Background: Geographical/geometric indicators like azimuth provide a real-time and low-cost method of measuring spatial performance during navigation, especially in view of their accessibility on mobile phones in the form of a compass or GPS. This study aimed to investigate azimuth-based assessment of spatial orientation performance and its potential in diagnosing cognitive problems. Methods: This was an applied research, and included multivariate logistic regression and multi-layer neural network analysis. We measured the spatial orientation performance of participants using an azimuth-based compass. Their demographic data, including age, gender, years of driving experience, field of study, and cognitive health status were collected. The s

The purpose of this study was to combine the volitional strategies and messages with motivational design in e-learning and its effectiveness on student’s cognitive load and volitional dimensions. In order to achieve this goal, a mixed method - convergent triangulation design - was used. The statistical population of this study was students of Shahid Modares campus of Farhangian university of Kurdistan. In the quantitative phase, a quasi-experimental design with a control group was used. In this regard, firstly, three classes with a capacity of 85 students selected through available sampling method and then randomly one class assigned to experimental and two classes assigned to control group. In the qualitative section, 9 people were selec

Cancer is considered as a disease with high rates of mortality and morbidity. The limitations and side effects of common treatments have prompted the need for innovative cancer therapies. Furthermore, selectivity and targeting of cancer cells are crucial factors to successful treatment of cancer. One of these methods is the use of bacterial toxins including Bacillus anthracis toxin to aid cancer therapy. This toxin is composed of three polypeptides: protective factor (PA), lethal factor (LF), and edema factor (EF). PA can bind to various surface receptors of all types of human cells and it internalizes the lethal factor and edema factor subunits of the toxin in the cytosol. In the present study, we cloned and expressed the lef

The internet has many educational and research capabilities. Although some of its capabilities such as development of E-learning environments, blended learning environments, and enhancing the quality of face-to-face learning are known to designers, managers, and instructors, the research capability of this technology is still unfamiliar for most professional researchers and faculty members. The research capabilities of the internet are not only limited to data searching tools or sending of receiving data. Multimedia facilities and the distribution of ideas and communication tools can also assist researchers in conducting an educational study. Therefore, we aimed to introduce the capabilities of information and communication technology tools

Cancer is considered as a disease with high rates of mortality and morbidity. The limitations and side effects of common treatments have prompted the need for innovative cancer therapies. Furthermore, selectivity and targeting of cancer cells are crucial factors to successful treatment of cancer. One of these methods is the use of bacterial toxins including Bacillus anthracis toxin to aid cancer therapy. This toxin is composed of three polypeptides: protective factor (PA), lethal factor (LF), and edema factor (EF). PA can bind to various surface receptors of all types of human cells and it internalizes the lethal factor and edema factor subunits of the toxin in the cytosol. In the present study, we cloned and expressed the lef gene of B. an

This study investigated the effects of using a teaching model enriched with presence on learners’ perceived presence and high-level learning outcomes in online learning environments. The study was conducted in an Iranian state university with 52 higher education students majoring in electronic IT management who were randomly divided into experimental or control group conditions. The research tools included a rubric to measure learner’s perceived presence and the researcher-made survey to measure learner’s high-level learning outcomes. The results showed that the frequency of the produced semantic units in different types of presence (cognitive, social, and teaching presence) was significantly higher for students in the experimental co

Background & Objective: The service-oriented method is a strategy based on responding to the needs of stakeholders that emphasizes processes such as the link between the world of research and business, introducing the capabilities of the university and dissemination of knowledge in society. Therefore, this study aimed to recognize and determine the components affecting the improvement of a service-oriented university (by serving the community).Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was performed using a content analysis technique. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews, and data analysis was carried out following coding and analyzing the content of the themes. Overall, 15 experts in the field of the higher education syste

Background and purpose: The service-oriented approach is a type of strategy based on satisfying the need of society which therefore stresses the processes such as the link between research and business worlds, introducing the existing talent of the university and spreading knowledge in society.Analysis method: In order to collect data, a semi-structured interview technique was used as a research method to analyze contents in the study. Sampling data was randomized through coding and analyzing contents. A sample of 15 people of experts and intelects of higher education system was randomly selected in a talented way based on the" theoretical saturation principle".Results: The results indicated that the main components of the promotion of the

This study investigates the effects of a developed MOOC based on Merrill’s principles of instruction on participants’ learning outcomes and satisfaction. A pre-test-post-test with a control group design was used in this study. In total, 335 participants were assigned into experimental (using Merrill’s principles of instruction) and control group (using the conventional method). However, 291 subjects (143 participants from the experimental and 148 participants from the control group condition) remained in the course up to the last session, and only 200 participants (100 participants per each condition) filled in the surveys. The results were in favour of participants in the experimental condition both in terms of learning

Title Design implementation and evaluation of e-learning based on Paradigm 3 and Paradigm 4 of Kashman's theory and their comparison (in terms of academic achievement motivation and satisfaction of medical education students).-Theory & Practice in Curriculum Journal

The present study investigates the nature of Iranian student teachers’ reflections and their professional development in the context of teacher education practicums. The participants were student teachers (N?=?41) enrolled in teacher education colleges at Farhangian University in Tehran, Iran. A total of 620 reflective writing excerpts were coded using deductive content analysis across three cohorts in three different practicums during a two-year period. To analyse the data, this study applied a rubric for evaluating student teachers’ reflections developed by Ward and McCotter. The analysis also involved Friedman’s test and follow-up Wilcoxon tests. The results show that routine levels of reflection significantly decreased across the

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to focus on mapping the ways in which HE institutions enhance faculty members’ professional development. More precisely, by introducing a case from one of the well-established universities in Iran, the authors aim to examine the focus of faculty development (FD) activities and how FD is conducted, with a view to shedding light on the challenges of and disparities between faculty roles and areas of FD in higher education (HE) in Iran as a developing country. Design/methodology/approach In order to explore and map the characteristics of FD and analyse the trends that Iranian HE institutions are experiencing in this area, a sequential explanatory multiple sources design, consisting of two distinct phas

Computer-supported collaborative concept mapping (CSCCM) leverages technology and concept mapping to support conceptual understanding, as well as collaborative learning to foster knowledge co-construction. This article investigated the effect of different instructional designs using CSCCM on students' conceptual understanding, and on the type of processes of knowledge co-construction that students engage. Participants (N = 120) were 10th graders enrolled in their physics course, randomly distributed in dyads. They were asked to draw concept maps related to the conservation of energy law, by using CSCCM with different instructional designs (i.e., control, Exp. 1 and Exp. 2). In the control condition, dyads worked collaboratively all the

The present article aimed to compare the effectiveness of two approaches—systematic and constructivist instructional design models—in communicating legal knowledge to students. Three instructional models have been tried in this investigation. Both of them were designed with systematic approach and one of them with constructivism approach. The effectiveness of the two approaches was measured with regard to four variables: learning, retention, satisfaction, and students’ attitude toward the courses. The results indicated that the learning and retention rate, as well as students’ positive attitude toward the courses, were considerably higher in constructivist instructional design models compared to the systematic ones.