Language Games and Language Teaching in Kenya: The Case of Kiswahili in Lower School

Many experienced textbook and methodology manuals writers have argued that games are not just time-filling activities but have a great educational value. W. R. Lee holds that most language games make learners use the language instead of thinking about learning the correct forms Language games can lower anxiety, thus making the acquisition of input more likely. They are highly motivating and entertaining, and they can give shy students more opportunity to express their opinions and feelings. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of using language games in teaching lower primary. The paper adopts a quasi experimental design and thus uses a pre test and post test. It has been appropriate to analyse the treatment effect of using language games in teaching lower primary learner in one group while applying the natural teaching methods on the control group. The target population is four primary schools which are sampled in Machakos town and four other primary schools sampled in the rural area of Machakos. A standardized examination is given to the two groups of lower primary learners from different localities and results recorded. Another examination was given after the treatment of teaching one group using language games. Methods used by the teachers to teach the Kiswahili Language to lower primary learners are mainly assignments and group discussions. The paper recommends that other strategies for teaching lower primary learners may include teacher assistance teams and shorter assignments. Ultimately, this paper suggests that use of language games in teaching lower primary school learners can improve their academic performance. Keywords: Teaching aids, teacher competence, attitude, self concept, instructional resources, stimulus, mediated learning

Optimizing the Emitter Layer for Higher Efficiency Solar Cell Based SiGe Using AMPS1D

The thin-film SiGe is considered as promising candidate to meet the outstanding need for photovoltaic applications with enhanced adsorption characteristics and improved conversion efficiency [1-6]. In this paper, we simulated a solar cell type SiGe using AMPS1D (Analysis of Microelectronic and photonic structure) developed at Pennsylvania State University, to analyze emitter layer (thickness, doping) and we studied their influence on the photovoltaic solar cell. The simulation result shows that the maximum efficiency of 16.181 % has been achieved, with short circuit current density of 32.657 mA/cm2, open circuit voltage of 0.61 V and fill factor of 0.809. The obtained results show that the proposed design can be considered as a potential candidate for high performance photovoltaic applications

Recommendations for dealing with waste contaminated with Ebola virus: a Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points approach

Objective To assess, within communities experiencing Ebola virus outbreaks, the risks associated with the disposal of human waste and to generate recommendations for mitigating such risks. Methods A team with expertise in the Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points framework identified waste products from the care of individuals with Ebola virus disease and constructed, tested and confirmed flow diagrams showing the creation of such products. After listing potential hazards associated with each step in each flow diagram, the team conducted a hazard analysis, determined critical control points and made recommendations to mitigate the transmission risks at each control point. Findings The collection, transportation, cleaning and shared use of blood-soiled fomites and the shared use of latrines contaminated with blood or bloodied faeces appeared to be associated with particularly high levels of risk of Ebola virus transmission. More moderate levels of risk were associated with the collection and transportation of material contaminated with bodily fluids other than blood, shared use of latrines soiled with such fluids, the cleaning and shared use of fomites soiled with such fluids, and the contamination of the environment during the collection and transportation of blood-contaminated waste. Conclusion The risk of the waste-related transmission of Ebola virus could be reduced by the use of full personal protective equipment, appropriate hand hygiene and an appropriate disinfectant after careful cleaning. Use of the Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points framework could facilitate rapid responses to outbreaks of emerging infectious disease

A shift from cattle to camel and goat farming can sustain milk production with lower inputs and emissions in north sub-Saharan Africa’s drylands

Climate change is increasingly putting milk production from cattle-based dairy systems in north sub-Saharan Africa (NSSA) under stress, threatening livelihoods and food security. Here we combine livestock heat stress frequency, dry matter feed production and water accessibility data to understand where environmental changes in NSSA’s drylands are jeopardizing cattle milk production. We show that environmental conditions worsened for ∼17% of the study area. Increasing goat and camel populations by ∼14% (∼7.7 million) and ∼10% (∼1.2 million), respectively, while reducing the dairy cattle population by ∼24% (∼5.9 million), could result in ∼0.14 Mt (+5.7%) higher milk production, lower water (−1,683.6 million m3, −15.3%) and feed resource (−404.3 Mt, −11.2%) demand—and lower dairy emissions by ∼1,224.6 MtCO2e (−7.9%). Shifting herd composition from cattle towards the inclusion of, or replacement with, goats and camels can secure milk production and support NSSA’s dairy production resilience against climate change