to the result of the analysis, which adopted Despina's using type of representation, there appeared types of 'adding', 'elaborating', and 'reducing'. This study found that there is need for a class design that can make personal representations into that of public through small group discussions and confirmation in the problem-solving process.

• Educational Technology International
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.87-116
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• 2016

In this research, we designed a teacher professional development (PD) program where a small group of mathematics teachers could share, reflect on, and discuss their pedagogical knowledge and practices of ICT-integrated lessons, using a video annotation tool called DIVER. The main purposes of this paper are both micro and macro: to examine how the teachers were engaged in the meaning-making process in a video-based PD (micro); and to derive implications about how to design effective video-based teacher PD programs toward a teacher community of practices (macro). To examine teachers' meaning-making in the PD sessions, discourse data from a series of 10 meetings was segmented into idea units and coded to identify discourse patterns, focusing on (a) participation levels, (b) conversation topics, and (c) conversation depth. Regarding the affordance of DIVER, discourse patterns of two meetings, before and after individual annotation with DIVER were compared through qualitative vignette analysis. Overall, we found that the teacher discourse shifted the focus from surface features to deeper pedagogical issues as the PD sessions progressed. In particular, the annotation function in DIVER afforded the teachers to exercise descriptive analyses of video clips in a flexible manner, thereby helping them cognitively prepared to take interpretative and evaluative stances in face-to-face discussions with colleagues. In conclusion, deriving from our research experiences, we discuss the possibilities and challenges of designing video-based teacher PD in a school context.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.107-134
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of two teaching methods of word problems, one based on mathematical modeling learning(ML) and the other on traditional learning(TL). Additionally, the influence of mathematical modeling learning in word problem solving behavior, application ability of real world experiences in word problem solving and the beliefs of word problem solving will be examined. The results of this study were as follows: First, as to word problem solving behavior, there was a significant difference between the two groups. This mean that the ML was effective for word problem solving behavior. Second, all of the students in the ML group and the TL group had a strong tendency to exclude real world knowledge and sense-making when solving word problems during the pre-test. but A significant difference appeared between the two groups during post-test. classroom culture improvement efforts. Third, mathematical modeling learning(ML) was effective for improvement of traditional beliefs about word problems. Fourth, mathematical modeling learning(ML) exerted more influence on mathematically strong and average students and a positive effect to mathematically weak students. High and average-level students tended to benefit from mathematical modeling learning(ML) more than their low-level peers. This difference was caused by less involvement from low-level students in group assignments and whole-class discussions. While using the mathematical modeling learning method, elementary students were able to build various models about problem situations, justify, and elaborate models by discussions and comparisons from each other. This proves that elementary students could participate in mathematical modeling activities via word problems, it results form the use of more authentic tasks, small group activities and whole-class discussions, exclusion of teacher's direct intervention, and classroom culture improvement efforts. The conclusions drawn from the results obtained in this study are as follows: First, mathematical modeling learning(ML) can become an effective method, guiding word problem solving behavior from the direct translation approach(DTA) based on numbers and key words without understanding about problem situations to the meaningful based approach(MBA) building rich models for problem situations. Second, mathematical modeling learning(ML) will contribute attitudes considering real world situations in solving word problems. Mathematical modeling activities for word problems can help elementary students to understand relations between word problems and the real world. It will be also help them to develop the ability to look at the real world mathematically. Third, mathematical modeling learning(ML) will contribute to the development of positive beliefs for mathematics and word problem solving. Word problem teaching focused on just mathematical operations can't develop proper beliefs for mathematics and word problem solving. Mathematical modeling learning(ML) for word problems provide elementary students the opportunity to understand the real world mathematically, and it increases students' modeling abilities. Futhermore, it is a very useful method of reforming the current problems of word problem teaching and learning. Therefore, word problems in school mathematics should be replaced by more authentic ones and modeling activities should be introduced early in elementary school eduction, which would help change the perceptions about word problem teaching.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2022

Background: It is estimated that about 13 million artisanal and small-scale miners carry out their activities under harsh, precarious, unfriendly, and risky conditions. Yet, our understanding of the extent to which these workers use personal protective equipment (PPE) and navigate through the various risks and hazards they face is still limited. This article has two main objectives. First, it explores the extent of usage of PPE among artisanal and small-scale miners for the prevention of hazards and risks. Second, it examines the coping strategies used by these miners as a response to experiences of occupational injuries and risks Methods: A cross-sectional survey of small-scale miners was conducted in six communities across three districts in Ghana, West Africa. The mixed methods approach was adopted. A total of 148 small-scale miners participated in the study. Six focus group discussions (FGDs) were held across the six communities. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Chi-square tests were used to analyse the relationship between some socio-demographic characteristics (sex, age, and educational background) and the usage of PPE. Open-ended questions and responses from FGDs were analysed based on the content and verbatim quotations from miners. Results: Findings suggest that 78% of the miners interviewed do not use the appropriate PPE citing reasons such as cost, and their personal discomfort associated with use of PPE. There was no significant relationship between socio-demographic characteristics (i.e., sex, age, education and major mining activity) and the usage of PPE. The study further revealed four main coping strategies used by miners to handle the risks. These are rest, taking unprescribed medication and hard drugs, registration with health insurance scheme and savings and investments. Conclusion: This study shows that very few artisanal miners use PPE despite the significant hazards and risks to which they are exposed. The study recommends to the government to put in place measures to ensure that miners adhere to health and safety regulations before undertaking mining activities. This means that health and safety plans and use of PPE should be linked to the license acquisition process for miners.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.87-97
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• 2010

The goal of this study is to develop a skill system for the areas of textile and clothing among the skill systems that require basic examination in the development of skill standards. More specifically, the study aims to classify skills in the areas of textile and clothing and to develop respective skill level. We classified skills and created the skill level through a study of documents, interview with experts and in-depth discussions with expert group centering on terminologies commonly used in the industrial settings. As a result of skill classification, we were able to classify skills into three categories in medium-scale classification, 10 categories in small-scale classification, and again into total 22 categories. We classified the skill level in the areas of textile and clothing into 7 stages. Based on the skill system, we provided definition of skill and skill group, definition of each different skill, and performance standard by skill and level.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.128-140
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to redesign a problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum and compare the differences between the previous and redesigned PBL based on the results of course satisfaction and student assessments. The PBL was redesigned using curriculum design guidelines (including revisions of curriculum objectives, learning components, learning environments, and assessment methods) that were developed based on previous studies and evaluation results. A comparative study was employed using course satisfaction surveys from the previous and redesigned curricula, and a total of 45 students participated. We also compared student assessment results from concept mapping, learning issue reports, modified essay questions, and reflection journals. We identified four key findings. First, we explored the possibility that the redesigned PBL could be implemented by student facilitators without professors as tutors. Second, the redesigned PBL fostered group dynamics that facilitated developing communication skills and collaborative learning through small-group discussions. Third, the new learning elements added in the redesigned PBL made a meaningful contribution to enhancing students' clinical reasoning based on hypothetico-deductive reasoning. Fourth, concept maps in redesigned PBL contained more complex and various nodes and connections, and the levels of the nodes were more appropriate. The implications of this study can provide meaningful preliminary information for redesigning PBL curricula for medical students to develop their essential competencies through PBL.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.203-217
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• 2018

The research objective of this study is to analyze the aspects of small group decision-making process based on reading news reports in the context of the socio-scientific issues (SSI) activity related to climate change. Twenty-two high school students from Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, were asked to read two news reports on the UN climate change conferences and take a stance on joining the Paris Agreement both as an individual and as a small group. The news reports were analyzed in terms of genre, discourse, and style adapting the critical discourse analysis (CDA) and the decision-making processes of the small groups were examined on recognizing a problem and evaluating alternatives and decisions. The results from analyzing the news reports denoted that the Paris agreement is not only related to finding ideal solutions to climate change, but rather, connected to political or economic interests and power relationship. In the stage of recognizing a problem, meanwhile, different frames which students recognize the Paris agreement and discourses in the foreground of the news reports were the critical causes in terms of identifying the problem. In the stage of evaluating alternatives and decisions, the equity and fairness were the criteria for the small group discussions. This study implies the necessity of the scientific literacy instruction to develop the ability to critical reading in the context of the SSI.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.363-373
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• 2006

The purposes of this study were to analyze the within-group verbal interactions in Thinking Science activities and compare the characteristics of verbal interactions shown by the pupils as well as the differences in help by e teacher in Korea with those in the UK. For the purposes of this study, 16 pupils from comparable groups by cognitive level were selected from both countries. Verbal interactions and teacher help during group discussions were audio/ video taped and the types of students' interactions were classified into interactions related to problem solving, management of classroom loaming and others. The results of this study showed that the verbal interactions in Korean groups were more activated than those in the UK groups. However, the percentages of high level interactions such as metacognitive questions, elaborative suggestions and logical argumentations were higher in the UK groups than those in the Korean groups. Observation of the within-group activities revealed that the pupils of both countries shared some common ground in the following ways; neither recognized the need to formulate the hypothesis in the process of inquiry and that the procedures of discussion were dominated by the pupils of higher cognitive level as the discussion proceeded. It was also observed that the pupils in the UK were considerate in response to the questions posed by both their peers or the teacher, while the pupils in Korea were influenced by their prior knowledge in the subject. Analysis of the teacher help during the inquiry activities showed that the tendency fur the teacher to emphasize the process rather than the product in the procedures of discussion and the extent he/she allowed the pupils to think and consider were closely related to the characteristics of the teacher himself/herself and was found to be a point of commonality in both countries. However, the teachers in the UK revealed the tendency of trying to propose the task to the pupils in concrete and systematic ways and guide the discussion based on the thinking of the pupils, while those in Korea tried to use strategies designed to draw out active verbal interactions among the pupils.