The racial role of mathematicians and mathematics in maintaining the Israeli military occupation
| Author | Cont. |
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Jehad Alshwaikh |
Educational Studies in Mathematics (2023) |
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pref.
This essay focuses on the role of mathematics and Israeli mathematicians in serving the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, including east Jerusalem, since 1967. It analyzes recently de-classified Israeli archival documents from the period 1967–1969, including minutes of ministerial meetings that discussed how to control the newly conquered people and land as discussed by Shafer Raviv (Journal of Contemporary History, 55(1), 161–181, 2018 and Middle Eastern Studies, 57(2), 342–356, 2021) as well as mathematical formulas created 40 years later as part of an Israeli policy to restrict food supplies to the Gaza Strip. It sheds light on the way in which mathematicians and mathematics can be employed to maintain and justify a racialized system of control. Drawing on Bonilla-Silva’s (American Sociological Review, 62(3), 465–480, 1997 and Journal of Political Ideologies, 8(1), 63–82, 2003) racialized social systems approach, the essay argues that mathematics and mathematicians professionalize and legitimize the dominant racial discourse in the Israeli military which, in turn, shapes the social and racial discourse in Israeli society that privileges Israeli Jews over Palestinians. |
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Disabled Students at the Palestinian Universities: Birzeit University as a Model
| Author | Cont. |
| Refa’ Ramahi, Ahmad Iftaiha, Ola Khalili |
Education in the Knowledge Society 22(2021) |
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pref. Universities vary in the logistic support they provide for disabled students. At the same time, universities can be a model for the broader society in how they undertake this responsibility and involve this group of people. In this study, we explore how students with disabilities perceive their university life at Birzeit University. This will reflect their relationship to their wider society. We also tried to identify the various challenges faced by disabled students during their university life. Participants’ narratives were used to collect data in focused groups. Data from interviews were transcribed and analyzed following the qualitative approach of content analysis. Results indicated that disabled students at Birzeit University are trying to live as independent students. They believe that their daily experiences are very similar to other students’ experiences at the university. This perception helps them to construct a positive sense of self, which, in turn, encourages them to overcome the social burdens upon them. In conclusion, the interviewees believed that their disabilities are not what identifies them as students. Regarding their relationship to society, the disabled students struggle to change the stereotype that society stigmatizes them as incapable and helpless. The results also indicated that disabled students are distinguished by having the ‘desire’, which is their main motivation to achieve their dreams and challenge their existing stereotyping. They do not give up; they have a strong will and determination to achieve their goals. The study recommends increasing financial and learning support for disabled students and raising awareness of their potential among Birzeit University students. |
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Design, Development, and Implementation of an E-Learning Course: A Case Study Implemented in the COVID-19 Pandemic. (Book Chapter
| Author | Cont. |
| Refa’ Ramahi |
Challenges and Opportunities for the Global Implementation of E-Learning Frameworks Published by IG Global |
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pref. The researcher implemented an e-learning course at the Faculty of Education in Birzeit University that had been designed and developed years earlier. The researcher’s experience as an assistant professorin curriculum and instruction within this university represents a valuable asset which has enabled herto present this research effectively by demonstrating how technological innovation changes the way that universities teach and students learn. The implementation of an e-learning approach within the educational psychology course as a pilot study utilized qualitative methods to investigate the perceptions of students regarding the quality of online education, based on their own online learning experiences. Interviews were conducted with five students. Various digital documents were collected. Positive and negative experiences of students were examined. Factors that contribute to those experiences were also identified. |
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Use of Authentic Material in English as a Foreign Language Classrooms: Challenges, Reasons, Types and Frequency
| Author | Cont. |
| Ghuson Oroog, Anwar Abdel Razeq | Journal of Educational Science (Qatar University) |
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pref. This descriptive analytical research study investigated English as a Foreign language teachers’ attitudes towards the use of authentic materials in their classrooms, reasons for using authentic materials, challenges in using authentic materials, types of authentic materials they use and how often they use such materials. The participants of the study consisted of all 63 grade ten English as a foreign language teachers in one of the school districts in Palestine. The researches collected both qualitative and quantitative data. Qualitative data collected through open-ended questions that ask participants to report on use of, challenges, reasons and frequency of using authentic language in their classes. Quantitatively, a close-ended questionnaire was distributed to all participants. The study concluded the majority of the participants strongly support the use of authentic material in spite of the challenges that they encounter. Approximately 36.5% of the participants reported it is challenging and 44.2 % reported that it is not challenging at all. The factors behind each group’s perspective is discussed in the discussion section. Enriching EFL classrooms and enhancing students’ motivation are some of the reasons behind using authentic material. In addition, the majority supported the frequent use of authentic material depending on students’ English level. Implications for teacher training and classroom instruction are presented and discussed. |
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Kinematics and Accuracy of The Upward Jumping Throw in Handball
| Author | Cont. |
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Iyad A. Yousef ,Hashem.Kilani , Abdulsalam. Al-Za’abic , Jamal Alnuaimid , Laila F. AlKilanie , Waleed M. Shaheen , Sana M. Liftawi , and Tariq. Rajah |
International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change |
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pref. To investigate the effect of using a proposed training program on selected kinematic variables of accuracy of shooting by an upward jumping throw at different backcourts for a school’s team of beginners at Handball. Methods: Ten players were selected from a schools’ team of the Directorate of Education in the Bethlehem Governorate, and they were divided into two groups, 5 experimental and 5 controlled. Two Sony HDR-CX220E cameras (50 images/sec) were used to capture the upward jumping throw in two styles of shooting with a defense wall and without a defense wall. A proposed training program was applied to the experimental group while the controlled group went in to traditional training routine. Pre- & postanalyses were administered using Kinovea software. Results: the proposed training program had a positive effect on the height of the jump and the vertical velocity of the shooter for the experimental group. Accuracy of shooting also improved in the experimental group. A decrease in the values of the kinematic variables of shooting by an upward jumping throw was also found when aiming from the left side in the case of the existence of a defense wall. Conclusion: It is suggested to use the kinematics’ approach when designing the training program. |
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The Role of Sports Rehabilitation Specialist in Elevating the Level of Footballers from the Perspective of the Players in Jerusalem City
| Author | Cont. |
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Waleed M. Shaheen, Iyad A. Yousef. |
Ilkogretim Online - Elementary Education Online |
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pref. To investigate the effect of using a proposed training program on selected kinematic variables of accuracy of shooting by an upward jumping throw at different backcourts for a school’s team of beginners at Handball. Methods: Ten players were selected from a schools’ team of the Directorate of Education in the Bethlehem Governorate, and they were divided into two groups, 5 experimental and 5 controlled. Two Sony HDR-CX220E cameras (50 images/sec) were used to capture the upward jumping throw in two styles of shooting with a defense wall and without a defense wall. A proposed training program was applied to the experimental group while the controlled group went in to traditional training routine. Pre- & postanalyses were administered using Kinovea software. Results: the proposed training program had a positive effect on the height of the jump and the vertical velocity of the shooter for the experimental group. Accuracy of shooting also improved in the experimental group. A decrease in the values of the kinematic variables of shooting by an upward jumping throw was also found when aiming from the left side in the case of the existence of a defense wall. Conclusion: It is suggested to use the kinematics’ approach when designing the training program. |
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Common Sport Injuries Sustained by the Players of the Palestine Team for the Jujitsu
| Author | Cont. |
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Waleed M. Shaheen, Iyad A. Yousef. |
Psychology and Education |
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pref.
The current study aims to recognize the common sport injuries sustained by the players of the Palestinian team for the Jujitsu, the researcher has implemented the study on a sample of 21 athletes, 57.1% of them are male athletes, and 42.9 are female athletes, the questionnaire was used to collect data, and the researcher used the descriptive approach for the study. After the data were collected, the Statistical Package Program (SPSS) was used to analyze the results. The results of the study show that highest percentage of the injuries is for the shoulder joint with 20.9%, followed by thigh with 19.4%, salinity 10.4%, and ribs with 9%. There are also no statistically significant differences on the most vulnerable parts of the body in the Palestinian team for Jujitsu attributed to the gender variable. The most common cause of sports injuries in the players of the Palestine team for Jujitsu was not warm up well ((warm up is not enough)) with a percentage of 31.3% followed by practical over training 16.4%. The study also recommended the importance of rationing training and not excessive training unit, and the need to emphasize that warm up is sufficient and good before the training unit or competition. And the establishment of a file for the players of the Palestine team for Jujitsu, and recording their injuries to know the medical history of the player. |
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Palestinian High School Students’ Attitudes towards Studying English Language and Culture.
| Author | Cont. |
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Neda’ Zayed & Anwar Abdel Razeq |
International Journal of Arabic-English Studies |
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pref.
The following study aimed at investigating Palestinian high School students’ attitudes towards learning English and its culture, and the reasons behind these attitudes in the Palestinian educational context. The study sample consisted of 24 (12 males and 12 females) 9th grade EFL learners. The study followed a qualitative design. Semi-structured interviews were the primary research instrument used to collect data, which was analyzed thematically. The results showed that the social context a learner thrives in partially shapes his/her attitudes and motivation. Even with ideal environments, learners’ differences and personalities are what either keep them motivated or force them to withdraw from the learning process. The results also revealed that learners believe in the importance of learning the English language and its culture. The learners’ level was found to impact their motivation and attitude and a conflict was found between their native culture and the target culture. Moreover, the students expressed their desire to have more exposure to the target culture. Further, as the results showed, parents’ engagement and support, teachers’ support and personality, peer pressure, motivation and anxiety and the status of English as a lingua franca are some of the reasons behind learners’ beliefs and attitudes. The researchers discussed these results and their implications for EFL teachers, EFL curriculum developers, and EFL teacher trainers. |
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The Effect of Reciprocal Teaching on Developing the Reading Comprehension and Reading Strategies of Eleventh Grade EFL Students
| Author | Cont. |
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Oraib Ramadhan & Anwar Abdel Razeq |
Dirasat: Educational Sciences |
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pref.
Reading is a fundamental skill that leaners of English as a foreign language should master. The current study investigated the impact of using Reciprocal Teaching (RT) approach on students’ reading comprehension, students’ use of cognitive and metacognitive reading skills and reading practices. The participants in this study were 165 11th grade female students, distributed into two groups: (Experimental = 84 students) and (Control = 81 students). Four instruments were used to collect the data of the study. A pre/post-test in reading comprehension, five unit tests and a questionnaire. The results revealed a significant difference between the experimental and the control groups in the post‐test and the five units’ scores. It also showed that the effect size of RT on developing the high- order thinking skills was bigger than the effect size on the low-order thinking. The descriptive statistics of the questionnaire responses showed that the experimental group has highly resorted to the Reciprocal Teaching reading strategies in their reading as a result of learning how to use those strategies. The study concluded that reciprocal teaching was a successful method for teaching reading comprehension. It has the potential to skill students with the metacognitive skills necessary to enhance reading with understanding, upgrade their reading skills and improve their attitudes towards reading. |
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Chapter 18: Conflict and Democracy Education In Palestine
| Author | Cont. |
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Maher Hashweh |
In “Educational Scholarship across the Mediterranean: A Celebratory retrospective”. 2021, Brill Publishers |
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pref.
This paper describes the conflict situations that teachers and students faced when a new problem- and case-based approach to democracy education was used in Palestine. The data for the study were six documentary cases written by teachers who participated in the three-year project, supplemented by the observations and interpretations of the author as a participant observer. The study describes how dedicated and tactful teachers generally succeeded to teach democracy in a largely undemocratic context, and shows that teaching democracy in the manner described perturbed the system, and students and teachers were faced with internal and external conflict situations. These conflict situations sometimes facilitated radical change in the knowledge, beliefs, and behavior of teachers and students. The study underscores the importance of internal cognitive and emotional conflict, in addition to external conflict, in learning, as well as draws attention to the dialectical relation between teachers’ efforts to introduce educational change and their own change and professional development |
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Palestinian Mothers’ Perceptions about Online Learning at Public and Private Elementary Schools during COVID-19: Challenges and Recommendations
| Author | Cont. |
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Fatima Khalil Hamad |
Pedagogical Research, 6(3), em0098. https://doi.org/10.29333/pr/11009 |
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pref.
This research study investigated Palestinian mothers’ perceptions about online learning due to the sudden shift to online learning under COVID-19. The study focuses on the time period: March 5, 2020 to August, 2020 before the new school year 2020/2021 began. The primary purpose was to revealthe challenges mothers of children in grades 1-4 faced while helping their children learn at home. The researcher distributed an online questionnaire to a sample of mothers in Ramallah area, Palestine to which 131 mothers responded. Out of that sample, 8 mothers were interviewed. Results indicate that mothers found online learning extremely challenging, especially mothers who worked. Although they realized this was an emergency situation, they recounted a lack of preparation, a lack of technology, ineffective, uninteresting, and demotivating online instruction, and a lack of overall Ministry preparation for such a crisis. Recommendations are offered to minimize such challenges in the future under the same or similar situations. |
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