St. Joseph's College of Education

This study investigated the engagement of Pre-Service Teachers (PSTs) with Generative AI (GAI) tools in their research projects, focusing on their awareness, source of awareness, usage pattern based on gender, and views of GAI tools in academic research. We adopted a descriptive survey method to collect data from one hundred and four PSTs across five institutions in Ghana using a five-point Likert-type survey instrument, which included an open-ended question. The quantitative data were analyzed using means, frequencies, percentages, standard deviations, and an independent samples t-test. The findings revealed that PSTs are familiar with GAI tools, especially ChatGPT and Google Bard. They learned about these tools through personal searches, recommendations from friends, and social media platforms. The PSTs used these tools in writing all chapters of their research projects, with the Introduction Chapter being the most common area of application, followed by the Discussion and Findings Chapter, the Literature Review Chapter, Methodology, and Summary and Conclusion. We also identified a significant gender disparity in the use of GAI tools, with male PSTs exhibiting a higher frequency of use compared to their female counterparts. Nonetheless, both genders expressed a positive attitude towards GAI tools in academic research, noting among other benefits that these tools provided them with confidence and independence in their research writing. However, they also recognized inaccuracies in the information provided by GAI tools, which led to skepticism about relying solely on these tools for their research projects. Consequently, they expressed a preference for support from their research supervisors, highlighting the importance of a balanced approach that combines the use of GAI tools with human supervision in academic research. While we recommend the integrating of GAI tools in teacher education programs, we strongly suggest that such integration should be complemented with comprehensive guidance on how these tools can be effectively used by PSTs to conduct original and advanced research.

In the present study, a total of five species of Vibrio bacteria were isolated from diseased shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, collected from commercial shrimp cultured ponds of Eethamukkala, Chinaganjam and Pedaganjam areas, Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh. The isolated bacterial species were identified as Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio harveyi, Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibrio mimicus and Vibrio vulnificus. The symptoms shown by diseased shrimps include loss of appetite, red coloration of the body and pleopods, gills often appear red to brown in colour, reduced feeding, empty gut and general septicemia. In diseased shrimp, hepatopancrocytes may appear poorly vacuolated, indicating low lipid and glycogen reserve. In affected shrimps, localized lesions were also observed in the cuticle. Experimental infection trials reveals that V. parahaemolyticus is highly pathogenic to L. vannamei while V. harveyi found to be moderate pathogenic to challenged shrimp and remaining three bacterial species namely V.alginolyticus, V.mimicus and V.vulnificus were less pathogenic in nature.Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 4(2): 217-222

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to ascertain the factors affecting tacit knowledge transfer from a master to an apprentice in the informal sector among hairdressers in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach A case study was used as the research design. Convenient sampling technique was used to select 47 master hairdressers. Semi-structured interview guide was used for data collection. Data were analysed using the thematic technique. Findings The study found that apprenticeship fee, fear of competition, delegation reasons, joy and pride of mentorship, apprentices’ attitude and time, to be significant factors influencing tacit knowledge transfer from a master to an apprentice. It was also evident that time spent with master as he/she performs or works is crucial to learning as most of the learning is through socializing with the master. Research limitations/implications The main limitation of the study is the use of the convenient sampling technique in choosing the participants. The results of this study, if it has to be generalised to all hairdressers in Ghana, it may have to be done with caution since the participants were not drawn from a pool of all master hairdressers in Ghana. Practical implications The paper provides what apprentices must do to acquire the tacit knowledge of master hairdressers. Originality/value This paper focuses on the holder of tacit knowledge (master hairdressers) and reveals their motivations to transfer or hoard their tacit knowledge.

Due to the growing interest in the integration of ethnomathematics in mathematics education, we undertook a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis of research on incorporation of ethnomathematics in geometry teaching from 2011 to 2021. Specifically, we addressed the trends on the study topic, such as the distribution of the publication over the past 10 years, journals, countries, and the main topics/themes receiving the most attention as well as its main findings. The search for 37 relevant research articles were done on Google Scholar, Scopus and also, by handsearch of some key journals. Data retrieved were analysed descriptively by using Excel and NVivo. The findings show that literature on the use of ethnomathematics in teaching geometry is mostly produced and consumed in Indonesia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Israel. Also, the findings showed that the research topics/themes addressed by literature on ethnomathematics integration in teaching geometry can be grouped into 5 themes: views, practices, effects, challenges, and development of competence. Most of the studies conducted in this area employed ethnography. From the study, it was observed that the number of research article publications relevant to the study has increased exponentially especially from 2018 to 2021. Therefore, it is our believe that this review will aid in the creation of systematic review procedures and reviews that are specifically concerned with the incorporation of ethnomathematics into geometry instruction.

The study focused Effective teaching of Social Studies Concepts in Basic Schools in Ghana. The study adopted the descriptive survey design using quantitative approach. The population for the study consisted of all Social Studies teachers in the Junior High Schools (JHS) in the Tano South District. There were fifty-two Social Studies teachers at the JHS level in the district. Non-probability sampling technique (purposive and convenient sampling techniques) was used for the study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select all the fifty-two teachers and forty-one schools in the Tano South District. While the district was conveniently sampled for this study. The main instrument used to gather data was observation guide. The data gathered was analysed using the Statistical Product using Service Solutions (SPSS). The study concluded that, in respect to the teaching effectiveness of Social Studies teachers, the general performance in all the thematic areas assessed indicate that, Social Studies teachers are not at their optimum best in terms of planning and preparation, instructional skills, classroom management, communication skills and assessment skills. It is therefore recommended that, the Ministry of Education through the Ghana Education Service (GES) in collaboration with all the teacher training institutions training Social Studies teachers should fashion out teacher development programmes such as workshops and short courses for Social Studies teachers. In these programmes, the organisers must ensure that teachers have access to high quality content course work in Social Studies.

There are many community libraries in Ghana. Most of these libraries are established by non-governmental agencies, district assemblies, affluent or well-to-do individuals, and individuals with higher educational credentials hailing from these rural areas as memorial. There are many benefits that can be derived from the establishment of these libraries. Notwithstanding the numerous potential benefits of community libraries, many of these community libraries in Ghana have collapsed. The ones which are operating are fighting a battle of survival, struggling with numerous challenges. This article shines more light on the problems and challenges facing community libraries in Ghana and makes recommendations based on review of literature on the various challenges facing rural or community libraries elsewhere, and their proposed solutions.

The study aimed at the synthesis and antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) from organic extracts of Cola nitida and Cola acuminata leaf using zinc chloride (ZnCl2) and zinc acetate dihydrate [Zn(CH3COO)2∙2H2O] as precursors on selected Gram positive and Gram negative microbes: Staphylococcus aureus, Exiguobacterium aquaticum, (Gram +ve) and Escherichia coli, Klebsielia pneumonia, Acinetobacter baumanni (Gram –ve). Spherical and flake-like nanostructures were recorded by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for C. acuminata and C. nitida respectively for the two precursors used. The average particle size and crystallite size determined by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) for C. acuminata and C. nitida were in the range of 32.15-43.26 nm; 69.12-84.26 nm and 14.69-17.12 nm; 23.68-23.96nm respectively. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) techniques were used to observe the purity and surface functional groups of the samples. Spectra peaks at 440-458 cm-1and 364-370 nm confirmed the presence of ZnO in the samples by FT-IR and UV-vis, whereas AAS at 213.9 nm wavelength further confirmed elemental zinc with a percentage atomic weight of 71.37% as against 69.50%, 18.8% and 11.1% for Zinc, Oxygen and Carbon by EDX. Data from the antibacterial activity studies show an increase in inhibition rate as concentration of the ZnO NPs increases in concentration from 25-1000 ppm. ZnO NPs from the two extracts recorded the highest inhibition rate in Acinetobacter baumanni of approximately 88% and 49% using ZnCl2and Zn(CH3COO)2∙2H2O respectively.

Instructional materials (IM) play an essential role in the teaching and learning process. This study aimed at assessing Mentors’ assessment of the design and utilization of instructional materials by Student Teachers of St. Joseph’s College of Education, Bechem who were on a four months teaching practice in selected Basic Schools in the Tano North and South Municipalities of the Ahafo regions as well as the Ahafo-Ano South-East District and Ahafo-Ano North Municipality of the Ashanti region. The study adopted the survey research design. 150 mentors in 50 partner (Junior High) schools were used for the study. Three mentors were randomly selected from each school for the study. The research instrument was a five-point scale questionnaire with 9 items adopted from the PatternonPrince Edward Island Evaluation and Selection of Learning Resources survey form. The instrument had three domains; Instructional Design, Extent of Use and Usefulness. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics including mean, standard deviation and simple percentages. The analysis indicated that instructional materials prepared by the Student Teachers were Very Useful (Mean = 3.73), effective, engaging and well designed. They strongly agreed that the Student Teachers Very Often (Mean = 3.77) used instructional materials in their lesson delivery.

The study sought to investigate the impacts of multiple representations-based instructions (MRBI) on basic six pupils’ performance in solving problems on common fractions in the Sagnarigu Municipality of Ghana. The study employed non-equivalent control group design in which 96 pupils in one primary school were purposively sampled and assigned to experimental group (n=46) and control group (n=50). Data were gathered using tests (pre- and post-test) and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (independent samples t<i>-</i>test). Also, pupils’ exposed to multiple representations-based instructions performed better in the post-test than in the conventional group. This suggests that MRBI positively impacted pupils’ performance in solving problems on common fractions. We conclude that MRBI is an effective approach, which mathematics teachers need to incorporate in their teaching of fractions. Therefore, we recommend the MRBI approach for basic school mathematics teachers to enhance pupils’ understanding of mathematics concepts, especially at mathematics education’s foundation (basic level).

Abstract A questionnaire was constructed to ascertain the attitudes of school counsellors to guidance issues. 16 school counsellors in an urban area in the Midlands were asked to complete the questionnaire. The results show a wide area of agreement among the counsellors, particularly on issues concerned with practical and professional matters. Differences of opinion occur with respect to some of the other issues — including those concerned with the relationship of guidance and counselling to society — and possible implications of this lack of unanimity are discussed.

Purpose This study examines what constitutes competence and how a novice becoming a competent weaver is enabled by information literacy in the fabric-weavers’ workplace landscape. Design/methodology/approach Ethnography as a research design was employed using participant observation and semi-structured interviews as the data collection techniques. Findings Competence constitutes the demonstration of Kente knowledge and mentorship capability enabled by information literacy through access to the on-the-loom and off-the-loom information in the Kente-weaving landscape. Research limitations/implications This study explains how the transition from a novice weaver to a competent weaver is underpinned by information literacy. Originality/value This is one of the first studies that contribute to the understanding of information literacy in the craft workplace. The study proposes a framework for weavers' information literacy practice.

This study explored what Ghanaian student teachers value in college mathematics learning. A cross-sectional survey involving 180 student teachers from College of Education in Ghana was conducted using the What I Find Important (WIFI) in mathematics learning questionnaire. The study employed principal component analysis with Oblimin rotation and one-way multivariate analysis of variance in analyzing the data gathered. Among the findings, it was found that student teachers value exploration, connections, understanding, and fluency in their study of college mathematics. Also, the findings of the study revealed a statistically significant difference in what student teachers value in college mathematics learning across college class levels. To facilitate a clearer understanding of valuing in the colleges of education in Ghana, it is considered important to establish through research the values of teacher educators regarding college mathematics learning and teaching, and how these values reflect what student teachers value and those values espoused in the new 4-year Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) curriculum in Ghana.

Abstract A questionnaire was constructed to ascertain the attitudes of school counsellors to guidance issues. 16 school counsellors in an urban area in the Midlands were asked to complete the questionnaire. The results show a wide area of agreement among the counsellors, particularly on issues concerned with practical and professional matters. Differences of opinion occur with respect to some of the other issues — including those concerned with the relationship of guidance and counselling to society — and possible implications of this lack of unanimity are discussed.

This article reports on the relationship between becoming information literate and the body in the Kente-weaving landscape. A mixed approach of incorporative ethnographic participant observation and semi-structured interviews with 24 participants through their roles as either master weaver, junior weaver or novice weaver at the Bonwire Kente Centre. Thematic analysis through an embodied-practice approach to information literacy (IL) frames the analysis of this study. The findings show that the body facilitates IL or knowing by understanding and making meaning of the cues afforded it from interaction and participation in the Kente-weaving practices. The body facilitates or enables IL through identifying and understanding cues in an information landscape.

<p>The article sought to determine perceptions of Colleges of Education tutors on how the current Colleges of Education curriculum equips pre-service teachers to adapt and modify the general school curriculum to accommodate the needs of all children with special educational needs and disabilities for effective inclusive education in Ghana. A descriptive survey design was adopted using a sample of 235 tutors from 13 Colleges of Education in Ghana. The lottery method was used to select four regions out of the sixteen regions of the country and the purposive sampling technique was used to select all the colleges within the four regions, while convenience sampling technique was used to select the actual respondents for the study. Questionnaires with closed ended items were developed for the data collection. It was evident from the study that majority of the tutors believed that the curriculum prepares pre-service teachers to adapt the general school curriculum to accommodate the needs of all children with special educational needs and disabilities in an inclusive classroom. Recommendations were made based on the findings and conclusions were drawn.</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0783/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Transformational leadership and its relationship with knowledge sharing have been well noted in knowledge management literature. However, how the individual dimensions within Transformational leadership theory contribute to knowledge sharing has been scarcely investigated. This paper explores whether Intellectual stimulation, Idealised Influence and individualised consideration affect knowledge sharing among employees in Ghana. A cross–sectional survey design was employed. The study employed a convenience sampling technique to select a sample size of 500. However, out of the 500 questionnaires distributed, 283 were used in the final analysis; thus, those that were correctly filled. Data was analyzed using multiple regression. The study found that there is a significant positive relationship between idealised influence and knowledge sharing. However, the relationship between intellectual stimulation and individualised consideration and knowledge sharing was found to be insignificant.

This study investigates the linguistic landscape of Kumasi Metropolis, the second largest city in Ghana, to determine the languages displayed in the 'texts' of shop names.A total of 285 signs were photographed and analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively.According to the findings, a significant number of shops employed English other than Akan, either monolingual or in combination with Akan, resulting in a written bilingualism environment with English emerging as the strongest language player.The findings also showed that the bilingual character of business signs is more symbolic than being informative, implying a desire to project a global, sophisticated, and fashionable image.The study revealed that although Akan is a lingua franca and the main language used in transacting business in Kumasi, Akan monolingual text in shop names in the linguistic landscape is rare.This has dire consequences for the future of the indigenous languages in Ghana since Akan was the only indigenous language displayed in the business signage.This calls for proper language planning to consciously promote the indigenous languages as it is done for English.

Background: Self-efficacy in the use of ICT refers to a person’s belief in their ability to succeed in the use of ICT in the teaching, learning and assessment process as well as research purposes. Purpose: The incorporation of ICT into teaching, learning and assessment, and for research purposes is a powerful tool that pro-motes the teaching-learning environment in several ways. This study was aimed at investigating Physics Tutors’ self-efficacy (PTSE) level towards ICT integration into teaching, learning, assessment and research in the various Colleges of Education (CoE) in Ghana. Methods: A Four-point Likert Scale Questionnaire was used to ob-tain quantitative data from 16 physics tutors sampled from the 16 Science and Mathematics Colleges of Education in Ghana. The data obtained was analyzed based on a number of factors such as historical inclination towards the use of ICT among other things. Results: The findings from the study however reveled that most physics tutors accept and believe that the use of ICT in teaching physics significantly improves on teaching and learning. However, many of the Physics Tutors believe that there isn’t enough support in terms of logistics and training from the various stakeholders such as institutional heads, supervisors and even colleagues in the usage of ICT in teaching and learning physics Conclusions: It is concluded that the overall PTSE towards ICT integration in the CoE is above average (2.6 on a scale of 4).

This paper explores the transferable knowledge, experience or skills second-career librarians with a teaching background bring to bear or utilize in the discharge of their library work. It also explores how the transferable knowledge helps librarians and teaching librarians to discharge the roles delineated by ACRL’s (2017) document. Snowball sampling method was used to locate 17 participants for this study in Ghana. Mixed methods were used for data collection; questionnaire (open-ended questions) and interview. The data were analyzed using the thematic analysis technique. The study found the following transferable knowledge, skills and experiences to library work: methodology of teaching, questioning and listening skills, knowledge of courses content, presentation, communication and good public speaking skills and human relational skills. The study found that transferable knowledge from the teaching profession help second-career (teaching) librarian to discharge to their library role effectively.

The study was to explore the factors that account for low enrolments in senior high schools in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors that account for low enrolments in the community-based senior high school in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The purpose of the study was to investigate socio-economic factors, school related factors, geographical factors and individual characteristics that influence enrolments, participation, retention, attendance, progression and dropout in community-based senior high schools in Ashanti Region of Ghana. The purposive and quota sampling were used to select a sample size of 120 respondent make up of 10 heads, 10 Districts Directors of Education, 10 PTA chairmen and 90 parents of sampled schools. The instruments used to collect data from the respondents were the questionnaire for heads, structured interview guide for parents. PTA Chairmen and the District Directors of GES and observation guide on school building and furniture. The reliability co-efficient of the study was 0.82. The co-efficient is high enough and hence the items were deemed reliable for the study. Data were analysed by the use of frequencies, percentages and apparent cohort method. The finding of the study indicated that most of the sampled senior high schools do not have school bus to convey day students to and from schools. The sample senior high schools do not have workshops for all programmes, classrooms and standard science laboratories and science equipment to enhance academic work.