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Emerging Learning Perspectives: Technology as the driving force
Get PDFThe great advances in information and communication technology (ICT) have made it possible for
individuals to live, learn, work, communicate and undertake leisure activities in a different and better
way. In addition, the current world order requires quality systems which are efficient, accurate, and
fast for operation and service delivery. For this reason, technologies and especially the ICTs open up new horizons that provide avenues and strategies leading to the emergence of new perspectives and approaches. In education, some of the emerging perspectives considered in the paper include: the changing learning environments, learner profiles, and roles of the teacher; adoption and integration of educational technologies; emphasis on quality; and the institutional ranking systems. Technology isbeing used to enhance learning as well as facilitate teaching in the classroom and virtually at a distance across all disciplines and levels. The impact of technology on the quality of education delivery has been tremendous. The development of self -learning instructional materials and use of learner/content management systems through blended and e-learning have enhanced the quality, structure, delivery, monitoring, evaluation, flexibility and access to content. By levering into the multiple technological tools that are available for teaching and learning today, we are better equipped to enhance learning and teaching at the same time. However, despite the positive impact, there are issues and challenges which must be addressed, ranging from costs associated with development and maintenance of infrastructure, sustainability especially with the high rate of obsolescence and training of staff to acquire the appropriate skills, to changing the mind-set of those responsible for the provision of education to accommodate and appropriately invest in emerging trends. Examples used in the paper are drawn mainly from our experiences through interactions with colleagues from different institutions and within our work environments.
Key words:Education technology, Quality, Emerging perspective
The Silver Cyprinid Rastrineobola Argentea as the main diet source for rearing Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes
Get PDFBackground & objectives: All organisms that are cultured for laboratory bioassays need food for sustenance and amplification of the colony to such numbers that would not compromise the progress of the research at hand. For effective turnover rate in the population generation, the diet should be such that it is readily available and provide adequate nutrients to the organisms.
The aim of this study was to test and evaluate the efficacy of Rastrineobola argentea as a diet source for rearing Anopheles arabiensis Patton mosquitoes for research. Methods: Crushed fish, Rastrineobola argentea and two other commercial larval feeds (Tetramin Baby fish food and baker’s yeast) were compared for their efficacy as diet sources for feeding Anopheles arabiensis mosquito larvae. The effects of these diet types were determined against fecundity, size, longevity and male mating competitiveness. Results: Mosquitoes raised on Tetramin Baby fish food laid larger egg batches (66.45 ± 5.03 mm) as compared to crushed fish (64.86 ± 4.93 mm) or bakers’ yeast (50.49 ± 4.25 mm). However, the number of eggs laid by the mosquitoes irrespective of the diet type did no differ significantly (p < 0.132). Mosquitoes raised on Tetramin Baby fish food were larger in size (3.06 ± 0.02 mm) as compared to those raised on crushed R. argentea (2.93 ± 0.01 mm) or baker’s yeast (3.00 ± 0.02 mm). The choice of diet was found to influence both mosquito size (p < 0.001) and fecundity (p < 0.013). Conclusion: This study found that crushed R. argentea is an effective mosquito larval diet and that it has the potential of being more effective than tetramin if refined further and supplements added.
Keywords Rastrineobola argentea; Anopheles arabiensis; Fecundity; Longevity; Eclosio
Pregnant Women’s Energy Consumption and Weight Gain: The Perspective of a Rural Community at Rongo District Kenya
Get PDFWomen in poor rural communities often consume diets that are deficient in energy. Maternal
malnutrition continues to be a global problem. Population studies indicate that kilocalorie intake is
usually less than recommended and pregnant women often do not show a significant augmentation in energy intake. The prevalence of chronic malnutrition is reflected in the high incidences of maternal deaths, increased risk of disease, and lower pregnancy weight gain. Low rates of gestational weight gain increase the risk of low birth weight infants and shorter gestations and from an international health perspective, birth weight is the most readily available index of pregnancy outcomes. This study investigated women’s socio-demographic factors, energy intake, and and their influence on gestational weight gain among pregnant women attending Rongo Sub-District Hospital. Objectives of the study included determining socio-demographic factors, energy intake, assessing weight gain, and testing for relationships between energy intake, maternal variables and weight gain. The study adopted longitudinal design and comprehensive sampling was used to select a sample of 100 pregnant women. Data was collected by use of structured questionnaires, observation, 24- hour recall and food weighing techniques. Data was analyzed by SPSS and dietary data by use of Nutri-survey. Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient was used to test for significant relationships and t test for significant difference between mean of nutrients. Daily energy intake was found to be 1436.42 ± 421 Kcal/ day. Mean weight gain was 245.9±201std g/week and was higher for women with lower weight. The study found a significant relationship between energy intake and gestational weight gain (P≤ 0.05) and suggested possible confounding with certain socio-demographic factors. The pregnant women consumed fewer calories than the recommended levels. The study fills the knowledge gap, benefits future research work, government departments, NGOs, the community and pregnant women. The government and NGOs need to monitor gestational weight gain more closely in order to provide counselling as well as nutritional support to pregnant women
Perception of Constructivist Learning Environment: Gender and School Type Differences in Siaya County, Kenya
Get PDFAims: The study aimed at investigating gender and school type differences in perception of Biology
constructivist learning environment.
Study Design: The study adopted a survey design.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Siaya County in Kenya between
October and November 2013 during the school term.
Methodology: The study sampled 815 grade 12 students (466 boys, 349 girls, 399 high achieving
students and 416 low achieving students). Two instruments were used viz. Learners Perception
Questionnaire (LPQ) and Learners Interview Guide (LIG). The data were analyzed using
descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests, two-way MANOVA and two-way ANOVA. The
qualitative data were used to explain quantitative data.
Results: The findings show that there existed statistically significant difference in perception
between the low achieving schools and high achieving schools in favor of the low achieving schools in all the subscales of SPQ (p =.00) and statistically significant gender (Hotelling’s trace = .131, F = 21.19, p = .000) and school type (Hotelling’s trace = .269, F = 43.48, p = .000) differences with
respect to the collective dimensions of the SPQ. The results also revealed that there was an
interaction between gender and school type and vice versa with respect to collective dimensions of
the SPQ (Hotelling’s trace = .176, F = 23.40, p = .000).
Conclusion: It is concluded that low achieving schools have higher preference for a constructivist
learning environment than high achieving schools and there exists gender and school type
differences in perception of constructivist learning environment in favor of girls and low achieving
schools respectively. The implications of the findings are discussed
A Survey of the Influence of Family Nature, Peer Association and Gender on Academic Performance: A Case of Kisii Municipality
No full textThe study was carried out in Kisii municipality of south western Kenya. The objectives of the study were to examine the relationships between pupil’s family nature and academic performance; the relationship between peer group association and academic performance and the relationship between gender and students academic performance. The survey involved students in selected secondary schools, teachers and parents within the municipality. The research was conducted by administering three types of questionnaires - students (A), teachers (B) and parents (C). Information was also got by personal observation and oral- non - scheduled interview involving 140 students, 40 parents and 40 teachers. The findings were analyzed using frequency tables. The result show that a child’s academic performance is determined to a large extent by the family size which is instrumental in assisting him/ her in learning. There is a significant relationship between peer group association and academic performance of a child. The results also indicate that there is a significant relationship between gender and one’s academic performance
Management in Action: Managing the HIV/AIDS Curriculum in Kenya
Get PDFCurriculum management can only be effective when the curriculum content and expected learning
outcomes are clearly stated for the actual implementers. The implementers on their side especially the teachers and the school administration must ensure that the stated contents, instructional methodologies and the time lines are followed appropriately. This paper examines the extent at which the HIV/AIDS curriculum is being implemented at the Secondary School level in
Kenya. The key objectives were to identify the policy dimensions of HIV/AIDS education curriculum and to determine the level of implementation of HIV/AIDS education curriculum in public
secondary schools. Structured questionnaire, observation and in-depth interviews were used for
data collection from selected school students and the curriculum implementers. The study concluded that HIV/AIDS aspects are taught in public secondary schools through infusion and integration into carrier subjects, though not allocated any specific time in the curriculum. The level at
which these aspects are taught is very low, and when taught lecture method, which is a rather passive way of teaching, is the predominant method employed by the teachers. It is recommended
that the teachers should be more creative and devise other forums that would ensure that these
aspects are amply taught. Also the teachers should collect and avail more learning materials to
their learners, including use of the internet to supplement what is provided in the text books.
Keywords:Management, HIV/AIDS Education, Healthcare Service
A critical review of the role of taro Colocasia esculenta L. (Schott) to food security: A comparative analysis of Kenya and Pacific Island taro germplasm
Get PDFThe many threats to global food security in Sub Sahara Africa include poverty, unsustainable cultivation practices and climate change. Increasing poverty and decreasing food security have been exacerbated by continued low food crop productivity by smallholder farmers, constrained by several factors. Taro (Colocasia esculenta L. (Schott.) is a amongst the category of plant species that farmers and researchers have neglected or underutilized crops considered as orphan crops yet they can have the potentials to ameliorate malnutrition and food paucity in developing nations. In Kenya, taro production has suffered low crop productivity leading to underexploitation in terms of popularity of the crop, food security, nutritional aspects and economical contribution to the country earnings. In terms of food production, it does not translate into improved yields for sustained food security and as a result of this; its agricultural production is extremely low. The agronomic potential and importance of taro remains unknown because it has remained as underutilized crop in the country due to little attention attached to the crop. As a result, it has led to dangerous levels of
reduced economic livelihoods and loss of its genetic diversity. This paper review interest in neglected taro food crop stems from a variety of factors that could lead to an increased understanding of the adaptation potential of taro to enhance development of efficient and sustainable taro cultivation practices. The review could be a major breakthrough in understanding various biotechnological approaches towards integrating the taro crop into mainstream research for crop improvement and intervention programs. © 201 5 PSCI Publisher All rights reserved.
Key words: Taro as a food crop; Under-exploitation; Commercial production; Agronomic potential; Low crop productivity; Undesirable impacts;
Economic livelihoods; Genetic diversity; Smallholders farmers
Substance Abuse among Public Secondary School Students: Prevalence, Strategies and Challenges for Public Secondary School Managers in Kenya: A Case Study of Kisumu East Sub County
Get PDFSubstance abuse among public secondary school students is reality that is spreading at an alarming rate. If not checked, it could destroy the youth who are in their formative stage in life. Its outcomes include school dropouts, injuries, loss of lives, destruction of properties, moral decadence, misallocation of resources, indiscipline and compromised academic standards. According to the findings of a study conducted in 2005 on substance abuse in five major cities in Kenya, Kisumu and Nakuru lead the rest of the major cities and towns in the country in the prevalence of substance abuse. The study established that the factors that influence students most into substance abuse were peer pressure, media influence, frustrations and copying of idols. Alcohol, Cigarettes, Miraa/Khat and Marijuana were found to be the most commonly abused substances in dealing with substance abuse among students. The three strategies used most frequently by managers of public secondary schools were; use of professional counsellors, teachings on substance abuse, and training of peer educators while challenges encountered by managers of public secondary schools (principals, deputy principals and heads of departments) were found to be the rehabilitation of substance abusers, reducing the prevalence of substance abuse, and improving the performance of substance abusers. The study’s recommendations were that a comprehensive curriculum on substance abuse be introduced in schools, areas around the schools should be made as drug free as possible, the education of students on substance abuse should start in primary schools, the Teachers’ Service Commission should post full time professional counsellors to public secondary schools, and the government should establish free
rehabilitation centres to cater for students who are substance abusers. The findings of this study are significant to the managers of public secondary schools in Kisumu East Sub County because it may help them to better understand the issues related to substance abuse among students in their schools and to come up with effective strategies to be used in addressing substance abuse related issues. It is significant to educational planners and economists whose concerns are optimal utilization of inputs and outputs for efficiency of educational systems.
Keywords: Substance Abuse, Public Secondary Schools, Students, Prevalence, Strategies, Challenges,
Managers, Kisumu East Sub County, Kenya
Digitizing Banking Services: An Empirical Analysis of Customer’s Adoption and Usage
Get PDFInternet and mobile technologies of recent years have gained momentum and are impacting the working of every process including financial services. Financial service providers including banks are turning their necks toward the wave of these technologies. In the essence it has been made mandatory by situations and conditions in the market that they should be adopted to meet
customer demands. This paper will focus on the adoption and perceived usefulness of customers on cyber/Internet banking (IB) and cell phone banking (CB) in India, and the.
Data for this study is primary in nature and collected through a survey conducted on 250 respondents across north Indian cities. The result confirms that adoption of IB and CB is on the rise though there is a need for awareness programmes as customers consider it viable.
Key words: Cyber banking, Customer, Internet, Cell phone banking, SMS bankin
Innovation in Banking Industry: Achieving Customer Satisfaction
Get PDFThis paper examines the effects of technology in the banking industry. Based on an expansive review of literature, the paper describes various factors in this area. Technology has a direct effect
on the functioning of the banks. With technological advancement, the customers benefit and the
bank gains by getting more clients. Most businesses desire to offer the best services, products and
customer relations to their customers because these activities increase the retention rate of customers. These activities also have a direct effect on customer satisfaction. But it’s the complexity of this process that brings a challenge to marketers. The paper looks at technological aspect of the process. This is because for any marketer or business practioner to succeed at managing a good customer relationship program, there is need for the adoption of supportive technology. This type of technology assists in the managing of the process through the maintainance of a customer database, implementation and monitoring. Using a case study approach [1] shows that one of the business units she studied was able to achieve a 270% increase in business unit profits (above target) by implementing several straightforward Customer Relationship Management (CRM) measures. The paper analyses the nature of the banking industry and the role of technology in the Customer Relationship Management process and its implementation.
Keywords:Technology, Banking, Customer Relationship Managemen