Mehadi Abdo - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Mehadi Abdo

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of Varying Entry Behaviour on Students’ Academic and Psychological Outcomes in Higher Education: The Case of PPC and FPC Students at Debub University

The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of varying curricular experiences on the psycho... more The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of varying curricular experiences on the psychological well-being and academic achievement of students of higher education in the Ethiopian context. The target population was first-year students who were admitted to the Debub University possessing different entry behaviours. The first group includes those admitted in 2003/4 academic year after two years of pre-university preparatory programs in secondary schools based on the results of the University Entrance Examinations (UEE) (or the PPC group) and the other batch was admitted in 2002/03 based on the ESLCE results (the FPC group). A representative sample was drawn from four randomly selected faculties and colleges affiliated to the Debub University. Data was interpreted using bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses. The results show that PPC and FPC students differed to statistically significant extent in academic self-concept and academic achievement in favour of the latter. However, no variation was found in perceiving the way how their instructors treat them in class. Generally, achievement at the university was significantly predicted (p<.05) by academic self-concept (ASC), perceived instructors treatment (PTT), entry behaviour, and gender. Moreover, majority of the students from PPC group expressed dissatisfaction over their merger with their FPC counterparts ( 2 =48.2, df =1, p<.0001). Implications of the findings for planning instruction in HEIs are discussed. * PPC-Preparatory Program Complete. * FPC-Freshman Program Complete.

Research paper thumbnail of Developing Best Practices for Avoiding Utility Relocation Delays

Construction Research Congress 2005, 2005

Much progress has been made with regard to improving the precision of subs urface utility locatio... more Much progress has been made with regard to improving the precision of subs urface utility location. Recent advances in Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) technology have significantly improved the quality of utility – project design interface. However, utility related delays remain the leading cause of highway construction proj ect delays. Obtaining quality utility location information is obviously important. However this does not address the entire utility delay issue. A significant portion of the utility related delays occur because of delays in relocation activities. A major part of the difficulty appears to be related to the fact that the utility activities are often not a direct part of the highway construction contract. Utilities typically occupy State Highway Agency (SHA) right of way space with some form of lease agreement. Obtaining the required relocations on schedule is problematic. However, some SHAs are making progress in developing innovative contractual and procedural practices to facilitate on time utility relocations. This paper will present the results of a re cent study to identify the current best practices of SHAs and other organizations for managing utility relocation. Innovative contracting practices involving the restructuring of the traditional relocation process will be explored. Details of the best prac tices will be synthesized and presented.

Research paper thumbnail of Teachers of Poor Communities: The Tale of Instructional Media Use in Primary Schools of Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of working conditions at school on teache... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of working conditions at school on teachers' level of instructional media use in the primary school system of Gedeo Zone, southern Ethiopia. The survey was made on a sample of 139 (24.4 % female and male 75.6 %) teachers who were randomly drawn from 9 primary schools (four rural and five urban primary schools). The instruments used to generate data were self-reported questionnaires tapping the level of instructional media use and the associated school-level environmental factors. The findings based on Factor Analysis revealed three independent dimensions of school environment factors related to the use of instructional media by teachers. It is further disclosed that the level of use of instructional media is low with an average frequency of use swinging between once in two weeks to twice in three weeks during four weeks of instruction. The implications of the findings related to pre-service and in-service teacher training are also discussed. Integration of instructional technology in school curriculum believed to bolster the quality of instruction via fostering student-centered pedagogies (e.g.

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of varying entry behaviour on students' academic and psychological outcomes in higher education: the case of PPC and FPC students at Debub University

Ethiopian Journal of Higher Education, 2005

The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of varying curricular experiences on the psycho... more The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of varying curricular experiences on the psychological well-being and academic achievement of students of higher education in the Ethiopian context. The target population was first-year students who were admitted to the Debub University possessing different entry behaviours. The first group includes those admitted in 2003/4 academic year after two years of pre-university preparatory programs in secondary schools based on the results of the University Entrance Examinations (UEE) (or the PPC group) and the other batch was admitted in 2002/03 based on the ESLCE results (the FPC group). A representative sample was drawn from four randomly selected faculties and colleges affiliated to the Debub University. Data was interpreted using bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses. The results show that PPC and FPC students differed to statistically significant extent in academic self-concept and academic achievement in favour of the latter. However, no variation was found in perceiving the way how their instructors treat them in class. Generally, achievement at the university was significantly predicted (p<.05) by academic self-concept (ASC), perceived instructors treatment (PTT), entry behaviour, and gender. Moreover, majority of the students from PPC group expressed dissatisfaction over their merger with their FPC counterparts (2=48.2, df =1, p<.0001). Implications of the findings for planning instruction in HEIs are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of Teachers of Poor Communities: The Tale of Instructional Media Use in Primary Schools of Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of working conditions at school on teache... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of working conditions at school on teachers' level of instructional media use in the primary school system of Gedeo Zone, southern Ethiopia. The survey was made on a sample of 139 (24.4 % female and male 75.6 %) teachers who were randomly drawn from 9 primary schools (four rural and five urban primary schools). The instruments used to generate data were self-reported questionnaires tapping the level of instructional media use and the associated school-level environmental factors. The findings based on Factor Analysis revealed three independent dimensions of school environment factors related to the use of instructional media by teachers. It is further disclosed that the level of use of instructional media is low with an average frequency of use swinging between once in two weeks to twice in three weeks during four weeks of instruction. The implications of the findings related to pre-service and in-service teacher training are also discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of Varying Entry Behaviour on Students’ Academic and Psychological Outcomes in Higher Education: The Case of PPC and FPC Students at Debub University

The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of varying curricular experiences on the psycho... more The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of varying curricular experiences on the psychological well-being and academic achievement of students of higher education in the Ethiopian context. The target population was first-year students who were admitted to the Debub University possessing different entry behaviours. The first group includes those admitted in 2003/4 academic year after two years of pre-university preparatory programs in secondary schools based on the results of the University Entrance Examinations (UEE) (or the PPC group) and the other batch was admitted in 2002/03 based on the ESLCE results (the FPC group). A representative sample was drawn from four randomly selected faculties and colleges affiliated to the Debub University. Data was interpreted using bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses. The results show that PPC and FPC students differed to statistically significant extent in academic self-concept and academic achievement in favour of the latter. However, no variation was found in perceiving the way how their instructors treat them in class. Generally, achievement at the university was significantly predicted (p<.05) by academic self-concept (ASC), perceived instructors treatment (PTT), entry behaviour, and gender. Moreover, majority of the students from PPC group expressed dissatisfaction over their merger with their FPC counterparts ( 2 =48.2, df =1, p<.0001). Implications of the findings for planning instruction in HEIs are discussed. * PPC-Preparatory Program Complete. * FPC-Freshman Program Complete.

Research paper thumbnail of Developing Best Practices for Avoiding Utility Relocation Delays

Construction Research Congress 2005, 2005

Much progress has been made with regard to improving the precision of subs urface utility locatio... more Much progress has been made with regard to improving the precision of subs urface utility location. Recent advances in Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) technology have significantly improved the quality of utility – project design interface. However, utility related delays remain the leading cause of highway construction proj ect delays. Obtaining quality utility location information is obviously important. However this does not address the entire utility delay issue. A significant portion of the utility related delays occur because of delays in relocation activities. A major part of the difficulty appears to be related to the fact that the utility activities are often not a direct part of the highway construction contract. Utilities typically occupy State Highway Agency (SHA) right of way space with some form of lease agreement. Obtaining the required relocations on schedule is problematic. However, some SHAs are making progress in developing innovative contractual and procedural practices to facilitate on time utility relocations. This paper will present the results of a re cent study to identify the current best practices of SHAs and other organizations for managing utility relocation. Innovative contracting practices involving the restructuring of the traditional relocation process will be explored. Details of the best prac tices will be synthesized and presented.

Research paper thumbnail of Teachers of Poor Communities: The Tale of Instructional Media Use in Primary Schools of Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of working conditions at school on teache... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of working conditions at school on teachers' level of instructional media use in the primary school system of Gedeo Zone, southern Ethiopia. The survey was made on a sample of 139 (24.4 % female and male 75.6 %) teachers who were randomly drawn from 9 primary schools (four rural and five urban primary schools). The instruments used to generate data were self-reported questionnaires tapping the level of instructional media use and the associated school-level environmental factors. The findings based on Factor Analysis revealed three independent dimensions of school environment factors related to the use of instructional media by teachers. It is further disclosed that the level of use of instructional media is low with an average frequency of use swinging between once in two weeks to twice in three weeks during four weeks of instruction. The implications of the findings related to pre-service and in-service teacher training are also discussed. Integration of instructional technology in school curriculum believed to bolster the quality of instruction via fostering student-centered pedagogies (e.g.

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of varying entry behaviour on students' academic and psychological outcomes in higher education: the case of PPC and FPC students at Debub University

Ethiopian Journal of Higher Education, 2005

The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of varying curricular experiences on the psycho... more The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of varying curricular experiences on the psychological well-being and academic achievement of students of higher education in the Ethiopian context. The target population was first-year students who were admitted to the Debub University possessing different entry behaviours. The first group includes those admitted in 2003/4 academic year after two years of pre-university preparatory programs in secondary schools based on the results of the University Entrance Examinations (UEE) (or the PPC group) and the other batch was admitted in 2002/03 based on the ESLCE results (the FPC group). A representative sample was drawn from four randomly selected faculties and colleges affiliated to the Debub University. Data was interpreted using bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses. The results show that PPC and FPC students differed to statistically significant extent in academic self-concept and academic achievement in favour of the latter. However, no variation was found in perceiving the way how their instructors treat them in class. Generally, achievement at the university was significantly predicted (p<.05) by academic self-concept (ASC), perceived instructors treatment (PTT), entry behaviour, and gender. Moreover, majority of the students from PPC group expressed dissatisfaction over their merger with their FPC counterparts (2=48.2, df =1, p<.0001). Implications of the findings for planning instruction in HEIs are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of Teachers of Poor Communities: The Tale of Instructional Media Use in Primary Schools of Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of working conditions at school on teache... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of working conditions at school on teachers' level of instructional media use in the primary school system of Gedeo Zone, southern Ethiopia. The survey was made on a sample of 139 (24.4 % female and male 75.6 %) teachers who were randomly drawn from 9 primary schools (four rural and five urban primary schools). The instruments used to generate data were self-reported questionnaires tapping the level of instructional media use and the associated school-level environmental factors. The findings based on Factor Analysis revealed three independent dimensions of school environment factors related to the use of instructional media by teachers. It is further disclosed that the level of use of instructional media is low with an average frequency of use swinging between once in two weeks to twice in three weeks during four weeks of instruction. The implications of the findings related to pre-service and in-service teacher training are also discussed.