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Qatar Foundation Annual Research Conference Proceedings Volume 2018 Issue 4
- Conference date: 19-20 Mar 2018
- Location: Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC), Doha, Qatar
- Volume number: 2018
- Published: 15 March 2018
21 - 40 of 63 results
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Assessing and Improving Migrant Workers Access to and Utilization of Health Information and Resources
By Susan DunIntroduction The State of Qatar has embarked on an ambitious development plan in the past 20 years, propelling a sparsely populated country with strong Bedouin roots into a cosmopolitan country teeming with cultural activity and economic development. Transforming the nation in such a rapid timeframe required the importation of a sizeable migrant labor workforce to build infrastructure given the nation's small population. Consequently, this labor force, which mainly comes from South Asia and Africa, has been a critical component in the development of Qatar's infrastructure. The pace of change has been dramatic, and a lack of local oversight of the migrant workers' conditions has resulted. Although international human rights organizations have focused on issues of freedom of movement and workplace safety (Amnesty International, 2016, Pattisson, 2013), less attention has been paid to the workers' utilization of basic health resources, including their knowledge or use of preventive health measures. Qatar's labor practices require health services to be available for workers. However, it is unclear whether or if laborers are able to access them. Additionally, the migrant worker population in Qatar likely has low health-literacy levels, which means they may not know about or be able to access needed health resources. Objectives This study aims to understand migrant workers' health beliefs and attitudes including, whether and how they seek medical care when they are ill, by focusing on migrant workers who work for one of the companies in Qatar with whom the researchers are partnering. The study aims to discover whether migrant workers are utilizing the free health care services provided with the Hamad Medical Card or resources provided through their company. Preliminary results, explained below, indicate they are not using health resources as often as they need them, resulting in lower health levels. Based on the results of this formative research, the researchers plan to develop and execute a message campaign designed to increase migrant workers' awareness and utilization of health resources, including what is available to them via insurance plans like the Hamad Medical Card. Methodology Phase 1 Structured Interviews In the first phase, currently ongoing, the researchers are conducting structured in-depth interviews (n = 70). Interviews are necessary because of the likelihood of the low literacy levels in at least some of the workers, which would inhibit success with a written survey. When possible, the research team is conducting the interviews in the workers' native language. The interviews will help ascertain the workers' assessment of a wide variety of health beliefs and practices. The results will also allow the research team to develop a deeper understanding of how workers perceive what health care resources are available to them and how they can utilize those resources. Questions include “Do you have health insurance and if so, are you able to use it?” Additionally, the research team is evaluating workers' media use and literacy levels to determine the best mechanism for distributing a message campaign. This phase should conclude by the end of October. Phase 2 Message Campaign In the second phase, the researchers will analyze interview data to understand the current health practices and beliefs to guide the creation of messages designed to improve the workers' utilization of available heath resources. Preliminary results indicate that the workers do not often use what is available to them because of misconceptions about the available resources and how to access the them. Preliminary results also indicate low literacy levels and a wide variety of languages spoken among the migrant worker population, indicating the need for image-based posters/brochures and videos, where the message is conveyed with minimal talking. Phase 3 Campaign Evaluation In the last phase, the research team will assess the workers exposure to and evaluation of the campaign to determine if they have used the health resources described in the messages. Did they learn about resources? Were they able to access them because of information provided in the messages? The researchers will use this information to finalize the messages to improve their understandability and persuasiveness. Then, the researchers will redistribute the campaign and make the messages available to our partner company to use as new migrant laborers arrive in Qatar. The messaging campaign materials will also be made available to other companies in Qatar at no cost. Relevant Pillar: Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities: Education, Labor and Migration This study is directly relevant to the core pillar Social, Sciences, Arts and Humanities as its focus includes Labor and Migration. It will provide an understanding of whether and how migrant workers utilize health resources. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods will help the researchers] evaluate the migrant workers' current situation and awareness of available heath resources. This study aims to improve health conditions for migrant workers by increasing their awareness level regarding the existing health resources that they can access. This work is supported by a QNRF UREP grant. We are not supplying the grant number here for anonymity reasons. References Amnesty International. “Annual Report Qatar 2015/2016”. Accessed October 2, 2016. Retrieved from https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/middle-east-and-north-africa/qatar/report-qatar/ Pattisson, P. (2013, September 25). Revealed: Qatar's World Cup ‘slaves’. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/25/revealed-qatars-world-cup-slaves
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Eportfolio – A convenient portal for participation in Continuing Professional Development activities in the State of Qatar
Authors: Dr. Essam Elsayed Elsayed, Muneera Ali Abdullah and Dr. Samar AboulsoudBackground: Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioner (QCHP) is the sole authority regulating healthcare practitioners’ practice in the state of Qatar. The Accreditation Department (AD), as one of three pillar departments of QCHP, was delegated the responsibility to regulate medical and healthcare-related education (including Continuing Medical Education (CME)/Continuing Professional Development (CPD)) of all healthcare practitioners (HCPs) working in the country. In March 7 2016, QCHP-AD launched Qatar National CME / CPD system and framework. According to The National CME / CPD system, all licensed healthcare practitioners (Physicians, Nurses, Pharmacists, Dentists, Allied Health Professionals and Complementary Medicine Practitioners) working in the state of Qatar were mandated to participate in CPD activities and fulfill CPD credit requirements to be able to renew their license of practice. In parallel, QCHP developed and launched an online portal “E-portfolio” to facilitate engagement of its main stakeholders (healthcare practitioners, CPD providers and QCHP surveyors) with the National system. The E-portfolio serves as a platform for healthcare practitioners to plan for, record and submit to QCHP the CPD activities they completed. E-Portfolio had similar platforms for CPD providers to apply for QCHP accreditation of their organizations &/or the activities they provide and for QCHP surveyors to receive and submit their CPD providers surveyor reports. In addition, E-portfolio serves as a communication tool for upcoming accredited activities as well as standards, policies, procedures and guidelines relevant to target stakeholder. Methodology: A questionnaire was developed by QCHP to examine healthcare practitioners, CPD providers and QCHP surveyors’ experience and satisfaction with QCHP E-portfolio. The survey focused on aspects related to ease of access, user friendliness, QCHP's interaction and user support. The questionnaire was electronically distributed and collected from the target Participants. In addition, E-portfolio usage statistics were collected. This included data for healthcare practitioners’ usage (e.g. number of created accounts, number of completed CPD activities recorded in E-portfolio and % compliance to CPD requirements), CPD providers’ usage (e.g. number of CPD providers’ and CPD activities’ accreditation requests processed) and surveyors’ usage (e.g. number of created accounts and number of CPD providers’ accreditation requests processed). Data were analyzed using statistical analysis software, presented and discussed in this research work. Results: Survey analysis results showed high rates of satisfaction with QCHP's e-portfolio usage expressed by healthcare practitioners, CPD providers and QCHP surveyors. This was further evidenced by positive usage rates from target stakeholders. Discussion: Using online portals, such as QCHP's E-portfolio, is associated with high levels of user satisfaction compared to conventional methods. This is attributed to the ease of access they provide; however, user-friendly designs and high quality customer support are necessary to ensure customer satisfaction and compliance. Reliability and record security might represent challenges to success of online portals experience unless supported by adequate verification, audit and data protection processes. Conclusions: E-portfolio proved to be a convenient portal for Qatar's healthcare practitioners, CPD providers and accreditation surveyors’ participation in the National CME/CPD system.
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Towards National Needs Assessment – Perceived CPD Needs of Qatar Healthcare Practitioners
Authors: Dr. Samar Aboulsoud and Dr. Essam Elsayed ElsayedBackground: Adequate educational planning (including proper needs assessment) is considered an essential prerequisite to assure quality of Continuing Medical Education (CME) / Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities. It is, therefore, one of the core standards of accreditation systems, including Qatar's National accreditation system. In March 7 2016, Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioner – Accreditation Department (QCHP-AD) launched Qatar's National CME / CPD Accreditation system and framework. Since that date, all licensed healthcare practitioners (Physicians, Nurses, Pharmacists, Dentists, Allied Health Professionals and Complementary Medicine Practitioners) working in the state of Qatar are mandated to participate in CPD activities and fulfill CPD credit requirements to be able to renew their license of practice. Fifty percent of such CPD requirements are mandated to be collected from participation in accredited group learning activities. A comprehensive National Needs assessment, therefore, would be of great importance to provide quality CME / CPD to healthcare practitioners in Qatar, improve their competence and performance and achieve Qatar's Health strategy and National Vision 2030. And though a comprehensive National CPD needs assessment is not yet conducted, several efforts towards assessing the CPD needs of different healthcare professions in Qatar were initiated. One of them, targeting dentist and dental allied health practitioners, will be presented in this research work. Methodology: A questionnaire for assessing the perceived CPD needs of dentists and dental allied health professionals was developed and electronically distributed among target healthcare practitioners. The responses were collected, analyzed by statistical package software and presented in this research. Results: The results of distributed questionnaire showed national CPD needs perceived by dental and allied health professionals in terms of common gaps in practice and convenient CPD formats. Discussion: Dental health professionals in Qatar have some common gaps in knowledge, competence and skills that can be addressed to ensure proper professional development and of such healthcare practitioners and hence improve quality of care and patient outcomes. Interprofessional and education can play important role to satisfy the CPD needs of dental health professionals and promote the concepts of team-based education and hence high quality team-based healthcare. Online and blended CPD formats are convenient formats for provision of CPD activities for dental health professionals in Qatar across all categories recognized by Qatar National CPD Framework. The conducted needs assessment shall be fostered by unperceived needs assessment tools to ensure proper identification of the actual CPD needs of Dental health professionals in Qatar. The conducted needs assessment can present a step towards national CPD needs assessment and can be mocked (considering discussed enhancements) to plan for national CPD needs assessment of other healthcare practitioners in the state of Qatar. Conclusions: Qatar's dentists and dental allied health professionals perceive some common gaps in practice that should be considered in planning for CPD activities targeting such professionals. The conducted needs assessment represents a step that should be built-upon to have a national CPD needs assessment for all healthcare professions in the state of Qatar.
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Do Presidents Have Sentiments
More LessAlthough data analysis has been fully incorporated in the literary studies field for over a decade, an in-depth investigation of the textual or verbal production of public administration with equal quantitative rigor has not occurred. This work relies on data analysis tools to explore all the Italian Presidents» New Year speeches from 1949 to 2015. The 67 speeches are analyzed through quantitative methods such as descriptive statistics, natural language processing, sentiment analysis and opinion mining. The aim is to use data science methodologies to enrich and enhance political studies.* Descriptive statistics were used to quantify the way(s) each President speaks to the Nation. Amongst others, it allowed differentiating elocutionary styles: crisper (202 words/speech) or verbose (3,513 words/speech), direct (17 words/sentence) or convoluted (49 words/sentence), slow (95 words/minute) or fast (142 words/minute), as well as variations to means. When applied to the time series, the descriptive analysis shows the mutations of the elocutionary styles over time and the fact that they are not always in line with the zeitgeist.* Natural language processing methods highlighted the frequency and associations of single or groups of words. This was useful to extract the features of the New Year speeches overall but also the main interests of each President (with the oldest President in the history of the Italian Republic being the most worried about the future of the young generation). Quantified examples are given for 7 themes: unemployment, work/job, youth, culture, terrorism, reform, and homeland. Absolute and relative frequencies of these themes were computed and compared to the average frequency of the same themes in the language overall for the same period. Supported by meaningful independence t-tests and confidence intervals, this approach showed the comparative evolution of the recurrence of the 7 topics. But it also showed it can be generalized to any theme.* After having built a “sentiment dictionary”, quantitative sentiment analysis and opinion mining have been applied to quantify the expression of ideas, opinions, and statements as positive or negative based on the wording. Relevant differences between Presidents emerge with, at the 2 extremes, President Pertini (18% positive sentiments against 9% negative) and President Gronchi (27% positive sentiments against 4.5% negative). Also, historical trends become more visible: towards more pessimism in the 1980s followed by a slightly stronger optimism in the 1990s and again more negative sentiments from 2000 onward. Sentiment analysis also made obvious that some Presidents built up their narratives following recurrent “sentiment/opinion patterns”. The most evident case is President Napolitano that alternates good and bad news in such a specific manner that it becomes a pattern signature structuring most of his speeches. In conclusion, this work provides unique insights into the institution's textual production and its variation over time. The novel scientific approach adopted in this quantitative analysis has produced unique insights that add an extra dimension to the field of political studies.
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Holistic Framework for StudentAthletes' Education
More LessHolistic Framework for Student-Athletes' Education Case Study: Aspire Academy Khaled A. Hussein, PhD Aspire Academy, Qatar Jassim Al Jaber, MSc Aspire Academy, Qatar Sonia Masip, MSc Aspire Academy, Qatar Abstract Many academic institutions are concerned with the academic performance of their registered students or prospective joiners. Accordingly, organizations like SAT and ACT define college readiness standards and identify key skills required to continue postsecondary education (ACT,2004). For example, ACT frequently publishes cut-scores and benchmarks for grades 8-12 students, which define the minimum requirements for college readiness. Such efforts and standardization gained national recognition and consideration by policy makers, universities around the world, education reformers and other education stakeholders. In its Research Report Series, ACT summarized the findings of the last 50 years research on education and workplace readiness into four domains of education and career readiness. These four domains are: Core academic skills, Cross-cutting capabilities, Behavioral skills, and Education and career navigation skills (ACT, 2015). In this context, K-12 schools started focusing on quality education and national or international recognition or accreditation of their systems in order to guarantee meeting the required learning standards for their graduates, and accordingly develop better learning outcomes. It is important for SAs to get ready for future education and career development because they usually continue their education to the next level or switch to professional athletics. So, in this research, an integrated and holistic picture of education readiness is studied. This picture crystalizes the required knowledge and skills for Student-Athletes (SAs) to continue their future studies and career development. These knowledge and skills are derived based on the ACT framework (Mattern et al, 2014) for education and career readiness. Although there are many models and frameworks for education readiness and success such as Campbell's (1990) eight-factor model and Oswald et al (2004) twelve-factor model of academic performance, ACT's framework makes high sense for studying education and career success for SAs because of its expansion of readiness to include readiness to proceed to the next level education and readiness to enter into the workforce. In this research, a holistic framework is developed based on the findings from the readiness framework defined by ACT. It includes a group of constructs that ensure readiness for further education or career development. These constructs are classified into two groups: the first for education readiness and the second for career readiness with a focus on sports-related career paths. Both groups are developed in order to satisfy the SAs' learning needs, develop their cognitive abilities, respond to their learning styles, develop a responsive educational system that fits their blended learning modalities, enhance their characters, foster the required cross-cutting capabilities and behavioral skills, assess their performance through a successful and meaningful evaluation system, and align the taught standards with recognized national and international curriculum. Objectives: To determine the core academic skills required for SAs.To determine the cross-cutting capabilities for SAs.To determine the behavioral skills that are required for SAs.To determine the education and career navigation skills required for SAs. About the case study institution Aspire Academy is located in Doha, Qatar. Since established in 2004, Aspire Academy»s main objective is to strengthen the “sporting while educating” culture in Qatar, as well as internationally, as exemplified in their «Aspire Football Dreams» project. Aspire Academy provides education to student-athletes (SAs) who combine education and sport in their daily timetable. Aspire Academy offers education for grade 7 to grade 12 SAs who are nominated based on their talent and sporting skills. SAs attend the academy between 6 am to 7 pm every weekday for academic and sports education. Some SAs attend grades 7 to 9 in the academy then move to some sports clubs around Europe to train the whole year as professional athletes, which makes it more challenging to facilitate learning for them. The total number of currently enrolled full-time student-athletes is 289. A total of 49 athletes have joined European sports clubs including Real Madrid, Cultural and Villa-Real in Spain, and Eupen in Belgium. The number of Olympic sports that Aspire Academy provides, in a developmental support to Qatar sports federations, is eight including Football, Fencing, Golf, Athletics, Shooting, Swimming, Tennis and Squash. SAs face the challenge of not being fully engaged in their learning due to time limitations and effort expectancy. Oblinger and Oblinger (2006) point to a different kind of student: A non-traditional student who simultaneously works and studies. This kind of student is increasingly part of Aspire's educational landscape.
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Muslim refugees at crossroads: Adopting Islamic cognitive behaviour therapy
More LessDue to current devastating and destruction in some Muslim dominated countries in the middle-East and North Africa, millions of refugees have been crossing the southern pole towards the north particularly to Western-European countries. This forced migration has resulted to a possible difficult trend in the realm of therapist/client relationship where asides language and communication challenges, Muslim refugees and therapists may be experiencing some cross-cultural issues which may lead to difficulties helping the former with their serious anxiety, mood and existential-related problems. This paper introduces the Islamic Cognitive Behaviour therapy (I-CBT), and its applications in treating depression and trauma-related problems. It further widens the framework of multiculturalism in psychotherapy through reflecting the core cognitive and existential structures from the Islamic faith related to belief, motivation and existential meaning. Moreover, the paper also discussed the varying challenges faced by Muslims within the Islamaphobia environment and how the Islamic tradition addresses them, including issues of acculturation and means of attaining positive adaptation and adjustment. Issues related to possible future research interests were also discussed
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The Meaning of Tolerance in Qatar
More LessWith the rise of the Islamic State in the Middle East and right-wing populism in the West, the meaning and value of tolerance have become a focal point for academics, politicians, and pundits. Tolerance spans both social and political realms, covering treatment of different groups, such as women and minorities (identity-based tolerance), as well as treatment of different viewpoints (ideological tolerance). Voices from across the Western political spectrum criticize limitations on self-expression and movement for minority groups in the Middle East. As well, many suggest that low tolerance for sociopolitical differences is one of the key contributing factors to the failures of the Arab Spring. Yet one of the most oft-cited verses in the Quran is about toleration: “We have made you nations and tribes that you may know one another.” (49:13) The vast majority of tolerance research in political science takes place in the context of the US and other Western democracies (Marquart-Pyatt and Paxton 2007). This research defines tolerance as the willingness to grant rights characteristic of Western-style liberal democracies—such as freedoms of speech and association—to disliked groups. As a result, far less is known about tolerance in the context of autocracies and hybrid regimes, even though political theorists have shown that tolerance has evolved historically across sociopolitical contexts, albeit in differing forms (Murphy 1997). Outside of secular Western democratic conditions, what does tolerance mean and what does it require? Why tolerate—what are the benefits? What motivates tolerance? What does tolerance imply in terms of behavior? And what insights can academic work in the Middle East, and in Qatar specifically, provide to the world about how best to promote tolerance? To answer these questions, this paper analyzes data from an original, nationally-representative survey of 1000 Qatari citizens, conducted in March–April 2017. First, this analysis probes the behaviors associated with tolerance through a question bank of ten possible actions, which range from avoidance of and politeness toward those who are different to allowing them to speak on television, teach one's children, and occupy positions of power in society. These questions allow the investigation both to move beyond the “rights”-dominant view peculiar to tolerance in the West, and to test hypotheses from political theory (Forst 2013) about minimal (such as “mere” non-interference) and maximal variations on tolerance (such as respect and recognition). The latter are increasingly seen by theorists as better suited to the needs of today's more multicultural societies. Second, this study also uses a framing experiment to test the robustness of tolerance, drawing on the “slippage” hypothesis, which emphasizes the possible gap between abstract commitments to civil liberties and applications to concrete cases (Prothro and Grigg 1960). Half of the respondents begin with a question that asks them to identify groups they would not like to have as neighbors. Then, the tolerance question bank is presented, prefaced by asking respondents to focus on the concrete least-favored group(s) (thus meeting the “objection” criterion). To ascertain commitments to tolerance in the abstract, the other half receives the tolerance question bank first, so that respondents are not primed to think specifically about their least-favored groups. By combining the bank of questions on tolerant behaviors with a framing experiment, this research builds knowledge of the concept and robustness of tolerance in Qatar, and offers important lessons for state-led social engineering efforts to increase tolerance in non-Western contexts. Funding Acknowledgments: Qatar National Research Fund, National Priorities Research Program (NPRP), 8-389-5-051. Northwestern University in Qatar, Internal Research Grant, 172-7100013-10031823-17-1411. References: Marquart-Pyatt, Sandra, and Pamela Paxton. 2007a. “In Principle and in Practice: Learning Political Tolerance in Eastern and Western Europe.” Political Behavior 29(1): 89–113. Murphy, Andrew R. 1997. “Tolerance, Toleration, and the Liberal Tradition.” Polity: 593–623. Forst, Rainer. 2013. Toleration in Conflict: Past and Present. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Prothro, James W., and Charles M. Grigg. 1960. “Fundamental Principles of Democracy: Bases of Agreement and Disagreement.” Journal of Politics 22:276–94.
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Kap Survey on the Use Knowledge and Attitude of Parents Towards Car Seat Safety in Doha Qatar
Introduction: Motor vehicle crashes have been identified as one of the leading causes of death, injury and disability among young children, less than 5 years, in Qatar. Child passenger restraint systems [CRS] are one of the most effective means to reduce these in child passengers. Previous studies on the effectiveness of a child restraint have shown that if child occupants are properly restrained, the fatality risk is reduced by 28% and serious injury by 82% (1). The objective of this survey is to examine knowledge, attitudes and usage of CRS in a sample of parents with young children in Doha, Qatar. It was conducted as part of a larger ‘Young Kids in Safe Seats (Y-KISS)’ grant [NPRP 7-1681-3-429] funded by the Qatar Foundation designed to measure current CRS knowledge, attitudes and practices and test two potential interventions to improve their use in Qatar. It has been predicted that by the year 2020, RTIs will be the third major cause of disability and hence is an alarming public health problem currently prevailing (2). Methods: A custom designed survey, containing 25 questions that tested CRS knowledge, attitudes and practice of participants, was applied by trained health communicators in 3 Well Baby Clinics of the Primary Health Care Corporation [PHCC]. All participants at least had one child between the ages of 0-5.The survey was conducted in self-administered electronic tabs and was made available in four languages as per the convenience of the participant. Results: The survey collected information from 602 parents, of children under 5 years consulting at well-baby clinics, on: method of child transport, use of CRS, knowledge of CRS, and demographic characteristics. The sample size included 30% Qatari population and 70% expatriates. Almost 50% parents who participated had a Bachelor's degree. The results showed that only 43% used a CRS for their children and only 53% had a car seat.. The most common reasons for not using a safety seat included children crying when in CRS (56%) and a preference to hold the child (18.1%).Only 23% parents had correct knowledge of the appropriate age and weight limits of transitioning car seats as the child grows. Only 38% were aware of the benefits of using a car seat. Moreover, nearly all [94%] reported never witnessing enforcement of child passenger laws prohibiting children from riding in the front, concomitantly only 9% stated that a law requiring CRS use would make them use one for their children Conclusion: Less than half of young children, in this study population, were benefitting from safety provided by CRS. There is a need to develop awareness programs that educate caregivers on the benefits and proper use of CRS. Other priority areas for intervention include the consistent enforcement of laws banning children in the front seat and extending current passenger restraint laws to include all vehicle passengers. References: 1. Keay L, Brown J, Hunter K, Ivers R. Adopting child restraint laws to address child passenger injuries: Experience from high income countries and new initiatives in low and middle income countries. Injury. 2015;46(6):933–4. 2. Bener A, Hussain SJ, Ghaffar A, Abou-Taleb H, El-Sayed HF. Trends in childhood trauma mortality in the fast economically developing State of Qatar. World J Pediatr WJP. 2011 Feb;7(1):41–4.
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Quality of Kindergartens in Qatar A Comparison of Stakeholder Views and Observed Classroom Quality Ratings
By Aysha AswatMuch importance is given to Early Childhood Education in Qatar. Primarily because of the countries implementation of its education reform and also because of the significant research findings that ‘high quality early learning’ is critical for young children's learning outcomes. However, quality is a term which has no concise definition and different values have been attributed in conceptualising and assessing quality depending on who is defining it. Consequently, recent developments in the Early Years have also highlighted the importance of listening to children's voices. However, only few studies have taken into consideration children's perspectives of what quality means to them.The aims of this study were therefore to identify different stakeholders (policymakers, parents, teachers and children) views of quality in Kindergartens in Qatar. Classroom observations using the ECERS-3 quality rating tool were also undertaken by the researcher to compare observed quality rating scores to stakeholder views. Additionally, the researcher also compared the ECERS-3 classroom quality rating scores from this current study to previous studies undertaken in Qatar and the Middle East.The results from this study contribute to research findings that quality is a relative concept and is defined according to individual values, beliefs and experiences. In this study, policymakers were identified as having a ‘top-down’ perspective of defining, assessing and monitoring quality as well as having higher expectations of perceived quality than what is evident in the kindergarten classrooms. Parents valued some of the same quality characteristics as teachers, however, they also overestimated quality. Children's ‘bottom-up’ perspectives highlighted that they are able to confidently provide feedback on dimensions of quality and give a real insight into their own viewpoints of dimensions of quality. Finally, this study has identified aspects of ‘good’ quality in the Qatar kindergartens. However, observed classroom quality ratings have also identified areas of quality that need improvements.
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To What Extent Does the Development of the GCC Countries’ Sovereign Wealth Funds Provide an Evolving Instrument in their Security and Foreign Policy
More LessThis research seeks to explore how the vast GCC sovereign wealth funds (SWF) can provide a vehicle for the development of the foreign security policy of these countries using constructivist paradigm. Although mostly small in sizes except for Saudi Arabia, the GCC countries with their extensive energy wealth are gradually becoming major players on the world stage. This was especially highlighted during the 2007-08 international financial crisis when GCC countries were visited by Western politicians requesting their assistance in bailing out failing financial institutions especially American banks. Gulf Cooperation Council sovereign wealth funds took the initiatives to invest in these failing Western financial institutions without much guarantee about returns on their investments which can be interpreted in different ways. Firstly, it could be interpreted as an effort to support the United States for example for its security guarantee or secondly as a means for these countries to gain influence (Behrendt, 2008). The increasing level of GCC sovereign wealth funds constituting at least 40% of global SWF and their reach in investments globally signal increased geopolitical meaning. However, the fund managers and the countries they originate have indicated that their investments are business transactions intended for purposes such as future generation and pension funds. Bahgat (2011) however indicates that GCC's SWF could have some foreign and security policy undertone. Over the years GCC countries have developed their security and foreign policies based on ‘bandwagoning’ realist paradigm in which the United States or the United Kingdom serve as proxy protector from challenges within and without. With some of the highest spending on their military and the changes in the political dynamics with globalisation and their own development, GCC countries while maintaining their ‘bandwagoning’ policies, have been emboldened by their wealth and military capability in term of military hardware. Ehteshami and Hinnebusch (2013) in seeking to clarify the GCC foreign and security policies in this new era indicates that it is complex realism because it provides a means for the countries of the GCC to continue to seek the protection of their Western allies, especially the United States and the United Kingdom while also flexing their own muscle. It is for this reason that Young (2015:15) asserts that the current foreign policy direction of the GCC is punctuated by the ‘balancing of realist concerns for state power and survival with domestic environments accommodating diverse constituents and structural considerations of the international systems’. Young (2013) also indicates that the GCC has change direction in its foreign and security policies to become interventionist. Intervention in Bahrain during the Arab Spring of 2011 as well as recent intervention in Yemen shows the changes that have come to mark the GCC. The deduction from the above discourse on GCC's foreign and security policy is that it has always been assessed using positivist approaches which fail to reconcile agency and structure issues in the foreign and security policy making. The use of constructivist methods in this work from the point of view of sovereign wealth funds provides means of exploring various themes both from agency and structure. In other words, how does the institutions and the policy makers affect GCC foreign and security policy making? Key Words: Development, GCC, SWF, Security, Foreign Policy.
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Qatar before the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Background: The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the CRPD) is the first human rights treaty of the 21st century and the first binding instrument specifically focused on protecting persons with disabilities within the framework of the UN's universal system of human rights. The CRPD came into force on May 3, 2008, and as of December 3, 2016 it has been ratified by 168 states. The CRPD developed the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Article 34) to monitor compliance with the Convention by States Parties. The main role of the Committee is to review the reports (both the initial and the periodic reports) submitted by States Parties pursuant to Article 35 of the CRPD. In accordance with the CRPD Article 35, States Parties are required to submit to the Committee “a comprehensive report on measures taken to give effect to its obligations [under the CRPD] … and on the progress made in that regard” within two years after the entry into force of the present Convention for the State Party concerned, and subsequently they must submit periodic reports every four years “and further whenever the Committee so requests.” Qatar ratified the UNCRPD in May 2008 and is obliged as a signatory nation to implement a number of social and legal measures to become fully compliant. Aim: The aim of this paper is to identify Qatar»s degree of compliance with the CRPD as per the last available CRPD reports. Subsequently, we list recommended actions toward Qatar's compliance with the Convention. Findings and recommendations: On June 19, 2012 Qatar submitted its report to the Committee on its compliance with the Convention. Following review of the Qatar report, the committee made six concluding observations. The six observations made by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on Qatar's compliance with the Convention: The legislation revolves around a medical (treatment) model of disability, in contrast to the convention's call for a social model and the human rights approach. It is necessary to safeguard non-discrimination, adopting the inclusive social model. Accommodation and accessibility are not in line with the Convention. There is an absence of specific legal and policy frameworks to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others, and reasonable accommodation is not sufficiently guaranteed. Lack of consultation and participation of persons with disabilities in the drafting of regulatory policies that affect them. Lack of systematic information. There is no independent internal mechanism to coordinate policy on the rights of persons with disabilities and monitor the implementation of the Convention. The Committee's six concluding observations on the rights of persons with disabilities indicate that Qatar, similar to many other countries, has a long way to go before reaching compliance with the convention. As a first step towards compliance with the Convention, Qatar action regarding the six issues highlighted here is key, and can be as follows: Adopt a social model whereby the state moves beyond the assistance-based approach to the development of actual individual rights enforceable in a court of law, considers disability rights as validity standards, and regards the field of conflict of rights as other rights or fundamental legal interests. Prevent discrimination by adopting an inclusive social model, as well as via adapting both the situation strategy (equality focused on the situation) and the identity strategy (acknowledging the rights of specific persons or groups). Provide accessibility through universal design and reasonable accommodation. Consult and include persons with disabilities in the drafting of regulatory policies that affect them. Collect systematic (research and statistical) data on persons with disability for use in the development and implementation of policies. Put in place an independent internal mechanism to coordinate policy on the rights of persons with disabilities and monitor the implementation of the Convention. Acknowledgement: This presentation was made possible by the support of the NPRP grant 7 - 380 - 5 - 051 from the Qatar National Research Fund. The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.
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Trends and Patterns of WorkRelated Road Traffic Injuries involving Heavy Vehicles in Qatar
Introduction Qatar is a rapidly developing high-income country in the Middle East. It has very diverse expatriate worker population that is increasing as the road infrastructure and FIFA World Cup projects ramp up for 2022. As a result, Heavy Vehicles (HVs) are a very common sight in Qatar. However, the effect of the increased volume of HVs, on road safety and work-related road traffic injuries (WRTIs) in Qatar has not been reported previously. This study aims to analyze the work related injuries caused by heavy vehicles and is one of the first few studies in this area. It was conducted as part of a larger ‘A Unified Registry for Workplace Injury Prevention in Qatar’ grant [NPRP 7-1120-3-288] funded by the Qatar Foundation and designed to initiate and implement a targeted unified workplace injury registry to inform policies and programs to reduce the health burden, in terms of deaths and disabilities, and the healthcare costs from WRI's in Qatar Methods A free text search using heavy vehicle terms like ‘crane’, ‘truck’, ‘bulldozer’ etc. was carried out on data from the Trauma Registry. All patients, treated for WRTI at Hamad Trauma Center (HTC) from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2016 were included. The data was analyzed according to road user type and other epidemiologic characteristics. The data did not include bus-related injuries. Results Forty percent (40%) of all WRTIs in Qatar were due to heavy vehicles. 57% of the injured were from the transportation industry. Approximately 20% of the injured were pedestrians. 83.8% of the victims were truck drivers and only 8% of them were restrained. The driver victims were involved in head-on collisions (32%) and fixed object crashes (22%). It was also found that pedestrians and falling object victims had more severe injuries compared to others. Conclusions HV-WRTIs are underappreciated as a major cause of severe WRTI and mortality in Qatar. Occupational safety programs should focus on decreasing operating hours by HV drivers & increasing restraint use, pedestrian worksite environmental modifications & HV maintenance and repair standards. The limited available evidence necessitates more focused data capture and analysis in future.
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Selfreported contributory factors for workrelated injuries in Qatar: Findings from the WURQ inpatient survey
Introduction Work related injuries (WRIs) are a leading cause of trauma admission in Qatar and their epidemiologic trends and high-risk populations have been reported previously. This study aims to explore the work circumstances and environments leading to severe WRIs, to inform the creation of targeted interventions to improve worker safety in Qatar. It was conducted as part of a larger ‘A Unified Registry for Workplace Injury Prevention in Qatar’ grant [NPRP 7-1120-3-288] funded by the Qatar Foundation and designed to initiate and implement a targeted unified workplace injury registry to inform policies and programs to reduce the health burden, in terms of deaths and disabilities, and the healthcare costs from WRI's in Qatar Methods Patients with WRIs who were admitted to the Hamad Trauma Center for at least 24 hours were interviewed by trained interviewers using a standard questionnaire. Interview responses were encoded and audio recorded. A proportionate sampling method was implemented based on the leading mechanisms of injuries, from previous reports on WRIs in Qatar. Results Fifty (50) patients were consented and interviewed. 58% (29) of them had some kind of safety training and 82% (41) were aware about the risks at work. Seventy eight percent (39) had taken one form of safety precaution: 58% wore a safety helmet, 62% had foot protection, 54% had a high visibility jacket/vest on and 50% used antistatic gloves. Approximately 50% of the patients had one form of health insurance. Almost everyone was given proper treatment on the site prior to being transported to the nearest treatment facility. Self-reported contributory factors, for WRI, included: ‘inadequate training for a new task’, ‘sub-optimal working environment’ and ‘psychological factors’.‘‘ Almost all classified their injuries as ‘accidental’ or unexpected. Conclusion In this study population, WRIs are still thought of as ‘accidental’ by the workers themselves. Areas for improvement include: 1.) safety training and awareness 2.) consistent use and availability of personal protective equipment 3.) health insurance and 4.) training for new tasks. Further studies on knowledge and attitudes of workers towards safety are needed to better inform occupational injury prevention programs in Qatar.
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The Epidemiology of Workrelated Road Traffic Injuries in Qatar: road user characteristics inform injury prevention programs
Introduction Injuries are the leading cause of death in Qatar, primarily those that occur at work or on the road. However, there is a paucity of data on work-related road traffic injuries [WRTIs] in Qatar. This study will describe the epidemiology of WRTIs in Qatar and make recommendations for targeted prevention programs. It was conducted as part of a larger ‘A Unified Registry for Workplace Injury Prevention in Qatar’ grant [NPRP 7-1120-3-288] funded by the Qatar Foundation and designed to initiate and implement a targeted unified workplace injury registry to inform policies and programs to reduce the health burden, in terms of deaths and disabilities, and the healthcare costs from WRI's in QatarMaterials and MethodsData, on patients with WRTIs treated at the Hamad Trauma Center [HTC] Trauma Registry from January 2015 to September 2016 was collected and analyzed according to road user type and characteristics.ResultsThere were 260 WRTIs admitted during the study period, 25.5% of all work-related injuries. The in-hospital mortality rate was 5.4 %. Motor vehicle crashes [MVCs] comprised 74% of WRTIs: 51% involved heavy vehicles [trucks or buses], 40 % were unrestrained drivers, 15% were rollovers and 10% were against fixed objects. Twenty-one percent of victims were pedestrians, 81.8% from left-hand driving countries. There were no significant differences for age, mean ISS, ICU & hospital LOS but the mortality rate for pedestrians was twice that for MVC victims [10.9% vs. 4.2%, p< 0.05].ConclusionOne-fourth of all work-related injuries in Qatar are WRTIs. Occupational safety programs should focus on increasing restraint use by drivers of heavy vehicles, driver education to prevent rollovers and pedestrian education for workers from left-hand driving countries. The significantly higher mortality rate for pedestrians merits more focused analysis in the future.
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Investigation the Relationship between Entrepreneurship Income Inequalities
More LessThis paper aims to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurship and income inequalities across some countries which have large variances in total early-stage entrepreneurial activity. The study uses strongly balanced data from 2004-2013, covering 19 countries, composing 179 observations. The study uses OLS regression, Simultaneous equation model (SEM) and Zellner»s seemingly unrelated regression (SUR). The results find that there is a strong positive direction between TEA and Gini coefficient. And Gini coefficient is an explanatory variable for change in TEA. Controversy, TEA is not explanatory the change of Gini coefficient. The results find that the coefficient of these model is 32, 65 and 80 respectively. In other words, according to SEM and SUR model, as long as Gini coefficient increases by 0.1, TEA increases by 6.5 and 8 unit respectively.
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Blending Project Centric Approach with Gamification to Increase the Students’ Involvement in Applied Courses
By Adnan AbidThere exist many different ways of teaching applied courses in undergraduate level program. Project centric teaching methodology involves teaching a course to the students by implementing the theoretical concepts in a project. This very idea of project centric approach seems very interesting and promising. However, our more than ten years of teaching experience reveals that most of the students tend to complete their projects towards the end of the semester. Generally, the students are registered in four to six courses in a semester in a regular undergraduate semester. Therefore, they tend to work on projects of all these courses simultaneously, but unfortunately at the end of the semester. This general trend of students invites us to customize and enrich the project centric approach in such a way that should attract students to work on the project regularly throughout the semester. To this end, we have proposed a customized version of project centric teaching while blending it with gamification concepts. The initial results of our study reveal positive changes in the response of the students.
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The effectiveness of family literacy programs in Qatari preschool settings
Authors: Fathi Ihmeideh, Maryam Al-Falasi and Fatima Al-MaadadiThere is an increased recognition that family literacy programs can play a fundamental role in enhancing young children's literacy learning. Research in early literacy development stresses the importance of a partnership between home and school in promoting literacy skills among children (Nutbrown, Hannon, & Morgan, 2005). The concept of family literacy was used to refer to the interrelated literacy practices used by parents and/or family members and children in homes (Hannon, 2000; Teale, 1986). Although family literacy programs are a relatively new phenomenon within the educational context in Qatar, the effectiveness of these programs and the attitudes of those who are involved in these programs remain unknown. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the effectiveness of family literacy programs on children's literacy development implemented in Qatari preschool settings. It also explored the main areas of family literacy programs. Moreover, it examined the attitudes of teachers and parents towards their involvement in literacy learning after the implementation of the family literacy programs. A multi-method approach was utilized, including questionnaires, interviews, and observations. To achieve the objectives of the study, family literacy programs were established in Qatari preschool settings where teachers and parents worked together to facilitate preschoolers’ emergent literacy learning and development. The effectiveness of family literacy programs were assessed based on ORIM framework (Hannon, 1998), which conceptualizes families as supporting their children's literacy learning through providing “opportunities” for learning, showing “recognition” of children's activities, “interaction” with children in terms of literacy activities and providing a “model” of a literacy user. Results indicated that family literacy programs implemented in Qatari preschool settings supported children's literacy learning. Furthermore, the results revealed that both kindergarten teachers and parents of preschoolers expressed positive attitudes towards their involvement in the family literacy programs. In addition, it has been found that literacy practices advocated by ORIM framework were ranged from high to moderate, with “recognition of children's activities” receiving the highest rate, followed by providing “opportunities” for learning. Finally, the study revealed that parents addressed all four strands of literacy with “books” and “oral language” receiving the highest rate. The study suggested developing strategies and policies regarding family literacy programs within Qatari kindergarten and primary schools. The study also identified practices needed for parents to promote children's literacy learning and development. Future directions for research and practical implications are also discussed. Key References: Buhs, E., Welch, G., Burt, J., & Knoche, L. 2011. Family engagement in literacy activities: revised factor structure for The Familia – an instrument examining family support for early literacy development. Early Child Development and Care, 181(7), 989-1006. Hannon, P. 1995. Literacy home and school: research and practice in teaching literacy with parents. London: Falmer Press. Nutbrown, C., Hannon, P., & Morgan, A. 2005. Early literacy work with families: Policy, practice and research. London: SAGE. Pomerantz, E., Moorman, E., & Litwack, S. 2007. The how, whom, and why of parents’ involvement in children's academic lives: More is not always better. Review of Educational Research, 77, 373–410. Teale, W. 1986. Home background and young children's literacy development. In W. Teale and E. Sulzby. Emergent literacy: Writing and reading. Norwood, NJ: Ablex. ** This paper was made possible by NPRP grant # (NPRP 8-921-5-122) from the Qatar national research fund (a member of Qatar foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.
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The lived experiences of smokers with lung cancer in Qatar
Authors: Sakina Badiallah Abulqassemi and Dr. Jessie JohnsonPurpose/Objectives: The purpose of the study was to investigate experiences and perceptions of lung cancer patients who have a smoking habit and to provide health care professionals with more insights into the complexities of these people's motivations, rationalities, guilt, self-blame, and stigma in Qatar. Methodology: Descriptive phenomenology was used to explore the lived experiences of smoker with lung cancer. An in-depth unstructured conversational style interview was used as a method for data collection. The study was conducted in the inpatient, outpatient, and day care units at the National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR). Purposive sampling was used to recruit five lung cancer patients who smoke. Colaizzi's (1978) method was used to analyze data. Findings: Participants described five related themes: (a) smoking is not the only cause of lung cancer, (b) acute self-awareness of smoking as an addiction (c) self-blame related to lung cancer diagnosis, (d) smoking cessation clinics are not useful, and (e) nurses and physicians are not supportive during treatment. Participants did not believe that there was a connection between personal smoking behaviors and developing lung cancer. They believed some patients are diagnosed with lung cancer without a smoking history and other environmental agents or lifestyle factors can cause lung cancer. Participants claimed smoking is an addiction, and they smoked to relieve their stress and anxiety. The majority of participants in this study experienced feelings of self-blame for being engaged in smoking behavior that increased their risk of lung cancer. Participants said the smoking cessation clinic was not useful because the physician did not listen to their experiences and instead would gave them nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) tablets and discharged them from the clinic without proper consultation. Participants believed that physicians should counsel their patients about smoking cessation. Also, they suggested counselling, educational materials, and peer support groups would be more helpful resources than pharmacology therapy in quitting smoking. Conclusion: The current study describes the lived experiences of smokers with lung cancer in Qatar. The findings of this study would be helpful for nurses and physicians to know why patients continue to smoke after their lung cancer diagnosis. It is important to understand the lived experiences of smokers with lung cancer in order to help them to quit smoking. Health care professionals working within the smoking cessation clinic would likely be more effective if they understand the lived experiences of lung cancer patients who continue to smoke. Understanding the lived experiences of lung cancer patients with smoking habit also increases their physical and psychological wellbeing and provides them with the opportunity to know their cancer therapies and to cooperate with their treatments. These findings are important for nursing because nurses are expected to provide an integrated approach to care for their patients. It is important for nurses to ensure smokers with lung cancer do not experience additional burdens from their perceptions that could have a negative impact on their quality of life. Nurses should also avoid criticizing smokers with lung cancer and supporting them to quit smoking. Key Word: Lived experiences, perceptions, lung cancer, lung sarcoma, cigarette smoking, and smoker
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من الهوية السردية إلى الهوية البصرية تحولات ساق البامبو من السرد الروائي إلى الدراما التلفزيونية
More Less-أهمية البحث: تكمن أهمية هذا البحث في اشتغاله على أحدث المباحث العلمية الجديدة في العلوم الإنسانية، وهي الدراسات البينية، والتي تعد من بين أهم تحديات المعرفية للعلوم الإنسانية، وهذا لجمعها لعلوم ومناهج متعددة التخصصات، وهذا ما يدعو الباحث لمقاربة هذه المناطق العلمية التي تحتاج إلى الكثير من الصبر العلمي، والبحث المعرفي، للوصول إلى نقاط التقاطع المنهجي، وللدفع بهذا التوجه الذي أصبحت العلوم الإنسانية توليه أهمية، وكذا تماشياً مع رؤية الجامعة والمؤسسات الأكاديمية والتعليمية والبحثية في الدولة(ومنها مؤسسة قطر) بتطوير الدراسات البينية والتي تجمع بين مواضيع متداخلة التخصص، جاء هذا البحث ليجمع بين الجانب الأدبي والجانب الفني، مبرزاً الاختلافات الحاصلة عند تحويل الرواية السردية المطبوعة إلى مسلسل تلفزيوني مصور على الشاشة. ويتجلى هذا من خلال مقاربتنا السيميائية البصرية لرواية ساق البامبو للكاتب الكويتي سعود السنعوسي، لما تبرزه من أهمية تخييلية وسينمائية. 2-أهداف البحث: مقاربة النصوص السردية المحولة إلى مسلسلات وأفلامالكشف عن التحولات والتغيرات للأجناس الفنية بالانتقال من جنس أدبي إلى جنس فني آخر. (من الرواية إلى المسلسل / من الرواية إلى السينما)تحليل المنظورات المختلفة للنصوص السردية والبصرية وكيفية انتقالها من السرد إلى (المسلسل) بالحذف والإضافة.أوجه التشابه والاختلاف في مكونات السرد المسلسلي (زمان، مكان، شخصية).تتبع الاختلاف الحاصل بين لغة الرواية ولغة المسلسل، مبرزين أهمية الحوار في كليهما. 3-إشكالية البحث: كيفية التحولات البنيوية والسيميائية من السرد الروائي، إلى الدراما التلفزيونية، وأثرها في تشكيل هوية الشخصيات في النص؟ 4-منهج البحث: سنتبع في هذا البحث المنهج السيميائي الذي فيه العديد من الاتجاهات منها السيميائية السردية التي تعيننا على تحليل النص السردي(الرواية)، والسيميائية البصرية التي تساعد على فهم التقاطعات مع النص البصري (المسلسل). 5-المصادر والمراجع: -المصادر: وهي رواية ساق البامبو للروائي الكويتي سعود السنعوسي (الحاصلة على جائزة البوكر العربي 2013) والمسلسل المقتبس من هذه الرواية بنفس العنوان. -المراجع: وهي المراجع المتخصص في السيميائيات، وكذلك المراجع المتخصص في صناعة السينمائية، والدراما التلفيزيونية، من بينها: السينمائية، وزارة الثقافة، المؤسسة العامة للسينما، ٢٠٠٨.فونتاني جاك، سيمياء المرئي، ترجمة: علي أسعد، سورية، دار الحوار، الطبعة الأولى، ٢٠٠٣.حمداوي جميل، الاتجاهات السيميوطيقية: التيارات والمدارس السيميوطيقية في الثقافة الغربية، الطبعة الأولى، ٢٠١٥. دانسايجر كين، تقنيات مونتاج السينما والفيديو: التاريخ والنظرية والممارسة، ترجمة: أحمد يوسف، القاهرة، المركز القومي للترجمة، الطبعة الأولى، ٢٠١١.أومون جاك، الصورة، ترجمة: ريتا الخوري، بيروت، الطبعة الأولى، ٢٠١٣.بارط رولان، درس السيمولوجيا، ترجمة: بنعبد العالي، الدار البيضاء، دار توبقال، الطبعة الثالثة، ١٩٩٣.مبارك حنون، دروس في السيميائيات، الدار البيضاء، دار توبقال، الطبعة الأولى، ١٩٨٧.توسان برنار، ما هي السيميولوجيا، ترجمة: محمد نظيف، المغرب، أفريقيا الشرق، الطبعة الثانية، ٢٠٠٠.لوتمان يوري، مدخل إلى سيميائية الفيلم: قضايا علم الجمال السينمائي، ترجمة: نبيل الدبس، دمشق مطبعة عكرمة، الطبعة الأولى، ١٩٨٩. 10. بنكراد سعيد، السيميائيات: مفاهيمها وتطبيقاتها، الرباط، منشورات الزمن، ٢٠٠٣. 11. إيكو أمبرتو، سيميائيات الأنساق البصرية، ترجمة: محمد العماري ومحمد أودادا، سورية، دار الحوار، الطبعة الأولى، ٢٠٠٨. الباحث الرئيس: د.عبد الحق بلعابد الدكتور عبد الحق بلعابد، أستاذ مشارك بقسم اللغة العربية، كلية الآداب والعلوم، جامعة قطر، باحث وأكاديمي جزائري، متحصل على دكتوراه في قضايا الأدب ومناهج الدراسات النقدية والمقارنة، جامعة الجزائر. متحصل على ليسانس في الدراسات الإدارية والقانونية. ودبلوم الكفاءة المهنية للمحاماة من جامعة الجزائر. أستاذ نظرية الأدب والأدب المقارن المشارك بقسم اللغة العربية وآدابها، كلية الآداب والعلوم، جامعة قطر حاليا. وأستاذ نظرية الأدب والأدب المقارن المشارك بقسم اللغة العربية وآدابها، كلية الآداب، جامعة الملك سعود (سابقا). وأستاذ الأدب المقارن بقسم اللغة العربية وآدابها جامعة الجزائر (سابقا). مدير تحرير مجلة الآداب، كلية الآداب، جامعة الملك سعود. عضو الهيئة العلمية لمعامل التأثير للمجلات العلمية العربية المحكمة، اتحاد الجامعات العربية. عضو اللجنة المشرفة لوحدة أبحاث الشعريات، بقسم اللغة العربية وآدابها، كلية الآداب، جامعة الملك سعود. عضو مؤسس لوحدة أبحاث السرديات، بقسم اللغة العربية وآدابها، كلية الآداب، جامعة الملك سعود. لمشرف المؤسس لوحدة اللسانيات وتحليل الخطاب، بقسم اللغة العربية وآدابها، كلية الآداب، جامعة الملك سعود. عضو الهيئة الاستشارية للمحور الإنساني العالمي للدراسات وأبحاث الطفولة، الأردن. عضو الهيئة الاستشارية لصالون عبد الناصر هلال الثقافين بالقاهرة. مدير الدراسات العليا والبحث العلمي بقسم اللغة العربية بجامعة الجزائر(سابقا). نائب مدير مخبر الترجمة والمصطلح بجامعة الجزائر سابقا. نائب رئيس شعبة الأدب المغاربي المعاصر للدراسات العليا بجامعة الجزائر سابقا. عضو فرقة بحث الأدب المغاربي فرنسا-المغارب بليون فرنسا، عضو في المنضمة الدولية للمترجمين واللغويين العرب WATA. عضو مؤسس لجمعية المصطلحيين اللسانيين العرب، بجامعة مؤتة، الأردن. عضو مؤسس للجمعية الدولية لتعليميين والمترجمين، بالمعهد العالي للغات، بجامعة حلب، سوريا. مشارك في عدة مؤتمرات وندوات علمية عالمية متخصصة. ينشر في العديد من الدوريات والمجلات المحكمة والمتخصصة. صدر له كتاب بعنوان عتبات (ج.جيرار جينيت من النص إلى المناص) 2008. كتاب عنفوان الكتابة ترجمان القراءة (العتبات في المنجز الروائي العربي) 2013. كتاب فتوحات روائية، 2014. وكتب جماعية كثيرة من أهمها: فلسفة السرد 2014، الشكل والمعنى في الخطاب السردي 2013، آفاق الشعرية تحولات النظرية والإجراء 2016، دراسات في الشعر السعودي 2016. له العديد من الأبحاث المحكمة في مجلات عربية وأجنبية. عناوين التواصل: قسم اللغة العربية، كلية الآداب والعلوم، جامعة قطر - الجوال: 0097450765464 - البريد الالكتروني: [email protected] الباحث المساعد: الأستاذة ميس منذر ربيع: - تخرجت من قسم الإعلام في جامعة قطر عام ٢٠١٥. - التحقت ببرنامج الدراسات العليا في قسم اللغة العربية لإنجاز رسالة ماجستير في الدراسات البينية – - حصلت على المركز الثاني في مهرجان أجيال السينمائي عن فئة أفلام صنع في قطر. - أخرجت العديد من الأفلام الوثائقية، وأخرها كان عن اللاجئين السورين في تركيا. - عملت في صناعة الأفلام لفترة ثم انتقلت للعمل في مجال الأبحاث العلمية في جامعة قطر. التواصل: الجوال: ٣٣٣٦٣٧٩٢ البريد: [email protected]
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Fostering independent learning amongst English for Academic Purposes students through exploration of digital tools
By Simon HeslupThis poster presentation describes an ongoing research project investigating the use of digital tools by university students in Qatar. The study also explores the effectiveness of having students inform each other of the usefulness of self-selected digital tools for English language learning. Rationale Mitra and colleagues (Dolan et al., 2013; Mitra, Leat, Dolan, & Crawley, 2010) suggest that self-organized groups of learners sharing a common technological tool (traditionally a computer) offers a self-empowered and socially supported avenue of effective learning outside the classroom. Interest in digital tools facilitating self-directed learning has only increased with the development of the power and complexity of the World Wide Web (Blake, 2013; Saxena, 2013). Important reported benefits include greater learner motivation (Saxena, 2013) and the development of learning communities outside the traditional educational setting (Lord & Lomicka, 2011). For language learners, the Web 2.0 has often been used to provide added opportunities to practice or use language outside of the classroom (Blake, 2013; Borau, Ullrich, Feng, & Shen, 2009). Examples include the numerous grammar explanations and exercises, and the use of microblogs for language learning (Antenos-Conforti, 2009; Castrillo De Larreta-Azelain, 2013; Lord & Lomicka, 2011; Wang & Vásquez, 2012). Digital English language product revenues in the Middle East will exceed $215 million by 2018 (Global Educational Supplies and Solutions, 2014). However, little is known about how language learners in the region exploit these resources for self-directed independent language learning, and what resources they find helpful. An initial database search identified only one study addressing this issue. In this study, an online survey at Qatar University identified 18 educational uses to which students put their smartphones, including: accessing the university's online learning management system, discussing classes with classmates, and practicing online quizzes (Fayed, Yacoub, & Hussein, 2013). In addition to exploring the ways in which students use digital tools and the perceived effectiveness of these tools for English language learning, our study investigated the efficacy of having students, rather than instructors, find, vet, and recommend digital tools for classmates. If successful, such an approach could alleviate English instructor concerns about being able to judge the appropriateness of digital tools for their students’ unique linguistic needs, learning preferences, and cultural sensitivities. This research is expected to contribute to the development of best practices in education in culturally diverse learning environments such as the transnational university campuses in Qatar. Research Questions and Objectives The research questions guiding this study are: What are the online practices of tertiary education students in an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program in the Qatar? How are EAP students’ independent learning practices influenced by participating in a course that requires them to use digital tools to develop their English skills? The objectives of this research are: 1. to establish baseline attitudes and behaviours regarding digital tool use for language learning amongst English Language Learners (ELLs) in an EAP program in Qatar 2. to examine the effectiveness of the pedagogical approach of requiring participants to seek out, trial, and report to peers on their use of digital tools for language learning. This will be done by testing for a significant: i. within group effect ii. between group effect (treatment versus control groups) 3. to identify more details regarding participants’ motivations, experiences, and views related to digital tool use for language learning, along with their insights regarding the pedagogical approach used in the treatment. 4. to disseminate findings, methodology and recommendations to other institutions in Qatar, the Middle East, and abroad. Methodology This study employed a quasi-experimental, mixed methods approach, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. The use of a control group and multiple measurement instances allowed testing for significant effects of the pedagogical treatment between groups (treatment versus control differences) and across time (pre- versus post-treatment results versus one-semester post-treatment). Students in the treatment group, as part of their coursework, were asked to set an individual language goal for the upcoming two weeks. Based on this goal, they were required to seek out and trial a digital tool. At the end of each two-week period, each student posted a report on their experiences with the tool to the course's online discussion page. Reports focused on the benefits and limitations of their selected tool and how it contributed to their goal. Students also read and replied to each other's posts. These two-week cycles were completed 5 times. Students in the control group completed their course, in the same EAP program as the treatment students, without the independent digital tool use component described above. At the beginning of the semester, the end of the semester, and the end of the following semester, students in the treatment and control groups completed quantitative questionnaires intended to assess various aspects of their attitudes and experience with using digital tools for language learning purposes. The questionnaires provided direction for focus group interviews conducted with treatment group students at the end of the semester, and one semester post-treatment. The focus group interviews provided more depth and clarity about students’ experiences and perspectives regarding digital tool use for language learning, and about the utility of having students find and share their experiences with digital tools. Results The preliminary results and analysis described in this poster presentation includes a comparison of the quantitative data of control and treatment groups at pre- and post-treatment. Qualitative data of the first focused group interviews is also presented. Conclusion While 96.7% of Qatar's population are internet users (Central Intelligence Agency, 2016.), little is known regarding its use as an educational tool. A better understanding of how language learners in this context use digital tools, and how digital tools could appropriately be used to improve language skills, would be of great importance to students and educators in the region. References Antenos-Conforti, E. (2009). Microblogging on Twitter: social networking in intermediate Italian classes. In L. Lomicka & G. Lord (Eds.). The next generation: Social networking and online collaboration in foreign language learning, Calico Monograph Series, No. 9. (pp. 59–90). San Marcos, TX: CALICO Publications. Blake, R. J. (2013). Brave new digital classroom: Technology and foreign language learning. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press. Borau, K., Ullrich, C., Feng, J., & Shen, R. (2009). 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