Assessment of the Difficult Areas of the Senior Secondary School 2 (Two) Chemistry Syllabus of the Nigeria Science Curriculum

The senior secondary two chemistry course content of the Nigerian science curriculum was assessed using 10 (ten) selected secondary schools in North Central Nigeria, to determine areas of difficulty, magnitude and reasons for such perceived difficulty. Correlation between the students’ perceived difficulty and their achievement in a test and the relationship between the students’ sex and their perceptions of difficulties were also examined using a difficult rating scale questionnaire and a chemistry achievement test. Percentage mean score, mean difficulty indices, person-product-moment correlation and the t-test methods were used for the analysis of the data collected. A total of 10 (ten) out of the 24 (twenty-four) topics identified were perceived as difficult. There was no significant relationship between students’ perceived difficulty and their achievement. Reasons given for the perceived difficulty included unfamiliarity with the ideas, confusing language, ideas too demanding, insufficient explanation and practical work, topics too mathematical and lack of interest among both sexes. Based on these findings, a critical reassessment of the curriculum was advocated, bearing in mind the cognitive abilities of /and chemistry (science) background of the students. Proper training and re-training (refresher) of teachers was recommended so as to ensure that teaching staff are qualified. Authors of chemistry textbooks should consider the cognitive levels of students of the different levels for choice of suitable vocabulary (language). Teachers should re-examine and evaluate their present teaching strategies so as to be effective and should stop using abstract terms or concepts in the class. Practical work should be emphasized for the acquisition of laboratory skills. The government/proprietors should give priority to equipping the laboratories and improving the teaching and learning environment. Students need counseling, encouragement and enlightenment in order to motivate them in the study of Chemistry

The Effects of Reciprocal Peer Tutoring on Chemistry Students’ Achievement and Retention in Chemical Kinetics in Jos Metropolis, Nigeria

This study investigated the effect of reciprocal peer tutoring (RPT) strategy on chemistry students’ achievement and retention in chemical kinetics in Jos metropolis. It specifically attempted to determine and compare the achievements of students exposed to RPT and conventional teaching. The quasi-experimental design, specifically the pretest-posttest - control group design was used. The sample consisted of 86 students drawn from two randomly selected secondary schools. There were 41 students in the control class and 46 in the experimental class. A chemical kinetics achievement test (CKAT) was used to collect data from respondents and the data was analyzed using mean, standard deviation and t-test at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that the students exposed to RPT significantly achieved better than those exposed to conventional teaching. Similarly, those students that were taught using RPT were significantly better than those exposed to conventional teaching in the retention of what was taught them after four weeks. There was no significant difference in the achievement and retention of male and female students taught using RPT strategy. The study concluded that the achievement and retention of male and female chemistry students of the students is enhanced when exposed to reciprocal peer tutoring strategy. It is recommended that reciprocal peer tutoring strategy should be used by chemistry teachers in order to improve the achievement and retention of male and female chemistry students in the subject. Furthermore, a study should be conducted to find out the effect of varying RPT on students’ achievement and retention in chemistry. Keywords: Reciprocal peer tutoring, achievement, retention, chemical kinetics DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-24-13 Publication date:August 31st 2021

The Efficacy of Concept Mapping Instructional Strategy in Remedying Students' Problem-Solving Difficulties in Stoichiometry

Concept mapping strategy has been found to be effective in science education. However, its comparative effect in remedying male and female students’ problem-solving difficulties in stoichiometric tasks has not been documented. The study aimed at finding the role of concept mapping in remedying students’ problem-solving difficulties in stoichiometry. The pre-test-post-test-control group design was employed. 60 male and female students were randomly selected, pretested and assigned into control and concept mapping groups. The control group was taught using lecture method, while the experimental group was taught using concept mapping. A Stoichiometric Problem Solving Test (SPST) was developed and used. Analyses of post-test mean scores using t-test (α = 0.05) showed that there was a significant difference between the post-test means scores of students taught stoichiometry using concept mapping strategy and those in the control. No significant difference between the post-test means scores of male and female students taught using concept mapping strategy was found. The efficacy of concept mapping strategy in enhancing students’ problem solving ability in stoichiometry among male and female students was therefore established. The study recommended the use of concept mapping strategy by chemistry teachers to teach stoichiometry to improve problem solving among male and female students

Farmers perceptions of climate change related events in Shendam and Riyom, Nigeria

Although agriculture in Nigeria is the major source of income for about 70% of the active population, the impact of agrarian infrastructure on boosting productivity and supporting livelihoods has increased. Climate change and the increasing trend of climate-related events in Nigeria challenge both the stability of agrarian infrastructure and livelihood systems. Based on case studies of two local communities in Plateau state in Nigeria, this paper utilizes a range of perceptions to examine the impacts of climate-related events on agrarian infrastructures and how agrarian livelihood systems are, in turn, affected. Data are obtained from a questionnaire survey (n = 175 farmers) and semi-structured interviews (n = 14 key informants). The study identifies local indicators of climate change, high risks climate events and the components of agrarian infrastructures that are at risk from climate events. Findings reveal that, changes in rainfall and temperature patterns increase the probability of floods and droughts. They also reveal that, although locational differences account for the high impact of floods on road transport systems and droughts on irrigation infrastructures, both have a chain of negative effects on agricultural activities, economic activities and livelihood systems. A binomial logistic regression model is used to predict the perceived impact levels of floods and droughts, while an in-depth analysis is utilized to corroborate the quantitative results. The paper further stresses the need to strengthen the institutional capacity for risk reduction through the provision of resilient infrastructures, as the poor conditions of agrarian infrastructure were identified as dominant factors on the high impact levels

Effects Of Gender On Senior Secondary School Two Chemistry Students’ Achievement And Retention In Chemical Equilibrium Using Computer Animation Strategy

This study examined the effects of gender on senior secondary school two chemistry students’ achievement and retention in chemical equilibrium using computer animation strategy (CAS). The pretest-posttest equivalent groups design was used. Three hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Fifty students from two coeducational schools were sampled and randomly assigned into two equivalent experimental groups using students’ performance in a chemistry achievement test (CAT) and mathematics achievement test (MAT). Each group contained 25 male and female students. The students were taught chemical equilibrium using CAS and a chemical equilibrium achievement test (CEAT) consisting of 30 multiple-choice items drawn from past Senior School Certificate Examinations was used for data collection (r = 0.78). Three research questions and three hypotheses were answered and tested using mean and standard deviation and t-test (α = 0.05) respectively. The study revealed a significant difference between the mean achievement scores of male and female students taught using CAS, and a statistically significant difference between the mean retention scores of male and female students also in favour of males. The study recommended CAS for teaching male students’ chemical equilibrium and a combination of strategies for mixed classes

BIOSYNTHESIS AND SPECTROSCOPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF COPPER NANOPARTICLES USING MANGIFERA INDICA AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT

Nanoparticles are solid particles with a size range between 1-100 nm, with a wide range of applications, ranging from the field of electronics to medicine. In recent times, the synthesis of nanoparticles has drawn the attention of most researchers, and different methods, ranging from physical and chemical to biological are been reported, out of which the biological mediated synthesis is considered a green chemistry approach that connects nanotechnology and biotechnology. In this study, copper nanoparticles which find a wide range of applications in diverse fields were synthesized by adopting the green chemistry approach using an aqueous extract of Mangifera indica leaves. The synthesized copper nanoparticles were characterized using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and FTIR Spectroscopy. The UV-visible spectrum for the synthesized copper nanoparticles was obtained at 326nm. While the FTIR results were obtained at different frequency bands for the synthesized copper nanoparticles and the leaf extract, by comparing the FTIR spectra of the copper nanoparticles and the extract, it was inferred that the plants’ phytochemicals such as tannin, saponins, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides present in the aqueous solution of the extract are responsible for the synthesis, capping and stabilization of the copper nanoparticles

Service Charges and Telecommunication Companies in Gombe State, Nigeria: The role of Nigerian Communication Commission

Telecommunication industry in today’s world has become a requisite tool in the entire globalization process of becoming a global village. This study investigated the extent of regulatory role of Nigeria Communication Commission’s on the service charges in telecommunication firms operating in Gombe State, Nigeria. The study adopted survey research design. The study is descriptive as well as hypothetical in nature. The study is a Non-contrived which is a natural setting in which work progress with minimal interference with a population of 172,871,094 subscribers from the four available networks (Airtel Network, Glo Nigeria, 9mobile and MTN Nigeria) in the State, while the sample size is 384. The hypotheses formulated were tested using multivariate analyses. The study concluded that, there is significant relationship between the variables and recommended as; the need to improve and sustain activities of the telecommunication firms in Gombe statem, in terms of monitoring and enforcement in their service charges. The regulatory bodies of the telecommunication firm in Gombe state should be pro-active in ensuring that the call charges for all firms are the same to maintain fair promotion of products

Synthesis and Characterization of Mixed Ligand Complexes of Co(II) And Ni(II) with Hippuric Acid, Ammonium Thiocyanate and Hydroxyl Ammonium Chloride

Mixed ligands/Coordinate complexes are still largely investigated. This is because of their very wide range of uses and applications.The mixed ligand complexes of Co (II) and Ni (II) with hippuric acid, ammonium thiocyanate and hydroxyl ammonium chloride were synthesized in a 1:2:2:2 stoichiometric ratio by a modified direct combination method. The resulting complexes were characterized by preliminary tests and spectroscopic methods. The physicochemical parameters such as melting point, boiling point, pH, electrical conductivity and colour of the complexes were determined. The solubility in water, ethanol, and methanol were also studied at 25oC. The characterization of the prepared mixed-ligand complexes was done using FT-IR, UV-VIS, XRD, crystallography and XRF spectroscopic methods. The percentage yield obtained were 42.90% and 40.70% Co (II) and Ni(II) complexes respectively. Both complexes were soluble in methanol, but slightly soluble in water and ethanol at 25oC.This implies that the ionic complexes formed are generally polar, since they are quite soluble in polar solvents such as water, ethanol and methanol. The complexes were acidic with pH values of 3.24 and 3.30 for Co(II) and Ni(II) respectively. The melting and boiling points of the complexes were (190 and 206)oC and (50 and 80.2)oC for Co(II) and Ni(II) respectively. The low melting and boiling points of the synthesized complexes may be due to the nature of the bond in the complexes since they are not completely ionic and possibly the properties of the central metals. The electrical conductivities were found to be (1.2 x 10-1 and 1.1 x 10-1 ) ᶙs/cm for Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes. This indicates that the complexes are non-electrolytes. Elemental analysis corresponds to metal: ligand stoichiometry for Co (II) and Ni II) complexes are 1:2:2:2. Cobalt (II) complex was blue while Nickel (II) complex was pale green. The FT-IR spectra shows that the prepared Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes havetentative coordinate points at OH and N atoms. The maximum absorption based on the UV-VIS spectra indicates 225.50nm and 301.50nm for Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes respectively. This confirms the formation of complexes at those regions. The X-ray diffraction shows that all the complexes have sharp peaks which is a strong indication that they are crystalline. The crystallographic examinations showed that the complexes exhibitoctahedral structures. The X-ray fluorescence data indicates the presence of Co3O4 in the prepared Co(II) complex and NiO in Ni(II) complex. This shows that Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes were synthesized. The results obtained from this research workopines that Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes were successfully synthesized and characterized. These synthesized complexes may be applied in the area of agriculture, medicine and chemical industrie