Research in Social Sciences and Technology
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The Fall of the Republic Government in Afghanistan and the Current Taliban Rule: A Survey of Public Attitudes
Full text linkThis paper represents one of the most recent and pertinent studies conducted in Afghanistan, aiming to address the societal imperative of comprehending the factors behind the fall of the Republic government and the subsequent rise of the Taliban to power. Furthermore, the paper seeks to analyse public attitudes towards the current situation. Employing a quantitative approach, the research utilizes a descriptive-analytical method through questionnaires and the participants include social media activist, students and universities professors, the data collected by online survey according WhatsApp, Facebook messengers, telegram, email and other social media groups from different ethnic groups. The findings of this research have identified several pivotal factors contributing to the ascent of the Taliban to power, including the US-Taliban agreement in Doha, Qatar; political disparities; administrative and financial corruption within the Republic's administration; Pakistan's support for the Taliban; the previous government's accord with the Taliban; ethnic dominance; robust military morale of the Taliban; and proficient war management by the Taliban. Afghanistan, as a multi-ethnic society, witnesses political dynamics predominantly rooted in ethnic affiliations. The majority of respondents express dissatisfaction with the current Afghan situation, displaying significant concerns for the populace. Foremost concerns, in terms of prioritization, encompass poverty; closure of girls' schools; restrictions on women's education and employment; escalation of civil unrest; mono-ethnic rule; ethnic conflicts; emergence of ISIS; ethnic marginalization; violations of citizenship rights; political participation and legitimacy crises; and authoritarianism. Consequently, to address the political crisis and establish a viable system, the research concludes that while Pashtuns lean toward a centralized system, Hazaras, Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Turkmens evince greater interest in a decentralized structure
Considering the Advantages and Disadvantages of Utilizing Social Media to Enhance Learning and Engagement in K-12 Education
Full text linkThis paper intends to explore the various ways in which social media can be used to enhance learning and engagement, as well as the potential challenges and risks that may arise. The study focuses on face-to-face formal K-12 education which is a system that generally covers 12 grades including primary and secondary schools. The manuscript provides a comprehensive theoretical literature review of the existing research on the topic, highlighting the main findings and discussing the implications. Social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter have turned into an increasingly prevalent and influential aspect of modern society, and they have also begun to infiltrate the realm of education. However, during this study it has been noticed that there are few studies examining the effects of social media in K-12 education. Namely, some research has been conducted on higher or online education. Accordingly, while there are certainly benefits to applying social media in education, such as the ability to connect with a global network of learners and access to a vast array of information and resources, there are also challenges that must be considered. Thus, the results of this study provide clarification on previous research and lay the foundation for future examinations of the potential advantages and disadvantages of using social media in K-12 education
The Association Between College Students` Participation Behavior and Social Media Use
Full text linkThis paper examines college students` participation behaviors and the use of social media tools. The descriptive survey model was applied to investigate university students` participation behaviors. The data was collected through a “Participation Questionnaire” from 284 college students in Kazakhstan. The result showed that students who spend less time on social media are positively related to participatory citizenship. Moreover, students with fewer social media accounts are more likely to engage in political, volunteer, and social events than students with more social media accounts
Utilizing Blended Learning to Mitigate the Challenges Brought by Natural Disasters in South African Schools
Full text linkThis study investigated the potential benefits and challenges associated with the implementation of blended learning as a strategy for curriculum recovery and enhancement of student performance in Grade 12 science and mathematics education. Blended learning, which combines traditional face-to-face teaching methods with online learning, was recognized for its capacity to address educational difficulties. The research employed a theoretical framework integrating the Technology Acceptance Model and Sociocultural Constructivism theory to examine the viewpoints of teachers regarding technology adoption and the impact of personal and social interactions on learning outcomes. A qualitative interpretive case study design was employed, and interviews were carried out with four science and mathematics teachers. The findings revealed that teachers acknowledged the advantages of blended learning, including its potential to overcome barriers to learning and augment student engagement. However, external challenges about technology infrastructure, limitations of online platforms, and the necessity for professional development were identified. Teachers displayed varying levels of internal challenges, including familiarity and confidence in implementing blended learning. The study underscored the importance of continuous support, infrastructure development, and pedagogical training to effectively integrate blended learning into science and mathematics classrooms. Therefore, by addressing these challenges and capitalizing on the benefits of blended learning, the potential for improving curriculum recovery and enhancing student performance in the face of disruptions caused by natural disasters and other educational obstacles was emphasized
Understanding Curriculum Transformations Towards the Creation of Sustainable Learning Environments: A Posthumanist Reflection
Full text linkThis paper uses posthumanism as the theoretical framing to understand the curriculum transformations towards creating sustainable learning environments at some higher education institutions (HEIs) and the early childhood care and education (ECCE) centres in South Africa. The choice of these two bands in education is necessitated by the fact that curriculum singularities and/or insularities have become obsolete in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath, the calls for decolonization of the curriculum and the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). For example, COVID-19 has demonstrated that the curriculum is best delivered when various actors, different modes of interaction and distributed sites are used to ensure no learner is left behind, irrespective of their station in life. Emphasizing the same notions of multi-layered and multi-perspectival approaches, the calls for decolonization affirm the importance of all canons of knowledge, beyond just the euro-centric ones, as the basis for a transformed curriculum. Furthermore, the 4IR privileges the skills of collaboration and compassion for others as critical in this era. What the article brings forth as the central idea is the primacy of relationalities in the construction of curriculum, hence the identities of learners, students, academics, caregivers, institutions of higher learning and care centres. The above are beyond the deleterious influences of anthropocentrism, hence the Anthropocene, and the individuality of humanism and enlightenment. Creating sustainable learning environments is the primary goal of all curricula across the globe. The challenge thus far has been the curriculum approaches that isolate individuals and/or processes from the stakeholders and role players. Curricula emphasized the lone genius’s power and prowess, relying almost solely on their innate abilities as advised by genetic epistemology; this was despite the incessant caution by socio-culturalism and eco-systemic couplings. The latter advocates for the focus on relationalities as a basis for curriculum quality assurance and its transformations. To evidence the above, this article traces how the scholars and practitioners of the curriculum at HEIs and ECCE in South Africa have shifted focus from an emphasis on isolationism to collaboration and the privileging of relationalities. The article highlights the nature and the specificity of those changes and how they relate to new curriculum experiences. 
Drug abuse: A Hindrance to Optimal Functioning of the Rural Learner’s Cognitive Capabilities
Full text linkThe article investigates four vulnerable learners and their histories of drug misuse in rural schools. The purpose of this study was to conduct a situational analysis with a view to understanding the current drug abuse situation in Zimbabwean rural schools and giving some recommendations on what needs to be done to lessen its effects. The study's mode of investigation was qualitative. As means of gathering data, focus groups and participatory research were used. The participatory research design employed by the study unearthed evidence that indicates that drug abuse has an adverse effect on a learner’s cognitive optimal functioning both in the community and school contexts. The study's findings point to the necessity of teaching parents how to prioritise their responsibilities and liberate them from the mental poverty they currently experience, which is a societal construct that keeps them from finishing their work with their learners. The study further found out that the absence of guidance and counselling exposes learners to more drug abuse cases and culture, thus having a two-pronged impact on the optimal functioning of rural learners. The study makes some recommendations for how the school and the community should work together and coordinate their efforts to manage the experiences of vulnerable students in order to achieve cognitive optimal functioning for rural learners in Zimbabwe
First Year University Students` Use of Words, Symbols and Images to Convey Mathematical Ideas: A Case of Definitions
Full text linkThis qualitative case study analysed how first year university mathematics students used words, images and symbols to convey the same mathematical ideas. The study was located within the interpretivist paradigm and took naturalistic methodology. Twenty six first year students were purposefuly selected to participate in the study. Data was collected through analysing students’ assignments scripts followed by semi-structured interviews. The study sought to answer the questions: How did the first year university students` use of words, symbols and images to convey mathematical ideas. The data were analysed using Lave and Wenger`s (situated learning and Seo ` mathematical communication theories. Data analysis focused on the structure and usage of symbols, images and words to commucaite mathematical idea. The results of the study shows that the students experienced difficulties in using words, images and symbols to communicate the same mathematical idea. There was contradictions meanings between images, words and symbols usage in attempt to define same concept. It is recommended that encouraging studets to wave between words, symbols and images to communicate mathematica concepts will improve understanding of mathematical concepts. First year university mathematics teachers are encouraged to not only used one method of mathematical communication when definining concepts. Moreover, it is recommended that formal mathematics definition be used after students graps the meaning of concepts using everyday day words and images. The abstractness should only follow after the difinitions are understood intuitively and can be represented diagrammatically or with images
Pondering Collaborative School Board Roles in Alleviating Dropout among Learners with Physical Disabilities in Schools
Full text linkThe present paper explores collaborative school board roles in alleviating dropout among Children with Physical Disabilities (CwPDs) in primary schools in Lesotho. An interpretive approach with a qualitative case study design provided insight into how school board members interpret and understand their roles and responsibilities and shed light on school boards' strategies to alleviate dropout of CwPDs. In-depth individual interviews were conducted to obtain rich and accurate data from 10 participants from two purposively selected mainstream primary schools. Bronfenbrenners' bio-ecological systems theory and Telford's collaborative leadership theory were used in the study. Through a process of thematic analysis, apparent themes emerged. Findings reveal that many school board members lack the necessary knowledge and skills to address the needs of CwPDs. The research concludes that CwPDs drop out of school because of poor infrastructure, ineffective collaboration, and unclear school policies. It is recommended that through forging collaboration between school board members and other role players, a transformation of policies, in-service training for school boards, and raising disability awareness and dropout among CwPDs can be better alleviated
Training, Remuneration and Teamwork as Predictors of Job Performance of Employees: An Insight from National Examinations Council, Nigeria
Full text linkThe impact of training, remuneration, and teamwork factors on job performance has been affirmed in the literature. However, not all organizations devote efforts to these critical variables of performance, which has led to employees' poor job performance. Hence, this study examined the influence of training, remuneration, and teamwork factors on job performance among employees of the National Examinations Council (NECO) of Nigeria. The study was located within a positivist paradigm that adopted a descriptive survey design. A purposive sampling technique was adopted in selecting 140 NECO employees, and a random sampling technique was employed to select 100 respondents from the total population of 1000 secondary school registrars. One research question was answered, while four hypotheses were tested in the study. Two research instruments were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using frequency count, percentage, Pearson product-moment correlation, and multiple regression statistical tools. The result showed that NECO employee job performance is excellent. There was a significant relationship between remuneration and job performance (R=0.864 (Sig, .023). There was also a significant relationship between teamwork and job performance R=2.072 (Sig, .022). In addition, a significant relationship existed between training and job performance R=1.143 (Sig, .008), and the combination of the independent variables is effective in predicting employee job performance (F(3,136 ) = 9.224, p< 0.05). Based on the result of the study, it was concluded that the independent variables are critical factors in determining the job performance of NECO employees in Oyo state, Nigeria. Hence, it was recommended that all these factors be given deserved attention and taken seriously by the management to get the best out of its employees
Mathematics Online Baseline Assessment: Senior Phase First-year Student Teachers’ Views
Full text linkProblem-solving and enquiry-based learning are integral in the Mathematics and Science curriculum in South Africa through online-based assessment. Online assessment has rapidly gained recognition because of technology. In this paper, the authors explored the views of online baseline assessment among Senior Phase First-year Mathematics Student Teachers. The researchers adopted a qualitative research method. Data was collected from the participants using an online Google form developed into a questionnaire. The participants in this study were first-year students enrolled for the Bachelor of Education in Mathematics at a university in a rural province of South Africa. The first-year student teachers were exposed to the senior phase baseline assessments through the licensed online Computer Aided Mathematics Instruction (CAMI) tool. One hundred and sixteen (116) senior-phase student teachers completed the online questionnaire. This study used convenience sampling since it was the most appropriate method to conveniently invite the participant. The findings revealed that first-year student teachers were enthusiastic and motivated to write the baseline assessment on computers for the first time. The result also showed that several first-year student teachers experienced difficulties solving mathematics problems using computers. This study recommends more intensive research on student teachers' views on online assessment regarding gender and time