R&P Entries
Conferences/Workshop/Symposia/Seminar with Presentations
Hanson, R.
Chemistry Education Research and Practice Gordon Research Conference. Bates College in Lewiston, ME United States June 16, 2019 - June 21, 2019
Paper presented:
Situating hands-on and minds-on activities in contemporary times to promote chemistry education and conceptual gain
Abstract
This study, sought to introduce simple, less costly, robust equipment and activities, that promote and foster constructivist pedagogies, to enable an intact class of 78 teacher trainees form their own authentic concepts through fun-filled, engaging social interactions. Data were collected by means of a two-tier diagnostic assessment in a constructivist classroom environment. Questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and observation schedules were employed to triangulate obtained data and evaluate acquired learning skills. From the study, it was found that the new hands-on and minds-on approach enhanced the acquisition of many learning skills, environmental awareness, and subsequently concept formation. The implication here is that, the new constructivist approach has the potential to change the way chemistry is taught in a more pragmatic, interactive, simple, fun, and engaging ways to facilitate conceptual understanding of chemistry for sustainability and further innovations in STEM development. Keywords: Concepts, constructivism, hands-on activities, minds-on activities, microscience
This study, sought to introduce simple, less costly, robust equipment and activities, that promote and foster constructivist pedagogies, to enable an intact class of 78 teacher trainees form their own authentic concepts through fun-filled, engaging social interactions. Data were collected by means of a two-tier diagnostic assessment in a constructivist classroom environment. Questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and observation schedules were employed to triangulate obtained data and evaluate acquired learning skills. From the study, it was found that the new hands-on and minds-on approach enhanced the acquisition of many learning skills, environmental awareness, and subsequently concept formation. The implication here is that, the new constructivist approach has the potential to change the way chemistry is taught in a more pragmatic, interactive, simple, fun, and engaging ways to facilitate conceptual understanding of chemistry for sustainability and further innovations in STEM development. Keywords: Concepts, constructivism, hands-on activities, minds-on activities, microscience
Twumasi, A.K, Samlafo, B.V, & Addo Glover, M.G
18th International Conference on Industrial Chemistry & Water Treatment. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 26th-27th April, 2019
Paper presented:
ASSESSMENT OF DOMESTIC WATER QUALITY SUPPLIED TO HOUSEHOLDS IN THE EFFUTU MUNICIPALITY, GHANA
Abstract
The quality of domestic water supplied to households in the Effutu Municipality was evaluated using twenty-two physicochemical parameters. Pearson rank correlation coefficient and an independent one-tailed student t-test were used to analyse the results. Except for colour, no significant statistical differences were observed between the samples from the headworks (HW) and the households. The correlation between the headworks (Hw) and household in terms of the other parameters varied from 0.99-1.0. Generally, water samples from both the Hw and the households were potable by WHO standards. However, the presence of total coliform ranging from 10.0 cfu/100.0mL at V7 (Pupils) to 489.25 cfu/100.0 mL at V1 (Roman school) and faecal coliform of 0.75 cfu/100.0 mL at V8 (New Winneba) to 20.50 cfu/100.0 mL at V4 (Junction) in some household samples were of much concern as these levels have a high tendency to compromise the health status of consumers. Occasional breaks in pipelines and water rationing were found to be some of the causes of external waters infiltrating into the distribution systems. Passing pipelines through gutters and illegal connections by individuals should be discouraged by Ghana Water Company (GWC) Ltd. Key Words: physicochemical, Effutu Municipality, headworks, household, Ayensu river, domestic, Winneba.
The quality of domestic water supplied to households in the Effutu Municipality was evaluated using twenty-two physicochemical parameters. Pearson rank correlation coefficient and an independent one-tailed student t-test were used to analyse the results. Except for colour, no significant statistical differences were observed between the samples from the headworks (HW) and the households. The correlation between the headworks (Hw) and household in terms of the other parameters varied from 0.99-1.0. Generally, water samples from both the Hw and the households were potable by WHO standards. However, the presence of total coliform ranging from 10.0 cfu/100.0mL at V7 (Pupils) to 489.25 cfu/100.0 mL at V1 (Roman school) and faecal coliform of 0.75 cfu/100.0 mL at V8 (New Winneba) to 20.50 cfu/100.0 mL at V4 (Junction) in some household samples were of much concern as these levels have a high tendency to compromise the health status of consumers. Occasional breaks in pipelines and water rationing were found to be some of the causes of external waters infiltrating into the distribution systems. Passing pipelines through gutters and illegal connections by individuals should be discouraged by Ghana Water Company (GWC) Ltd. Key Words: physicochemical, Effutu Municipality, headworks, household, Ayensu river, domestic, Winneba.
Hanson, R.
43rd National Convention of the South African Chemical Institute. International Convention Centre at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria, South Africa 2-7 December, 2018
Paper presented:
Situating constructivism in contemporary times to promote chemistry education and conceptual gain
Abstract
For decades now, the chemistry education research communities have undertaken several studies on the improvement of the study of chemistry at the secondary and tertiary levels of education. Some amount of progress has been made, as observed from literature reviews (Taber, 2002; Sam, et al., 2016; Ilyas, et al., 2017; Talanquer, 2017), but to a large extent, chemistry is still presented in a formal abstracted manner; sometimes close to being algorithmic, which makes understanding and application of chemical principles, a far-fetched dream for learners. Chemistry is hardly taught with a touch that links formal classroom chemistry to everyday life chemistry. Such non-connective procedures negatively affect students’ desires to learn higher chemistry, as they often cannot connect concepts which are taught abstractly and in isolation to each other to their everyday lives. Therefore, a shift from the robotic traditional insensitive procedures to engaging procedures at the secondary, tertiary, and especially teacher training levels of education is required. This study, which is still on-going, has to a large extent been promoting simple, less costly, learning environments, sometimes with robust equipment, that promote and foster constructivist pedagogies to enable students form their own authentic concepts through fun-filled, engaging social interactions. The implication here is that, new modes of assessments must be developed to meet this new approach to knowledge construction. This presentation will be based only on the engaging approaches that have been evidently useful in the Ghanaian setting and which could be useful in other less endowed communities for knowledge construction and conceptual growth in chemistry. Keywords: chemical principles, communities, constructivism, traditional learning
For decades now, the chemistry education research communities have undertaken several studies on the improvement of the study of chemistry at the secondary and tertiary levels of education. Some amount of progress has been made, as observed from literature reviews (Taber, 2002; Sam, et al., 2016; Ilyas, et al., 2017; Talanquer, 2017), but to a large extent, chemistry is still presented in a formal abstracted manner; sometimes close to being algorithmic, which makes understanding and application of chemical principles, a far-fetched dream for learners. Chemistry is hardly taught with a touch that links formal classroom chemistry to everyday life chemistry. Such non-connective procedures negatively affect students’ desires to learn higher chemistry, as they often cannot connect concepts which are taught abstractly and in isolation to each other to their everyday lives. Therefore, a shift from the robotic traditional insensitive procedures to engaging procedures at the secondary, tertiary, and especially teacher training levels of education is required. This study, which is still on-going, has to a large extent been promoting simple, less costly, learning environments, sometimes with robust equipment, that promote and foster constructivist pedagogies to enable students form their own authentic concepts through fun-filled, engaging social interactions. The implication here is that, new modes of assessments must be developed to meet this new approach to knowledge construction. This presentation will be based only on the engaging approaches that have been evidently useful in the Ghanaian setting and which could be useful in other less endowed communities for knowledge construction and conceptual growth in chemistry. Keywords: chemical principles, communities, constructivism, traditional learning
Sam, E.F., Brijs, K., Daniels, S., Brijs, T., & Wets, G.
31st International Co-operation on Theories and Concepts in Traffic Safety (ICTCT). Porto, Portugal 25-26 October 2018
Paper presented:
Construction and validation of a public bus passenger safety scale
Abstract
Public transport (PT) passengers make safety evaluations, yet to the best of our knowledge, there exists no instrument that captures what is considered by public transport users when they make such personal safety evaluations. What exists is a generalised service quality scale (SERVQUAL). Unfortunately, this scale does not adequately capture the content domain of personal safety which is important to PT users, especially in developing countries where PT vehicle accidents are both frequent and severe. This study discusses the development and validation of the public bus passenger safety scale (PBPSS), for measuring public bus passengers’ safety. The results of two independent studies suggest that the PBPSS measures three facets of public bus passengers’ safety: driver-related, transport operator-related and vehicle-related. Through both exploratory Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) (using IBM SPSS Statistics and AMOS respectively), we demonstrated that the new scale is reliable, psychometrically sound and can be utilised to assess public bus passengers’ safety. The 3-factor model observed through PCA was confirmed using CFA, indicating that the same factor structure existed in both datasets. The final 3-factor, 17-item model exhibited an acceptable model fit and evidenced both convergent and discriminant validity.
Public transport (PT) passengers make safety evaluations, yet to the best of our knowledge, there exists no instrument that captures what is considered by public transport users when they make such personal safety evaluations. What exists is a generalised service quality scale (SERVQUAL). Unfortunately, this scale does not adequately capture the content domain of personal safety which is important to PT users, especially in developing countries where PT vehicle accidents are both frequent and severe. This study discusses the development and validation of the public bus passenger safety scale (PBPSS), for measuring public bus passengers’ safety. The results of two independent studies suggest that the PBPSS measures three facets of public bus passengers’ safety: driver-related, transport operator-related and vehicle-related. Through both exploratory Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) (using IBM SPSS Statistics and AMOS respectively), we demonstrated that the new scale is reliable, psychometrically sound and can be utilised to assess public bus passengers’ safety. The 3-factor model observed through PCA was confirmed using CFA, indicating that the same factor structure existed in both datasets. The final 3-factor, 17-item model exhibited an acceptable model fit and evidenced both convergent and discriminant validity.
Wilson, K. N.
THE MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program Learning Summit. Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, Legon June 6, 2018
Paper presented:
Implementing the national guidance and counselling strategic plan: Call to all stakeholders
Abstract
Asiedu, A. A., & Wilson, K. N.
1st Annual International Research Conference organized by the Centre for Ageing Studies-College of Humanities, in collaboration with Department of Psychiatry School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Ghana. Great Hall, University of Ghana, Legon 2nd-3rd October 2017
Paper presented:
Managing Pre-Retirement Anxiety among Teachers in Asunafo South District
Abstract
Wilson, K. N.
12THISSBD African Regional Workshop. UEW, Winneba, Ghana 30th September -2nd December, 2017
Paper presented:
Domestic violence against women in the Effutu municipality in the Central Region of Ghana: Implications for counselling.
Abstract
The study investigated the prevalence of domestic violence within the Effutu Municipality, it also examined how counselling programmes can assist in addressing domestic violence within the municipality. The study employed a cross sectional survey design and collected both quantitative and qualitative data. A simple random sampling technique was used in the selection of 300 respondents for the quantitative study, while purposive sampling technique was used in the selection of 12 interviewees for the qualitative aspect of the study. Quantitative data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential analysis while qualitative data was analysed using content and thematic analyses. The study revealed that Christians and traditionalists differed in their views with regards to cultural and life-time perceptions about domestic violence. Additionally, educational level attained also influenced respondents’ perceptions on domestic violence against women in the Effutu Municipality. It was also revealed that though, there are institutions that offer services to reduce or forestall the incidence of domestic violence; both victims and perpetrators did not receive any counselling in any form. It is therefore recommended that Effutu municipal assembly hire professionally trained counsellors, and attach them to the various institutions that deal with issues bordering on domestic violence. Keywords: Domestic Violence, Women and Counselling
The study investigated the prevalence of domestic violence within the Effutu Municipality, it also examined how counselling programmes can assist in addressing domestic violence within the municipality. The study employed a cross sectional survey design and collected both quantitative and qualitative data. A simple random sampling technique was used in the selection of 300 respondents for the quantitative study, while purposive sampling technique was used in the selection of 12 interviewees for the qualitative aspect of the study. Quantitative data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential analysis while qualitative data was analysed using content and thematic analyses. The study revealed that Christians and traditionalists differed in their views with regards to cultural and life-time perceptions about domestic violence. Additionally, educational level attained also influenced respondents’ perceptions on domestic violence against women in the Effutu Municipality. It was also revealed that though, there are institutions that offer services to reduce or forestall the incidence of domestic violence; both victims and perpetrators did not receive any counselling in any form. It is therefore recommended that Effutu municipal assembly hire professionally trained counsellors, and attach them to the various institutions that deal with issues bordering on domestic violence. Keywords: Domestic Violence, Women and Counselling
Wilson, K. N.
4th International Research Conference of Ghana Psychological Association (GPA).. University of Professional Studies Accra, LBC Auditorium 16-17th August 2018
Paper presented:
The Role of (Counselling) Psychology in addressing the SDG’S: Psychological Subfields Perspectives
Abstract
There is an urgent need to create the enabling environment for a more active role and participation of the private sector in the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals. The private sectors’ contribution in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will be considered in a business-like manner, with higher stakes in ensuring social stability. The successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals involving the private sector would ultimately be regarded as contributing to sound corporate social responsibility and good corporate citizenship on the part of the private sector. For Counselling to be involved in the process they need proper counselling skills. They will have to learn to conduct test in communities, connect with policymakers and tackle complex issues from counseling perspectives. If this integration takes place, the strategies and policies that are adopted to effect the Sustainable Development Goals will be informed by evidence and will have results that improve people’s lives.
There is an urgent need to create the enabling environment for a more active role and participation of the private sector in the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals. The private sectors’ contribution in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will be considered in a business-like manner, with higher stakes in ensuring social stability. The successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals involving the private sector would ultimately be regarded as contributing to sound corporate social responsibility and good corporate citizenship on the part of the private sector. For Counselling to be involved in the process they need proper counselling skills. They will have to learn to conduct test in communities, connect with policymakers and tackle complex issues from counseling perspectives. If this integration takes place, the strategies and policies that are adopted to effect the Sustainable Development Goals will be informed by evidence and will have results that improve people’s lives.
Esia-Donkoh, K.
Two-day Seminar of On-Campus Teaching Practice Organised by the Department of Basic Education, University of Education, Winneba. Old Pavilion, North Campus, University of Education, Winneba. 13th - 14th February, 2018
Paper presented:
1. Qualities of a Good Teacher; 2. Effective Classroom Management Strategies; 3. Making Good Use of Relevant Previous Knowledge in the Classroom
Esia-Donkoh, K.
Two-day Post Internship Seminar for Level 400 Students of the Department of Basic Education. Old Pavilion, North Campus, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana 15th, 16th, & 19th February, 2018
Paper presented:
Writing Introduction and Literature Review of a Project Work
Abstract
