Educational Technology

Current study examined the effects of using emails on the improvement of writing performance of ESL learners in terms of syntactical complexity, lexical complexity and grammatical accuracy. Subjects in present study were ESL learners at a language institute in Pakistan. Linguistic analysis of the writing samples of learners was executed by the application of two computerized text analysis programs, i.e. “wordsmith tools” (Scott, 1996) and “word perfect 10”. By applying mixed method of research, the study results showed that L2 learners improved syntactic and lexical complexity of their writing through email based writing activities than their in-class writing activities. However, they made more errors in terms of grammar accuracy while corresponding through email. Results from students’ self- report revealed that email based learning approach could help students to learn and enhance their English writing skills while generating enthusiasm, learner autonomy and engagement alongside.

A survey method was employed to evaluate library computerization project at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria and University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire and interview were the instrument adopted. The instrument were validated by pre-test analysis using Pearson Product Correlation; there was a strong reliability (0.92) of the instrument. A total number of 39 copies of questionnaires were administered to the library staff which were all completed and returned. Out 0f 300 copies of questionnaires administered to users, only 277 were completed, returned and used for the study. The data generated was analyzed using descriptive statistics involving tables and percentages. The findings show that much progress has not been recorded by the libraries under study towards the effective automation of their libraries operations; information technology (IT) resources are inadequate and there was low percentage (32.1) of satisfied users. It was also discovered that the university libraries under this study were lagging behind in the pace of automation due to inadequate funding, inadequate IT resources, problem of software, lack of policy guidelines, lack of culture of evaluation to access performance of the computerized project and logistic problem. It can be concluded that some Nigeria University libraries are still on developing stride towards improving their IT profiles. Thus, it is recommended that periodic evaluation to assess performance of the computerized library projects services should be institutionalized within University libraries in order to continually improve the implementation, operation and cost-effectiveness of automated information services.

Competence-based education and training is a functional approach to education as it emphasizes that learners need to gain necessary knowledge, skills, understanding and attitudes or values to work successful in their own profession or occupation. It is regarded as a holistic approach to education. This study sought to establish the influence of Trainers’ knowledge and skills on the implementation of competence-based curriculum in Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges in Uasin Gishu County. The study was guided by curriculum implementation theory. The study adopted a descriptive survey. The target population of the study was 850 respondents comprising of 10 principals, 240 instructors and 600 trainees. A sample size of 90 respondents was selected comprising of 6 principals, 24 instructors and 60 trainees as the respondents. Stratified purposive and simple random sampling techniques was employed. Questionnaires were used to collect data. Cronbach’s alpha co-efficient was used to ensure reliability of the research instruments. Data was analyzed using pearson product moment correlation. The study established that there was a significant positive and strong relationship between trainers’ knowledge and skills and implementation of competence-based curriculum (r= 0.629, p =0.000). The trainers’ knowledge and skills influenced the implementation of competence-based curriculum in Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges in Uasin Gishu County. The study recommended that the ministry of education and Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development should organise for more in-service training for teachers to equip them with subject content knowledge, ICT skills and positively change their perceptions about the competency-based curriculum.

The research study was design to measure the participants’ satisfaction with continuous professional development (CPD) program. Study also aims to explore the affects of demographic factors that can enhance or decrease the satisfaction level of the course participants. For the measurement of participants’ satisfaction quantitative and qualitative methods were used. For quanttative analysis a research tool comprised of 73 items were developed and for qualitative analysis interview method was used. The population of the study includes primary school teachers, head teachers and DTE’s. Cluster training and support center, district teacher educator and primary school teachers asked to response about continuous professional development program through the questionnaire and interview. Total number of sample was 66 PST’s, head teachers and DTE’s. The data collected through the questionnaires was analyzed with the help of statistical package for social sciences. Results reveled that overall teachers with less experience and professional qualification are more satisfied with this training; Moreover female teachers are more satisfied as compared to male participants.

Educational Institution is a home away from home and it is a place of knowledge acquisition. It aims in developing the adolescents to fulfill the requirements of the needs of the society. It strives hard in implementing new tactics to enhance the academics, but it still fails in achieving it due to many reasons one among is, addiction to social networks. As we are living in techno world, we are bound to be a member of social networks (SN) and the adolescents are not an exception to it. In this present scenario we are highly dominated by our inventions and the best example is social networks. Though it is featured with many beneficial attributes its impact on adolescent’s academics is worse which indeed troubles the parents and bring them to a conclusion that social networks has connection with adolescent’s academic performance which is considered significant by the educational institution. To find the attribute which cause a strong impact on adolescent’s academic performance, induced linked fuzzy relational mapping using hexagonal fuzzy number approach is used which is a novel method.

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of training facilities on Acquisition of Skills by trainees in Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Uasin Gishu County. The objective of the study was to establish the influence of adequacy of facilities on Acquisition of Skills. The study was guided by theory of human capital which was postulated by Becker (2009). The study adopted a descriptive survey. The target population of the study was 850 respondents comprising of 10 principals, 240 instructors and 600 trainees. A sample size of 90 respondents was selected comprising of 6 principals, 24 instructors and 60 trainees as the respondents. Stratified purposive and simple random sampling techniques was employed. Questionnaires were used to collect data. Cronbach’s alpha co-efficient was used to ensure reliability of the research instruments. Data was analyzed using pearson product moment correlation. The study established that there was a significant positive and strong relationship between adequacy of training facilities and acquisition of skills (r= 0.611, p =0.000). The study concluded that TVETs have inadequate training facilities such as workshops, up to date tools and equipment, classes and instructional materials. The inadequate training facilities could be contributing to low Acquisition of Skills by trainees in TVETs in Uasin Gishu County. It was recommended that there was need for ministry of education to develop a policy on training facilities in Technical and Vocational Education and Training, in order to procure adequate, relevant and up-to- date tools and equipment to ensure their trainees acquire high quality vocational skills.

The study examines the Influence of Group Discussion Technique on Students’ Academic Performance in Economics in Senior Secondary Schools in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State. To achieve the purpose of the study, one null hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The survey research design was adopted for the study. A sample size of two hundred (200) respondents was randomly selected for the study. The “Examining the Influence of Group Discussion Questionnaire” (EIGDQ)”, and “Achievement Test in Economics” (ATE) werethe instruments used to collect data for the study. The statistical tool used to analyze the data was Independent t-test statistical analysis. The findings of the study affirmed that group discussion significantly influences students’ academic performance in Economics in Calabar Municipality. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that: teachers should be trained and retrained on the effective use of group discussion in the teaching of Economics,Curriculum planners should incorporate group discussion technique into economics curriculumof senior secondary school to enable teachers utilize them in teaching Economics, Economics teachers should be given easy access to capacity building programme through workshop, conference, seminar, symposia and exhibition on group discussion technique to enable them learn how to effectively apply this technique when teaching Economics, space and the needed instructional aids should be provided to enable teachers and students to adopt this instructional delivery technique.

Teachers are the back bone of society. Public and private schools are directly related with student achievements. A good school uses different strategies for student achievement. If the teachers are competent and teach students in better way, then they can achieve their goals in every field of life. This paper attempts to study the comparison of students’ achievement between public and private schools. This study shows that students’ achievement is based on quality education. Some factors affect the students achievement such as parent background, involvement of parents, low income, environment of a school and physical facilities.In this way this study shows that what influence the academic difference of public and private schools on students achievement. This study will be descriptive in nature therefore descriptive survey method of research will be used. The population of this study will comprise of all the secondary school students of distric Vehari. The sample of twenty secondary (private & public) schools will be selected from tehsil Vehari. Out of 1000 students 280 will be selected by using simple random technique. Questionnaire will be used to collect data from respondents. The collected data will be analyzed statistically by using (SPSS) software.

The problem of unemployment among the youth is a huge concern as majority of them face significant difficulties engaging in productive employment, mainly due to a mismatch of the competencies they possess to those required by the labour market. Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is one promising avenue in addressing this problem. Kenya has identified the critical role of TVET in preparing, developing and updating the skills and competences to meet the needs of the changing industrial environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of competency in technical skills acquired on labour market requirements in Technical Vocational Education and Training in Uasin Gishu County. The target population of the study was 850 respondents comprising of 10 principals, 240 instructors and 600 TVET graduates. A sample size of 90 respondents was selected comprising of 6 principals, 24 instructors and 60 TVET graduates of the respondents. Stratified purposive and simple random sampling techniques was employed. Questionnaires were used to collect data. Cronbach’s alpha co-efficient was used to ensure reliability of the research instruments. Data was analyzed using pearson product moment correlation. The study established that there was a significant positive and strong relationship between competency in technical skills acquired and labour market requirements (r= 0.565, p =0.000). The study concluded that TVETs competency level in technical skills acquired had significant influence on labour market requirements in TVETs in Uasin Gishu County. The Government needs to invest in training the youth to specifically meet the relevant industrial standards. In addition, practice of the skills learnt among the learners should be enhanced. This exposes the youth to the market before graduation and greatly elevates their competency levels.

In order to improve the English teaching effect, we adopt the information system as the assistance with the English teaching. By the online function and automatic management with the system software, teachers and students got more communication and achieved more effective results, especially on spoken English. The practice implies that it is feasible and effective to apply the information system to the English teaching.