Search

Teachers in secondary schools were studied to determine their readiness to adopt fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies to enhance their teaching practices and student learning. Through Industry 4.0, technologies are also becoming available as products for education, transforming the rules and norms of education. Secondary school mathematics teachers in Nigeria must prepare themselves to embrace digital skills so that they will be ready for new teaching and learning processes that are being introduced by these new digital tools. In this study, a cross-sectional quantitative approach was used. The data were collected using a self-developed instrument with a content validity index of 0.96 and a MacDonald Omega reliability index of 0.84. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 211 mathematics teachers in three Lagos State education districts. Analyses of the obtained data were performed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at a significance level of 0.05. Results indicate that mathematics teachers are ready to integrate 4IR skills and emerging technologies into their classrooms. In addition, the willingness of participants to adopt relevant 4IR skills across their years of experience was statistically significant. A new path is charted for school administrators, mathematics teachers, and stakeholders in the education sector to assist in policy design toward 4IR, thereby contributing to the existing literature on adopting emerging technologies to teach mathematics education in sub-Saharan Africa.

This study focused on addressing underperformance in chemistry in Anglophone West African countries. The main purpose of the study was to determine if factors such as gender, school location and ownership impact students' perception of the difficulty of chemistry concepts and to suggest how these difficult concepts can be made easy to learn from the perspectives of the students. A mixed-methods approach was adopted. Participants were 1,292 chemistry students from nine public and 12 private secondary schools in Nigeria and Ghana with about three-quarters of the schools from urban areas. About 51% of the participants were females. Twenty-four students were interviewed to gather qualitative data. The Difficult Concept in Chemistry Questionnaire (DCCQ) and the Difficult Concepts in Chemistry Interview Guide (DCCIG) were used for data collection. The test-retest reliability coefficient of the DCCQ was 0.88. We found a slight difference in the perception of male and female students while school type came as a major determinant factor on students' perception of difficult concepts in chemistry, just as school location. Phobia for calculations came out as a major cause of difficulty in the top five perceived difficult concepts. Findings on causes of learning difficulties were reported as well as suggestions for improvement as viewed by the students. Recommendations were made for improving the teaching and learning of chemistry in Anglophone West African schools.

This study investigated dimensionality of Binary Response Items through a non-parametric technique of Item Response Theory measurement framework. The study used causal comparative research type of nonexperimental design. The sample consisted of 5,076 public senior secondary school examinees (SSS3) between the age of 14-16 years from 45 schools, which were drawn randomly from three senatorial districts of Osun State, Nigeria. Instrument used for this study was 2018 Osun State unified multiple-choice mathematics achievement test items with empirical reliability coefficient of 0.82. Data obtained were analysed using Non-linear factor analysis, Stout's Test of Essential Unidimensionality (STEU), Factor Analysis (FA), Full Information Factor Analysis (FIFA) and Bootstrap Modified Parallel Analysis Test (BMPAT). Results showed that both the BMPAT and STEU ascertained violation of unidimensionality assumption of the test items (the observed difference in the second eigenvalue of the observed data and that of second eigenvalue of the simulated data was statistically significant, p = 0.0099; Stout's test rejected the assumption of essential unidimensionality, T = 10.6260, p<0.05). Non-linear factor analysis and full information factor analysis revealed that four dimensions embedded in the test items and loadings of the items showed within-item multidimensionality respectively. The authors' concluded that modeling examinees' performance with unidimensional model when it was actually multidimensional in nature would affect performance of examinees adversely and could lead to blur judgment. Consequently, it is recommended that unidimensional scoring method of Osun State unified mathematics achievement test implicit in Classical Test Theory should be jettisoned and an appropriate scoring model (multidimensional) should be embraced.

A scoring framework that does not reflect true performance of an examinee would ultimately result in an abnormal score. This study assessed invariance person estimates of 2017 Nigerian National Examinations Council Basic Education Certificate Examination Mathematics Multiple Choice using classical test theory (CTT) and item response theory (IRT) scoring frameworks. The study adopted survey design method. Simple random sampling technique was adopted to select 978 subjects (425 males, 553 females, M=12 years) for the study. One research instrument was used. Data were analyzed using descriptive and paired sample t-tests. There was significance difference (t = 2.635, df = 977, p = 0.01) in the overall mean score of CTT (mean=50.70, SD=10.30) and IRT (mean=47.78, SD=8.49). Also, IRT method of scoring produced different test scores for examinees who had the same raw scores under the CTT method. National Examinations Council should be encouraged to shift their paradigm of scoring from CTT to IRT method.

Due to the pivotal roles played by Education 4.0 in reshaping the skills necessary for sustenance in the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR), we investigate computer science teachers' preparedness to acquire the requisite skills for effectively equipping students with skills, especially technology skills for the life and work of 4IR. Teachers play crucial roles in preparing students for a technologydriven world. Examining their readiness to acquire skills for effective delivery of Education 4.0's skills-based content becomes imperative. Prior to data collection, the teachers underwent a tailored professional development training focusing on 4IR, Education 4.0, and the required skills. Our findings reveal an overall positive disposition of the teachers towards acquiring the skills needed to fulfil the roles demanded by Education 4.0. This finding reiterates the importance of professional development initiatives to assist teachers in meeting the skills requirements and also face the challenges of Education 4.0. Consequently, we advocate for interventions tailored to address the specific needs of teachers, enabling them to embrace the evolving responsibilities associated with Education 4.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on high-stakes testing, including the national benchmark tests in South Africa. Current linear testing formats have been criticized for their limitations, leading to a shift towards Computerized Adaptive Testing [CAT]. Assessments with CAT are more precise and take less time. Evaluation of CAT programs requires simulation studies. To assess the feasibility of implementing CAT in NBTs, SimulCAT, a simulation tool, was utilized. The SimulCAT simulation involved creating 10,000 examinees with a normal distribution characterized by a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1. A pool of 500 test items was employed, and specific parameters were established for the item selection algorithm, CAT administration rules, item exposure control, and termination criteria. The termination criteria required a standard error of less than 0.35 to ensure accurate abilities estimation. The findings from the simulation study demonstrated that fixed-length tests provided higher testing precision without any systematic error, as indicated by measurement statistics like CBIAS, CMAE, and CRMSE. However, fixed-length tests exhibited a higher item exposure rate, which could be mitigated by selecting items with fewer dependencies on specific item parameters (a-parameters). On the other hand, variable-length tests demonstrated increased redundancy. Based on these results, CAT is recommended as an alternative approach for conducting NBTs due to its capability to accurately measure individual abilities and reduce the testing duration. For high-stakes assessments like the NBTs, fixed-length tests are preferred as they offer superior testing precision while minimizing item exposure rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychometricians and researchers have grown increasingly concern about students' performance. It is noteworthy from observation in the selected university of education in Nigeria that many of these students do not attend lectures for general courses particularly EDU 222 (tests and measurement) due to overcrowded lecture halls, the classroom climate factor, and other latent factors, such as exam conditions, test anxiety among others. Consequently, students' performance in EDU 222 does not significantly correlate with these challenges. The characteristics of the item parameter of the tests and measurement achievement test at the selected University of Education in Ogun State, Nigeria, were therefore examined in this study using measurement theories. The study employed an ex-post facto research of non-experimental design. Purposive sampling was used to select 6,203 second-year undergraduates offering EDU 222 for the 2018/2019 academic year. To analyze students' responses to 30 multiple-choice questions on tests and measurement, factor analysis, item calibration, an independent sample ttest with a significance threshold of 0.05 were utilized with empirical reliability of 0.64. The results showed the test items satisfied the threeparameter logistics model and uni-dimensionality assumption. The findings also showed that the item response theory (IRT) eliminated 7 items due to guessing, while the classical test theory (CTT) eliminated 13 items. The test is prone to guessing, thus, helps pupils do better on the exam. To establish parameter estimates during test development, higher education institutions (HEIs) should employ the use of IRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted traditional education, leading to the adoption of alternative methods, such as learning through radio and television for K-12 students. Television and radio became popularly adopted platforms to disseminate educational resources during the pandemic in developing countries, such as Nigeria. This study gathers the perspective of K-12 teachers and students during the crisis to find out the effectiveness of the utilized platforms, examine the challenges encountered, and suggest the way forward in case of future occurrence. The concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) guided the study. A qualitative methodology of interpretivism was employed using 20 participants that comprise students and teachers across the five south-western states in Nigeria. Findings show that teachers adapted their lessons to be delivered through broadcasts, while school administrators have worked closely with broadcasters to develop and implement educational content. Students have had mixed experiences, with some finding radio and television engaging, while others face challenges with engagement and adaptability. In essence, the result shows that most of the respondents though acknowledged the effectiveness of the radio and television approach to learning but opined that the lessons are not detailed enough. Furthermore, educational television broadcast is preferable to radio lessons as the visual effect contributes significantly to learning. The study concludes that broadcasters have played a critical role in delivering educational content, partnering with schools, and developing programs that align with the curriculum during the pandemic. The study discussed its implication, followed by limitations, and gave direction for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic learning is a techno approach that brings new opportunities for teaching and learning in many fields of education compared to the traditional classroom environment. However, there is a dearth of research on its effectiveness in practicality and whether it is dependable enough during teaching and learning. Thus, this systematic review aims to provide evidence from numerous findings on the reliability components (such as functionality, probability of success, environment, and duration) of online teaching and learning (OTL) tools in Lesotho higher education institutions (HEIs), focusing on functionality and probability of success only. A review of online learning tools includes Thuto, Google Meet, Google Classroom, Zoom, Moodle, and Microsoft Teams. Technology adoption models and Siemens’ theory of connectivism underpin this review. The review covered 18 articles between 2015 and 2021. Scopus, Google Scholar, ProQuest, and EBSCO were used for data search. In addition, selected studies were reviewed by experts in Educational Technology at the National University of Lesotho. Some factors were found to hinder the functionality and success of OTL tools, including lack of internet connectivity, electricity, and gadgets. As a result of this review, OTL tools are effective to some extent in terms of functionality and likelihood of success. However, the weaknesses of the e-learning tools outweigh the strengths of Lesotho HEIs. Consequently, only using OTL tools could hamper the quality of higher education in Lesotho. In HEIs, blended learning and continuous training on e-learning tools should be introduced for effective teaching and learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Challenges of a lack of formal technology-embeded teacher training, collaborative learning models, adequate technology know-how, and internet access are barriers to adopting technological-enabled teaching and learning STEM subjects in the African context. This study examined technology adoption for STEM in higher education while evaluating students’ experiences with evidence and implications for less developed countries. The survey research design was adopted for the study. The study population was students in higher learning institutions in selected countries in the sub-Saharan African region using a multi-stage sampling procedure consisting of convenience and purposive sampling techniques. A self-developed questionnaire titled Technology Adoption for Teaching and Learning Questionnaire “TATLQ” premised on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model was used for data collection. The instrument had an overall reliability coefficient of 0.96. The collated data were analysed using descriptive of the median and a network chart to answer the research questions. In contrast, the inferential statistics of t-test and Analysis of Variance statistics were used to test the hypothesis generated for the study and implemented in the psych package of R programming language version 4.0.2 software. Findings revealed that students had a positive experience with online teaching and learning and concluded that technology adoption for STEM education online teaching and learning is feasible in sub-Sahara Africa, with the need for improvements in internet access and technical support on the basis for which recommendations were made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) physics test items developed to assess test-takers proficiency in elementary mechanics, heat, and properties of matter (PHY 101) are intrinsically multidimensional. However, we observed that the current method used by the University to score test-takers proficiency in the course is premised on classical test theory, which has been criticized in the literature for its limitations, and a measurement model for unidimensional tests. Consequently, using an inappropriate model to model test-takers responses to items would adversely affect their true proficiency in the course. This study assessed the dimensionality and conditional independence of physics test items of NOUN using the latent traits model (ltm) package in the R language. Ex-post facto research was used as a non-experimental design. Test-takers responses to the thirtyfive PHY 101 multiple-choice items across NOUN study centers in the thirty-six states of Nigeria were retrieved from the Directorate of Examination of Assessment (DEA) and used for the study, with empirical reliability of 0.80. A modified parallel analysis test and Yen Q3 statistics implemented in R language software, version 4.0.2, were used to analyze 978 test-takers responses. Study results revealed that NOUN physics items had more than one dominant dimension to explain test-takers performance. In addition, residual correlations of ten item pairs were severely over 0.20. Therefore, PHY 101 is intrinsically multidimensional. Multiple latent variables determine test takers' responses. To ensure the appropriateness of the test items developed by the lecturers, we recommend setting up a psychometric unit within the DEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the scalability of a cognitive multiple-choice test through the Mokken package in the R programming language for statistical computing. A 2019 mathematics West African Examinations Council (WAEC) instrument was used to gather data from randomly drawn K-12 participants (N = 2866; Male = 1232; Female = 1634; Mean age = 16.5 years) in Education District I, Lagos State, Nigeria. The results showed that the monotone homogeneity model (MHM) was consistent with the empirical dataset. However, it was observed that the test could not be scaled unidimensionally due to the low scalability of some items. In addition, the test discriminated well and had low accuracy for item-invariant ordering (IIO). Thus, items seriously violated the IIO property and scalability criteria when the HT coefficient was estimated. Consequently, the test requires modification in order to provide monotonic characteristics. This has implications for public examining bodies when endeavouring to assess the IIO assumption of their items in order to boost the validity of testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]