American Journal of Educational Research

The study investigated in-service Junior High School science teachers’ reflections on the use of TESSA secondary science modules. The sample consisted of 34(8 females and 26 males) Junior High School science teachers in Winneba in Central Region of Ghana. Descriptive survey with mixed methods approach was used to collect data using questionnaire and focus group discussion as data collection instruments. The quantitative data collected were analysed through frequency counts and simple percentages while thematic approach was used to analyse the qualitative data. Among other findings, majority of the participants reported that the use of the TESSA resources provided innovative ways of presenting science lessons to their pupils. Also, the participants indicated that their pupils enjoyed and fully participated in these lessons. These notwithstanding, 94 % (32) of participants reported among other things that, accessibility of hard copies of resources would be a challenge to them since most schools did not have ICT tools from which they could print out materials. It is therefore recommended that copies of TESSA secondary science modules be made available in all schools for effective implementation by teachers.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2015, 3(3), 377-382. DOI: 10.12691/education-3-3-17
Pub. Date: March 18, 2015

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Librarians Work-Related Learning and Self-Development: Trends in Estonian University Libraries

by Kate-Riin Kont and Signe Jantson

Original Research

Purpose The aim of the current paper is to clarify if the staff of Estonian university libraries has enough opportunities and willingness for continuing education and to develop their skills and competencies related with their everyday work in formal as well as in informal form; whether they have sufficient skills for their current job and what kind of knowledge/skills do librarians miss the most and finally, whether their current income will allow them to continue their education. Methodology The data used in this paper is based on reviewing of relevant literature to provide an overview of the concept of learning and development, and also on the results of the original survey, created by the paper’s authors, held in Estonian university libraries governed by public law in Estonia. The analysis of the results are interpreted on the basis of the literature and authors' opinions, based on long-term working experience in Estonian academic libraries. Findings Although the personnel of university libraries are highly motivated to train themselves, and some are even willing to do it at their own expense, most librarians are relatively pessimistic about their opportunities to develop themselves with their current salary. The increasing salary would be the biggest motivator for continuing education and self-development. There are a number of employees in university libraries who would be willing to participate in professional conferences and seminars. Unfortunately, most of the them are not ready to deliver a presentation. Originality/value The majority of the literature in library science has focused – and rightfully so – on the user: what do users and patrons want and/or need, how do they use it, how can librarians best provide it to them, do the users feel themselves comfortable in library building etc., etc. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no research has been carried out in recent years, in the Estonian university library context to determine continuing education and development. Practical implications Based on the current study it can be said that the biggest challenge for managements of the university libraries in Estonia is to find the opportunities for financial and/or time support which could influence all kind of the development and learning activities of employees.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2015, 3(3), 366-376. DOI: 10.12691/education-3-3-16
Pub. Date: March 16, 2015

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"I Teach Better with the Puppet" - Use of Puppet as a Mediating Tool in Kindergarten Education – an Evaluation

by Ronit Remer and David Tzuriel

Original Research

A focus of interest among researchers and educators is to find teaching methods adjusted to developmental aspects in early childhood. Teaching that generates significant learning and creates motivation, interest and enjoyment in young children is a real challenge in contemporary education. The effectiveness of using puppets in early childhood has been demonstrated in clinical areas as having the potential to create communication, increase involvement and change attitudes. However, there is limited research literature relating to the use of puppets as a teaching method, and therefore a methodology based on measurement and evaluation is lacking in this field. This article presents partial results of a broader study that examined the influence of an intervention program integrating a puppet as a mediation tool on learning motivation, and enhancing literacy achievements in regular and special kindergarten children. One of the aims of this research was to evaluate, from mediators' perspectives, the use of puppets as a mediation tool for kindergarten children. This evaluation was carried out by means of personal interviews with each of the mediators at the end of the intervention program. From the interviews it became apparent that the mediators considered the puppets to be an effective tool for young children's developmental aspects, by means of which they could relate to cognitive, emotional, and social realms. Mediation using puppets facilitated learning processes, while using puppets, children's cooperation level increased, as did interest, attention span and their involvement in learning interaction was evident. The puppets contributed to the mediators' self-confidence and to their sense of professionalism. During the puppets mediation, the mediators felt that they were teaching in a clear manner, and they felt they were being interesting and. interactive. By using puppets, they succeeded in creating a close personal connection with the children. These findings have an applicable contribution in presenting the effectiveness of the puppet as a mediation tool for use in kindergarten and with special needs children.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2015, 3(3), 356-365. DOI: 10.12691/education-3-3-15
Pub. Date: March 12, 2015

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Reforming Slovak Tertiary Education to Meet the Real Needs of Enterprises

by Ing. Ľubomír Šooš and Bc. Malcolm Jones

Original Research

Research, science, education, links with work experience, these are terms and words which everybody uses today when talking about what should be the main priority of education in the future for Slovakia. Education is the responsibility of each society or state. In this sense of the meaning we can never be rich enough. So we should ensure we invest our resources effectively in educating young people and investing in the future of our nation.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2015, 3(3), 348-355. DOI: 10.12691/education-3-3-14
Pub. Date: March 12, 2015

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The Place of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) in Teaching and Learning in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions

by Hamilton-Ekeke J-T and Mbachu C. E.

Original Research

ICT is an accepted acronym of the word Information and Communication Technology. It include diverse set of technology and technological tools used to communicate, disseminates, store and manage information. The use of ICT in schools by staff and students have become a necessity as it can be used to improve the quality of teaching and learning in any tertiary institution. ICT is also a key tool that is having a revolutionary impact on educational methodology globally; however, this revolution is not adopted and widespread in Nigerian universities, it needs to be strengthening to reach the large percentage of universities in the country as only a few universities can boast of ICT and internet connectivity on campus. This study investigated the availability of ICT facilities as well as its usage in one of the newest government owned universities in the oil rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The research design was a survey research with a sample size of 843 undergraduate students from three faculties out of the six faculties in the Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection were employed in this study. The quantitative method of data collection involved questionnaire while the qualitative method of data collection involved interview schedule. These two methods of research were adopted in this study in order to triangulate the findings from both instruments. The face and content validity of the instrument was validated by two experts in measurement and evaluation while a reliability index of 0.86 was obtained using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient after the instrument has been administered twice to the same respondents not involved in the study (test re-test method of determining reliability). The research questions posited for this study were analysed using percentages while the hypotheses were tested using chi-square. The study revealed that basic ICT facilities like computers are unavailable, students are unable to afford personal laptop, this has grossly affected e-learning and e-communication channels like email, e-board, internet and organized networking system between staff and students. It is therefore recommended that there should be provision of student workstation and the inculcation of ICT in the curriculum to enable students to be computer literates so they can accept and use ICT in their everyday studies. It is interesting to note that, even in today’s globalizing world, traditional education still continues to exist in the form of socialization, cultural instruction and vocational training. Be it as it may, globalization has come to stay as it reflects the idea that life is a process and that human or a nation’s existence is a process that unfolds with time.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2015, 3(3), 340-347. DOI: 10.12691/education-3-3-13
Pub. Date: March 11, 2015

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Fuzzy Logic in the APOS/ACE Instructional Treatment for Mathematics

by Michael Gr. Voskoglou

Original Research

In this paper principles of fuzzy logic are introduced for comparing the performance of two student groups concerning the comprehension of real numbers in general and of irrational numbers in particular. The first group was taught the subject in the traditional way (control group), while the APOS/ACE instructional treatment was applied for the second group (experimental group). The two groups are represented as fuzzy subsets of the set of the grades (from A to F) achieved by the students in a pre-instructional and a post-instructional test and the centroid defuzzification technique is applied on comparing their performances. The results of our classroom experiments show that the application of the APOS/ACE approach can effectively help students to enlist the real numbers in a powerful cognitive schema including all the basic sets of numbers.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2015, 3(3), 330-339. DOI: 10.12691/education-3-3-12
Pub. Date: March 11, 2015

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Possibility to Engage in Pedagogical Leadership as Experienced by Finnish Newly Appointed Principals

by Tapio Juhani Lahtero and Lea Kuusilehto-Awale

Original Research

This qualitative research was based on the construct of broad based pedagogical leadership, which comprises not only technical, human and educational (pedagogical) but also symbolic leadership, the meanings interpreted from the principal’s ordinary activity by the school community, the web of which is understood as the cultural leadership of the school. The research purpose was to find out newly appointed principals’ views on what the most common situations of technical, human and educational (pedagogical) leadership were in their ordinary work and how they could enhance the realization of the pedagogical perspective. The data consisted of the written descriptions of the eighteen participants beginning an in-service training. The responses were analyzed with thematic analysis. The dominance of the technical leadership tasks with routine administration as the most common was the biggest obstacle to advancing the pedagogical perspective. The most common human leadership task was interaction and that of pedagogical leadership was strategic leadership. Human and pedagogical leadership tasks were perceived to be partly overlapping. In contrast to studied international research, the respondents made no mention of leading quality teaching, a quality learning environment or strategic resourcing. The informants did not identify symbolic and cultural leadership components. The findings imply that school based management without an increase in managerial human resource in schools efficiently prevents enhancing pedagogical leadership, perceived as the core task of a principal’s ordinary work, that in studying leadership the context always needs to be considered, and that principals’ in-service training ought to comprise broad based pedagogical leadership to inculcate the holistic and integrative character of principalship. These issues merit further and comparative research.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2015, 3(3), 318-329. DOI: 10.12691/education-3-3-11
Pub. Date: March 10, 2015

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The Philosophical Foundations of Educational Research: a Beginner’s Guide

by Hussein Assalahi

Original Research

This paper aims to provide a concise introduction about the philosophical underpinnings of educational research. Whilst the philosophies of educational research have been extensively researched, a concise guide is hoped to uncover research underpinnings for beginners’ postgraduate research students. It overviews the philosophies, paradigms, basic terminologies and related methodologies of educational research. Moreover, the paper provides insights into how researchers’ philosophical stance can inform their research undertaking and transform the educational landscape.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2015, 3(3), 312-317. DOI: 10.12691/education-3-3-10
Pub. Date: March 09, 2015

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Designing and Testing the Model of Learners' Satisfaction towards On-The-Job Training Courses Case: National Iranian Gas Company

by Bahram Fadaiyan, Hamideh Reshadatjoo, Ali Taghipour Zahir and Seyyed Musa Golestaneh

Original Research

Staff development and improving job status done through training is concerned as important parts of Human Resource Management in the third millennium organizations. In the US companies, 135 billion dollars is allocated each year for training (Patel, 2010) and most of Asian rich countries are also trying to review their educational sytems to make required changes for enrichment of economy (Kayani, 2008:3). Continuity of the training needs to use and apply a uniformed system to promote staff's satisfaction and effectiveness of training process. The aim of this paper is to design and test the Model of Learners' Satisfaction about on-the-job training courses among those staff working in National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC). Statistical population consisted of 40000 staff working in NIGC among which 384 persons were randomly selected based on multi-stage clustering sampling method. Data were obtained via two survey questionnaires (Salanova, 2009; NIGC, 2013) with highly acceptable validity and reliability (α=0.82%). Findings, based on Regression Analysis, showed that the best predictors for learners' satisfaction about OJT courses would respectively be planning and implementation, content, time, goals and priority, executive management, need assessment, way of evaluation, welfare and services, teacher's ability, facilities and equipments. Furthermore, indices of the proposed model represented the goodness fitness of the model. Finally, some required suggestions and ways were delivered.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2015, 3(3), 307-311. DOI: 10.12691/education-3-3-9
Pub. Date: March 08, 2015

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Perception of the Students in Computer Engineering in the Use of Online Courses as Teaching-Learning Process Support in the Software Engineering I Course

by Ma del Carmen Nolasco Salcedo

Case Study

The majority of individuals possess a reference endowed by the experience left by their passage through classrooms in the process of educational and vocational training. However, on addressing support for student-centered learning, we must determine what this is concerned with and what it covers. The aim of this paper was to analyze the implications of learning on students applying an unconventional model, supported by the Information Technology and Communications and with the incorporation of new methodological paradigms in the teaching-learning process for presentation and management of courses, urging both teachers and students toward a change in the role that they had played to date, after their preliminary training process had been based on a traditional model. The analysis refers to the case of the Cienega University Center of the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, with data from surveys of a statistically representative sample of the student population enrolled in this institution during the 6^th, 7^th and 8th academic year of the Software Engineering I course on computers and educational programs offered on this same computer, because it is in those cycles that the experiment was held on the process and the learning tools specific to this educative model, particularly the use of online courses.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2015, 3(3), 301-306. DOI: 10.12691/education-3-3-8
Pub. Date: March 08, 2015

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Rhethorics and Realities of Managing Ethno-Religious Conflicts: the Nigerian Experience

by Beloveth Odochi Nwankwo

Original Research

Political, ethno-religious or social conflicts often spring from the pursuance of divergent ideas, aspirations and interests expressed by a group of people or individuals under particular environmental conditions. Nigeria, like many African countries, is a multi-ethnic country with over 250 ethnic groups, where Islam and Christianity are the two predominant religious beliefs. Since independence, in 1960, Nigeria has struggled to control ethno-religious conflicts. Currently, these conflicts are on the increase with the formation of various ethno-religious militias, such as the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), the Bakassi Boys, the Egbesu Boys and most recently Boko Haram. These conflicts manifest themselves in the form of riots, sabotage, assassination, armed struggles, guerrilla warfare and campaigns for secession. This article explores the rhetoric and realities of managing ethno-religious conflicts in Nigeria with an emphasis on the nature of the conflicts, the protagonists and the management mechanisms employed in that country. In terms of methodology, this study was designed to survey primary and secondary sources of literature relevant to the study. It is a case study analysis of ethno-religious issues in the country. In essence, it has contextualised the study based on religion and ethnic considerations. The sources of data include a survey of the Nigeria Watch database which maps the trends of violent deaths in Nigeria, articles on religious and ethnic violence; newspapers; and, pertinent books, alongside content analysis of the qualitative data. The article argues that one of the abatement measures is that every group must discourage the primordial sentiments in communities expressed by ethnic and religious groups.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2015, 3(3), 292-300. DOI: 10.12691/education-3-3-7
Pub. Date: March 08, 2015

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Students' Perspectives about Nursing Education

by Manal Zeinhom Ahmed, Hasan Touama and Ahmad Rayan

Original Research

Evaluation is becoming a necessary part of nursing education. Educators rely on evaluation in order to measure the quality of their teaching and to identify areas where improvement is needed in nursing education. The current study aims at determining nursing students' perspectives regarding their course content and teaching methodology. In addition, some suggestions for improvement of nursing curricula were obtained from the students. Mixed methods using concurrent triangulation design were used. Eleven theoretical nursing courses in the first semester of the academic year 2013/2014 were subjected to evaluation by students in which they were enrolled. The instrument used in the study was designed by the researchers; its validity and reliability were assured. Results indicated that content of courses and teaching methods were clear, comprehensive and well organized. Online materials and well prepared and organized instructors who use class time effectively were emphasized. On the contrary, a noisy environment was the most frequent aspect which negatively affected students' learning process.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2015, 3(3), 288-291. DOI: 10.12691/education-3-3-6
Pub. Date: March 04, 2015

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Female Teachers Holding the Position of Principal (Case Study of Females in Pursuing Career in School)

by Widyatmike Gede Mulawarman

Original Research

The purpose of this study is to reveal the condition of female teachers in the highest position in school as the principal by applying the qualitative approach of case study model. The technique of data gathering used is purposive sampling by snowball method. By this technique, the researcher is expected to obtain adequate key informants. To secure the data validity, triangulation of data sources is applied. The data analyzing technique uses interactive models of analysis having three components, namely data reduction, data presentation and conclusion drawing and Analysis of Model Gender Sara H. Longwee. The result of study shows that there are two factors inhibiting teacher career development, namely (1) Internal factors: Female teachers’ low aspiration and motivation so that they tend to be complacent with the condition achieved so far. Other possibility is that female teachers are worried that the higher position would increase the load and responsibility; (2) External factors: The culture plays a significant role and influences people’s mindset, i.e. the position of head is only held by male. Even if the regulations related to structural positions do not hamper female, due to competition with male teachers and the limited number of positions available if compared to the number of teachers meeting the requirements, the number of females holding the position of principal is still low.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2015, 3(3), 282-287. DOI: 10.12691/education-3-3-5
Pub. Date: March 04, 2015

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The Effect of Learning Media and Types of Personality on Elementary Student’s Mathematic Performance

by Mohamad Syarif Sumantri and Nina Pratiwi

Original Research

The Purpose of this research is to understand the effect of learning media and type of personality on mathematics performance. The learning media consists of interactive learning multimedia and magnetic board media. Type of personality covers introvert and extrovert. The method used in this research is experimental studies. The design of this research is treatment by level 2 x 2. The hypothesis of this research is tested by using two-way of variance analysis (ANOVA). The results of this research indicated that: (1) Mathematics performance of the group of student use interactive learning multimedia is higher than magnetic board, (2) there is effect of learning media and type of personality on mathematics performance, (3) Particularly for the introvert students use interactive learning multimedia produced higher mathematics performance than those use magnetic board media, (4) for the extrovert students, use magnetic board media produced higher mathematics performance than those use interactive learning multimedia.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2015, 3(3), 276-281. DOI: 10.12691/education-3-3-4
Pub. Date: March 04, 2015

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Investigating the Science Process Skills in Cycle 3 National Science Textbooks in Lebanon

by Samar Zeitoun and Zeina Hajo

Original Research

The purpose of this study is to examine the level of inclusion of basic and integrated science process skills in Lebanese national science text books for cycle 3 and to compare the basic and integrated process skills across subjects (physics, chemistry and biology) and within the same subject across the 3 years(grades 7, 8 & 9). This was to investigate the compliance between the content of the textbooks and the new evaluation system set by the Lebanese government. For instance, the study focused on the SPS that have been neglected in some textbooks as well as the maximum percentage of each skill. To that end, the researchers used the analytical descriptive method, and content analysis. The study revealed that the percentage of basic skills in the textbooks analyzed for all grades was higher than that of the integrated skills. The study revealed also that there is emphasis on some skills at the expense of the others and there is no consistency in the total number of skills across skills or subjects. Furthermore the study revealed that within the same subject, some skills disappear from one grade to another. The study ends by recommendations regarding reviewing textbooks regarding the inclusion of science process skills in a way to ensure coherence between the content of the textbooks and the new evaluation system.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2015, 3(3), 268-275. DOI: 10.12691/education-3-3-3
Pub. Date: March 04, 2015

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Knowledge Management Creativity Elements Expected of Academics in Nigerian Universities

by MODEBELU. M. N and DUVIE. A. N

Original Research

Knowledge management is one of the strategies designed to tackle various challenges which modern tertiary institutions are facing. Tertiary institutions are no longer expected to live and operate in isolation. This paper examined knowledge management and creativity elements expected of lecturers in Nigerian universities. A total of 200 lecturers from two government owned universities randomly drawn, participated in the study. Three research questions guided the study to reveal knowledge management creativity competencies of university lecturers in Anambra State of Nigeria. A four-point Likert type scale questionnaire of 34- items was used for data collection. Frequency distribution table and mean were used for analysis of the research questions. The instrument was validated by two experts in Education Management, while split-half reliability coefficient values of 0.85, 0.80 and 0.90 were determined. Findings revealed 13- knowledge management creativity elements expected of lecturers for successful performance of their duties; low level application of these knowledge management creativity elements and 13 strategies for effective possession and applications of the enumerated competencies. Recommendations included: Knowledge and Learning Managers should be made available to universities and lecturers by university stakeholders. This will provide tools for creativity competencies development, delivery, reporting and management of training/learning materials. Knowledge management creativity competence related workshops should be organized regularly for these lecturers to enable them develop these skills so as to inculcate same in their students (future organization managers).

American Journal of Educational Research. 2015, 3(3), 263-267. DOI: 10.12691/education-3-3-2
Pub. Date: March 04, 2015

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Socialization of Knowledge through Collaborative Projects. The Renovarte Café Case

by M.A. Ricardo Ortiz Ayala, Ana Rosa Hernández Jiménez, Irma Rivera Gordillo y Marisol and Amparo Ríos Hoyo

Original Research

This research was based on Nonaka and Takeuchi’s (1995) theory about the creation and management of knowledge. The aspect of it that is considered mainly is knowledge. Socialization. This is the case of RenovArte Café, a project for which the main guidelines were collaborative work and teamwork. Students of the subject of marketing from the Instituto Tecnológico de Querétaro and the Univeridad Autónoma de Querétaro worked jointly and together with the business proprietor as well. The Educational Plan for the Period 2007-2012 (SEP, 2007) states that its objective number four: the importance of developing an integral education in order to fortify personal values, competitiveness and the generation of knowledge in the classroom and to develop the teaching process with the help of the institutional environment. Part of the strategy emphasizes the idea of developing professional projects together with businesses to permit the students to put into practice their knowledge. The constructivist approach emphasizes in a more active role from students, generating their learning experiences (UAQ 2013). The role of making socially practical [creating nexus between education and business] and collaborating in the formation of the student of higher education is such that the Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro is developing specific activities to promote and reinforce this task as a part of the functions of the Direction of External Relations of the University (UAQ 2013), and through that accomplish objectives such the Promotion of coordinated efforts between the institutions and organizations of the social, public and private sectors: that is, facilitate the ability of exchanging experiences, information, knowledge and work” and “Expand the socially practical university links and launch different projects”.

American Journal of Educational Research. 2015, 3(3), 259-262. DOI: 10.12691/education-3-3-1
Pub. Date: March 04, 2015

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