National Chengchi University

About: National Chengchi University is a education organization based out in Taipei, Taiwan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & China. The organization has 3465 authors who have published 6342 publications receiving 118821 citations. The organization is also known as: NCCU & Chengda.

Mindful learning: A mediator of mastery experience during digital creativity game-based learning among elementary school students

Abstract: With the mounting empirical evidence of the benefits of mindfulness, the researchers of the present study incorporated mindful learning in digital game-based learning of creativity. A two-phase study was conducted to (1) develop the Inventory of Mindful Learning Experience in Digital Games (IMLE-DG); and (2) develop a training program of the Digital Game-based Learning of Creativity (DGLC), by which the relationship among achievement goal, self-determination, mindful learning, and mastery experience during digital game-based learning of creativity were investigated through experimental instruction. One hundred and eighty-one 3rd to 6th graders were used in the development of IMLE-DG, and 95 3rd and 4th graders were included in the six-week experimental instruction through the DGLC. The results suggest that the IMLE-DG has good reliability and validity. The Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.974 and exploratory factor analysis yielded three factors: curiosity and open-mindedness, attention and grit, and emotion regulation. Confirmatory factor analysis also showed that the three-factor structure was a good-fit model (Goodness-fit-index = 0.913). Moreover, analytical results showed that achievement goal and self-determination influenced mastery experience through mindful learning experience, suggesting that mindful learning is a crucial mediator of mastery experience in digital game-based learning of creativity. With key features of story-based, interdisciplinary, and 3-D design, The DGLC provides an original and valuable vehicle for creativity learning. In addition, the incorporated mechanisms (rewards, free choices, immediate feedback, and peer-evaluation) for enhancing goal achievement, self-determination, and mindful learning shed light on the design of game-based learning and creativity instruction.

Investment Demand and Housing Prices in an Emerging Economy

Abstract: This paper hypothesizes that the increase in money supply induced by rapid economic growth leads to strong investment demand in the Taiwanese housing market. A threshold model is used to confirm money supply as the key threshold variable. When the growth rate of money supply is below the model’s estimated threshold value, household number, income, and user cost of housing capital are significant variables. It appears that service demand and housing supply are essential in creating the linear movement of housing prices. However, when the growth rate of money supply exceeds the threshold value, stock prices and the inflation rate become important. These findings suggest that non-linear movement of housing prices is primarily driven by investment demand.

Productivity and efficiency of state-owned enterprises in China

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the variations in SOE efficiency and productivity from the perspectives of macroeconomic fluctuations and systematic reform in China during 1986–2003. We use Data Envelopment Analysis to measure SOE efficiency. Subsequently, we use the Malmquist Index of Productivity change to measure productivity growth. The empirical results show that SOE efficiency and productivity exhibited obvious improvements during periods of strong systematic reform and a prosperous economy. The systematic reform after 1998 had a clear-cut impact on SOE performance.

Design Thinking and Education

Abstract: This chapter revisits the role of design and design thinking in general and in education in particular. It then suggests a replacement of traditional educational system with a new one where design thinking is integrated as part of the curricular. Acknowledging that the new educational design is a work in progress, this chapter discusses some important dimensions which have surfaced: (1) epistemological concerns with generating useful, practical ideas to resolve real-world problems as opposed to traditional epistemology which takes the view of knowledge as verified truth; (2) based on the three-world ontology developed by Popper (Three worlds. Retrieved 16 Mar 2010 from http://www.tannerlectures.utah.edu/lectures/documents/popper80.pdf, 7 Apr 1978), the new design of education should engage students on all three worlds of reality which allows them to explore different tools and thinking protocols in order to create practical and/or ingenious solutions to resolve complex problems and to fulfill human needs and wants; (3) the need for a review of current pedagogical practices while embracing constructivism where design is deemed as a main pedagogical activity (Kafai, Constructionism. In: Sawyer K (ed) Cambridge handbook of the learning sciences. Cambridge University Press, New York, pp 35–46, 2006); and (4) design thinking useful not only for student learning but also for developing teacher professionalism.