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1 – 10 of 21Aaron Pun and Ivor Thomas
The use of andragogy and action learning as a basis for trainerdevelopment in a university setting is discussed. The authors discusslimitations of traditional teacher‐led ways of…
Abstract
The use of andragogy and action learning as a basis for trainer development in a university setting is discussed. The authors discuss limitations of traditional teacher‐led ways of learning and the contrasting assumptions of modern adult learning methods. They go on to describe the rationale, design, implementation and outcomes of a programme designed on such methods.
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The article discusses the design, implementation, outcomes andpossibilities of a professional trainers′ postgraduate developmentprogramme offered by the University of East Asia…
Abstract
The article discusses the design, implementation, outcomes and possibilities of a professional trainers′ postgraduate development programme offered by the University of East Asia and leading to the University of Manchester′s Diploma in Training and Development. Participants are guided through a learner‐centred process in which they select their own learning goals and evaluate their own learning experience. Learning outcomes were traced through observation, interviews and follow‐up discussions and participants were asked to give feedback, anonymously, after completion of the programme. While participants saw the value of this manner of learning and their achievements were encouraging, their learning preference was basically teacher‐centred and so the action learning approach met with some resistance.
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The effect of cultural background on the learning behaviour ofChinese managers undertaking management development programmes ofWestern origin is addressed. The differences in…
Abstract
The effect of cultural background on the learning behaviour of Chinese managers undertaking management development programmes of Western origin is addressed. The differences in attitude and approach to learning between managers from the West and Chinese managers are examined.
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Man has been seeking an ideal existence for a very long time. In this existence, justice, love, and peace are no longer words, but actual experiences. How ever, with the American…
Abstract
Man has been seeking an ideal existence for a very long time. In this existence, justice, love, and peace are no longer words, but actual experiences. How ever, with the American preemptive invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq and the subsequent prisoner abuse, such an existence seems to be farther and farther away from reality. The purpose of this work is to stop this dangerous trend by promoting justice, love, and peace through a change of the paradigm that is inconsistent with justice, love, and peace. The strong paradigm that created the strong nation like the U.S. and the strong man like George W. Bush have been the culprit, rather than the contributor, of the above three universal ideals. Thus, rather than justice, love, and peace, the strong paradigm resulted in in justice, hatred, and violence. In order to remove these three and related evils, what the world needs in the beginning of the third millenium is the weak paradigm. Through the acceptance of the latter paradigm, the golden mean or middle paradigm can be formulated, which is a synergy of the weak and the strong paradigm. In order to understand properly the meaning of these paradigms, however, some digression appears necessary.
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Winston G. Lewis, Aaron O. Ameerali and Kit‐Fai Pun
This paper explores innovative manufacturing processes, which can be used to manufacture the national musical instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, the Musical Steel Drum or Steel…
Abstract
This paper explores innovative manufacturing processes, which can be used to manufacture the national musical instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, the Musical Steel Drum or Steel Pan. The main manufacturing process used today is the manual hand‐forming technique. In order to achieve more consistent and deeper formed components while maintaining the high quality of the instrument, it is proposed that the Marforming process and the Flow‐forming process, and adaptation of the Spinforming process, be used more frequently in the future to replace the traditional Hand‐forming method. In the traditional Spinforming technique material is pushed from the outer circumference of the metal disc to the center in progressive passes of the former. This results in a thinning of the outer region of the formed component with thickening of the center, however the opposite is required for the musical steel drum and by adapting the process the required strain distributions were achieved. Evaluation took the form of strain analyses of pre‐formed steel drums and visual inspection of the quality of the surface finish. It was found that the Marformed components had the smallest range of strain values while the Spinformed components had the largest range.
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Aaron Cohen and Mohammad Abedallah
This study aims to examine the relationships between personal (emotional intelligence, Dark Triad (DT), core self-evaluation and burnout) and situational variables (organizational…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the relationships between personal (emotional intelligence, Dark Triad (DT), core self-evaluation and burnout) and situational variables (organizational justice) and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) (supervisor report) and counterproductive work behavior (CWB) (self-report).
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 680 questionnaires were distributed to teachers in 20 Arab elementary schools in Northern Israel. Usable questionnaires were returned by 509 teachers (75%). The questionnaires covered emotional intelligence, DT, core self-evaluation, organizational justice, burnout, CWB and demographic characteristics. Their principals filled out questionnaires on the teachers’ in-role performance and OCB.
Findings
Results showed that CWB was mostly related to higher levels of psychopathy, lower levels of emotional intelligence (ability to use emotions) and higher levels of burnout (emotional exhaustion). OCB was related to higher levels of procedural justice, lower levels of burnout and higher levels of emotional intelligence.
Practical implications
Organizations should consider ways to reduce burnout, which may reduce CWB and increase perceptions of justice, thereby promoting OCB.
Originality/value
Two novel aspects are noteworthy. First, this study simultaneously examines both CWB and OCB to clarify the similarities and differences between them. Second, few studies have examined the correlates of CWB and OCB in Arab culture.
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Juan D. Gomez, Guido Bologna and Thierry Pun
The purpose of this paper is to overcome the limitations of sensory substitution methods (SSDs) to represent high-level or conceptual information involved in vision, which are…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to overcome the limitations of sensory substitution methods (SSDs) to represent high-level or conceptual information involved in vision, which are mainly produced by the biological sensory mismatch between sight and substituting senses. Thus, provide the visually impaired with a more practical and functional SSD.
Design/methodology/approach
Unlike any other approach, the SSD extends beyond a sensing prototype, by integrating computer vision methods to produce reliable knowledge about the physical world (at the lowest cost to the user). Importantly though, the authors do not abandon the typical encoding of low-level features into sound. The paper simply argues that any visual perception can be achieved through hearing needs to be reinforced or enhanced by techniques that lie beyond mere visual-to-audio mapping (e.g. computer vision, image processing).
Findings
Experiments reported in this paper reveal that the See ColOr is learnable and functional, and provides easy interaction. In moderate time, participants were enabled to grasp visual information of the world out of which they could derive: spatial awareness, ability to find someone, location of daily objects and skill to walk safely avoiding obstacles. The encouraging results open a door toward autonomous mobility of the blind.
Originality/value
The paper uses the “extended” approach to introduce and justify that the system is brand new, as well as the experimental studies on computer-vision extension of SSDs that are presented. Also, this is the first paper reporting on a terminated, integrated and functional system.
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Theoretical reconstruction for the sake of deeper and clearer understanding of an important theme in classical philosophy (aporia/euporia)
Abstract
Purpose
Theoretical reconstruction for the sake of deeper and clearer understanding of an important theme in classical philosophy (aporia/euporia)
Methodology/approach
Logical critique (and reconstruction); aporetic and euporetic logic.
Findings
Using key texts by Plato and Aristotle on aporia and euporia, I attempt to show that Derrida’s, and more broadly deconstructive, readings are problematic and require careful and critical reconsideration.
Research limitations
A full account of aporia in the work of Derrida is beyond the scope of the paper – so too is a full account of aporia and euporia in the works of Plato and Aristotle.
Practical implications
The paper has important implications in terms of our reading and interpretation of important classical texts such as Aristotle’s Metaphysics.
Originality/value
The paper builds on important research by philosophers like Matthews and on the nature and role of aporia in classical philosophy, just as it extends the author’s own critique of deconstructive appropriations of aporia. It argues for the importance of reconstructing our understanding of aporetic and euporetic thinking in order to see it more clearly especially in its classical forms, contexts and frameworks.