scholarly journals ANALYSIS OF LEARNING DIFFICULTIES WITH FRACTIONS IN THREE AFRICAN COUNTRIES: FOCUSING ON THE SCOPE, SEQUENCE AND MODELS OF FRACTIONS

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-91
Author(s):  
Satoshi Kusaka
Keyword(s):  
Basic Research ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Significant Discrepancy ◽  
Intended Curriculum ◽  
Learning Content ◽  
Teaching Content ◽  
Measurement Concept ◽  
Teaching Fractions

Purpose: This study aims to compare and analyze learning content with regard to fractions, the order in which that content is taught in primary school mathematics curricula, and how it is presented in textbooks in three eastern and southern African countries, Zambia, Ethiopia, and Mozambique as well as to clarify the characteristics of the instruction concerning fraction in each of these countries. Methodology: Firstly, we refer to the curriculum to extract information about the learning contents and their order in each grade. Secondly, concerning the meaning of fractions, we refer to the textbooks since we cannot clearly judge from the description in the curriculum. Thirdly, we focus on the common points and differences among the three countries and analyze the causes of difficulty in learning fractions. Findings: There is a significant discrepancy between the grades in learning fractions among the three countries. In addition, the learning order differs to a certain degree. A common feature of the three countries regarding the order is the multiplication and division of fractions. For all three countries, while the addition and subtraction of fractions and types of fractions are handled separately by different grades, the multiplication and division are all taught in one grade. Further, how the meaning of fractions is taught is common to all three countries. In all the countries, the part-whole concept of fractions is mainly employed, and the fraction as measurement concept is not taught at all. Unfortunately, since children learn without considering fractions as measurements, their understanding of fractions will be limited. Unique contribution to theory, practice, and policy: Regarding fraction, basic research on the teaching content and their order in African countries have not been conducted extensively. While improving the quality of education is a common goal globally, it is paramount to analyze the difficulty in learning fractions from the perspectives of the intended curriculum and textbook. The result will be the implication for revising the curriculum and suggestions for teaching fractions.

scholarly journals Proposal for an intelligent digital teacher’s textbook solution adapted to the Bachelor-Master-Doctorate system

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Hermann Semevo Boko ◽  
Bessan Melckior Degboe ◽  
Samuel Ouya ◽  
Gervais Mendy
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Digital Textbook ◽  
Quality Of Higher Education ◽  
Teaching Content ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Set Up ◽  
E Mail

This paper proposes an intelligent solution for course monitoring based on the use of a digital textbook coupled with an algorithm for verifying the conformity of the teaching content. The proposed solution allows to follow in real time the evolution of the courses and to alert the pedagogical managers in case of non-compliance with the syllabus. In most sub-Saharan African countries engaged in the Bachelor-Master-Doctorate (BMD) reform, incessant strikes prevent teachers from completing the program. Also, there is no way for the teacher to know whether students have the necessary prerequisites. In addition, constraints related to agendas sometimes prevent the holding of pedagogical animation meetings. To solve these problems, we propose the implementation of an intelligent digital teacher's textbook. The tool helps in the follow-up and the respect of the pedagogical objectives. It implements an algorithm to evaluate in real time the concordance between the courses given and the requirements of the syllabus. An SMS and e-mail alert system has also been set up to inform training actors in case of non-compliance with the syllabus. The proposed solution contributes to the overall improvement of the quality of higher education in Saharan Africa.

scholarly journals Individual quality of life and the environment – towards a concept of livable areas for persons with disabilities in Poland

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Izabela Grabowska ◽  
Radosław Antczak ◽  
Jan Zwierzchowski ◽  
Tomasz Panek
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Research Problem ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities [1] highlights the need to create proper socioeconomic and political conditions for persons with disabilities, with a special focus on their immediate living conditions. According to the Convention, these conditions should be built to ensure that persons with disabilities have the potential to enjoy a high quality of life (QoL), and this principle is reflected in the notion of livable areas. The crucial aspect of this framework is the relationship between the individual QoL and the environment, broadly understood as the socioeconomic as well as the technical conditions in which persons with disabilities function. Methods The basic research problem was to assess the relationship between individual QoL for the population with disabilities as a dependent variable and livability indicators as independent variables, controlling for individual characteristics. The study used a dataset from the EU-SILC (European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions) survey carried out in 2015 in Poland. The research concept involved several steps. First, we created a variable measuring the QoL for the entire population with disabilities. To measure the multidimensional QoL, we used Sen’s capability approach as a general concept, which was operationalized by the MIMIC (multiple indicators multiple causes) model. In the second step, we identified the livability indicators available in the official statistics, and merged them with survey data. Finally, in the last step, we ran the regression analysis. We also checked the data for the nested structure. Results We confirmed that the general environmental conditions, focused on creating livable areas, played a significant role in shaping the QoL of persons with disabilities; i.e., we found that the higher the level of the local Human Development Index, the higher the quality of life of the individuals living in this area. This relationship held even after controlling for the demographic characteristics of the respondents. Moreover, we found that in addition to the general environmental conditions, the conditions created especially for persons with disabilities (i.e., services for this group and support for their living conditions) affected the QoL of these individuals. Conclusions The results illustrate the need to strengthen policies aimed at promoting the QoL of persons with disabilities by creating access to community assets and services that can contribute to improving the life chances of this population.

scholarly journals Commercialization of Aframomum spp. in Africa: a Systematic Review of Literature and Supporting Botanical Vouchers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronja Hermiene Maria Knippers ◽  
Sandrine Gallois ◽  
Tinde van Andel
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Future Research ◽  
East African ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Wild Resources ◽  
Living Material ◽  
Specific Species ◽  
Material Information

AbstractAframomum (Zingiberaceae) is a genus of plants native to tropical Africa that are sold on African markets as spices and traditional medicine. Not all species of Aframomum are equally abundant or widespread, and no overview exists of the specific species traded or the quality of the species identifications in publications referencing the sale of Aframomum. Through a systematic literature review, we show that 14 species of Aframomum are sold in 15 African countries. The majority of the studies were done in Nigeria and Cameroon and A. melegueta was the most frequently reported species in trade. A. kayserianum was the only commercialized species with confirmed conservation issues. Our literature review shows extensive knowledge gaps regarding the commercialization of Aframomum in Africa. Most studies did not include herbarium vouchers, or only used market-sourced plant material, which impedes the possibilities for species verifications. Additionally, most East African countries were devoid of relevant research. These gaps can be bridged by future research in East Africa and voucher collection from living material. Information on the conservation status of traded Aframomum species can be obtained by population studies on wild resources and documenting local domestication efforts, as the cultivation of marketed species tends to relieve the pressure from wild resources.

scholarly journals Pharmacoeconomics in Africa: needs, prospect and challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Temitope Ben-Ajepe ◽  
Ifechukwu Benedict Nwogu ◽  
Damilola Quazeem Olaoye ◽  
Abdulhafeez Ayodele Mustapha ◽  
Theogene Uwizeyimana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Continuous Increase ◽  
Poverty Threshold ◽  
Therapy Choice ◽  
Medication Selection ◽  
Healthcare Interventions ◽  
The Cost

AbstractAfrica as a continent has experienced a continuous increase in the cost of healthcare as its demands increase. With many of these African countries living below the poverty threshold, Africans continue to die from preventable and curable diseases. Population increases have led to an increase in demands for healthcare, which unfortunately have been met with inequitable distribution of drugs. Hence, the outcomes from healthcare interventions are frequently not maximized. These problems notably call for some economic principles and policies to guide medication selection, procurement, or donation for population prioritization or health insurance. Pharmacoeconomics drives efficient use of scarce or limited resources to maximize healthcare benefits and reduce costs. It also brings to play tools that rate therapy choice based on the quality of life added to the patient after a choice of intervention was made over an alternative. In this paper, we commented on the needs, prospect, and challenges of pharmacoeconomics in Africa.

Electronic Resources for Online Mathematics Primary Education – Specifics, Types, Quality

2021 ◽  
Vol LXIV (1) ◽  
pp. 62-83
Author(s):  
Lyubka Aleksieva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mathematics Education ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Primary Teachers ◽  
Theoretical Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Electronic Resources ◽  
Learning Content ◽  
Online Mathematics

This paper presents a theoretical research on electronic resources provided for mathematics education in primary school including online education, which has become ubiquitous as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Various aspects and forms of application of e-resources in mathematics education are explored in the literature, but the issue of their quality is less studied. E-resources potential to dynamically illustrate the mathematical learning content is defined as their main advantage, but this potential could be realized only in compliance with the principles of multimedia, as well as the requirements for accessibility, ergonomics and visual design. Therefore, in this study the parameters for the quality of e-resources for mathematics education in primary school are derived and specific criteria and requirements for their quality are proposed. Thus, in addition to providing a basis for future research, this paper could serve to primary teachers as a guide for measuring the quality of e-resources that they select or create for online mathematics education.

The Digi-Table Method as a Tool for Reflecting on Research Ethics

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. 177-177
Author(s):  
Wim Van Der Molen ◽  
◽  
Els Maeckelberghe ◽  
◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Ethics ◽  
Ethical Review ◽  
Scientific Integrity ◽  
Societal Impact ◽  
Educational Tool ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Review Committee ◽  
Learning Content ◽  
Ethical Review Committee

"concepts and processes by means of a digitable. It is a tool for familiarizing users with complicated and complex issues, learning content, and addressing the more methodical aspects didactically. In this project, we have adapted the DTM for reflecting on research ethics, i.c. research with human beings and its ethical requirements and the review by the medical ethical review committee (MREC). A MREC reviews research proposals based on various (ethical) requirements and requires researchers to understand the ethical consequences and societal impact of their research. Before writing their own proposals, it is important for students to know and understand these ethical requirements and the process through which research proposals are reviewed. In order to train this, we prepared the digitable to simulate the review of a research protocol by an MREC and adapted it into an existing assignment on research ethics for master students. The students were informed of our aim and the use of DTM as an educational tool, and asked for consent. We invited them to critically assess the activity and we ensured participation would not influence their grade. The students reported a better understanding of the medical ethical review and felt it would improve their own work. From the educator’s perspective, the quality of argumentation of the review was much improved compared to previous years. The DTM as an educational tool is now a standard element in different master courses on scientific integrity. "

scholarly journals The Association between Social Capital and Voting Participation in Three Developing Democracies in Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Jack Chola Bwalya ◽  
Prasanth Sukumar
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Developing Democracies ◽  
Voting Participation ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Western Democracies

Numerous empirical research studies posit that social capital has a positive influence on peoples’ political participation. Studies conducted in developed western democracies have revealed that social capital strengthens democratic institutions by impacting both the quantity and quality of citizens’ political participation. However, in the developing democracies of Africa, the effects of social capital on political participation remain under-researched. This paper aims to empirically examine whether the interrelation between social capital and political participation holds true in the developing democracies of Africa. By operationalising the concept of social capital as membership in civic associations, this paper examines the influence of social capital on peoples’ voting participation in three Southern African countries, viz. Botswana, Namibia and Zambia. Using data from the sixth round of the Afrobarometer Survey, this study found that social capital was strongly linked to voting participation in these countries.

Rapid urbanization and the growing demand for urban infrastructure in Africa

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Leyeka Lufumpa ◽  
Tito Yepes
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Productivity ◽  
Complex Task ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Transformation Theory ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Institutional Reforms ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Urban Transition ◽  
Development Agenda

Africa is undergoing a rapid urban transition and is set to be the fastest urbanizing region in the coming decades. This shift has profound implications for achieving the continental and global targets for inclusive growth and transformation. Theory and global experience show that urbanization and structural transformation are closely linked—but less so in Africa. Urbanization in many African countries has not been driven by improving agricultural productivity. Indeed, most countries are urbanizing rapidly amid declining or stagnant industrial output and low agricultural productivity. The infrastructure development agenda has to make cities more productive and liveable yet with great reliance on the provision of sizable resources. However, matching the investment agenda to the goals of urbanization is a complex task, encompassing regional, national, urban, and rural dimensions which together determine the quality of the urbanization process. Institutional reforms should be undertaken to positively drive urbanization in Africa.

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