Students Attitudes

This paper investigates the predicators of retail banking customers’
attitude towards the adoption of Internet banking services in South
Africa. This study extended the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)
by including trust, subjective norm and demographic variables, and
presents an empirical validation in South Africa. The results suggest that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and trust have signifi cant positive relationships with attitude, while subjective norm has a
relationship with attitude, albeit a moderate relationship. Consumers’
trust of the Internet banking system emerged as the strongest predicator of their attitude, while demographic variables were found
to be weak and poor predictors of customers’ attitude. Moreover,
the results indicated that, even though customers are sceptical of the
Internet banking system, they intend to start using/continue using the
service. The managerial implications of these findings on efforts aimed at increasing the adoption of Internet banking use among retail banking customers in South Africa and others operating in similar contexts are noted in this paper. This research also adds value to existing studies of Internet banking in South Africa. Moreover, it makes a contribution to the current literature on customers’ attitude towards Internet banking services, which is largely under-researched in South Africa

The dental profession has a high risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) contamination and can play a crucial role in controlling HBV cross-contamination. In this cross-sectional study we used unique methods to assess Tehran dentists' knowledge, attitude and behaviour regarding HBV. Two simulated HBV-positive patients visited 300 general/specialist dentists in their offices and recorded dentists' willingness to treat them. Later, the dentists were interviewed regarding their knowledge about hepatitis B and attitude to HBV-positive patients. The mean knowledge score of dentists was 14.3 (SD 6.9) out of 44 and the mean attitude score was 20.0 (SD 3.6) out of 39. A majority of dentists (55.6%) were willing to treat a patient with HBV, unconditionally or with conditions. Some individual attitude items correlated with knowledge items concerning transmission of the virus and its prevention. Dentists' willingness to treat patients did not correlate with knowledge or attitude, except for the attitude item on concern about becoming infected.

Connaissances et attitudes des dentistes de Téhéran par rapport à l’hépatite B et disposition de ces derniers à traiter des patients déclarant une infection fictive à l'hépatite B.

La profession dentaire est à haut risque de contamination par le virus de l'hépatite B et peut jouer un rôle crucial dans la lutte contre la contamination croisée par ce virus. Dans cette présente étude transversale, des méthodes uniques ont été adoptée pour évaluer les connaissances, les attitudes et les comportements des dentistes de Téhéran vis-à-vis du virus de l'hépatite B. Deux patients déclarant une infection fictive par le virus de l'hépatite B ont rendu visite à 300 dentistes spécialistes ou généralistes sur leur lieu d’exercice et ont pris note de leur disposition à les traiter. Dans un deuxième temps, les dentistes ont été interrogés sur leurs connaissances en matière d'hépatite B et leur attitude vis-à-vis des patients infectés par le virus. Le score moyen des dentistes pour les connaissances était de 14,3 (ET 6,9) sur 44 tandis que le score moyen pour l'attitude était de 20,0 (ET 3,6) sur 39. La majorité des dentistes (55,6 %) étaient disposés à traiter un patient infecté par le virus de l'hépatite B, avec ou sans conditions. Certains items concernant l'attitude individuelle étaient corrélés aux items concernant les connaissances relatives à la transmission du virus et sa prévention. La disposition des dentistes à traiter des patients infectés n'était pas corrélée aux connaissances ni à l'attitude, à l'exception de l'item concernant l'attitude relative à la crainte de contracter l'infection.

The changes in technology over the past twenty years have had both profound and pronounced effects on the way in which we communicate. The impact of word-processing, social media, internet communication, etc. is being felt in virtually every aspect of human life. This study researches the impact of multiple aspects of such technology on student motivational attitudes and seeks to see how virtual environments in the online component of a blended classroom can have a positive impact on student engagement. An advanced class of ESL learners was surveyed on their engagement with the class through the online component, the Moodle Course Management System (CMS), and the results were analyzed within the context of the students’ self-reported sense of engagement. The results indicate that students in the digital native generation sense increased motivation when practicing communication using online resources and consequently increase their length of exposure to language, leading to increased opportunities to practice and thus, when in a rigorously designed and supported learning environment, have significantly more opportunities to increase linguistic fluency and competence.

Introducción: Cuidar a personas con VIH supone un ejercicio de reflexión y autoanálisis en relación con las propias creencias al respecto. Junto con los valores personales y sociales, las creencias de los futuros profesionales de enfermería cobran un peso especial en el ámbito de las enfermedades estigmatizadas, como es el caso de la infección por el VIH, que puede tener un impacto directo en los cuidados de enfermería. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer el significado supuesto de vivir con el VIH entre los y las estudiantes de enfermería, y acercarse así a las creencias subjetivas del grupo.
Metodología: Estudio cualitativo fenomenológico. Recogida de datos mediante fotografías y relatos reflexivos.
Resultados: Ser portador o portadora del VIH supondría un cambio de vida asociado a enfermedad y al miedo al rechazo social. Emerge la sensación de dificultad para planificar el propio futuro, que genera incertidumbre. Se observa cierto contenido de esperanza y de posible cambio social con el paso del tiempo.
Conclusión: La posibilidad de adquirir el VIH resulta una experiencia negativa, asociada aún a vivencias influenciadas por tiempos pasados. Es necesario fomentar formas de expresión que faciliten visibilizar los procesos internos de las opiniones adquiridas, así como invitar al debate y a la permeabilización a otras miradas que puedan tener un impacto, directo o indirecto, en los cuidados de enfermería.

En el trabajo se presentan los resultados de un estudio descriptivo realizado por estudiantes de la asignatura Bioética durante el semestre II-2007. El objetivo fue fortalecer la capacidad de acción sociomoral de los estudiantes mediante la exploración de una situación social de su interés, con miras a proponer acciones para mejorarla. Se estudió la distribución de uso del tiempo por parte de estudiantes de las Facultades de Ciencias y de Ciencias Jurídicas y Políticas de la UCV. Los datos se recolectaron en una muestra de 60 estudiantes; con predominio de género masculino (66%); edad promedio de 21,4 años (32% <19 años); la mayoría cursantes del 5to semestre y con 15 o más créditos de carga académica. La mayoría de los encuestados (65%) manifestó llegar a las 7am a la Facultad y salir después de las 5pm, llamando la atención que 30% de ellos expresó permanecer más de 4hd en actividades no vinculadas a clases.  En cuanto a la utilización diaria del tiempo, los estudiantes refirieron utilizar 6,5 +2,5 hd en clases; 3+4hd en trabajo asalariado; 2,1+1,6hd en distracciones; 3,5+2,3hd en estudio fuera de la Facultad; 2,3+1,3hd en arreglo personal y 7+2,2hd en descansar (38% duerme <6hd) y 2+1,6 hd en trasladarse hacia y desde la Facultad. En el trabajo se analiza la posibilidad de organizar en la Facultad de Ciencias algunas actividades que pudieran desarrollarse con los estudiantes en el tiempo no utilizado en clases para favorecer su desarrollo personal integral

I was invited to this Penn State University conference to present the findings of a survey I conducted with a committee of the undergraduate student government at Penn State that examined undergraduates' views on textbooks and Online Educational Resources.

This paper presents an educational experience with 100 student teachers from different courses of the University of the Balearic Islands (Spain) in which Twitter is used for various different activities. The aim of this experiment was to explore student teachers’ perceptions in order to value their attitude towards Twitter for educational aims. Afterwards, students were asked to write down their reflections on an eportfolio. Data was collected from their eportfolio evidence, which was analysed to review their attitude towards the use of Twitter for educational purposes and for their future teaching and professional development. The conclusions indicate the need to conduct different educational activities in which Twitter is used in various ways. In addition, conclusions reflect on the real impact of Twitter on students’ learning enhancement, in order to improve student teachers’ attitudes towards the social media in education. Therefore, this article contributes to the body of existing research on the use of technology in education, specifically to the possibilities of the use of social media and microblogging in Teacher Education.

Students tend to have stereotypical views of scientists and tend to see science as a unique activity performed by special people.  This stereotypical view of scientists is associated with a negative attitude toward learning science.  In this chapter, we examine students’ attitudes toward scientists from both a theoretical and practical perspective.  Students’ attitudes towards scientists are explored through a study on the impact of an after-school robotic competition.  Secondary students participated in a robotics competition where they worked with scientists to design and build a robot to perform a specific task.  Students’ attitudes toward the scientific process and attitudes toward scientists were measured using the Test of Science Related Attitudes (TOSRA).  Students who participated in the robotics competition were compared to students in the same schools who did not participate in the robotics competition.  Results indicated that students who participated in the robotic competition had a more positive attitude toward scientists and science. The robotics competition appears to have helped students see science as a normal activity and it appears to have helped students see scientists as normal people, although students still retained the view of scientists as stereotypical smart people referred to as “nerds.”  The theoretical and practical implications of results for teaching science are discussed. 

As shown in the previous chapters, informal learning manifests itself in a variety of ways. This is especially true with science and engineering. In this chapter, we will explore how robotics competitions build awareness and interest in science and engineering in middle and high school students by providing challenging and engaging learning opportunities in a setting that inspires students to pursue careers in science and technology in the same way professional sports inspires young people to pursue careers as professional athletes. We will then examine how the competitions engage students in the engineering design process and in the application of mechanical and electrical engineering skills. The chapter ends with
a discussion of how participation in robotics competitions goes beyond just
building robots by showing the impact of these competitions on the development of
21st century skills, such as creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, and communication and collaboration.

Multimodal Learning. Evaluating Attitudes Towards Clipflair Language Learning Platform
Cristina Varga, Anamaria Bogdan
Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca,


Society is changing at a fast pace. Social network and Internet based teaching and learning are increasingly used in classroom. With the rapid development of technology, there is a gradual shift from the traditional learning environment to the cloud-based learning environment in the process of learning.

This paper reports on a study conducting qualitative and quantitative research methods to examine the reception and to investigate the attitudes of Romanian students toward Clipflair language learning platform. To that end, a survey was conducted to examine university students’ perceptions and attitudes about using this innovative method of learning foreign languages. Results of the study demonstrated that the surveyed students stated that they use in general social networking to improve their language, their communication skills, and to learn new languages. Results of the study also suggest that students consider revoicing and captioning a productive and motivating way to learn languages. The variety of AV materials, the cultural aspects of the communication, and the interactive method of work are elements which has been given a generally positive reception. The suggestions of the students in relation to the design and the implementation of Clipflair online platform were taken into account and discussed in the paper.

Methodologically, the paper is based on a questionnaire survey of a relevant group of 150 Romanian students.

The researchers believe the results obtained from this investigation to be beneficial in terms of identifying the needs of the students in the use of Clipflair learning platform upon their feedback. This will allow the teachers to adapt Clipflair activities and to improve the use of the cloud-based platform in classroom in order to ease the access for the learners on the platform.