Problems Militating Against the Effective Teaching of Gravitational Force: A Study of Secondary School Physics Teachers in Cross River State, Nigeria

This research work seeks to x-ray the problems militating against the teaching of gravitational force as a concept in secondary schools Physics in Cross River State, Nigeria. 38 Physics teachers were used in 28 secondary schools in the area of study. Three research questions were answered using the Physics Teachers Questionnaire on concept of Gravitational Force (PTQCGF) as the instrument for data collection. Data was analyzed using percentage. The results of the study revealed that Physics Teachers qualification, inadequate instructional materials and teachers’ preparation to the teaching of the concept were among the problems impeding the effective teaching of gravitational force. Various ways of enhancing the teaching of the concept were highlighted - Participation in in-service training, seminars and workshops to help in acquainting teachers of modern methods of teaching the concept, integrating practical activities with classroom teaching and incentives to Physics teachers

Difficulties Students Encounter in Reporting Physics Practical at the Senior Secondary School level in Rivers State, Nigeria

The poor performance of senior secondary school physics students in external examinations has been a major problem in the teaching and learning of physics. This study therefore seeks to investigate the difficulties encountered by Senior Secondary Physics students in reporting Physics practical in Rivers State. Using a survey research design and simple random sampling technique, 124 physics teachers and 8 secondary schools were utilized for the study. Data collecting instrument includes Physics Practical Apparatus Checklist (PPAC) and Physics Teachers Questionnaire on Reporting Practical (PTQRP). The four-point Likert scale was adopted for the questionnaire. Results of the study revealed that: there is insufficient physics apparatus in the schools, students lack understanding of instructions during physics practical activities, students are not able to tabulate obtained value appropriately and that scale choosing is a major problem encountered by students while interpreting data graphically. The study therefore suggested that the physicslaboratories in the secondary schools school be equipped as that is an essential aspect of practical physics and that reporting physics practical should be included in the physics curriculum so that students can possess the requisite knowledge for carrying out such activities

Investigation on the Microbial Profile of Frozen Foods: Fish and Meat

Freezing preserves food by stopping the growth and multiplication of microbes or by halting the foods own enzyme activity that would otherwise cause the food to rot. There have been reports of illness involving frozen foods due to contamination post-harvest. This study seeks to investigate the microbial profile of frozen fish and meat. Fifteen samples each of Trachurus trachurus, Scomber scombrus, Urophycis tenuis, Clupea harengus and poultry meatchicken, turkey and gizzard was purchased from different cold rooms and retail stores for microbiological analysis. Coliforms were detected in all the meat samples and with counts ranging from 7.0x103 - 5.0x106. Gizzard and chicken had significantly high (P< 0.05) coliform count. The head and intestinal regions of the fish have significantly high (P< 0.05) TAPC compared to the skin. The skin and the head region have significantly high (P< 0.05) coliform and fungi counts compared to the intestine. The microbial isolates from the fish and meat samples include S. aureus, E. coli and spp of Bacillus, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Flavobacterium, Listeria and Pseudomonas. Fungi isolates include spp of Aspergillus, Penicillium and Alternaria. Trichodina and Isopod spp of parasites were detected in some fish samples. Although freezing retard pathogens multiplication, post harvest contaminants can multiply during thawing to a level that can have a major impact on the quality of the final consumer product. It is advanced that frozen foods must be properly cooked before consumption and effective hazard analysis and critical control point implemente

The Effects of Collaborative Learning on Problem Solving Abilities among Senior Secondary School Physics Students in Simple Harmonic Motion

The study investigated the effects of collaborative learning on problem solving abilities among senior secondary physics students in simple harmonic motion(SHM). The sample was made up of 112 physics teachers and 81 physics students drawn from two urban and one rural school. The research instruments employed for the study were Physics Teachers Questionnaire on Simple Harmonic Motion (PTQSHM) and Simple Harmonic Motion Achievement Test (SHMAT). Statistical data analysis tools utilized were the simple percentage, four point Likert-Scale of 2.50 criterion mark and t-test at 5% level of significance. The result of the findings showed that: mathematical calculations involved in SHM make students to shy away from the topic, students are motivated when they cooperatively solve problems in physics, there was significant difference in problem solving abilities among students taught using collaborative learning strategy and those taught with the conventional method, there is no significant difference between boys and girls in their problem solving abilities using the collaborative strategy. Based on the findings, It was recommended that teachers encourage group learning, group projects, tasks and assignments which facilitate collaborative learning and improves problem solving abilities among the students

IDENTIFICATION AND SOURCES OF MISCONCEPTIONS HELD BY SECONDARY SCHOOL PHYSICS STUDENTS IN HEAT ENERGY IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

The study identified misconceptions held by secondary school students about the concepts of Heat energy and investigated the sources of the misconceptions in Rivers State, Nigeria. A mixed method research design, specifically the descriptive survey and the exploratory analysis, was adopted for the study. The study was guided by two research questions. Using the random sampling technique, a sample of 300 Secondary School 1 (SS 1) Physics students was selected for the study in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State. Data was collected using three research instruments titled “Heat Energy Performance Test” (r = 0.80), Sources of Misconceptions in Heat Energy Questionnaire” (r = 0.74) and “Misconception in Heat Energy Interview Template”. This study revealed that secondary school students have misconceptions about Heat energy. This study further revealed that teachers' instructional presentation ranked 1st as the source of misconception in the concept of Heat energy, social interactions ranked 2nd, prior knowledge ranked 3rd while textbooks and reference materials ranked 4th. The study thus recommends that Physics teachers should always conduct a diagnostic test before instruction to correct any wrong preconceived notion held by the students about a particular concept before instruction. Also, well-designed and technology-assisted instruction should be adopted by Physics teachers to facilitate an accurate scientific understanding of heat energy.  Article visualizations

Ordeals of Physics Instruction in Nigerian Secondary Schools: Way Forward for the Attainment of Global Competitiveness

Physics instruction in secondary schools is a fundamental panacea towards achieving scientific knowledgeable citizens which can propel a nation in the realization of a sustainable economic force. This paper therefore x-rayed ordeals of physics instruction in Nigerian secondary schools and the way forward for the attainment of global competitiveness. The research has descriptive survey design. Ninety-two (92) physics teachers and eight secondary schools (four in each Local Government Area) were selected using a purposive sampling technique for the study. The research instruments used for the study were “Questionnaire on Ordeal in Physics Instruction in Secondary School (QOPISS) and Physics Practical Apparatus Checklist (PPAC). Using a test-retest method and Pearson Product Moment Correlation, a reliability coefficient of 0.83 was obtained for QOPISS. The data were analyzed according to research questions using the frequency count, percentage, mean, standard deviation and ranking. The study revealed that qualified physics teachers are not adequate for proper teaching of physics, laboratory apparatus are insufficient for effective practical activities in physics teaching and learning in both rural and urban schools, the lecture and problem solving methods are the most applied instructional strategy employed during physics instruction and physics teachers do not utilize ICT tools in teaching physics. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that qualified physics teachers should be employed in the secondary schools, all physics laboratories both in the urban and rural secondary schools should be well equipped by relevant authorities and stake holders, appropriate teaching methodologies and ICT tools integration in the teaching and learning of physics should be employed by physics teachers during physics instruction. Keywords: Physics instruction, laboratory apparatus, physics teachers, ICT tools

Developing Opacified Stoneware Ceramic Products through Experimentation with Waste Bones from Abattoirs in Akure, Nigeria

Most small scale ceramic industries depend on imported raw materials among which are opacifiers because locally sourced ones are not adequately processed. It has been observed that refined tin oxide is expensive despite the fact that it is abundantly availability in Nigeria while a lot of bone laid wastes which can be recycled to produce opacifier. A comparative study was made on the physical properties of opaque glaze produced locally with bone ash and that of processed tin oxide when mixed with transparent glazes at different percentages using tri-axial blend. The result proved that 7 to 9 % of cow bone ashes with transparent glazes made a good composition in achieving an opaque glaze. The success of this experiment has reduced the dependency on tin oxide as ceramic glaze opacifier which has been expensive to procure and has given ceramic artist the platform that would allow paintings using ceramic oxides that could be attractive and competitive which is seldomly used in the country Keywords: Bone Ash, Opacifier, Stoneware and Sustainability

Exploring Spatial Pattern of Residential Property Value around Cultural Heritage Sites in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Cities in both developed and developing economies are characterised by various cultural heritage sites. Such sites can impact the value of residential properties around them either positively or negatively. In view of this, this study explores the spatial pattern of residential property values around cultural heritage sites in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. One (1) cultural heritage site each was purposively selected in the core and sub-urban areas of Ile-Ife. Furthermore, systematic sampling technique was used to select one of every twenty (20) buildings within different radii (1-300, 301-600 and 601-900 meters) of the selected cultural heritage sites. A total of two hundred and twenty-three (223) buildings were selected. Hence, 223 questionnaires were administered on the residents of the buildings. Interview was also conducted on ten (10) real estate practitioners in the study area to optimally provide answers rental values of residential properties around the cultural heritage sites. The extracted data were analysed using multiple regression and rent differential technique. Findings showed that as distance increases from the cultural heritage sites, the average rental value of residential properties was also on the increase in the core and sub-urban areas of Ile-Ife. It was therefore established that there exists a positive relationship between the distance from cultural heritage sites and rental values of residential properties. The study further revealed that cultural heritage sites had a negative impact on the rental values of proximate residential properties in the study area. The study however concluded that the rental values of residential properties reflect distance to cultural heritage sites. It is recommended that property investors should give adequate attention to location to make accurate and dependable decisions on the supply of residential properties, especially in cities where there are cultural heritage sites

A Cross Sectional Study of Medical Students’ Perception of Their Educational Environment in Ghana

Background: The quality of medical education is affected by many factors, one of which is the educational environment of medical education. However, there is paucity of studies addressing the educational environment from African medical schools. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical year students’ perceptions of their educational environment at a medical school in Ghana. This was done with the goal of identifying factors that may impact positive changes in the school. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken using the DREEM questionnaire. The questionnaire was administered to students in clinical years 1, 2, & 3 at the time of the study. 298 students participated in the study by convenience sampling. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 24. The total score and the five subscales of DREEM scores were used in the final analysis. Results: A total of 298 out of 300 students completed the questionnaire out of which Fifty six percent of respondents were male. There was no significant gender differences in the total DREEM scores [F(1, 274) = 1.019, p=0.314]. The overall educational environment was positive M=117.32 ± 15.45. Areas for improvement were students’ perception of the teachers (26.09 ± 3.59) and students’ perception of the atmosphere (25.71 ± 5.62). The students’ perception of learning (30.70 ± 5.20), and students’ academic self-perceptions (21.11 ± 3.74) were positive. Students’ social self-perceptions (13.71 ± 2.99) was neutral. There was no significant difference in perception by clinical year [F(2, 274) = 0.298, p = 0.742]. Conclusion: The perception of students at this Ghanaian medical school can be described as positive and negative. The school should consider the two domains with negative perceptions as areas for improvement. Students reported problem-based learning as a preferred method of teaching versus the traditional method. Attention to the learning atmosphere and student-focused learning is likely to increase perception