University Botswana Journals
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A Lexicostatistical Study: Phonological Similarity between American and Malawi Sign Languages
Get PDFThis pilot study compared the relationship between American Sign Language (ASL) and the signed language of the deaf community of Malawi. Additionally, this study considered the mutual intelligibility between the two languages. A video recording of signed words, stories, and scriptures being used by children and teachers at the School for the Deaf in the northern region of Malawi was used as a beginning lexical database for this study. From the video, a list of 50 words were placed on a list for comparison and given to deaf signers for analysis. Words were analyzed for similarity on four domains of phonology (hand shape (HS), location (LOC), palm orientation (PO), and movement (MOV)) and then coded. A modified second sample of 50 words was then obtained using the Swadesh list and both lists were then compared. Using the original list, there were similarities between the two languages 39.2% of the time overall. Using the Swadesh list, similarities existed only 32% of the time. In both cases, results from the current study appear to strongly support that Malawian sign language is unique and unintelligible from ASL, despite the potential influence from users of ASL on the signed language of Malawi
PATTERNS OF CLASSROOM INTERACTIONS AND STUDENTS’ REACTIONS TOWARD STUDY BARRIERS IN BIOLOGY LESSONS
Get PDFThe study sought to identify and analyze the classroom interactions and students’ reactions toward study barriers in biology lessons in Ilorin, Nigeria. This study was a descriptive research of the survey type. Intact biology classes of three hundred and twenty-four (324) senior secondary school II students (SSSII) and ten (10) biology teachers participated in the study. The instruments used for data collection were an adapted Flanders Interaction Analysis Categories System (AFIACS) and an Adapted Study Technology System Tool (ASTST). Three research questions were raised and answered from which one research hypothesis was generated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Teacher talk (79.25%) was the predominant pattern of classroom interaction in biology lessons. Lack of Mass was the most frequently encountered study barriers in biology lessons. The misunderstood word was the predominant (48.46%) study barriers in teachers dominated classrooms, while, lack of mass (46.29%) was the predominant study barrier in students’ dominated classrooms. There was a significant difference between the number of study barriers encountered by students under each pattern of classroom interaction during biology lessons (X2 (9) = 405.36, p < 0.05). The study concluded that classroom interaction influences the type of study barriers that students’ encounter during biology lessons. The study recommended that there is a need for biology teachers to involve students more in the teaching and learning process so as to aid student talk classroom interaction pattern and also, take note of the study barriers in the classroom, thereby improving the performance of students
UNPOPULARITY OF DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION AMONG FEMALE STUDENTS AT SECONDARY SCHOOL LEVEL IN BOTSWANA
Get PDFThis case study responds to a growing concern among educationist of the gender imbalance in subject allocation at secondary school level particularly in practical subjects such as Design and Technology (D/T), Art and Home Economic. The focus of this particular study was however in design and technology at senior secondary school level with perspective to investigate the unpopularity of D/T among the female students. The study was carried out at the two senior secondary schools in Botswana and involved teachers and students as participants. Expressly, the study set out to assess the general factors deterring the girl child from selecting D/T as a subject of their choice and to find out why girls doing Design and Technology selected it. Data was collected through interviews and questionnaire. The study found out that there are several factors contributing to the girls attitudes towards Design and Technology such as; Traditional believes, family influence, career influence, personal interest, personal experience and gender. Findings suggest that girls lack career guidance since schools do not provide the services that will encourage them to select practical subjects and this is the reason why we find enrolments dominated by boys in Design and Technology in secondary schools. Based on the findings it was recommended that schools should engage in more robust career guidance to enlighten the girls about male dominated subjects
A Netnographic Analysis of Online Reviews of Restaurant Service in Botswana
Get PDFThis paper re-visits the notion of restaurant service performance in Botswana. The primary point of departure from Manwa’s work is that this paper employs Kozinets’ netnographic procedure to achieve its main objective, of identifying online communities’ displeasure with restaurant services in Botswana. A special emphasis is placed on an a priori coding exercise. The paper specifically analyses 290 TripAdvisor reviews of the restaurant services in Gaborone classified as ‘poor’ and ‘terrible’. The sample comments used, indicate the prevalence of failures in the service delivery system. Gaining knowledge on the types of service failures is necessary when understanding service failure contexts and useful in developing systems for service recovery in Botswana. This paper is therefore valuable as it sets the basis for the recognition of service recovery models that could be appropriate for restaurant diners in Botswana
A State and Corporate Undertaking in Water Supply and Management in Botswana, 1966-2014
Get PDFMany works on the history of water in Botswana emphasize the already affirmed arid status of thecountry, but not how the country’s government with the cooperation of corporate partners has, over the years, confounded the challenge of water paucity to achieve growth and development. This article, based on triangulation methods which take into account both qualitative and quantitative approaches, evaluates hydrological management and water supply in the predominantly water-scarce nation from independence in 1966 to 2014. It contends that post-independence just as pre-independence Botswana faced challenges in water management and supply wrought by desert conditions. However, by 2014 the state was able to turn the challenges into opportunities despite escalating climate change-induced dryness, its own capacity weaknesses and implementation inefficiencies, thus emphasising the point that water insecurity wrought by desert conditions did not always mean lack of development. Why and how post-colonial state officials played a vital role to secure equitable distribution of water for development against the backdrop of water shortages and funding challenges is a critical aspect of this discussion
Developing Batswana Coaches’ Competencies Through the LifeMatters Programme: Teaching Mental Skills Through Games
Get PDFThis study aims to determine if participating in a train-the-trainer version of LifeMatters, a programme combining games and mental skills, influenced the competence, confidence, connections, character, or caring (5 Cs) of sports (e.g. football, athletics, basketball) teachers/coaches in Botswana. Coaches’ perceptions of the programme were also investigated. Coaches (50 males, 12 females, 1 unspecified) in 2015 participated in intensive LifeMatters training. Ages ranged from 24 to 62 (M = 37.63). They completed a pre and post questionnaire measuring the 5 Cs, and a qualitative programme evaluation. Coaches showed significant increases in competence, confidence, and connection. Content analysis classified the 434 qualitative data units obtained from the evaluation of the programme. Skills most frequently mentioned were goal setting, self-confidence, imagery, and relaxation. Additional comments related to beliefs that the programme should be taught throughout Botswana. The coaches felt that LifeMatters was a valuable programme that had a positive influence on their coaching as well as their own lives
MENTORING AS STRATEGY TO IMPROVE FEMALE ACCESS TO SECONDARY SCHOOL LEADERSHIP IN BOTSWANA
Get PDFThere is continuous under representation of women in secondary school leadership in Botswana despite various efforts to empower them. The study focuses on whether mentoring can be used as a strategy to assist female teachers to ascend to leadership positions because there are more female teachers than males teachers, yet there are more male head teachers. The methodology used was qualitative where the primary data was collected through interviewing members of school management teams and representatives from the then Ministry of Education and Skills Development. Secondary data was based on analysis of documentary sources. Participants were purposively selected from ten secondary schools. The findings reveal that informal mentoring is prevalent amongst school managers, that mentoring could be a good strategy that can assist female teachers to ascend to leadership positions. In conclusion the employer needs to develop a mentoring programme that has to be first piloted, while all school management teams should be persuaded to be proactive and encourage mentoring relationships among their staff members. Key words: mentoring, protégé, strategy, empower, female, leadership
THE IMPACT OF THE 2011 PUBLIC SERVICE INDUSTRIAL ACTION IN THE TEACHING AND LEARNING PROGRAMS AT SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN BOTSWANA
Get PDFThe inclusion of the teaching profession in the Public Service Act No. 30 of 2008, contributed to the strike episodes that impacted negatively on the teaching and learning programs in the education system of Botswana. Interviews and participatory observations were used in this study that sought to investigate the impact of the 2011 industrial action by public servants in Botswana schools. The sample was made up of the Ministry of Education officers, school managers, and teachers. Teachers at the selected schools were observed on their participation during general cleaning programs; the effectiveness of the clocking system; the attendance of class teachers during registration in their assigned classes; the participation of teachers during meal times; the participation of teachers during extra-curricular activities, and the participation of teachers during extra-curricular activities. The empirical investigations reveal that the effects of the strike are still being felt in the education system today. It has been found that teachers’ morale and commitment have significantly lowered due to issues relating to pay and working conditions. This research recommends the School Research Evaluation Vanguard Availability Monitoring and Performance (R.E.V.A.M.P.) Model to improve education at secondary schools and in the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD). Key words: Teaching, learning, strike, extra-curricular activitie
SMALL SCALE FARMERS' CLIMATE CHANGE KNOWLEDGE AND COPING STRATEGIES: A CASE STUDY FROM NORTHERN BOTSWANA
Get PDFClimate change induced alterations to rainfall patterns have potential to alter predominantly livelihoodsof small scale farmers in developing countries such as Botswana. The purpose of this study was toexplore climate change knowledge at the local level. Globally, small scale farmers are unable to copewith adverse shocks and stress initiated by climate change. Lived experiences by small scale farmers,from heavy rainfalls due to unexpected weather alterations, are examined through the approach of placebasededucation in northern Botswana, mainly the Okavango and Chobe wetland places. This paper isguided by two questions, which ask (1) How do local farmers describe their local knowledge of climatechange? (2) What are the coping strategies put in place by local farmers during climate stressconditions? Place-based education emphasizes pedagogy that involves local communities’ real worldlearning experiences and reintegration to study local resources. Findings suggested that farmersdescribe climate change knowledge according to how it impacts them within the context of their history,culture and local experiences. In response to impacts, farmers have developed place-based copingstrategies to cushion and sustain their livelihoods
WEBSITE USABILITY FOR TERTIARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN BOTSWANA: AN EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS
Get PDFTechnology has greatly affected people’s ways of life across the globe. Under theeducation sector, technology continues to play a significant role in the curriculum development,thereby, promoting growth in use of the Internet. A further consequence of this development hasbeen an increased the development and ownership of websites by various organizations. Thegrowth of technology around the world has influenced institutions to develop websites of theirown through the Internet, as a way of selling their service to the audience. A website containsunique information that is to be shared to any user having access to it. Across educationalinstitutions, the aim of a website is to provide accurate and up to date information to the lecturers,students, staff, alumni, guests and other users in a well organized and resourceful manner.Tertiary schools in Botswana are amongst the institutions around the world that have realized again in owning a website. The paper sought to analyze the website content of the selected tertiaryschools in Botswana. The aim was achieved by a desktop research where an analysis of onlinecontent of selected tertiary schools’ websites was undertaken. This analysis covered several itemsranging from interactivity, navigation, functionality to site marketing. The results of this studyshow that all of tertiary schools studied have established websites to communicate to a vastaudience. In addition, it has been discovered that some institutional websites are strong on certainfeatures and weak on others