Al Ain University of Science and Technology

About: Al Ain University of Science and Technology is a education organization based out in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Higher education & Computer science. The organization has 369 authors who have published 1077 publications receiving 7930 citations.

Do Web 2.0 Applications Enhance Learning in Teacher Education in the UAE? An Exploratory Study

Abstract: This study investigated pre-service teachers' perceptions towards using blog and wiki applications to enhance their learning. It also examined pre-service teachers' perceptions towards the application that is more effective in their learning. The pre-service teachers' suggestions of other web 2.0 applications that can be used to promote learning were also explored in this study. For the purpose of this study, data was collected from 15 pre-services teachers using semi- structured interviews and the analysis of their postings on the blog and wiki platforms. The results revealed that participants perceived blog and wiki as powerful tools to enhance their learning. However, the majority of participants reported that the blog is more effective in learning than the wiki. Further, the study results showed that participants suggested several applications that can be powerful in enhancing learning such as Google Docs, Podcasts, and online forums. The findings of the study were discussed and recommendations for effective use of web 2.0 applications were made.

SIW Cavity Backed Self-Diplexing Tunable Antenna

Abstract: This communication presents a compact quarter-mode substrate integrated waveguide (QMSIW) cavity-backed self-diplexing tunable antenna. An open-ended slot is used to split the circular half-mode SIW (HMSIW) cavity resonator into two QMSIW cavity resonators. A varactor diode-loaded stub is added with each QMSIW resonator to achieve miniaturization and resonant frequency tuning. The miniaturization and tunability technique is demonstrated in a stand-alone QMSIW resonator and also in a QMSIW based self-diplexing antenna. The antenna is simulated, optimized, and subjected to practical testing inside a rectangular device. The device is treated as a quasi-receiver/transmitter, which consists of electronic circuitry and the proposed antenna. The resonant frequencies can be independently tuned by changing the values of the varactor diodes connected with each resonator. The simulated and measured results confirm that the proposed antenna can be tuned from 3.77 to 4.59 and from 4.96 to 6.1 GHz in the lower and higher frequency bands, respectively. The isolation between the two resonators in both bands is always better than 21 dB. The measured gains vary from 4.85 to 5.87 and 4.87 to 6.5 dBi in the lower and higher frequency bands, respectively. The proposed design shows stable and unidirectional radiation patterns in all tuning cases in both bands. The proposed self-diplexing tunable antenna is a competitive choice in compact and spectral-efficient radio frequency (RF) front ends where tuning is necessary for the efficient use of the frequency spectrum.

Highly‐tunable and wide stopband microstrip bandpass filters

Abstract: This paper presents the design of a highly‐tunable single‐ended and balanced filter with improved upper stopband performance. The proposed filters are designed using a spurline and a U‐shaped stepped impedance resonator (SIR) with a varactor diode connected to the open‐circuited end. A spurline is introduced in both designs to achieve wide stopband performance by suppressing the higher‐order modes. The proposed filters have high tunable ranges (single‐ended: 2.35‐3.99 GHz; balanced: 2.39‐4 GHz), low insertion losses (IL) (single‐ended: 0.07‐0.2 dB; balanced: 0.21 to 1.1 dB) and wide upper stopband performance (single‐ended: 3.79f1 with a rejection level higher than 20 dB; balanced: 3.79f1 with a rejection level higher than 20 dB). Performance of both filters are experimentally validated by comparing the experimental results with the simulated ones. Both filters can cover most of the fifth‐generation (5G) wireless communication bands with different biasing voltages (capacitance). When both filters are compared with state‐of‐the‐art filters, the proposed filters are found to achieve high tunable ranges with low IL and wide upper stopband performance.

The first design of a smart hologram for teaching

Abstract: This project aims to provide an innovative tool to ease and enhance teaching methods. The product which this project produces is called Smart Hologram Teaching (SHT). It uses the technologies of Hologram and Hand Gesture Control. Hologram is a very effective way to deliver knowledge to students in a way that encourages students to learn more. Combining Hologram with Hand Gesture Control will create an education solution product which facilitates the interaction between students and the material in hand. The simple hardware parts used in this project will make it feasible to be developed for different areas.

Six Thinking Hats: An Analysis of the Skill Level of Jordanian Vocational Education Teachers and the Extent of Skill Application

Abstract: The study aims at identifying the level of the practising Six Thinking Hats strategy by vocational teachers in Jordan. Further, it aims to examine the relationship between the skill level and the extent to which this skill is used from the students’ point of view. To achieve these objectives, two questionnaires were used, each of which consists of 24 items, four items in each thinking-style category. The 2017-2018 study sample involves four hundred random teachers and students from schools of the North, Central and South regions of Jordan. The study found that vocational education teachers possess very high skills of using the Six Thinking Hats framework and practice them inside the classroom. Moreover, results revealed that there is no difference in the level of possession of this skill between teachers of a different gender. Students did not notice any difference in the way teachers of different genders used this skill in practice. The findings suggest implementing workshops and training courses for teachers to minimise black hat thinking and improve the yellow hat and blue hat thinking skills.