Emotional Intelligence and Deans: Exploring the Nature of the Emotional Intelligence of Community College Deans in the Southeastern Region of the United States

Leadership is an essential aspect of community college administration. Community colleges are currently facing numerous challenges such as: above average retirement rates for administrators, funding and limited government support, diverse student populations, changes in technology, shift in teaching to student-centered learning, and steep competition. The purpose of this study was to understand the nature of the emotional intelligence of community college deans within the southeastern region of the United States of America. I used the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) to measure the emotional intelligence scores of community college deans, and a demographic questionnaire for the demographic variables. Public community college deans from the entire southeastern region of the United States of America were selected for the survey. I sent a total of 323 invitations to community college deans from 294 public community colleges in the southeastern region of the United States. Findings from this study indicated that total emotional intelligence, using emotions, and managing emotions were not statistically significant with any of the demographic characteristics. There was a significant negative relationship between gender, size of institution, level of education, and perceiving emotions. Male participants had low levels of perceiving and understanding emotions when compared with females. Level of education and experience were also significant with understanding emotions. This study provided a snapshot of the nature of the emotional intelligence of community college deans in the southeastern region of the United States, adds to the available information on emotional intelligence in general, and also provides insights for future research

Mobilizing agro-biodiversity and social networks to cope with adverse effects of climate and social changes: experiences from Kitui, Kenya

Poster presented at 13th Congress of the International Society of Ethnobiology. Montpellier (France), 20-25 May 201

Level of Education, Leadership Style and Employee Engagement

This study sought to establish the relationship between the level of education, leadership style and teacher engagement in public secondary schools of Murang’a County, Kenya. A survey research design was used. A sample of 368 respondents was selected from a target population of 3,860 teachers in 306 public secondary schools using systematic random sampling followed by use of random numbers. Data was collected using a questionnaire. Descriptive statistical methods like mean and percentage, and inferential statistical methods like F-test and t-tests (at 0.05 significance level) were used for data analysis. The research findings indicated that more teachers (75.7%) were Bachelors Degree holders in relation to the principals (51.4%) while more principals (41.2%) had attained their Masters Degrees compared to teachers (12.8%). The results also revealed that there was a significant difference on the perception about employee engagement among respondents due to their level of education. The ANOVA-test results indicated that there was no statistically significant difference between the compared levels of education except between Diploma and Masters. The study recommended that the Teachers’ Service Commission should come up with a policy that guides on brilliant ways of engaging the knowledge, skills and abilities of the teachers who had earned postgraduate education while teaching in secondary schools and also compensate them appropriately. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge in drivers of employee engagement domain that are significant to school leaders. Keywords: Teachers, Principals, Education, Leadership Style, Employee Engagement DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-2-08 Publication date: January 31st 202

Edible leafy vegetables from West Africa (Guinea-Bissau): consumption, trade and food potential

Wild Edible Plants are common in the diet of rural communities of sub-Saharan Africa. In Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, wild plant resources are widely used in human diet, but very few studies have addressed them. The aim of this study is to reveal: (1) the wild and semi-cultivated leafy vegetables consumed in Guinea-Bissau; and (2) the nutritional composition of those plants traded at the largest country market in Bissau. Our results revealed that 24 native or naturalized species with edible leaves are currently consumed by Guinea-Bissau population. Five of them were found at the market: dried leaves of Adansonia digitata, Bombax costatum and Sesamum radiatum, and fresh leaves and shoots of Amaranthus hybridus and Hibiscus sabdari a. The analysis of the nutritional properties revealed that leaves contain a significant amount of protein (10.1–21.0 g/100 g, dry basis), high values of macronutrients and micronutrients, as well as of phenolic compounds (13.1–40.3 mg GAE/g) and a considerable antioxidant capacity (DPPH 111.5–681.9 mg Eq Trolox). Although price and availability vary among the leafy vegetables analyzed, these traditional foods appear to be a good dietary component that can contribute to food security in Guinea-Bissau and in other West African countries, as these species are widely distributed in this regioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Utilization and Medicinal Value of Indigenous Leafy Vegetables Consumed in Urban and Peri-Urban Nairobi

Indigenous African leafy vegetables have recently been attracting researchattention not only in terms of their inherent nutrition quality but also the healing power of some of these plants. Diversification of diets through increased utilization and consumption of these vegetables would go along way in alleviating hidden hunger and malnutrition. The main objective of this survey was to determine the consumption patterns and medicinal use of indigenous African leafy vegetables by the residents of urban and peri-urban Nairobi. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted and the survey subjects included populations from all socio-economic strata and income levels. Probability proportional to size stratified sampling was used to select a representative sample of 800 households (600 urban and 200 peri-urban). Data were collected through structured questionnaires, focus group discussions and an observation checklist guide. A picture guide consisting of all foods available on the Nairobi markets was prepared, and used by the researchers to help the respondents to identify the vegetables they consumed. Ethnic origin was found to greatly influence consumption of indigenous African leafy vegetables. There was no significant relationship between household income and education level and choice or use of indigenous leafy vegetables. Some of the reasons for not consuming the vegetables included prohibitive costs and not knowing how to cook them especially those from other tribes. More than 60 percent of the respondents reported that the vegetables had a medicinal value attached to it and some were said to cure more than one disease. About half of those who used them also said the vegetables were healthy. It was concluded that dietary diversity of indigenous African leafy vegetables in addition to providing essential nutrients presumably offers broad benefits to health. The findings support interventions to promote use of indigenous African leafy vegetables as a foodbased initiative towards alleviation of micronutrient deficiencies and poverty through premium value addition incentive strategies.Key words: Indigenous Leafy Vegetables, nutritional, medicinal 

Effects of Stable Dividend Policy on Market Value of Listed Firms at Nairobi Securities Exchange

Companies listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange usually record varied market performance due to decisions they make regarding investments, financing and dividends.  Several scholars put across different theories to explain dividend behavior of various markets and firms. Developed markets have been said to pursue dividend policy of stability different from that of developing market firms.  This study attempted to investigate the effect of stable dividend policy on market value of listed firms at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Effect of stable policy was investigated through the use of ANOVA and regression analysis to gain insight into the importance as value enhancing tools. A panel data of firm-year observation from 38 firms purposively selected from the year 2006 to 2015 was investigated and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at the 0.05 level of significance to understand role of dividend policy in a firm’s market value. Among the key findings of the study are that dividends paid are related strongly (r=0.8) to the market price per share. In addition dividend stability is preferred by investors in the market since the value of shares paying stable dividends is 61.65. Recommendation therefore is; listed firms managers should consider paying dividends to shareholders since it is value enhancing. Further dividend payout should not vary widely on a year to year basis since stability is what investors are keen on. This result mean that dividends convey important information about firms financial prospects and future profitability especially when asymmetric information characterize the market. Thus the study contributes to the debate on dividends role in market value addition and shows how financial managers should view payout of dividends in this market. Keywords: Dividend Policy, Kenya, Nairobi Securities Exchange DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-30-11 Publication date:October 31st 201

Enhancement of Science Performance through Computer -Assisted Instruction among Selected Secondary School Learners in Kenya

The performance of learners in Science in Kenyan secondary schools has been consistently low over the years. Many factors contribute to this poor performance and among them is the inappropriate teaching approaches that are teacher-centered rather than learner-centered. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of instructional methods on efficiency of content delivery to the learner and eventually the learner’s improved performance in science. Quasi-experimental design was used, based on the performance in science when the ConventionalInstructional Techniques (CIT) are used and when a combination of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) and conventional instructional methods are used. Biology, Chemistry and Physics teachers and Form Two learners from six provincial secondary schools situated in the greater Embu district were involved the research. Data collected using Standard Students Assessment Tests (SSAT) was analyzed in order to uncoverwhether there was a significant difference in learners’ science performance before and after the treatment. The study found out that learners taught through CAI performed significantly better than learners taught through CIT in science. Based on this study, it was concluded that use of computer-assisted instruction improves secondary school learners’ performance in science. This paper ends with some recommendations for further research

Influence of curriculum digital content utilisation on learners assessment and achievement in biology among secondary schools in Kenya

The curriculum support materials used in an instructional process may influence assessment and achievement of learners. Curriculum support materials are both print and electronic in nature. One of the main electronic curriculum support materials used in schools is interactive digital content. In recent years, there has been rapid expansion in curriculum digital content access and utilization in Kenyan schools. However, little has been done to establish how utilization of curriculum digital content in the instructional process influences learners’ assessment and achievement. The study reported in this paper therefore investigated the influence of curriculum digital content utilisation on secondary school learners’ assessment and achievement in Biology. It was guided by two specific objectives including to: investigate the influence of the utilisation of Biology digital content on learners’ assessment and examine the influence of the utilisation of Biology digital content on learners’ achievement. A mixed methods approach that employed triangulation design was used in this study. Data was obtained from fifteen Economic Stimulus Programme-ICT phase 1 secondary schools in Nairobi County. Three instruments including Biology teacher questionnaire, learners’ focus group discussion guide and documents analysis sheet were used for data collection. The collected data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics and presented in form of notes, tables, and graphics. This study found out that most assessment aspects improved with curriculum digital content utilization. In addition, utilisation of curriculum digital content had a positive influence on the achievement of secondary school learners in Biology. The study recommended that all schools, and not only ESP-ICT schools, be provided with proper infrastructure to enable learners and teachers access and utilize curriculum digital content in the instructional process. This would enhance assessment modes and learners achievement in secondary schools in Kenya

Utilization and Medicinal Value of Indigenous Leafy Vegetables Consumed

ABSTRACT Indigenous African leafy vegetables have recently been attracting research attention not only in terms of their inherent nutrition quality but also the healing power of some of these plants. Diversification of diets through increased utilization and consumption of these vegetables would go along way in alleviating hidden hunger and malnutrition. The main objective of this survey was to determine the consumption patterns and medicinal use of indigenous African leafy vegetables by the residents of urban and peri-urban Nairobi. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted and the survey subjects included populations from all socio-economic strata and income levels. Probability proportional to size stratified sampling was used to select a representative sample of 800 households (600 urban and 200 peri-urban). Data were collected through structured questionnaires, focus group discussions and an observation checklist guide. A picture guide consisting of all foods available on the Nairobi markets was prepared, and used by the researchers to help the respondents to identify the vegetables they consumed. Ethnic origin was found to greatly influence consumption of indigenous African leafy vegetables. There was no significant relationship between household income and education level and choice or use of indigenous leafy vegetables. Some of the reasons for not consuming the vegetables included prohibitive costs and not knowing how to cook them especially those from other tribes. More than 60 percent of the respondents reported that the vegetables had a medicinal value attached to it and some were said to cure more than one disease. About half of those who used them also said the vegetables were healthy. It was concluded that dietary diversity of indigenous African leafy vegetables in addition to providing essential nutrients presumably offers broad benefits to health. The findings support interventions to promote use of indigenous African leafy vegetables as a foodbased initiative towards alleviation of micronutrient deficiencies and poverty through premium value addition incentive strategies