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Gyaase, P. O., Gyamfi, S. A., Kuranchie, A. & Koomson, F. S. (2020). The Integration of Information and Communication Technology in Pre-University Education in Ghana: A Principal Component Analysis.. In L. Tomei & D. Carbonara Handbook of Research on Diverse Teaching Strategies for the Technology-Rich Classroom.. Hershey, PA.: IGI Global.
Abstract
Educationists throughout the world are attesting to the capabilities of ICT for innovations in teaching and learning. There are evidences that integrating ICT into education enhances the learners' creativity and opens up new ways of knowledge acquisition and sharing. ICT is also credited with the improvement of teaching and learning of new skills needed to fully function in the 21st century knowledge society. This research was undertaken to evaluate the current state of ICT integration into the pre-university education and identify the barriers through principal components analysis and make the necessary recommendations. The research utilized both primary and secondary data. The primary data was collected through questionnaires and interviews while secondary data was obtained from reviews of government policy documents and reports. The study found an already existing ICT literacy education in the pre-university educational system in Ghana. There is also increasing access to and knowledge of ICT hardware and services. However, inadequate infrastructure, inadequate technology skills, lack of technical support, and inappropriate content are the challenges militating against effective integration of ICT in schools' curricula. Restructuring the curriculum of the various subjects, in-service training for teachers, integration of ICT into teacher training, and provision of internet connectivity infrastructure and services are recommended.
Wiafe, I., Koranteng, F. N., Owusu, E., Ekpezu, A. O, & Gyamfi S, A. (2020). Persuasive social features that promote knowledge sharing among tertiary students on social networking sites: An empirical study.. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, ,
Abstract
Persuasive system features have been widely adopted to encourage attitude and behaviour change. Recently, most social networking sites (SNS) adopt some form of persuasive system features that leverage social influence to deliberately induce prescribed behaviours in their users. However, studies on how these features can be used to promote knowledge sharing are inadequate; particularly, regarding how SNS that have been developed solely for academic purposes can adopt these features to promote knowledge sharing. To address this knowledge gap, this study integrates constructs from the social capital theory and persuasive systems design model to investigate the impact of persuasive social features on knowledge sharing among students of tertiary institutions on academic social networking sites. Data are quantitatively gathered from 218 respondents from tertiary institutions and statistically analyzed. The results suggest that perceived dialogue support and perceived social support have strong influences on knowledge sharing behaviour.
Persuasive system features have been widely adopted to encourage attitude and behaviour change. Recently, most social networking sites (SNS) adopt some form of persuasive system features that leverage social influence to deliberately induce prescribed behaviours in their users. However, studies on how these features can be used to promote knowledge sharing are inadequate; particularly, regarding how SNS that have been developed solely for academic purposes can adopt these features to promote knowledge sharing. To address this knowledge gap, this study integrates constructs from the social capital theory and persuasive systems design model to investigate the impact of persuasive social features on knowledge sharing among students of tertiary institutions on academic social networking sites. Data are quantitatively gathered from 218 respondents from tertiary institutions and statistically analyzed. The results suggest that perceived dialogue support and perceived social support have strong influences on knowledge sharing behaviour.
Owusu, S.
12th Linguistics Association of Ghana Annual Conference (LAG 2018). University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa July 31 to Aug. 2, 2019
Paper presented:
Idioms as a Measure of Proficiency Level of Ghanaian ESL Learners
Abstract
The idiom is defined as a habitual unit of language, the meaning of which cannot be deduced by summing up the meanings of its individual components. Instead, idioms are fixed phraseological units by their long usage and have to be learned as a whole. It is said that if natural language had been designed by a logician, idioms would not exist. L2 learners’ ability to use idioms appropriately in the written and the spoken discourse is considered as a sign of communicative competence. What this means is that there is a close correlation between idiomatic knowledge and second language proficiency and that like proverbs, idioms can be used to measure one’s proficiency level. The objective of the paper was to use English idioms to measure the proficiency level of the first year students of English at the University of Education, Winneba. Convenience sampling was used to select 110 level 100 students of English, to whom the researcher was teaching Introduction to Linguistics. The respondents were tasked to answer a questionnaire involving ten common idioms in English. Findings showed that the respondents were found to be fairly proficient in their acquisition of the English idioms selected for the study. The results of this study could have important implications for the design of appropriate courses geared at helping the students to improve on their level of proficiency.
The idiom is defined as a habitual unit of language, the meaning of which cannot be deduced by summing up the meanings of its individual components. Instead, idioms are fixed phraseological units by their long usage and have to be learned as a whole. It is said that if natural language had been designed by a logician, idioms would not exist. L2 learners’ ability to use idioms appropriately in the written and the spoken discourse is considered as a sign of communicative competence. What this means is that there is a close correlation between idiomatic knowledge and second language proficiency and that like proverbs, idioms can be used to measure one’s proficiency level. The objective of the paper was to use English idioms to measure the proficiency level of the first year students of English at the University of Education, Winneba. Convenience sampling was used to select 110 level 100 students of English, to whom the researcher was teaching Introduction to Linguistics. The respondents were tasked to answer a questionnaire involving ten common idioms in English. Findings showed that the respondents were found to be fairly proficient in their acquisition of the English idioms selected for the study. The results of this study could have important implications for the design of appropriate courses geared at helping the students to improve on their level of proficiency.
Owusu, S.
1st South African Association for Language Teaching (SAALT) and Southern African Linguistics and Applied Linguistics Association (SALALS) Joint Annual Conference 2019. University of Pretoria, Groenkloof Campus, South Africa June 30 to July 4, 2019
Paper presented:
Evaluating the Content Validity of High-Stakes ESL Tests in Ghana
Abstract
A good test should have content validity, that is, it should reflect the objectives and the content of the curriculum, so that the test would be representative, relevant, and comprehensive. It is said that for a test to promote positive washback, it should reflect the course objectives upon which the test content is based. The high-stakes English language tests in Ghana should therefore reflect the objectives of the English language curriculum. The objective of this paper was to find out whether or not the high-stakes English language tests in Ghana cover the objectives and the content of the English language curriculum. The paper makes use of the data gathered through questionnaires and document analysis to provide answers to the research question: To what extent are the high-stakes English language tests in Ghana aligned with the English language curriculum? The English language syllabus and past questions from 2010 to 2017 were analysed to establish the relationship between the test items and the prescribed English language syllabus. Again, a questionnaire was conducted with 24 English language teachers from 4 junior high schools and 8 eight senior high schools. Analysis of data revealed that the high-stakes English language tests in Ghana lacked washback validity. This means that the objectives of the English language curriculum were not fully reflected in the tests, since some topics or areas in the English language syllabus were not examined. This gap between the objectives of English language curriculum and the focus of the high-stakes tests encouraged the teachers to teach to the test, thereby concentrating on only the areas that were examined in the high-stakes tests. The teachers concentrated on grammatical structure, reading comprehension, and essay writing which were tested in the high-stakes tests. In effect, the results of this research work could have important implications for high-stakes English language test system reform, and the roles high-stakes language tests play in shaping ESL classroom practices in Ghanaian schools.
A good test should have content validity, that is, it should reflect the objectives and the content of the curriculum, so that the test would be representative, relevant, and comprehensive. It is said that for a test to promote positive washback, it should reflect the course objectives upon which the test content is based. The high-stakes English language tests in Ghana should therefore reflect the objectives of the English language curriculum. The objective of this paper was to find out whether or not the high-stakes English language tests in Ghana cover the objectives and the content of the English language curriculum. The paper makes use of the data gathered through questionnaires and document analysis to provide answers to the research question: To what extent are the high-stakes English language tests in Ghana aligned with the English language curriculum? The English language syllabus and past questions from 2010 to 2017 were analysed to establish the relationship between the test items and the prescribed English language syllabus. Again, a questionnaire was conducted with 24 English language teachers from 4 junior high schools and 8 eight senior high schools. Analysis of data revealed that the high-stakes English language tests in Ghana lacked washback validity. This means that the objectives of the English language curriculum were not fully reflected in the tests, since some topics or areas in the English language syllabus were not examined. This gap between the objectives of English language curriculum and the focus of the high-stakes tests encouraged the teachers to teach to the test, thereby concentrating on only the areas that were examined in the high-stakes tests. The teachers concentrated on grammatical structure, reading comprehension, and essay writing which were tested in the high-stakes tests. In effect, the results of this research work could have important implications for high-stakes English language test system reform, and the roles high-stakes language tests play in shaping ESL classroom practices in Ghanaian schools.
Amedeker, M. K., (2020). Changing educational policies: Implications for ICT integration in science instruction and performance of students in Ghanaian senior high schools. P. Kommers, A. B. N., Viana, T. Issa, & P. Isaias (Eds.). The 7th International Conference on Educational Technologies 2020 (ICEduTech, 2020). Sao Paulo, Brazil: IADIS Press.
Abstract
Every country’s educational policy directs the implementation and success or otherwise of education outcomes. This study analysed some educational policies of the Ministry of Education of Ghana to determine the current state of use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in science instruction in Ghanaian senior high schools. Most of the policies aimed at promoting functional learning through use of ICTs. However, the various senior high school science syllabuses are not explicit on the use of ICTs for teaching science. Also ICTs integration in science teaching at the senior high school levels has been constrained by uncoordinated and a flurry of policy implementation procedures. It is recommended that education should be democratised to engage local practitioners.
Every country’s educational policy directs the implementation and success or otherwise of education outcomes. This study analysed some educational policies of the Ministry of Education of Ghana to determine the current state of use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in science instruction in Ghanaian senior high schools. Most of the policies aimed at promoting functional learning through use of ICTs. However, the various senior high school science syllabuses are not explicit on the use of ICTs for teaching science. Also ICTs integration in science teaching at the senior high school levels has been constrained by uncoordinated and a flurry of policy implementation procedures. It is recommended that education should be democratised to engage local practitioners.
Tarawally, M., Xu, W., Hou, W., Mushore, T. D. and Kursah, M. B. (2019). Land use/land cover change evaluation using land change modeller: A comparative analysis between two main cities. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment, 16,
Abstract
Owing to the proven capability of remotely sensed data in the extraction and analysis of land use land cover (LULC) change, Landsat ETM+ and OLI imagery of 2000 and 2015 have been used in this research to carry out the LULC change comparative analysis in Bo and Freetown, two major urban areas in Sierra Leone, Africa. The supervised imagery classification with maximum likelihood algorithm method was adopted for the extraction of LULC categories. To demonstrate our idea effectively, we used the land change modeller integrated into IDRISI Selva software package to quantify and map the changes of each LULC category. Employing an error matrix table and estimator of Kappa statistics (Khat), we achieved overall accuracy and Khat greater than 80% for both cities and class level accuracies were also achieved as greater than 70%. The LULC change statistics show dynamic characteristics of LULC in the areas where maximum fluctuation was observed in dense vegetation category in Bo and agricultural land in Freetown. The built-up area shows a continuous increasing trend in both cities. Results of our analysis demonstrated that dense vegetation increased by 1024 ha (ha) in Bo whereas it reduced by 3807 ha (ha) in Freetown between 2000 and 2015 study years. Likewise, agricultural land increased by 545 ha (ha) in Bo and decreased by 9145 ha (ha) in Freetown during the same period. It is worth noting that the built-up area increased in both cities as 1326 ha (ha) and 8543 ha (ha) were recorded in Bo and Freetown, respectively. The spatial trend of LULC transition reveals that most of the transition has been occurring in the central part of Bo; whereas the transition occurs in the northern and southern parts in Freetown. However, both cities witness transition at the southern part with regards to dense vegetation category. These findings could assist in making policies for the efficient use of natural resources leading to the development of sustainable urban environments.
Owing to the proven capability of remotely sensed data in the extraction and analysis of land use land cover (LULC) change, Landsat ETM+ and OLI imagery of 2000 and 2015 have been used in this research to carry out the LULC change comparative analysis in Bo and Freetown, two major urban areas in Sierra Leone, Africa. The supervised imagery classification with maximum likelihood algorithm method was adopted for the extraction of LULC categories. To demonstrate our idea effectively, we used the land change modeller integrated into IDRISI Selva software package to quantify and map the changes of each LULC category. Employing an error matrix table and estimator of Kappa statistics (Khat), we achieved overall accuracy and Khat greater than 80% for both cities and class level accuracies were also achieved as greater than 70%. The LULC change statistics show dynamic characteristics of LULC in the areas where maximum fluctuation was observed in dense vegetation category in Bo and agricultural land in Freetown. The built-up area shows a continuous increasing trend in both cities. Results of our analysis demonstrated that dense vegetation increased by 1024 ha (ha) in Bo whereas it reduced by 3807 ha (ha) in Freetown between 2000 and 2015 study years. Likewise, agricultural land increased by 545 ha (ha) in Bo and decreased by 9145 ha (ha) in Freetown during the same period. It is worth noting that the built-up area increased in both cities as 1326 ha (ha) and 8543 ha (ha) were recorded in Bo and Freetown, respectively. The spatial trend of LULC transition reveals that most of the transition has been occurring in the central part of Bo; whereas the transition occurs in the northern and southern parts in Freetown. However, both cities witness transition at the southern part with regards to dense vegetation category. These findings could assist in making policies for the efficient use of natural resources leading to the development of sustainable urban environments.
Amoah, R. A. and Kursah, M. B. (2019). Geospatial analysis of landfill site selection perspectives using geographic information systems in Bongo district, Ghana. SN Applied Sciences, 1,
Abstract
This study applied geospatial tools in geographic information systems (GIS) to produce five different landfill suitability maps using criteria selection and prioritisation from the governmental guideline, the local technocrats, the indigenes and two optimal options, which are made up of the harmonisation of the three perspectives. The results from the five perspectives are compared and analysed using the error-index technique. The results showed a low spatial agreement (low degree of matching) between the landfill suitability from the governmental guideline and the rest of the perspectives. It also showed a consistent reduction in the areas classified as suitable landfill sites from the governmental guideline to the indigenous perspective. The governmental guideline, thus, exhibits wider spatial discrepancy from the perspective of the local technocrats, and it is even incongruent with that of the indigenes. This study, therefore, exposed a classical case where proponents of landfill sites could meet the governmental guideline and legally acquire a permit, but the site could be socioculturally disruptive to the residents. This is identified as the potential source of residents’ opposition to landfill siting. The challenges of the criteria in the guideline are also highlighted. A revision of the guideline is suggested, as it is risk-seeking in its current form. Based on this, the bottom-up approach for designing landfill guidelines is recommended.
This study applied geospatial tools in geographic information systems (GIS) to produce five different landfill suitability maps using criteria selection and prioritisation from the governmental guideline, the local technocrats, the indigenes and two optimal options, which are made up of the harmonisation of the three perspectives. The results from the five perspectives are compared and analysed using the error-index technique. The results showed a low spatial agreement (low degree of matching) between the landfill suitability from the governmental guideline and the rest of the perspectives. It also showed a consistent reduction in the areas classified as suitable landfill sites from the governmental guideline to the indigenous perspective. The governmental guideline, thus, exhibits wider spatial discrepancy from the perspective of the local technocrats, and it is even incongruent with that of the indigenes. This study, therefore, exposed a classical case where proponents of landfill sites could meet the governmental guideline and legally acquire a permit, but the site could be socioculturally disruptive to the residents. This is identified as the potential source of residents’ opposition to landfill siting. The challenges of the criteria in the guideline are also highlighted. A revision of the guideline is suggested, as it is risk-seeking in its current form. Based on this, the bottom-up approach for designing landfill guidelines is recommended.
Mensah, B.; Darkwa , I.O; Bonful,E.; Moses, B. T. Pomeyie,C. N; Mohammed S. & Danso-Wiredu E. Y
Ghana Geographers Association Annual Conference 2019: Smart Cities in the 21st Century: The Geographers Perspective.. KNUST, Kumasi 6th-10th August 2019
Paper presented:
Application of Classical Urban Land Use Models to Internal Structure of Ghanaian Cities
Abstract
Ghana is rapidly urbanizing. Villages are growing into towns, towns into cities, and cities into more sophisticated planned areas. Theories and models have been postulated to explain the internal structure of cities in developed countries, especially with respect to land use variations: Concentric Zone model by Ernest W. Burgess, Sector model by Homer Hoyt, and Multiple nuclei by Harris and Ullman. Some scholars have argued that these classical models of urban structure developed in North America prior to 1945 have cross-cultural application. This paper basically sought to assess the extent to which the internal structure of some selected Ghanaian cities portray the land uses put forward by the classical urban land-use models. The study employed Geographic Information System (GIS) as a major tool of analysis whiles making use of in-depth ground observations of the study cities. The findings of the study showed that, whereas the Central Business District, the wedge-shaped residential zones, and the presence of multiple nuclei were characteristic of some Ghanaian cities, the absence of homogeneity in most of the sectors and undefined industrial zones were typical contradictions. The models could therefore be applied minimally to the older inner areas of the selected cities. Based on this, a new urban land use model for Ghanaian cities is proposed in the study
Ghana is rapidly urbanizing. Villages are growing into towns, towns into cities, and cities into more sophisticated planned areas. Theories and models have been postulated to explain the internal structure of cities in developed countries, especially with respect to land use variations: Concentric Zone model by Ernest W. Burgess, Sector model by Homer Hoyt, and Multiple nuclei by Harris and Ullman. Some scholars have argued that these classical models of urban structure developed in North America prior to 1945 have cross-cultural application. This paper basically sought to assess the extent to which the internal structure of some selected Ghanaian cities portray the land uses put forward by the classical urban land-use models. The study employed Geographic Information System (GIS) as a major tool of analysis whiles making use of in-depth ground observations of the study cities. The findings of the study showed that, whereas the Central Business District, the wedge-shaped residential zones, and the presence of multiple nuclei were characteristic of some Ghanaian cities, the absence of homogeneity in most of the sectors and undefined industrial zones were typical contradictions. The models could therefore be applied minimally to the older inner areas of the selected cities. Based on this, a new urban land use model for Ghanaian cities is proposed in the study
Danso-WireduE. Y. and Mohammed S.
Ghana Geographers Association Annual Conference 2019: Smart Cities in the 21st Century: The Geographers Perspective. KNUST, Kumasi 6th-10th August 2019
Paper presented:
Environmental Dynamism: increasing housing needs in Urban Ghana, a threat to environmental resources?
Abstract
The rate of indiscriminate deforestation for housing purpose in Ghana is as a result of lack of a comprehensive land use policy in the country. Land has been managed through various legal instruments and customary practices. Since land is in the hands of the community members, the state seems helpless in ensuring that various land use purposes are achieved. Though it is clearly stated in the country’s land policy that ‘the principle of optimum usage for all types of land uses, will be assured by the government, the same document states clearly that the state will ensure that every socio-economic activity is consistent with sound land use through sustainable land use planning in the long-term. But evidence in the country is contrary to what is stipulated in the land use policy document. The study therefore focuses on the use of agricultural land at the fringes of urban Ghana for housing purposes. This is a largely desktop research focusing on review of literature, the use of Old maps, GIS and employing observation techniques to study land cover change and housing provision. The study found out that land use cover in areas close to the city of Accra and Tamale has largely been replaced by housing. It concluded that if land use policy is not put in place to restrain Ghanaians from excessive deforestation for housing, the country stands the chance of losing its natural resources, especially, the forest vegetation. It ends by advocating sound sustainable housing typologies in the country.
The rate of indiscriminate deforestation for housing purpose in Ghana is as a result of lack of a comprehensive land use policy in the country. Land has been managed through various legal instruments and customary practices. Since land is in the hands of the community members, the state seems helpless in ensuring that various land use purposes are achieved. Though it is clearly stated in the country’s land policy that ‘the principle of optimum usage for all types of land uses, will be assured by the government, the same document states clearly that the state will ensure that every socio-economic activity is consistent with sound land use through sustainable land use planning in the long-term. But evidence in the country is contrary to what is stipulated in the land use policy document. The study therefore focuses on the use of agricultural land at the fringes of urban Ghana for housing purposes. This is a largely desktop research focusing on review of literature, the use of Old maps, GIS and employing observation techniques to study land cover change and housing provision. The study found out that land use cover in areas close to the city of Accra and Tamale has largely been replaced by housing. It concluded that if land use policy is not put in place to restrain Ghanaians from excessive deforestation for housing, the country stands the chance of losing its natural resources, especially, the forest vegetation. It ends by advocating sound sustainable housing typologies in the country.
Danso-Wiredu E. Y., (2019). Our Environment and Us. Ghana in the Global Context.
Abstract
As especially human influences on the natural environment is deepening and changing in all aspects and at a speed difficult to comprehend, both current and past experiences have been blended to illustrate the contents of this book in a bid to improve readers’ appreciation and keep them abreast of the times. Our Environment and Us: Ghana in the Global Context highlights both spatial and temporal constraints on human beings to conceptualize and act swiftly on threats pose by the environment. Globally, there is a wide difference between the lived experiences of the environment between the western and the developing countries. As most developing countries struggle to find their daily sustenance and therefore give no regards to how they are obtained, the Western world has reached a stage that they are usually mindful of how sustenance is used without compromising on environmental sustainability. In order to develop a suitable approach and methodology to the current research, the history of human environment research, and the theoretical context to the scientific research, needs to be understood. The book reveals to the reader the theories, concepts and research that are used to explain the relationship between human beings and their environment.
As especially human influences on the natural environment is deepening and changing in all aspects and at a speed difficult to comprehend, both current and past experiences have been blended to illustrate the contents of this book in a bid to improve readers’ appreciation and keep them abreast of the times. Our Environment and Us: Ghana in the Global Context highlights both spatial and temporal constraints on human beings to conceptualize and act swiftly on threats pose by the environment. Globally, there is a wide difference between the lived experiences of the environment between the western and the developing countries. As most developing countries struggle to find their daily sustenance and therefore give no regards to how they are obtained, the Western world has reached a stage that they are usually mindful of how sustenance is used without compromising on environmental sustainability. In order to develop a suitable approach and methodology to the current research, the history of human environment research, and the theoretical context to the scientific research, needs to be understood. The book reveals to the reader the theories, concepts and research that are used to explain the relationship between human beings and their environment.
