INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY (ICT TOOLS) IN TEACHING AND LEARNING - A CASE STUDY OF OFFINSO COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, OFINSO, GHANA

Teaching and learning can easily be influenced with the use of technological tools. The quality of teaching and learning is actually enhanced and improved through the use of technology integration. There is the need to encourage teachers to adopt and integrate ICT tools and techniques in teaching and learning to help ensures that the grounds for which it is implemented is realized to its potentials. The research aims at encouraging teachers in OFCE in integrating technology (ICT tools) in teaching and learning environment to improve the teaching and learning process. The researcher adopted the use of observations, questionnaires and interviews to collect data on the grounds that teachers exhibit lack of interest and a lot of challenges in the use of ICT tools for teaching and learning which renders the teaching and learning process boring and less effective. Teachers were exposed to the various guidelines, skills and techniques for designing, the preparation and the application of technology integration in education through workshops and hand-on activities on how to design and use interactive multimedia and software simulation for lesson delivery. The various interventions proved very constructive as teachers enjoyed using ICT tools for lesson preparation and delivery. However, teachers who had always thought of computers as serving but only one purpose, that is, for entertainment realized that to be a dreadful misconception. Hence, Training should be specifically organized to help keep teachers well abreast with the modern dynamics of the approaches, technologies, techniques and strategies for teaching and learning using the various ICT tool equip teachers with the necessary ICT skills, knowledge and expertise to apply to the teaching and learning process.  Article visualizations

EFFECTS OF TEXT MESSAGING ON THE ACADEMIC WRITING OF PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS OF A GHANAIAN COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of text messaging on the academic writing of first-year pre-service teachers of Offinso College of Education. Empirical studies on the use of text messages in specific cultures were reviewed in order to demonstrate how the present study is both similar to and different from previous research. Descriptive survey research design was employed by the researchers to conduct this study. The student population for the study was 350. Quota sampling and simple random sampling techniques aided the researchers to select 50 pre-service teachers for the study. The instruments used were questionnaires, interviews and essay-type tests. The study revealed that the vocabulary items students used in their SMS texting contained numbers, reduction, clipping and shortening, and that the use of these vocabulary items had a negative effect because these items found their way into the academic writing of students. The researchers recommend that college tutors should sensitize the pre-service teachers on the need to avoid SMS language in their academic writings to help them overcome the menace. To curtail everything, they should text using Standard English to avoid being addicted to texting language.  Article visualizations

Spotting the Critical Service Quality Determinants in the Ghanaian Retail Banking: Importance and Effects

Critical of the areas in customer-centered marketing paradigms and philosophies, is ensuring that existing customers are satisfied to enable you maintain their loyalty, repurchase and to woo in new clientele. The study examined the critical influences of customer satisfaction in the retail banking of Ghana and its effects on customers’ purchasing behavior. The study included 791 clienteles drawn from the sampling population. A cross-sectional survey was used to examine the experience of benefiting from service quality elements, perceived service quality and customers purchasing behavior based on a customized 18 dimensions of SERVQUAL. By means of frequency and mediation analysis, estimates for the direct and indirect effects of benefiting from the service quality influences on perceived service quality and consumer purchasing behavior was assessed. The impacts of evidence of service quality factors on customers purchasing behavior, was partially-mediated by perceived service quality with statistically-significant indirect effect. The results prompted that the banks’ aesthetics, cleanliness, communication skills, competence, availability, access and security of their clienteles be prioritized areas they can’t afford to fail. Keywords: Service Quality, Determinants, Retail Banking, Customer Satisfaction, Behavioral intentions. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-27-08 Publication date:September 30th 201

THE EFFECTS OF ICT INTEGRATION IN KUMASI HIGH SCHOOLS, GHANA – TEACHERS’ AND STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVE

This work looks at the impact of ICT integration in Kumasi High Schools. The educational potential of information and communication technology (ICT) can be pragmatic in a diversity of ways. ICT is influencing education by changing the way of teaching and learning. Schools are making efforts to benefit from the potential power of ICT by integrating it into teaching and learning in their activities. This paper gives a meta-analysis of the literature that aims to present the supposed barriers to ICT integration in the school. The findings indicate that most of the teachers had a strong desire to integrate ICT into teaching and learning. ICT integration in schools has encountered several problems and challenges. External barriers related to access to ICT, environmental supports and teacher ICT literacy and internal barriers related to teacher cognition. When the external barriers are determined, the resolution regarding whether and how to use ICT rests on the shoulders of teachers. The study established that the availability of the ICT facilities is still inadequate in the schools for the students to use. Because of the limited number of functional computers in the computer laboratories, accessibility is timetabled and doesn’t help a smooth integration into the curriculum of teaching and learning. The study recommends that further research needs to be done to appraise the impact of ICT integration fully in teaching and learning in schools. Article visualizations

Perspectives of policymakers on the introduction and scale-up of HIV self-testing and implication for national HIV programming in Ghana

Background: HIV self-testing (HIVST) has the potential to greatly increase HIV testing uptake, particularly among key populations (KPs) at higher risk for HIV. Studies have shown high acceptability and feasibility of HIVST among various target populations globally. However, less is known about the perspectives of policymakers, who are critical to the success of HIVST implementation. Their views on barriers to the introduction and scale-up of self-testing are critical to understand in order for HIVST to become part of the national HIV guidelines. We sought to understand policymakers\u27 perspectives of challenges and facilitators to the introduction of HIVST at the client and structural levels. Method: Key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted with national and regional level policymakers involved in the HIV response. Twenty policymakers were purposively selected from Greater Accra (capital) and Brong-Ahafo (outlying) regions. Qualitative content analysis was used to arrive at the results after the verbatim transcripts were coded. Results: Client-level challenges included lack of pre-test counseling, the need for confirmatory testing if reactive, potential for poor linkage to care and treatment, and client-level facilitator from policy makers\u27 perspectives included increase testing modality that would increase testing uptake. Structural-level challenges mentioned by policymakers were lack of a national policy and implementation guidelines on HIVST, cost of HIVST kits, supply chain management of HIVST commodities, data monitoring and reporting of positive cases. The structural-level appeal of HIVST to policymakers were the reduced burden on health system and HIVST\u27s contribution to achieving testing targets. Despite the challenges mentioned, policymakers unanimously favored and called for the introduction of HIVST in Ghana. Conclusions: Findings indicate that a non-conventional HIV testing strategy such as HIVST is highly acceptable to policymakers. However, successful introduction of HIVST hinges on having national guidelines in place and stakeholder consultations to address various individual and structural -level implementation issues

Are sex differences in blood cell count and hemoglobin moderated by the 2D:4D ratio? A cross‐sectional study in a Ghanaian population

Abstract Background and Aims There are sex differences in blood cell count and hemoglobin (HGB) in adulthood due to differences in the levels of circulating sex hormones. The second‐to‐fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is the putative marker of prenatal hormone exposure. The 2D:4D or the right‐left difference (Dr‐l) are sexually dimorphic and are correlates of sex hormones in adulthood. The study sought to determine whether sex differences in adult blood cell count and HGB can be partly explained by the 2D:4D or Dr‐l. Methods The study was cross‐sectional between June and December 2021 at the University for Development Studies. The study involved 207 healthy participants (females = 113) aged from 18 to 32 years. The right‐hand (2D:4DR), and the left‐hand (2D:4DL) digit ratio and their difference (Dr‐l) were measured using Computer‐assisted analysis. Blood cell count, HGB, testosterone, and estradiol were measured from venous blood samples using an automated HGB analyzer and ELIZA technique. Results The platelet count was inversely related to the 2D:4DR in the total sample with the 2D:4DR accounting for about 0.2% (adjR2 = 0.002) of the variability in platelet count. However, there was a sex difference as indicated by the significant interaction between sex and the 2D:4DR on platelet count (p = 0.03). The relationship between platelet count and the 2D:4DR was negative in females but positive in males. Also, there was a positive relationship between HGB concentration and the Dr‐l in the total study sample, where the Dr‐l accounted for about 0.6% (adjR2 = 0.006) of the variability in HGB concentration. Sex interacted significantly with the Dr‐l on HGB concentration (p = 0.01) such that the relationship between HGB and the Dr‐l was positive in females but negative in males. Conclusion Prenatal hormone exposure, as indexed by the 2D:4D ratio, may partly account for the observed sex differences in platelet count and HGB levels in adulthood

Policymakers\u27 and healthcare providers\u27 perspectives on the introduction of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis for key populations in Ghana

BACKGROUND: Key populations (KPs) such as female sex workers (FSWs), men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID), and their partners contribute more than a quarter (27.5%) of new HIV infection in Ghana. Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can substantially reduce HIV acquisition among this group. While the available research indicates KPs willingness to take PrEP in Ghana, little is known about the position of policymakers and healthcare providers on the introduction of PrEP for KPs. METHODS: Qualitative data were collected from September to October 2017 in the Greater Accra (GA) and Brong-Ahafo (BA) regions of Ghana. Key informant interviews were conducted with 20 regional and national policymakers and supplemented with In-depth Interviews with 23 healthcare providers to explore their level of support for PrEP and their perspectives on challenges and issues to consider for oral PrEP implementation in Ghana. Thematic content analysis was used to unearth the issues emerging from the interviews. RESULTS: Policymakers and healthcare providers in both regions expressed strong support for introducing PrEP for KPs. Key concerns regarding oral PrEP introduction included potential for behavioral disinhibition, non-adherence and side effects of medication, cost and long-term financial implications, and stigma related to HIV and key populations. Participants stressed the need to integrate PrEP into existing services and the provision of PrEP should start with high risk groups like sero-discordant couples, FSWs and MSM. CONCLUSIONS: Policymakers and providers recognize the value of PrEP in cubing new HIV infections but have concerns about disinhibition, non-adherence, and cost. Therefore, the Ghana health service should roll-out a range of strategies to address their concerns including: sensitization with providers to mitigate underlying stigma towards KPs, particularly MSM, integration of PrEP into existing services, and innovative strategies to improve continued use of PrEP

Solar Energy in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Challenges and Opportunities of Technological Leapfrogging

For decades, Africa was generally perceived as the dumping ground for obsolete technologies. In recent years, technological leapfrogging, which is associated with the newly industrialized economies in Asia, has transpired in some key industries. In this article, we present the solar photovoltaic industry as one such industry and an integrated model of scaling up solar technologies. We identified five unique models aimed at scaling up solar energy in Africa: state-led, nongovernmental organization and other agency-led, emerging-market multinational enterprises-led, Avon, and pay-as-you-go models. Our analysis focused on four countries in particular (Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya) and Africa in general. Despite the promising opportunities of this industry, a number of factors such as high up-front capital costs and limited end-user financing schemes have limited the technological process. We conclude by outlining the implications of the findings for theory and practice. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc