Predicting factors influencing perceived online learning experience among primary students utilizing structural equation modeling Forest Classifier approach.

Introduction: Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the temporary closure of educational institutions led to the adoption of remote or online learning delivery. Challenges, especially for grade schools were evident. Objective: This study aimed to identify factors affecting the perceived online discussion experience of Filipino primary students through distance learning in the National Capital Region, Philippines. Method: Variables such as cognitive presence, teaching presence, social presence, and online discussion experience were investigated simultaneously by utilizing the structural equation modeling (SEM) and random forest classifier (RFC) approach. A total of 385 currently enrolled Filipino grade school student participants were surveyed. Results: Results show that cognitive presence has the most significant impact on the perceived online discussion experience, followed by teaching presence, and social presence. This study is the first study that analyzed the online discussion experience among grade school students in online education in the Philippines considering SEM and RFC. It was seen that highly significant factors such as teaching presence, cognitive presence, social presence, triggering events, and exploration will lead to high and very high learning experience with grade school students. Conclusion: The findings of this study would be significant for teachers, educational institutions, and government agencies to improve the online delivery of primary education in the country. In addition, this study presents a reliable model and results which can be extended and applied for academicians, educational institutions, and the education sector to develop ways in enhancing the online delivery of primary education worldwide.

Introduction: Au milieu de la pandémie de COVID-19, la fermeture temporaire des établissements d'enseignement a conduit à l'adoption de la prestation d'apprentissage à distance ou en ligne. Les défis, en particulier pour les écoles primaires, étaient évidents. Objectif: Cette étude visait à identifier les facteurs affectant l'expérience de discussion en ligne perçue des élèves philippins du primaire par le biais de l'apprentissage à distance dans la région de la capitale nationale, aux Philippines. Méthode: Des variables telles que la présence cognitive, la présence dans l'enseignement, la présence sociale et l'expérience de discussion en ligne ont été étudiées simultanément en utilisant l'approche de structural equation modeling (SEM) et de Random Forest classifier (RFC). Un total de 385 élèves philippins actuellement inscrits à l'école primaire ont été interrogés. Résultats: Les résultats montrent que la présence cognitive a l'impact le plus significatif sur l'expérience de discussion en ligne perçue, suivie de la présence pédagogique et de la présence sociale. Cette étude est la première étude qui a analysé l'expérience de discussion en ligne parmi les élèves du primaire dans l'éducation en ligne aux Philippines en tenant compte du SEM et du RFC. Il a été constaté que des facteurs très importants tels que la présence d'enseignement, la présence cognitive, la présence sociale, les événements déclencheurs et l'exploration conduiront à une expérience d'apprentissage élevée et très élevée avec les élèves du primaire. Conclusion: En outre, cette étude présente un modèle et des résultats fiables qui peuvent être étendus et appliqués aux universitaires, aux établissements d'enseignement et au secteur de l'éducation afin de développer des moyens d'améliorer la prestation en ligne de l'enseignement primaire dans le monde entier.

Accident patterns and prevention measures for occupational injuries in the Philippine food and beverage manufacturing industry.

BACKGROUND: The manufacturing industry is one of the catalysts for the Philippines. However, this sector is one of the most dangerous industries in the Philippines considering the frequency of occupational injuries. OBJECTIVE: To determine the primary and root causes of recorded accidents, demographics of the person involved, and solutions to prevent the recurrence of certain accidents. METHODS: This study analyzed 185 occupational injury cases in a food and beverage manufacturing company in the Philippines from January to December 2018. A comprehensive classification system was established to examine and code each case in terms of age, gender, working shift, employee type, tenure, department, category, activity during the accident, root cause of injury, injury classification, direct cause of injury, type of injury, part of body injured, agent of injury, and location of the accident. Cramer's V analysis and Phi coefficient analyses were employed on the subject cases to determine the significant factors and the corresponding extent of significance. RESULTS: The results showed that the majority of the occupational injuries were caused by stepping on, striking against, or stuck by objects (77 cases, 41.6%), caught in between (34 cases, 18.4%), fall (34 cases, 18.4%), and exposure or contact with extreme temperatures (24 cases, 13%). Interestingly, female workers who had accidents were more likely due to inadequate hazard information or lack of procedures whereas male workers were more likely due to failure to secure. The prevention measures such as passive safeguards and personal protective equipment, pictograms, and regular safety audits were derived from the results of these analyses. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first comprehensive analysis of occupational injuries in the food and beverage industry in the Philippines. The findings can be applied to positively influence the effectiveness of prevention and rehabilitation programs mitigating workplace injuries and illnesses.

Public utility vehicle service quality and customer satisfaction in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The implementation of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic has affected most businesses worldwide. The transportation business, specifically in the Philippines, has been heavily affected since only the healthcare and essential workers were allowed to leave their homes during the early stage of the pandemic. This paper aimed to explore the service quality of Public Utility Vehicles (PUV) in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic utilizing the SERVQUAL dimensions. A total of 564 participants answered an online questionnaire using the convenience sampling approach, consisting of 58 questions. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was applied to derive the causal relationships between SERVQUAL dimensions, COVID-19 safety protocol, and customer satisfaction simultaneously. Out of the six dimensions, the SEM indicated that COVID-19 protocols, tangibility, and assurance variables were found to significantly affect PUV service quality and thus, customer satisfaction. This study is one of the first complete studies that analyzed the PUV service quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings could provide the government with an evaluation of the compliance of PUVs to the imposed COVID-19 protocols. Furthermore, the framework of this study could also be applied and extended in evaluating PUV worldwide.

The influence of organizational commitment on the perceived effectiveness of virtual meetings by Filipino professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: A structural equation modeling approach.

BACKGROUND: Virtual meetings have been widely utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of organizational commitment on the perceived effectiveness of virtual meeting by Filipino professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A total of 513 Filipino professionals answered an online questionnaire which covered four latent variables: organizational commitment to virtual meetings, attitude toward virtual meetings, perceived effectiveness of virtual meeting as collaboration tool, and perceived effectiveness of virtual meeting as a social tool. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilized to analyze the causal relationships between the latent variables construct. RESULTS: SEM showed that organizational commitment to virtual meeting during the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the positive attitude of the employees which subsequently led to the perceived effectiveness of virtual meeting as a collaboration and social tool. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first study that analyzed the influence of organizational commitment on the perceived effectiveness of virtual meeting during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. Our SEM construct can be applied and extended further, particularly in analyzing factors influencing the perceived effectiveness of virtual meeting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Evaluation of Preference and Perceived Quality of Health Communication Icons Associated with COVID-19 Prevention Measures.

Icons have been widely utilized to describe and promote COVID-19 prevention measures. The purpose of this study was to analyze the preference and subjective design features of 133 existing icons associated with COVID-19 prevention measures published by the health and medical organizations of different countries. The 133 icons represent nineteen different function names, such as "Wash Hands" and "Wear Face Mask". A total of 57 participants were recruited to perform two different tests: ranking test and subjective rating test. The ranking test was conducted to elicit the preference ranking of seven icon designs representing each function name. It was followed by a subjective rating test using 13 semantic scales on the two most preferred icons to analyze their perceived quality. Spearmen correlation was applied to derive the possible correlations between users' rankings and the semantic scales, and Friedman's test was also performed to determine the true difference between ranking in terms of each semantic scale to provide a fully meaningful interpretation of the data. Generally, findings from the current study showed that the image presented in the icon is the key point that affects the icons' perceived quality. Interestingly, Spearman's correlation analysis between preference ranking and semantic scales showed that vague-clear, weak-strong, incompatible-compatible, and ineffective-effective were the four strongest semantic scales that highly correlated with the preference ranking. Considering the significant relationships between the semantic distances and the functions, images depicted in an icon should be realistic and as close as possible to its respected function to cater to users' preferences. In addition, the results of Spearman's correlation and Friedman's test also inferred that compatibility and clarity of icon elements are the main factors determining a particular icon's preferability. This study is the first comprehensive study to evaluate the icons associated with the COVID-19 prevention measures. The findings of this study can be utilized as the basis for redesigning icons, particularly for icons related to COVID-19 prevention measures. Furthermore, the approach can also be applied and extended for evaluating other medical icons.