Computer Modeling for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Curriculum in Kenya: A Simulation-Based Approach to Science Education
James Sifuna,
George Simiyu Manyali,
Thomas Sakwa,
Alima Mukasia
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 1, February 2016
Pages:
1-8
Received:
22 December 2015
Accepted:
4 January 2016
Published:
8 January 2016
Abstract: Developed countries have appreciated the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for scientific and technological development. STEM subjects have been posting low results in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinations over the years and we have linked the deteriorating standards to the inappropriate teaching approaches that mainly tend to be teacher-centered and hence compromising the learner-centered approach. Due to the poor teaching methods, we ought to incorporate simulation in science education to foster good grades and this formed the basis of this research. Computation techniques have been applied in many subject areas in tertiary institutions with promising results that tend to be in agreement with experimental data. Our research is a quasi-experimental study and thus we have employed the Solomon-Four-Quasi-Experimental design that enabled us to involve a comparison between two computational groups and two control groups. The control groups served to reduce the influence of confounding variables and allowed us to test whether the pre-test had an effect on our objective. Purposive sampling technique was used to select three schools (A boy school, a girl school and a mixed sex school). Each school was expected to have a computer for simulation. The three schools were further split into four groups (single boy’s school, single girl’s school, boys from the mixed and girls from the mixed school). Each school provided the form one class and a total of 150 students participated. We taught the concept of the periodic table to all the students, the computational groups were taught using the simulations while the control groups were taught using the regular methodology. After we had taught for a period of one month, all the four groups were tested using a tool verified by Kurder-Richardson 21 Formula and the data analyzed using t-test, ANOVA and Origin 9.0. The results showed that the computation groups posted higher scores in the concept of the periodic table. This research points to the fact that there is an urgent need to re-design the teaching of Science, technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields, by incorporating computation techniques to enhance STEMs.
Abstract: Developed countries have appreciated the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for scientific and technological development. STEM subjects have been posting low results in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinations over the years and we have linked the deteriorating standards to the inappropriate teaching approa...
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Science Teacher Confidence
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 1, February 2016
Pages:
9-13
Received:
22 October 2015
Accepted:
23 January 2016
Published:
16 February 2016
Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine if in-service teachers had similar anxiety to that of pre-service teachers, if the anxiety they felt towards teaching science could be attributed to similar factors as those that can predict anxiety in pre-service teachers, and whether teachers felt as though they were given opportunities to become more confident teachers. A survey was given to 48 science teachers in Somerset County, where 65% of those teachers participated. After reviewing survey responses, it can be concluded that while the majority of in-service teachers in Somerset County feel confident in their ability to teach science, they were less prepared, in the way research suggests is necessary, to teach science confidently. The study discusses possible reasons for heightened confidence and suggestions to further increase teacher confidence.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine if in-service teachers had similar anxiety to that of pre-service teachers, if the anxiety they felt towards teaching science could be attributed to similar factors as those that can predict anxiety in pre-service teachers, and whether teachers felt as though they were given opportunities to become more confid...
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The Construction of Class Committee in College for Crisis Awareness Abased on the Lanberg Theorem
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 1, February 2016
Pages:
14-18
Received:
26 January 2016
Accepted:
15 February 2016
Published:
29 February 2016
Abstract: Lanberg theorem indicates: it could inspire staff potential by making necessary crisis awareness. Class committee is the critical means of managing class. The college should inspire college committee value and improve the level of class management by making necessary crisis awareness，which could achieve it by supervisory measures, incentive measures, competition measures and assessment measures under the guidance of core socialist values.
Abstract: Lanberg theorem indicates: it could inspire staff potential by making necessary crisis awareness. Class committee is the critical means of managing class. The college should inspire college committee value and improve the level of class management by making necessary crisis awareness，which could achieve it by supervisory measures, incentive measure...
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