The Influencing Factors of Language Development: Learners Developing Second and Foreign Languages (Published)
The aim and objective of this research is to find out the language learners’ factors, language learning factors, their influence on the whole process of language learning and finally to look for some possible solutions. It is worth mentioning that a particular factor can be a barrier to one learner, whereas it may facilitate the other. There is no denying the fact that developing a new language, for example a second/foreign language, is basically a complex and tiring job. According to Stephen D. Krashen, we have two widely known and well accepted means to develop language: ‘acquisition’ and ‘learning’. Acquiring a language is a natural process, while learning a language is a training based activity. During the period of language development, students have a lot of issues such as: personal, social, biological, political, cultural, economic, academic and so on. Further researches show that after puberty, learners face some issues and there are facts that all individuals are different from one another. In the early 1960’s, there was an upsurge of interest in individual characteristics. All these issues that affect language learning can broadly be categorized as internal and external factors. To facilitate language learning, students’ initial errors in developing language should be allowed and corrected with a sympathy and tact. So, to discover a short-cut solution to removing and/or minimizing all the factors of language learners and language learning in order to develop the target language is not an effortless task.
Keywords: Acquisition, Learning, Puberty, Universal Grammar, learners’ factors, learning factors
Cognitive Thresholds and Its Application in Testing Diagnosis (Published)
The thresholds are the distinctive delimitation of concepts. It is applicable wherever and whenever a concept is defined. Phenomena, event, experiences, existence, and stimuli are subject to threshold laws. In this work the Threshold is classified into discrete, continuous, anecdotal, circumstantial, circumstantial, cooperate, transitional, or absolute forms. It has different categories and one of such is the Cognitive threshold which is the span or range within which any cognitive function can take place. The cognitive threshold can be affected by physical, biological, psychological, sociological, environmental factors. It is dynamic, is made up of factors and exists within range. It can be applied in Testing Diagnosis and in Learning.
Keywords: : Cognitive Thresholds, Educational Measurement, Learning, Teaching
Teaching and Learning Creativity in Fashion. A Case Study of the Fashion Department of Takoradi Technical University (Published)
Ghanaian fashion products are generally described as “unattractive’ or “unimaginative” due mainly to poor creative designs. As a result, many Ghanaian fashion designers who are largely tertiary education graduates have been unable to compete favourably in both the local and international fashion markets. With increasing complaints about the lack of creativity in Ghanaian clothing designs, it became imperative to research into the reasons for the poor creative skills of the fashion design graduates of the Technical Universities. Several factors could account for the poor creative skills of the fashion graduates; one critical factor being the method of teaching and learning creative design skills. The main thrust of this research is to examine the professionalism of the lecturers, the attitude of students to learning and the effectiveness of the teaching and learning methods and models used in the Technical University to promote student learning and development. The study briefly outlined existing theoretical frameworks on teaching and learning in colleges and their application to achieve effective student learning and acquisition of creative skills. The study employed the descriptive survey method; using Questionnaires, structured Interview and Observation instruments to gather primary data from professional fashion designers, lecturers and students on how to enhance the teaching and learning of creative fashion design. This research confirmed the use of the traditional methods (lectures and textbooks) of teaching and learning at the Takoradi Technical University which according to existing research findings did not support the effective development and training of students to become life-long learners or critical thinkers. The study therefore recommended the use of more of the evidenced- based models like critical thinking and problem solving skills in the teaching and learning of creativity than the much fancied traditional methods of lecture, Hand-outs and textbook. The research concluded by encouraging lecturers to use alternative instructional models in teaching creativity and urging students to acquire innovative and critical thinking skills to become successful fashion designers.
Keywords: Creativity, Critical thinking, Learning, Life-Long Learners, Models, Teaching