Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology
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Mathematical Modelling of Typhoid Fever Disease Incorporating Protection against Infection
No full textComputer Modeling for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Curriculum in Kenya: A Simulation-Based Approach to Science Education
No full textDeveloped countries have appreciated the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for scientific and technological development. STEM subjects have been posting low results in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinations over the years and we have linked the deteriorating standards to the inappropriate teaching approaches that mainly tend to be teacher-centered and hence compromising the learner-centered approach. Due to the poor teaching methods, we ought to incorporate simulation in science education to foster good grades and this formed the basis of this research. Computation techniques have been applied in many subject areas in tertiary institutions with promising results that tend to be in agreement with experimental data. Our research is a quasi-experimental study and thus we have employed the Solomon-Four-Quasi-Experimental design that enabled us to involve a comparison between two computational groups and two control groups. The control groups served to reduce the influence of confounding variables and allowed us to test whether the pre-test had an effect on our objective. Purposive sampling technique was used to select three schools (A boy school, a girl school and a mixed sex school). Each school was expected to have a computer for simulation. The three schools were further split into four groups (single boy’s school, single girl’s school, boys from the mixed and girls from the mixed school). Each school provided the form one class and a total of 150 students participated. We taught the concept of the periodic table to all the students, the computational groups were taught using the simulations while the control groups were taught using the regular methodology. After we had taught for a period of one month, all the four groups were tested using a tool verified by Kurder- Richardson 21 Formula and the data analyzed using t-test, ANOVA and Origin 9.0. The results showed that the computation groups posted higher scores in the concept of the periodic table. This research points to the fact that there is an urgent need to re-design the teaching of Science, technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields, by incorporating computation techniques to enhance STEMs.African-German Network of Excellence in Science (AGNES) Grant for Junior Researchers 201
Effect of Cropping System and Variety on the Incidence and Severity of Black Bean Aphid in Western Kenya
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Diversity And Biomass Variation In Masinde Muliro University Of Science And Technology
No full textTree biomass determination has always tended towards a forest centric approach ignoring trees outside forests. They have begun to receive much attention recently. In this study, we sought to determine tree diversity and tree biomass within Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST). 8 quadrats measuring 100m2 were randomly laid in the proposed site for the Botanical Garden. Within each quadrat, the number and species of trees were recorded. Diameter at Breast height (DBH) was measured at 1.3m from the ground. This data was fitted in allometric equations to determine aboveground and below ground biomass. Tree diversity was determined by use of Shannon Weiner index. Correlations between tree species and tree biomass were done to ascertain whether there was a significant relationship. A total of 20 species were identified with Eucalyptus grandis being the most dominant (39.97%). Total tree biomass recorded in the study area cumulatively was 10,977.37kg cumulatively for the 8 quadrats. Tree biomass correlated positively with species diversity (R2=0.78, P<0.001), richness (R2=0.72, P<0.003) and evenness (R2 =0.75, P<0.001) within the quadrats. Tree diversity was exhibited within the study site and biomass estimation revealed variation with richness and diversity
