مطالب

Computer technology has provided language testers with opportunity to develop computerized versions of traditional paper-based language tests. New generation of TOEFL and Cambridge IELTS, BULATS, KET, PET are good examples of computer-based language tests. Since this new method of testing introduces new factors into the realm of language assessment (e.g., modes of test delivery, familiarity with computer, etc.), the question may be whether the two modes of computer- and paper-based tests comparably measure the same construct, and hence, the scores obtained from the two modes can be used interchangeably. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate the comparability of the paper- and computer-based versions of a writing test. The data for this study were collected from administering the writing section of a Cambridge Preliminary English Test (PET) to eighty Iranian intermediate EFL learners through the two modes of computer- and paper-based testing. Besides, a computer familiarity questionnaire was used to divide participants into two groups of high and low computer familiarity. The results of the independent samples t-test revealed that there was no statistically significant difference between the learners' computer- and paper-based writing scores. The results of the paired samples t-test showed no statistically significant difference between high- and low-computer-familiar groups on computer-based writing. The researchers concluded that the two modes comparably measured the same construct.

The work of architecture is believed to depend on the governing thought in the process of architectural designing. This thought can be analyzed, developed, experienced, and interpreted. Creativity is the only domineering force in the idea of designing which is in quest for freeing architecture from the routine methods, and also finding the novel systems to answer the questions in architecture. Therefore, a special fixed and stable place is considered for creativity. However, the background and history of research and clash of ideas in recent years explains for the change in reconsidering the general ideas, and interpretations on creativity in the process of designing. Today, the approach that considers the process of designing an outcome of responding to the demand on creativity in architecture through logical and analytic methods is no longer credited. Instead, the process of designing is considered in a creative and intuitive way which is metaphysical rather than argumentative. This change in attitude and the relevant interpretations have introduced clear evidence; however, there remain many questions involving the identity and quality of the creative occurrences in the process of designing. Therefore, the intuitive approaches and interpretations about creativity have been so over generalized and complicated that have left a lot of obscurities behind. This article is an attempt to respond to some of these questions by identifying the ways the intuitive creativity occurs and also to present a descriptive stream in the emergence of creativity which means creating ideas only happen according to intuition.

The present paper aims for the most part to prove the fact that religious and spiritual places and above all, mosques play major roles within Islamic urban areas. They are in fact the basis of civil infrastructures. A historical analysis focusing on where mosques stand in Islamic urban areas reveals that mosques have always been the center of development and growth and that they must be studied as a cultural and historical component of Islamic cities. The study also argues that considering mosques as works of architecture in isolation would be a far cry from reality. There are indisputable ties between mosques and historical –cultural developments in such cities.

Because of the dispersion of activities in big cities, employing highways as the most important connecting way is indispensable. In today world, highways are connection arteries of cities transporting people to their social activities. Because of continual use of highway, their walls prepare a context for conveying many Social, Cultural, Economic, etc concepts. That is why most economic promotions,communication of social concepts and cultural teachings are provided on highways walls and margins.In few recent years, given the same potential, highway walls has created a site for appearance of street art. Street art is demonstration of author’s personal signs on the walls and public places of the city and public audience decode the concepts embeded in the text of that art. Currently Tehran municipality, in a general policy, tried to spread and pay attention to street art particularly in the highways contexts. In this paper, we classify these designs on Tehran highway walls while indicating present examples and interpret the concepts lying in these designs from a semiotic view point.

Looking from an historical perspective, it can be seen that many civilizations have lived in the country and consequently produced many different cultures and architectural products. One of the oldest cities which contain such historical examples which have lived until present is Tabriz. Its traditional houses are the most important places to represent the life style of the past. Lack of recognition and appreciation of these buildings by authorities and the public will gradually lead to their destruction and replacement by contemporary buildings. The present study seeks to introduce specific architectural features of traditional houses in Tabriz. Preservation of the features of these houses helps maintain the architectural heritage and culture of the region. Most old houses in Tabriz were reconstructed at the beginning of the Qajar era after a devastating earthquake in 1780. The destruction caused by contemporary constructions, in the chaos of modern period, makes it difficult for researchers to gather information about the principles of traditional buildings and to identify their typology. The survey is a compilation of a process in the typology of 52 traditional houses of Qajar and Pahlavi periods in Tabriz. The study revealed that it is possible to accomplish the classification of the monuments with the application of a quantification process in which the qualitative data related to architectural elements was successfully converted into quantitative data by assigning numerical values and using coefficients.