Social Constructivism: Implications on Teaching and Learning (Published)
The purpose of this paper was to look at social constructivism as a learning theory and its implications on teaching methods, students’ learning motivation and the entire teaching/learning process. Social constructivism is a collaborative form of learning based on interaction, discussion and knowledge sharing among students. The teacher’s role is to employ teaching methods that that are learner centred and collaborative in nature. The underlying factor is that learners work together in groups sharing ideas, finding answers to problems or just creating something new to add to existing knowledge. This learning theory deemphasizes teacher-monotony in the classroom, but encourages active interaction among learners, the teacher and other components of the teaching learning process. It also concretizes learning and knowledge by making students retain the facts that they discover and construct by themselves than those they are told by the teacher among other benefits.
Keywords: Constructivism, Implications, Learning, Social, Teaching
Cyber -Trolling, Cyber-Impersonation and Social Adjustment among Secondary School Students in Calabar Education Zone, Cross River State, Nigeria (Published)
This study is an investigation of cyber-trolling, cyber-impersonation and social adjustment among secondary school students in Calabar Education Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria. Two hypotheses were formulated to guide the discovery of the influence of cyber-trolling and cyber-impersonation on social adjustment of SS1 students which is the main purpose of the study. The research design adopted was the ex-post facto research design. 8829 public secondary school students formed the study population. A total sample of 579 students was selected through the purposive sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was the researcher-made Cyber bullying Assessment Questionnaire (CAQ), constructed on a four-point Likert scale of strongly agreed, agreed, disagreed and strongly disagreed. The Cronbach Alpha Reliability method was used to establish the reliability coefficient of the instrument with a range of 0.71 to 0.79. The statistical tool for data analysis was the One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The findings of the study revealed after the testing of the two hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance were that cyber-trolling and cyber-impersonation have negative influence on the social adjustment of secondary school students in Calabar Education Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria. Based on the findings, the need for the government to formulate policies to assist in effective eradication of harmful online communications was stressed. It was also recommended that Social Welfare Agencies should device means of implementing and consolidating effective cyber frame works that will protect students from being harassed.
Keywords: Adjustment, Social, Students, cyber, impersonation, trolling
Ethnomusicological Enquiry into Contemporary Indigenously Inclined Ìjálá Music in Yoruba Land (Published)
Yoruba social music appeal to traditional audience who are accustomed to the conventional property embedded in it. The appeal facilitates an increasing number of traditionally inclined social music practitioners who are gradually directing their efforts towards the creation of new form of ensemble music. Ethnographic method of data collection used in the study revealed that Ìjálá genre is text-based with symbolic use of words and allusion varying from place to place. It is monophonic in concept and the subject is centered on praise and adoration. It is seen as a verbal tool in the context of Ìjálá performances. The finding reveals the functional process of oral genre from place to place within a family or otherwise. Information on the use of Ìjálá music for different occasions was significant to the study. It further reveals the healing process of the oral genre.
Keywords: Ensemble, Music, Social, Yoruba, chant, Ìjálá
THE INFLUENCE OF BUSAYRI AND HIS BURDAH ON THE ‘ULAMA’ AND SOCIAL ETHICS IN YORUBALAND (Review Completed - Accepted)
Sharaf din Busayri whose panegyric poem is the subject of this paper held in high esteem for his hall mark spiritual desire. The paper is not intended to present all his lines, rather the aim is to call attention to some areas in his poem. The paper begins with an introduction. Sketchy biographical information about the family background and youth of al-Busayri is provided. His literary activities as well as the reason surrounding the production of al-Burdah are carefully discussed. Selected areas of influence are adequately examined. We have discovered that in spite of medical breakthrough in diagnosing some diseases, many other ailments are curable through spiritual exercises as the case of our author, Busayri. We noted that Muslims in Yoruba land name their children and living areas after the poet in an attempt to perpetuate his work, and to immortalize his memory. Verses from the work are still recited as charms in Yoruba land in particular and Nigeria in general as well as in some other parts of the Muslim world.