Volume 7, Issue 4

Impact Factor 4.428

1) Teachers’ Assessment of Innovative Teaching Strategies for Enhancing Secondary School Students’ Science Achievement in Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Author’s Details: ⁽¹⁾ Prof. Joel. O. Eriba ⁽²⁾ Samuel, Ruth Iwanger- ^{(1) (2)} Department of Science, Technology and Mathematics Education, Faculty of Education. Nasarawa State University, Keffi
Abstract:
This study was based on teachers’ assessment of innovative teaching strategies that could enhance secondary school students’ science achievement. It was guided by two research questions and one null hypothesis. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Purposive sampling technique was used to obtain a sample of 150 secondary school Science Teachers in Nasarawa State West Senatorial Zone. Innovative Teaching Assessment Questionnaire (ITAQ) was developed by the researchers as an instrument for data collection. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach Alpha method which yielded a coefficient value of 0.88. Expert opinions were used to validate the instrument for the study. The research questions were answered using means and standard deviations. The null hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance using Chi-Square statistic. Results revealed that simulations, brain-storming, peer- tutoring, collaborative learning, competitive learning and discovery learning were innovative teaching strategies that proved to enhance Science Students’ achievement. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that Science teachers should be encouraged to employ these innovative strategies in teaching to enhance students’ learning and academic achievement in science
Keywords: Assessment, Enhancing, Innovative, Science and Teaching strategies.
[Download Full Paper] [Page 01-05]
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2) Effect of STAD and Jigsaw IV Cooperative Learning Strategies on Students’ Interest and Achievement in Basic Science in Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Author’s Details: ⁽¹⁾ Prof. Joel. O. Eriba ⁽²⁾ Samuel, Ruth Iwanger- ^{(1) (2)} Department of Science, Technology and Mathematics Education, Faculty of Education. Nasarawa State University, Keffi
Abstract:
This study investigated the effect of Student Team Achievement Division and Jigsaw IV cooperative learning strategies on interest and achievement of Basic Science students. A simple random sampling procedure was employed to select 126 JSS II students from four public, coeducational schools in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The quasi-experimental research design was employed for the study. Two research questions and two research hypotheses guided the study. Students’ Interest in Basic Science (SIBS) and Basic Science Achievement Test (BSAT) were used as instruments for data collection. The reliability of SIBS was determined using Cronbach Alpha and the coefficient obtained was 0.82 while BSAT was determined using K-R20 formula and the reliability coefficient obtained was 0.85. Mean and Standard Deviation was used to answer the research questions while the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Scheffe’s post-test was used to determine the magnitude of the differences. The findings of the study revealed  significant differences in the interest and achievement of students taught using STAD and Jigsaw IV cooperative learning strategies as against the use of the conventional lecture method for teaching basic science
Keyword: Basic Science, Achievement, Interest, Jigsaw IV, STAD cooperative learning strategies and Conventional approach
[Download Full Paper] [Page 06-14]
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3) Effects of Workforce Diversity on Employees’ Performance in Stallion Group of Company
Author’s Details: ⁽¹⁾Kowo Solomon Akpoviroro ⁽²⁾Akinbola, Omolola Sariat-Department of Business and Entrepreneurship,Kwara State University, Malete
Abstract:
It is generally recognized that there is diversity in the workforce of any enterprise, be it business, government, or civil society. This study therefore seeks to find out the effect of workforce diversity towards employee performance in Stallion Group of Companies. The Study adopted a descriptive and explanatory research design .The study population consisted of all staff of Stallion group Ltd. sample size of 80 respondents was selected and data collection method was applied by use of questionnaire, where by analysis of descriptive and inferential statistics of SPSS version 20.0 was adopted. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient signifies, there is a relationship between each independent variables and the dependent variable and tested at 1% significance level. It also revealed that gender; age, ethnicity and educational background are positively correlated and the strength of the relationship is small but definite relationship to employee performance. The regression analysis shows that, the R2 figure of the four independent variables is 0.211. These also mean that independent variables (gender, age, ethnicity and educational background) can explain only 21.1% of the variation in dependent variable (employee performance). However, it still leaves 78.9% unexplained in this research. In other words, there are other additional variables that are important in explaining employee performance that have not been considered in this research. It is recommended that company managements must use good strategies to effectively manage workforce diversity and collaborative research efforts should be done to ascertain the contextual variables that moderate workforce diversity to produce positive performance outcomes
Keywords: Age, Educational background, Employee performance, Ethnicity, Gender, workforce diversity
[Download Full Paper] [Page 15-30]
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4) Five Myths about the Education of Children in Poverty: Addressing Family Issues
Author’s Details: ⁽¹⁾ Dr. Jerry Aldridge-⁽²⁾ Dr. Jennifer L. Kilgo-⁽³⁾ Dr. Lois M. Christensen-⁽⁴⁾ Dr. Grace Jepkemboi – ^{(1) (2) (3) (4)}The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
Abstract:
The article describes misconceptions concerning the education of children and families living in poverty.  The myths include: (a) parents of children in poverty do not care about their children’s education; (b) these children have limited experiences as evidenced by standardized tests; (c) their inadequate experiences result in less intelligence or knowledge; (d) children in poverty have the same access to high quality education; and (e) families in poverty are responsible for their economic situation. The discussion includes examples of each misconception using real-world vignettes. The article offers a beginning dialogue about the challenges in counteracting these myths
Keywords: children in poverty, families in poverty, urban education, poverty issues
[Download Full Paper] [Page 31-39]
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5) Trans-border Crime and the Civil-Society Organizations in Nigeria
Author’s Details: ⁽¹⁾Hyacinth Nnaoma IWU, PhD-Department of Political Science & Public Administration-Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State Nigeria ⁽²⁾Leke OKE, PhD-Department of Political Science, Faculty of the Social Sciences,Ekiti state university, Ado- Ekiti, Nigeria ⁽³⁾Chinedu Ogbonnia, OKO-Department of Political Science-Achievers University Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria
Abstract:
The triumph of civil society engagement in stamping out military rule in Nigeria and the success recorded especially in South Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe have largely given a discourse on civil society an innate positivity in developing nations. Civil society has, therefore, become a buzzword touted by policymakers and political scientists as key to political, economic and social development and a conventional prescription for solving the global socio-political and economic ills. Strongly funded and supported by international donor agencies for its role in advancing democracy, civil society organizations have become so potent in societal administration and governance. However, the potency of civil society organizations in curtailing trans-border challenges and the type of civil society needed for this purpose has largely been glossed over by scholars. This study therefore examines and re-contextualizes civil society against the backdrop of the escalating trans-border crime in Nigeria. The paper attempts to provide an answer to the following questions: what is a trans-border crime in Nigeria? What are the social variables that underpin its resilience? Can civil society be harnessed to curtail the challenges posed by trans-border crime? What type of civil society can be harnessed?  Secondary data was used to obtain data for the study. Liberal and theory of state fragility provided a theoretical framework. The paper contends that rather than focussing on interest-based civil society, the activities of which further hurt the poor, traditional civil societies that largely engender social capital should be strengthened and repositioned to assist in curtailing challenges posed by trans-border crime in Nigeria
Keywords: civil society, crime, trans-border crime and social capital
[Download Full Paper] [Page 40-53]
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6) International Organizations and Genderigeria
Author’s Details: Leke OKE, PhD-Department of Political Science,Faculty of the Social Sciences, Ekiti State University, Ado- Ekiti, Nigeria
Abstract:
This paper explores the nexus between the International Organizations and Gender. It is within the purview of the paper that the International Organizations are the conduit pipes through which the global democratic agenda of gender and women empowerment flow. Utilizing secondary sources of data, the paper avers that International Organizations are pivotal to Gender and women empowerment generally as they are involved in mobilizing public support, monitoring the effectiveness of international aid and providing information and expertise towards gender equity and equality. The paper concludes that International Organizations, especially the United Nations Organization (U.N.O.), because of their universal spread and influence, have indeed become the channel  through which the global developmental agenda is pursued and spread and have thus become important actors and partners in development
Key Words: International Organizations, Gender, Gender Equality, Gender Inequality, Empowerment, and Development.
[Download Full Paper] [Page 54-65]
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