Framework for enhancing students’ smartphone learning ability: a case study of Nigerian public Universities

Purpose The importance of smartphones in enhancing students learning, research and development is well-established in many published studies. Nevertheless, due to numerous challenges, Nigerian students are yet to reap from the benefits of smartphones in terms of accessing vital information for learning and development. Therefore, this study aims to develop a framework that will enhance Nigerian students’ ability to use smartphones for learning. Design/methodology/approach The SERVQUAL Theory Framework is adapted to actualize the research aim. Moreover, a qualitative (in-depth interview) research approach was used to interview 60 students from 3 public universities in Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the interviewees, and the interview data were analysed using thematic content analysis. Findings The findings identified the critical constraints that deter Nigerian students from reaping the full potential of smartphones for learning. The constraints are categorized into three groups which include telecommunication companies’ hiccups, such as high cost of internet, poor network services and coverage; government obstacles, such as high tax policies, insufficient electricity supply and lack of basic infrastructure; and university barriers, such as unavailability of Wi-Fi connection for students, lack of equipped university libraries and poor management. Originality/value Thus, a holistic Framework for Enhancing Students Smartphones Learning Ability was established to provide fundamental recommendations to the Nigerian Government, telecommunication companies in Nigeria and Nigerian universities to tackle the pressing issues hindering Nigerian students from using their smartphones for learning. This will enhance the smartphone learning experience of Nigerian students.

Relationship between Age, Gender, Mobile Phone Usage and some Cognitive Functions among the Nigerian Students

Introduction: Advanced mobile technology especially mobile phones provide useful and convenient means for individuals to communicate and access the internet anytime and anywhere. However, electromagnetic field (EMF) energy from the mobile phones has been mentioned to hamper neuronal activity and cognitive function in humans. Aim: This research was therefore undertaken to determine the relationship between age, gender, mobile phone usage and some cognitive functions among the Nigerian students. Methodology: This study used datafrom500 students randomly selected from populations in University of Port-Harcourt. Different ages specified by the respondents through structural. Questionnaires were used. Data obtained from the retrieved questionnaire were analyzed using multiple STATGRAPHICS for the descriptive statistics. While SPSS (IBM Amos V21.0.0, USA) was used for the inferential statistics. Results: The results revealed that, there was no significant association between age and smartphone ownership (P>0.05). However, for gender, there were significant distributional differences in males (38.5%) and females (29.4%) (P=0.022), as well as stress caused by phone usage (males=76.8%; females=89.7). Correlations of cognitive function variables revealed significant relationship between all the cognitive functional variables. Conclusion: Distraction was found to have a significant relationship with stress (P=0.033). Therefore attachment to use of smart phone among youths should be advisably minimized.

Sex determination based on footprint ratio and comparison of toe print pattern in the male and female Nigerian students (A case study of Bowen University students)

Dermatoglyphics can be described as the study of the patterns of ridges on the skin of the fingers, palms, toes, and soles. These patterns are of interest in anthropology, criminology, and medicine. The skin on the ventral sides of the hands and the plantar sides of the feet is exclusively designed and is corrugated with the ridges and configurations which are functionally useful. Subjects for the study consisted of 100 persons, 50 males and 50 females, all from Bowen University, Iwo, Osun state of Nigeria and they were all students. The age range was 15-24 years of age. The feature being studied includes the print pattern on their 10 digits and some other parameters to distinguish the sole print patterns of both sexes. The toe print pattern was collected by the use of hand lens, used in viewing the prints on the white paper. For measuring the dimensions of foot prints, the following points were noted; The maximum length: the distance between the greatest toe and the mid-rear heal point called the pterion. The maximum width: the distance between the medial and lateral metatarsal It was observed that in the male and female population 92% of the population was found to possess loop patterns on their toes, 4.2% possessed whorl patterns while 3.8% possessed arch patterns. Out of the 50 males, 90% has loop pattern, 3.6 % has whorl pattern, 6.4% possessed arch pattern in their right foot. 92.4% has loop patterns, 3.2 % has whorl patterns and 4.4% has arch pattern in their left foot. In total 91.2% of the population possessed loop pattern, 3.4 % possessed whorl pattern while 5.4 % has arch pattern. Considering that of the female population, out of the 50 subjects, 93.2% possesses loop, 4.4% has whorl pattern and 2.4% has arch pattern in their right foot while in the left foot, 92.4% has loop, 5.6% has whorl and 2% has arch patterns in their left foot. In total the female population has 92.8 % loop, 5% whorl and just 2.2 % arch patterns. This results has shown that the female has more whorl pattern (5%) compared to the female value of 3.4% of whorl pattern. Also male has higher percentage of arch pattern (5.4%) compared to the 2.2% value obtained in females. Sex determination by footprint ratio was carried out and the standard footprint ratio values of 0.371219 and 0.3737645 were obtained. 51% accuracy was obtained in sex determination using this method. All foot print ratio up to these values and below was predicted female while foot print ratio above these values were predicted male.

Re-invigorating the Teaching of Continuous Writing in Secondary Schools

Mastering the writing skill especially poses enormous, but surmountable challenges to learners of English language as a second language. A good grounding in writing is however a sine qua non to any academic achievement. At the centre of the performance of Nigerian students, especially in English language in SSCE, is the aspect of continuous writing which carries highest mark in the examination. This was discovered after going through some of the Chief Examiners reports on the performance of candidates in the SSCE in English language submitted to the West African Examination Council in Lagos. It has been observed that this abysmal failure is as a result of the fact that this aspect has not been given its deserved attention in the teaching of English language in secondary schools. The general fall in the standard of the education at the tertiary institutions is the general fall in the standard of the composition skills on the secondary schools. This paper intends to suggest re-energizing of the teaching of continuous writing in Nigerian secondary schools because of its utilitarian roles in educational and other life-long pursuit of the modern world. Some practical suggestions which are hoped to be of immense benefits to both the teachers and learners of composition writing, especially at the secondary school level are proffered along this line.

The perception of Nigerian students of German about serious games: Using ‘Secret of the Sky Disc’ as a case study

The use of serious games is usually common, but digital games are not used in the teaching of German. This study aims to find out the attitude of students of German to the possible use of serious games in the teaching of German at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and their impression of the game ‘secret of the sky disc’ introduced by the Goethe Institute for the learning of German as a foreign language. Two different sets of questionnaires were administered to the students of German of OAU. The resulting data were analysed, discussed and conclusions were drawn. The results show the readiness of students of German for the use of digital games in teaching German at the university. The study adds to the limited literature on the use of serious games in teaching German as a foreign language Keywords: German, Nigeria, perception, serious games, Obafemi Awolowo University, students.

Plastic Waste Sorting Intentions among University Students

This paper focuses on plastic waste sorting intentions to address municipal solid waste challenges in developing countries. This study also adapts the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in evaluating the determinants of plastic waste sorting intentions among Nigerian students. Nine hundred and thirty-nine respondents participated through questionnaire surveys. Findings of structural equation modelling depict that perceived behavioral control had the highest impact on the respondents’ plastic waste sorting intentions, followed by subjective norms; however, attitude was found to be insignificant and TPB explained 77% of the variance in waste sorting intentions. The importance of other influencing factors is also considered such as environmental awareness, volunteering, and study program in evaluating plastic waste sorting intentions and these factors were found to be statistically significant. Therefore, the results from this study add to the limited body of information on the application of TPB and other influencing factors in the study of plastic waste sorting in Nigeria. The findings also provide suggestions to current and prospective policymakers on the relevance of introducing waste sorting management practices such as recycling bins in Nigerian university premises and campaigns for waste sorting and recycling activities.

COVID-19 and digitized education: Analysis of online learning in Nigerian higher education

This study aims at investigating student perception of Nigerian institutions of higher learning using the new digital culture induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, namely, online learning (i.e. e-learning), that has become commonplace globally and specifically in Nigeria. The study used quantitative survey methods and a sample size of 1134 Nigerian students of the three types of higher institutions in Nigeria: universities, polytechnics, and colleges of higher education based on student state residential location. The respondents completed a questionnaire via Google Forms in June and July 2020. The study found that students are not satisfied with virtual learning embarked upon by many higher institutions throughout the country during the COVID-19 lockdown and would not want the online learning to continue after the pandemic due to poor internet infrastructure and lack of electricity. The study concluded that students of higher education in Nigeria have a low acceptance of online learning technology, preferring instead the traditional classroom setting, and thus putting them in the “Laggards adopter categorization” of the diffusion innovation theory, i.e., the group that is highly conservative and extremely slow to accept new technological innovations. The study recommends that universities should engage students more interactively not only through texts but also video (e.g. camera demonstrations), increase their online learning during the pandemic so as not to lag academically, and spend more time on online learning to get the best possible level of instruction until traditional learning resumes. Also, it is recommended that administrators of Nigerian higher institutions should return to a traditional learning format as soon as the pandemic is over as well as an overhaul and restructuring of the internet and power grid nationwide.

Antibiotic susceptibility pattern and plasmid profiles of nasal staphylococci from apparently healthy Nigerians

A total of 480 nasal samples from apparently healthy Nigerian students were collected aseptically and analyzed bacteriologically. Staphylococci were recovered from 432 (90%) of the subjects, constituting 288 (66.7%) and 144 (33.3%) of S. aureus and S. epidermidis respectively. The in-vitro antibiotic susceptibility testing using the disc diffusion technique showed high multiple resistance to the most commonly used antibiotics by Staphylococcus aureus such as penicillin (98.6%), ampicillin (97.2%), tetracycline (95.8%) and streptomycin (84.7%), but less resistance to erythromycin (9.7%), rocephin (8.3%), peflacin (4.2%) respectively. The S. epidermis showed less resistance to all the antibiotics tested. Sixty percent of S. aureus harbored plasmids which molecular sizes ranged from 0.1 to 12.0 kilobases. The high prevalence of multiple antibiotic resistance appear to be plasmid mediated as plasmid profile analysis showed that about 90% of S. aureus harbored plasmids

WEB 2.0-BASED LEARNING AND THE CHALLENGES OF CULTURE SHOCK AMONG INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN CYPRUS

With the emergence of new communication technologies, learning has been transformed digitally through Web 2.0 tools, in which digital devices are used to blend the learning system. Some students of tertiary institutions, especially international students who migrate to study out of their community or country, have different cultures of learning, thereby lacking skills and awareness on how to use the new learning system. This study, therefore, aims to investigate the use of web 2.0-based learning facilities and culture shock among international students at the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), North Cyprus. The data were collected from a purposive sample of 15 Nigerian students using a semi-structured interview as a data collection instrument. The data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. The study reveals that even though some Nigerian students face difficulties in managing Web2.0-based learning facilities like student portal and Moodle, their computer literacy helped them from the initial stage. The findings also indicate that some participants suggest adequate orientation to be organized for international students on the use of learning facilities in the institution. The study suggests that there is a need for further research on digital learning culture from the African perspective. Keywords: Culture shock, international students, digital learning, Web 2.0 tools

The Contribution of University Environmental Elements in Nurturing Students’ Entrepreneurial Thinking: A Comparative Study

This study has two objectives, namely (1) to explore the level of entrepreneurial thinking among university students in malaysia and nigeria; and (2) to identify the contribution of university environmental elements in malaysia and nigeria in nurturing students entrepreneurial thinking. This study used a quantitative approach. The sample consists of 162 university students from northern state of malaysia and 92 university students from kaduna state of nigeria. The findings shown that both malaysian and nigerian university students have a moderately high level of entrepreneurial thinking, where the mean score of entrepreneurial thinking of malaysian university students was higher than the mean score of entrepreneurial thinking of nigerian students. All dimensions of entrepreneurial thinking, namely opportunity recognition, risk taking, tolerance of ambiguity and creativity and innovation for both countries were at a moderate level with the same mean ranking. Among the five predictors hypothesized to influence entrepreneurial thinking, four predictors, namely, co-curriculum, lecturers, curriculum and support resources contributed to 55.7% of variation in entrepreneurial thinking among university students in malaysia. The highest environmental elements of malaysian university that significantly contribute to student’s entrepreneurial thinking were co-curriculum, followed by lecturer curriculum and support resources. innigeria only two predictors, lecturers and co-curriculum contributed to 44.3% of variation in entrepreneurial thinking, where lecturers contributed the highest, followed by co-curriculum. Both countries showed that campus did not give a significant contribution to student’s entrepreneurial thinking. The implication of this study showed that both countries need to take entrepreneurial actions in increasing the levels of entrepreneurial thinking among university students the campus for both countries have to be more entrepreneurial to help boosted student entrepreneurial thinking.