Current Research in Education and Social Studies Vol. 2

Applying a Dynamic Model to Assess the Carrying Capacity of Natural Resources in the Great Lakes Environment

Yongliang Jin, Richard P. Donovan, William S. Breffle — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

A system dynamics method to assess carrying capacity of a defined natural environment is presented. The proposed method seeks to relate per capita resource usage to ranges of population and per capita consumption beyond which the system is not viable relative to population dependent resource constraints. It provides a platform to investigate system behavior through system dynamics simulations where populations change, natural resources decay due to stressor impacts, and feedback occurs via implementation of policy. Application of the model to a case study of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) of phosphorous in Bear Lake, a Lake Michigan estuary (USA), shows the major total phosphorous (P) loading contribution is anthropogenic land use development. Three scenarios are quantitatively explored by assuming changes in land use and/or loading rates. Simulation results show tradeoffs between reduction of total P and land use; economic development can be flexibly evaluated against targets of loading reduction trajectories.

The Rise of an Innovative Bricolage Informal Entrepreneur in Rural Vhembe District, South Africa: A Challenge to Western-centric Conceptualisation of Rurality and Rural Economies

Mavhungu Abel Mafukata, Tshimangadzo Selina Mudau — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Bricolage informal motor vehicle entrepreneurship is growing in rural South Africa. This chapter presents a case study involving one such entrepreneur and enterprise. Site visits, observations, face-to-face interviews, and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were used to collect data. Passion with automobile vehicles drove the desire of this entrepreneur to enter entrepreneurship. The customer base is built from automobile vehicle owners whose vehicles were out of mainstream formal motor plans. Original franchises and mainstream financial institutions should assist these entrepreneurs with funding and development of trade and entrepreneurial skills to make their activities sustainable and competitive.

Stakeholders’ Perspective on the Implementation of MTB-MLE in a Multilingual Environment in Northern Luzon Philippines

John N. Cabansag — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Mother Tongue Based-Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) has carved its niche as a practical and effective approach in the educational landscape. It offers a plausible framework for preparing coming generations to become better adaptive and even rich contributors in the globalized and intercultural world. The gate to the new millennium has brought great zeal in and at the same time contestations around this educational alternative.

This study examined the stakeholders’ perspective on the implementation of MTB-MLE as a pedagogical approach. The stakeholders’ perspective were explored and analyzed through the results of the different focus group discussions among teachers, pupils, parents, local school board, parents-teachers and community association, non-government organization and local government unit.

Results from this study indicate four main benefits of MTB-MLE, namely: Expressing better ideas, building self-confidence, better retention, and promoting friendly environment.

Meanwhile, the challenges which hinder the implementation of MTB-MLE are grouped into four significant themes: Multilingual environment, difficulty in translation, inadequacy of instructional materials and mandatory compliance to the Department of Education (DepEd) order.

The implications of these findings revolve around the way in which the program can benefit Filipino pupils. Notably, rather than a top-down approach that does not consider the local stakeholders, the Department of Education (DepEd) order should be implemented through interactions between the top management and the local stakeholders. Involving them can undoubtedly contribute in the success of MTB-MLE.

Ambanasom’s SON OF THE NATIVE SOIL and the Western Concept of a Tragic Hero

Denis Fonge Tembong — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The essay, “Ambanasom’s Son of the Native Soil and the Western Concept of a Tragic Hero” discusses the view that although African and Western Literatures are fundamentally different as they exhibit or represent radically distinct cultural values, they nevertheless share some common notions. The concept of a tragic hero is one of those convergent spots where the two literatures meet. With this in mind, the essay examines in detail, Aristotle’s and Shakespeare’s concepts of a tragic hero and demonstrates how the ideas, which are exploited in Macbeth are similarly used in Ambanasom’s Son of the Native Soil, against the backdrop of rich African culture and colours.

A Philosophical View: Proposal for New Age Learning

P. V. Sree Vyshnavi — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Learning is to be a joyous activity, not a forceful one. But in the present education system learning is no more joyful. It imposes on the little brains a lot of pressure and anxiety. Hence, in an age when a child has to live freely, play, dream and enjoy the beautiful nature they are blown away with lack of curiosity, creativity, love and happiness. Hence, led to the need for a study. The study is mainly undertaken to find out approaches for a learner’s friendly education by following some of views of great thinkers on education all over the world. Some of the approaches suggested in the new age learning are present in some of the countries but not all together. The proposed new age learning approaches might be difficult to practice in the present day but not impossible. The need for a happy society, with all the curiosity and creativity, free from health issues are the centre of my study. The recent study revealed that the schools in India like Isha home schools, Rishi Valley schools and Puttaparthi Sai Baba schools are aiming at the overall wellbeing of the enrolled children.

Assessment of Population Needs by Normative Method: Romania 1989-2018

Adina Mihăilescu — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

This article analyzes some concepts to argue why the quality of life in Romania is far from what was desired in the early nineties. Its presents the normative method that helps us to validate the consumption of the population by covering at minimum the essential goods and services necessary for the individual, and his family, at home and in society. Next part presents us a dynamic of social policy measures which fluctuates the main incomes of the population in the 1990-2018 time interval, and their influence on consumption. The last part of the study concludes: what are the needs of the population and to what extent they were satisfied, or not, within the time period studied. During the period of time 1990-2018 the incomes of the various families with children could not keep up with the price increases on the products and services on the market. This has resulted in time deterioration in the quality of life of these families.

Quality of Literature Review and Discussion of Findings in Selected Papers on Integration of ICT in Teaching, Role of Mentors and Teaching Science through Stem

Young Mudavanhu — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The purposes of this study were to examine the extent to which literature was used to discuss findings in selected papers from Zimbabwe Journal of Educational Research, and to compare the quality of reviews in this journal with other international journals. The study was largely qualitative in nature and used convenient sampling. In the study, the Zimbabwe Journal of Educational Research was chosen because of easy access. Three papers were conveniently selected based on personal interest and areas previously studied. Content analysis was used to compare the quality of discussion of literature in the sampled papers. Findings suggest that authors cite relevant literature extensively in the background to the study but use the same literature sparingly in the discussion of their results. Further, in the discussion of findings use of literature was limited to confirming what was already known, and do not show how the new studies reported contribute to knowledge. The study concluded that the journal studied was failing to attract authors who write high quality papers. Perhaps the journal should broaden its brief and target an international audience, because at present as evident in the three cases cited, the journal can only reach out to practitioners within (Southern) Africa.

Does Domestic Migration have a Challenge? Evidence from Northwestern Ethiopia

Kibrom Adino, Haimanot B. Atinkut, Sisay Yehuala, Tigist Petros — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The role of internal migration to the poor rural households is highly recognizable because of its low cost of travel and immediate response for livelihood shocks and problems. Despite the fact, internal migration has a tremendous contribution to the livelihood of the rural households; yet it is not free of challenges in the pursuit of its benefits. This study, similar to previous works has recommended the need to conduct survey on the challenges of domestic migration. Therefore, this study mainly focused on the main problems associated with internal migration in rural setting of North Gondar where internal migration is dominated. Both quantitative and qualitative research approaches were utilized. According to the study, the result revealed migration towards the rural areas for labor work following farming activities in the large scale farming fenced with ethnic conflict among workers, prevalence of theft, payment suspension as well disease. Besides, the result of the study revealed that migrants toward the urban area challenges are mainly related to brokers’ deception, lack of immediate job and life costs. Thus, if internal migration is required to play its role as one of the livelihood strategies for subsistence producers of the rural households in the domestic market, the associated challenges of internal migration must have relieving solutions.

A Flipped Course Conduction and Assessment for Compiler Design Course in Computer Science and Engineering: A Case Study

A. Parkavi — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Flipped course conduction and assessments are used in well-developed educational institutions and technologically developed countries. It is quite experimental in nature for resource restricted educational institutions and developing countries. In this paper such cases are considered, where faculties make use of free resources available for conducting flipped compiler design course. Traditionally courses are taught to the students using black board. Presently teachers have started using power point presentations for their teaching. Teachers cannot completely depend on black board teaching to demonstrate the applications and implementations of a course. In addition to the conceptual teaching, the students should be actively involved and motivated to make the course more effective. To make students get involved in learning about concepts of a course, the authors have designed and conducted different case studies for compiler design course. The methodology of delivering course and assessment methods are refined year after year using qualitative and quantitative measurements. Comparison of the outcomes is done by the authors with respect to students' performance year after year. This helps in refining the course content, course delivery and assessment methods. In this chapter, authors discuss the different course delivery methodologies they are practicing with continuous refinements. The authors suggest different learning activities, assessment methods and their outcome analysis in this chapter.

Perceptional Evaluation of the Impact of Second National Fadama Project on Gender Income, Output and Decision-Making Power in Abuja, Nigeria

Julius Ajah, Abimbola Kayode Peace — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The study perceptionally evaluated the impact of the Second National Fadama Development Project (Fadama 11) on the income, output and decision-making power of the male and female farmers who participated in the project. Simple random technique was adopted for sample selection while questionnaire was used for data collection. A sample of 284 (159 males and 125 female) farmers were randomly selected in 8 locations or Fadama Development Areas (FDAs) in Abuja. The data were analysed with a two-way independent factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results indicated that there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the impact of the project on the income, output and decision-making power of the male and female farmers who participated in the project. The mean responses for the male farmers on income, output and decision-making power were 3.37, 3.20 and 3.30 respectively while those of the female farmers were 3.35, 3.08 and 3.35 respectively. On the contrary, there were locational differences (p < 0.01) in the impact of the project on the income, output and decision-making power of the farmers. The mean response showed that farmers in Bwari and Karshi areas perceived the impact of the project on the three indicators more than farmers in the other locations. Although, the interaction effect of gender and location was not significant (p > 0.05), the mean responses indicated that in some locations, the project impacted more on the male farmers’ income, output and decision-making power while in some locations, the reverse was the case in favour of the female farmers. Based on the grand mean responses for income (3.36), output (3.13) and decision-making power (3.36), the paper concluded that the project had a moderate impact on gender in the study area.

New Regionalism in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Means to Attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and to Legitimate Democratic Governments

Elie Ngongang — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The regional integration process in Africa is increasingly becoming an indispensable instrument in the promotion of domestic and foreign direct investment (FDI) and as a means for the legitimization of the fragile nascent democratic government, which are slowly and painfully being put in place all over the continent. The achievement of these policy objectives for sub-Saharan African countries requires the identification and formation of clear priorities and strategies whose implementation should be feasible, effective and supported by strong political will, if the regional integration failures of the past fifty years of African independence have to be avoided. The key strategies and priorities seem to be based on a belief that the harmonization of regional policies and infrastructures projects of all kinds constitutes the very foundation of a regional integration. According to this belief, these projects are considered to be instrumental and conducive to increased market openness and capital inflows, which in turn could act to stimulate trade among states, the movement of workers and the intermingling of people and cultures. As a result, peace and harmony is maintained within the integrated region. It therefore suggest that the effective implementation of these strategies and priorities, combined with domestic policy reforms would necessarily attract increased regional and foreign direct investment given the continent’s rich endowment in natural and human resources. The study examines this basic tenet of regional integration process in Africa and argues that the African political leaders most threatened by integration will be very unwilling to face a successful integration outcome. Hence, it will be up to the international community to support the reforms efforts of these leaders and to help overcome their resistance. Furthermore, the author suggests that the conciliation between the suppression of trade obstacles (economic reforms) and democratization in these countries (political reforms) is the most significant action which bilateral and multilateral financial backers can do to support the recovery of the continent.