A Comprehensive Approach to Teaching Academic Writing: The Content and Corpus Integrated Inquiry-based Approach

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This article discusses the definitions and applications of content-based approaches, inquiry-based approaches, and corpus-based approaches respectively. Based on the analysis of these approaches’ strengths and weaknesses, a comprehensive approach, namely the content and corpus integrated inquiry-based approach, is proposed to complement their drawbacks, which has practical significance for teaching academic writing.

Effectiveness of Subsidized Fertilizer Distribution from Distributors through Farmers’ Kiosks to the Farmers’ Level (Case Study in West Lombok District)

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This research takes the title “Effectiveness of Subsidized Fertilizer Distribution From Distributors Through Farmers’ Kiosk to Farmer Level (Case Study in West Lombok Regency). The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of the subsidized fertilizer subsidy policy in its distribution from distributors to retail kiosks until it was accepted by farmers who were members of farmer groups. Determination of research areas purvosively in two sub-districts, namely Narmada sub-district and Gunungsari sub-district, West Lombok district. The population in this study are farmers who are members of farmer groups who use subsidized fertilizers in processing their farming business. Determining the sample as many as 120 respondents were determined randomly by random sampling from each selected farmer group in the work area of the subsidized fertilizer retailer kiosk. The research method used to analyze and measure the effectiveness of subsidized fertilizer is descriptive qualitative and quantitative methods. by using four main indicators, namely, right place, right time, right quantity and right price.

The results showed that from the four indicators that were observed, it could be said that the distribution of subsidized fertilizer from the distributor to the farmer level. 83.0%, the aspect of suitability with a ratio of 74.45%, the aspect of the suitability of the amount of fertilizer with an average achievement percentage of 55.28% and the ratio ratio with a ratio of 43, 04%. If viewed from the five aspects of fertilizer presentation, the application of subsidized fertilizer seen from these five aspects is 69.24%, based on the fertilizer subsidy policy criteria (Permendagri; 2011) then the delivery of subsidized fertilizer in the research area is in the effective category.

With changes in government policy on fertilizer prices which are increasing at any time, farmers are expected to be able to use fertilizers according to the recommendations recommended by the government. In addition, to anticipate the general shortage of fertilizers, the government is currently selling non-subsidized fertilizers to farmers at quite high prices.

Impact of Transfer of Agricultural Land Functions on Socio-Economic and Socio-Ecological Conditions in West Lombok Regency

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Land conversion is basically a natural thing to happen, but in reality it becomes a problem, because it occurs on agricultural land that is still productive and its availability is still limited. The negative impact of shifting the function of paddy fields is not only a decrease in agricultural production, but also has an impact on the socio-economic conditions of the community and the environment of the area concerned. In certain cases, the conversion of paddy fields is unavoidable. This study aims to, 1) Identify the types of land transfer in West Lombok Regency, 2). Analyzing the impact of land conversion on socio-economic conditions in West Lombok Regency and 3) Analyzing the impact of land conversion on socio-ecological conditions in West Lombok Regency.

The results showed that the conversion of agricultural land is a change in the designation of agricultural land into non-agricultural land use. The potential land that has been widely converted in Labuapi, Gunungsari and Gerung sub-districts during the last five years (2010-2020) is paddy field and dry land which has changed its land use into housing, restaurants, shops and so on. There are different types of land conversion between the sample sub-districts/villages. Labuapi sub-district experienced large-scale agricultural land conversion, while Gunungsari and Gerung sub-districts experienced small agricultural land conversion. In general, the conversion of agricultural land in the sample sub-districts/villages has a negative impact on socio-economic aspects such as changes in land tenure, employment opportunities, changes in work patterns.

Relationship of AIDA Model towards Data Analytics Capabilities, Marketing Strategies and Digital Marketing Performance on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

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AIDA Model (Action, Interest, Desire and Action) is one of the most used and popular steps being used and examine when focusing on consumer purchase decision-making processes. By looking on the relationship between AIDA Model’s steps and how much they influence marketing strategies, the research would like to finally examine if the relationship is mediated by the abilities of the SMEs digital marketing players and in the end to the digital marketing performance consist of financial and non-financial performance. The research concluded that SMEs in Sarawak still yet able to fully utilized most of the steps in AIDA Model for the benefits of their digital marketing strategies. However, their capabilities and realization towards the important of data analytics especially those that provided by digital marketing platforms and tools seems to have positively impacting their marketing strategies and therefore digital marketing performance.

Bengali Women in Anti-British Movement (1857-1947): A Historical Analysis

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Bengali women are commonly thought of as being defenseless. They must endure all the suffering while keeping their eyes closed since it is part of their religion. However, the setting is different in history. Bengali women have taken an active role in a number of movements and struggles. From the British era until the Pakistani period, Bengali women actively participated in a number of movements. Both men and women played important roles in the freedom struggle of that time in British history. This research looked at the engagement of Bengali women in historical movements during the British era (1857-1947). The illustrious history of Bengali women has been presented through primary data. The researchers have found that the female group was capable of playing a spectacular role in the national revolutionary struggle by actively taking part in important activities like planning the revolutionaries’ escape or hiding or transporting weapons to the proper location.

Assessment of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge of Senior High School Business Teachers in the Central Region, Ghana

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The study explored business teachers’ level of Technological, Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) in Senior High Schools in the Central Region of Ghana and examined the differences in teachers’ level of TPACK on the basis of some demographic variables using the mixed methods approach. The study used descriptive survey design. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 248 business teachers. Questionnaire was used to gather quantitative data. Mean and standard deviation were used to examine business teachers’ level of TPACK. Moreover, Independent samples t-test was used to examine whether differences exist in teachers’ TPACK and gender. One-way (ANOVA) was also used to examine whether differences exist in teachers’ TPACK based on age. The finding showed that teachers possessed higher Content, Pedagogical and Pedagogical Content Knowledge and moderate Technological Knowledge, Technological Content Knowledge, Technological Pedagogical Knowledge and TPACK. The study found that there was statistically significant difference in teachers’ TK, TCK and gender in favour of the male teachers. The study concluded that teachers’ high content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, pedagogical knowledge suggests that teachers seem to focus much on developing these knowledge to the neglect of other vital contemporary skills such the use of technology. This was evident in their moderate level of technological knowledge, technological pedagogical knowledge, technological content knowledge and technological pedagogical content knowledge.  The study recommended that the Ministry of Education through Ghana Education Service and Government should organise refresher courses for in-service teachers to learning the use of technology in teaching.

Social Capital, Organizational Innovation and Performance of Manufacturing MSMEs in Kenya

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Sustained growth and development of economies is mainly attributed to the manufacturing sector, and is often the differentiator between developed and developing countries. In Kenya, the sector has played a crucial role, with a contribution of 10% to gross domestic product for the duration 2008 to 2014. Statistics show that in 2017, 2018 and 2019, the contribution deteriorated to 8.4%, 7.7% and 7.54% respectively, which implies possible de-industrialization. The government’s goal of achieving a robust manufacturing sector through Big Four Agenda may not be fruitful if this trend continues. Informed by the trends, the study sought to establish the mediating role of organizational innovation on the connection between social capital and firm performance among the micro, small and medium manufacturing enterprises. The study is based on existing theories namely social capital theory, behavioral theory of the firm, and Schumpeter theory of innovation.  The sample size was 384 licensed manufacturing businesses operating within Nairobi City County, derived from a population of 61,931. The study applied descriptive and explanatory research designs.  Primary data was collected and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings indicated that relational and cognitive social capital positively and significantly predicted the performance of micro, small and medium manufacturing enterprises, whereas structural social capital was noted to have a significant effect. The mediating effect of organizational innovation was partial on the relationship between social capital and performance of micro, small and medium manufacturing enterprises.  This study recommends that the firms’ management taps into additional and diverse networks to drive innovation and subsequently create a competitive edge for their firms.

Worshipping Saint Tran – The Blessed Gods’ Belief in Vietnamese Culture

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Blessed gods and the belief in god are unique features in the culture of the Vietnamese community. It can be said that the famous blessed gods are being worshiped all over the territory of Vietnam, such as Hung Vuong (national ancestor), Hai Ba Trung (saint god), Tran Hung Dao (saint god), Lieu Hanh (natural god). In which, worshiping Saint Tran is a form of folk belief in Vietnam, formed through the process of sanctifying and deifying a real historical figure. He became a patron saint for the cause of fighting foreign invaders, protecting the country and helping people to eradicate evil spirits and cure diseases. Within the scope of the article, the author focuses on clarifying the purpose and content of religious activities to worship Saint Tran to show the Vietnamese people’s diversity and richness in their culture and beliefs.

Education in Chile: Towards the Virtualization of our Educational Future?

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This article proposes a study of the evolution of educational offers of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in a virtual or semi-virtual mode in Chile, based on its explosive increase, analyzed data, and breakdown of implications.

Higher education, after this analysis, evidently expresses a new context of reality in professional training; we are experiencing a new era, educational offer that perhaps responds to the demands of productive dynamism, customs, and experiences of the tremendous technological immersion by our young people, in response to programs that seek to approach this need but with a low level of development and organization quality.

Rule-Based Automation in Moodle for Self-Instructional Learning

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The design and development of a self-instructional course within a Moodle learning management system (LMS) requires consideration of various elements and operational definitions to achieve effective implementation. This study aims to specify, in a practical way, procedures and automation guidelines in Moodle based on the experience of instructional design; and the structuring of online activities through the programming of automated flows by configuring conditional rules and the integration of a virtual assistant to attend general queries with a Chatbot tool named Dialogflow from Google.

The instructional organization has been validated with a design-based research methodology through an iterative development model involving analyzing practical problems, evaluating, testing solutions, documenting, and reflecting on the implemented design principles. This experience proposes in its development three successive versions with continuous improvements of a self-instructional course, with the participation of 300 teachers, who tested the training itinerary, advancing through the sequence of resources and activities according to the programmed conditions.

A method of successive validation with continuous improvements allows identifying elements susceptible to be changed and restructured and analysis tools according to metrics provided by Moodle, verifying the users’ participation and tracking progress based on learning automation processes.