Development and Validation of an Instrument for Assessing Perceived Competences in Didactic Activity

In the context of teacher competences’association with student performance,assessment of didactic competences is an important concern for educational professionals.The current study aims to develop and validate a tool for assessing perceived competences in didactic activity for a group of Romanian teachers.The study examined 160 teachers from 15 schools in Bucharest,Romania,aged 20-60 years old.In the process of development and validation of the instrument(Assessment of perceived competences in didactic activity),the recommended steps were followed.Exploratory factorial analysis indicated the existence of three factors:effective communication of the teacher,development of students’critical thinking,and use of auxiliary resources.Reliability analysis showed high reliability coefficients,indicating good psychometric qualities of the scale.The correlations between the three factors were high,so the scale has acceptable convergent validity.Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the three factor model has indicators of good fit,also indicating good psychometric properties.The main practical implication is that the proposed instrument can be successfully used in identifying development needs of teachers resulting from the evaluation process.Based on the results derived from self-assessment of teaching competencies,customized professional development programs can be created for each teacher,aiming at developing skills and,implicitly,improving performance at the workplace.

Consumer Perceptions of Noni Juice Health Benefits during a 90-Day In-Home Use Test

Noni juice, made from the fruit of Morinda citrifolia, is a health-promoting food from the Pacific Islands with an extensive history of traditional use. Human clinical trials have revealed that noni juice has antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Previously, regular noni juice consumers in Europe and traditional healers in Fiji were surveyed to identify potential noni juice health benefits. But to better understand the perception of its health benefits among those with no previous experience with noni juice, an in-home study was conducted in the United States. Three hundred and nineteen adults with untreated chronic health conditions were provided with a 90-day supply of a blinded (unlabeled) commercial noni juice product (Tahitian Noni® Juice), instructed to consume 4 fluid ounces (1/2 cup) each day, and responded to a questionnaire given on days 30, 60 and 90 to evaluate product appeal and perceived effectiveness. A total of 299 people (94%) felt that their health improved in some way after drinking TNJ for 90 days. More than 80% of the subjects reported feeling better or healthier in general. Most participants also concurred with more than two dozen additional positive health perception statements, especially on days 60 and 90. More than 70% of consumers also indicated that noni juice helped them feel better than other wellness supplements they had tried in the past, including other so-called “super fruit” products. These findings seem to corroborate the results of clinical trials and previous consumer surveys regarding the potential for noni juice to provide discernable health benefits when used consistently over time. Such findings may help guide additional placebo-controlled clinical trials in which specific effects may be evaluated more rigorously.

社会化媒体是否能促进网络购买?——基于技术接受模型的实证研究

近年来社会化媒体迅速发展,逐渐成为比传统媒体更有效的传播渠道。社会化媒体营销通过互联网和移动互联网传播得以实现。在网络情境中,个体、技术、质量和环境等因素均与线下购买情境截然不同。以技术接受模型为理论基础研究在网络情境中社会化媒体对网络消费者购买意愿的影响机制,以结构方程模型的研究方法探索信息丰富度、用户真实性、兼容贯通性和隐私保密性等因素对网络消费者购买意愿的影响,以及感知有用性、感知易用性和信任的中介作用。研究发现,在以上因素影响购买意愿的过程中,感知易用性是兼容贯通性、信息丰富度和用户真实性的中介因素,感知有用性是信息丰富度的中介因素,信任是信息丰富度和用户真实性的中介因素。同时发现,信任在感知易用性影响感知有用性中起中介作用,且信任直接影响网络消费者的购买意愿。

The Investigation of Jordanian Education Ministry Employees’ Attitude toward the Using of Cloud ERP

ERP systems have become an optimal solution for companies to perform their works with maximum advantages of Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP). Moreover, even though the cloud computing has many obstacles which need to be solved, but the enterprises always embrace the cloud. Many enterprises tend to adopt the cloud computing paradigm in order to get its leverage in successful and benefits. With the development of cloud computing technology, there is a growing orientation to move the ERP from inside boundaries of organizations into the cloud computing technologies. In addition, there were many studies that covered the cloud ERP without concentrating on acceptance the end user for this technology. Thus, this study comes to increase the understanding the attitude of the end user for cloud ERP technology. The main aim of this study is to investigate the employees’ attitude towards use of cloud ERP. The conceptual research framework of cloud ERP is prepared based on the technology acceptance model (TAM). The employees of Queen Rania Center (QRC) in Jordanian Education Ministry used the cloud ERP system which implemented according to this study. The questionnaires are distributed online to the sample. The results indicate that the QRC employees enjoyed using the cloud ERP system.

Evaluating Drinking Water Treatment Methods in the Njala University and Neighboring Mokonde Communities in Southern Sierra Leone

Rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are always faced with the challenge of securing safe water for beneficial uses. Most communities lack a centralized water supply system and, thus, each residence utilizes the treatment method that they can afford. This study evaluated three treatment methods for drinking water in the Njala University and Mokonde communities in southern Sierra Leone. In the perceived natural treatment, residents in the Mokonde community believe that groundwater has been purified by the soil media and, hence, does not require further treatment. In the conventional treatment, the Njala University Water Works use sand filtration and chlorine disinfection to treat water from the Taia River. The third treatment method, first flush diversion, was introduced by Njala University researchers in 2014. We studied the populations of coliform bacteria and E. coli in untreated and treated water samples to determine if each of the treatment methods supported the beneficial use of drinking. This study concludes that the natural filtration does not remove pathogens in the well water. Even though the first flush and conventional treatments were efficient in reducing microbial populations in the water, the World Health Organization’s 100% removal guideline was not achieved most of the time. Therefore, all three treatment methods did not support the beneficial use of drinking. Further treatment was needed to render the water potable.

Factors Influencing the Successful Adoption of Human Resource Information System: The Content of Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority

This study examines the key factors that have impact on the successful adoption of Human Resource Information System (HRIS) within the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA)/Jordan. In order to accomplish the purpose of the study four critical factors are inquired. So, four critical factors are inquired: First, TAM Model (Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) and Perceived Usefulness (PU)). Second, Information Technology Infrastructure (ITI). Third, Top Management Support (TMS). Finally, Individual Experience with Computer (IEC). The research model was applied to collect data from the questionnaires answered by 45 users of HRIS as a source of primary data, based on a convenience sample the response rate was about 91%. In addition, the results were analyzed by utilizing the Statistical Package for Social Software (SPSS). Furthermore, the findings were analyzed;multiple Regression analysis indicated that all research variables have significant relationship on successful adoption of HRIS. The findings indicated IT infrastructures have a positive and significant effect on the successful adoption of HRIS. But there is no significant of PU, PEOU, TMS, and IEC on the successful adoption of HRIS. Finally, the results indicated that no significant statistical differences of demographic characteristics on HRIS adoption. Depending on the research’s findings;the researchers proposed a set of recommendations for better adoption of HRIS in SEZA.

An empirical study on continuance intention of mobile reading

Purpose： This study aims to explore factors affecting continuance intention of mobile reading. Design/methodology/approach： Drawing on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology （UTAUT）, and integrating perceived enjoyment, we put forward a theoretical research model of factors affecting continuance intention of mobile reading. Using 186 valid data collected through a questionnaire survey, we conducted data analysis with the partial least squares structural equation modeling （PLS-SEM）. Findings： The results show that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and perceived enjoyment all have positive impacts on continuance intention. Among them, perceived enjoyment has the most significant effect on continuance intention, followed by performance expectancy. In addition, effort expectancy significantly influences perceived enjoyment. Contrary to our expectation, facilitating conditions have no impact on continuance intention. Practical implications： This study could help mobile data service providers to foster users＇ continuous usage of mobile reading. Research limitations： This study focused only on the effect of perceived enjoyment as an internal motivation on continuance intention of mobile reading, and other possible factors were not considered. Also, continuance intention may be different from the actual behavior. Furthermore, data of student users was collected from one university in China, and was cross-sectional, while working samples were not considered. Originality value： This study considers the effects of both external and internal motivation on continuance intention of mobile reading. The results highlight the role of perceived enjoyment in building users＇ continuance intention of mobile reading.