Determination and Utilization of Mentoring and Scaffolding Mechanisms by Lecturers for Teaching Vocational Agricultural Education to Students in Tertiary Institutions of Taraba State, Nigeria (Published)
The study was to determine the utilization of mentoring and scaffolding techniques by lecturers for teaching Vocational Agricultural Education to students in Tertiary Institutions in Taraba State. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. Four research questions guided the study. The areas of the study were the Tertiary Institutions in Taraba State that offer Vocational Agriculture. The institutions include; College of Education, Zing, Taraba State University Jalingo, College of Agriculture Science and Technology and Federal University Wukari. The population of the study was 200 lecturers of Vocational Agriculture from which a sample of 132 were drawn by stratified random sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire named “Mentoring and Scaffolding Utilization Mechanisms Questionnaire” (MSUQ). Five experts in vocational agriculture validated the instrument for data collection and was trial tested. A Cronbach Alpha coefficient of 0.80 was established after analyzing the trial testing of the instrument. The Cronbach Alpha coefficient of 0.80 was high enough and indicates that the MSUQ was reliable to elicit information for the study. One hundred and thirty-two copies (132) of the questionnaire were administered on the respondents with the help of research assistant in each of the institutions. The research assistants were able to retrieve 100% of the questionnaire administered. The data collected were analyzed using weighted mean and standard deviation to answer the four research questions. The result revealed that the ten mentoring techniques presented were accepted by the lecturers as mechanism for teaching Vocational Agriculture. So also, the seven scaffolding techniques were accepted by them. Furthermore, the result showed that the utilization of mentoring and scaffolding techniques were not impressive as the utilization falls below 30% of the techniques presented to the respondents. Techniques not utilized for mentoring among other include: friendliness to learners, approachable to learners, give feedback to learners while those techniques not utilized for scaffolding among others include; activate prior knowledge, learner participation, provide support as learners learn, pre-teach vocabulary. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that lecturers of Vocational Agriculture should sustain the techniques of mentoring and scaffolding while proprietors of the institutions are to motivate the lecturers to attend seminars, conferences and workshops on utilization of mentoring and scaffolding techniques to bring about the required learning of vocational agriculture by students in the tertiary Institutions in Taraba State.
Keywords: Mechanisms, Mentoring, Scaffolding, Utilization, vocational agriculture, vocational agriculture mentoring
Availability and Utilization of Instructional Facilities for the Teaching of Basic Electricity in Ebonyi State Technical Colleges (Published)
This study investigated the availability and utilization of instructional facilities and material for the effective teaching of Basic Electricity in Ebonyi State technical colleges. Two research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. It was a survey research design and the entire population of Basic Electricity technical teachers together with their SSII and SSIII students with a total of 150 were used. Due to this size of the population no sampling was carried out. Instrument for data collection was a structured and validated questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of stability 0.86. The questionnaire were distributed by hand and also collected back after completion with the help of three research assistants. Frequency counts and percentages were used to answer research question one while mean ratings were used to answer the second research question. The hypothesis was tested with t-test statistics. The findings revealed that many vital facilities and materials are not available while some available ones are not even effectively utilized for the teaching of Basic electricity. It was therefore recommended that all stake-holders should contribute financially and materially to enhance the effective teaching of basic electricity.
Keywords: Availability, Basic Electricity, Instructional Materials, Teaching, Utilization
Utilization of Low Cost Technology: A Catalyst for Reducing Postharvest Fish Losses in Lagos State, Nigeria (Published)
The need for the development of fish preservation and processing machinery and techniques for effective fish handling, harvesting, processing and storage can never be over-emphasized especially now that aquaculture production is on the increase in Nigeria. With Low Cost Technology (LCT), and better processing practices, fresh fish can be processed as desired without any significant loss of its quality. Hence, this study assessed utilization of low cost technology: a catalyst for reducing postharvest fish losses in Lagos State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 353 fish processors as sample size for this study. Data obtained were analyzed with both descriptive and inferential statistics. Result of the study showed that majority (63.7%) of the respondents were between 31 – 50 years of age, predominantly female (93.8%), married (70.3%), had formal education (77.9%) and belonged to Fish Processors Association (74.2%). The average household size and experience in fish processing were 7 people and 19.2 years respectively. Estimated income from processed fish ranged from ₦20,000 – 40,000/week. Result also revealed that extended drum oven (90.9%) was predominant and often used by the respondents. However, red clay oven (58.6%), brick kiln (52.4%) and government model kiln (41.1%) are available but not used by the respondents. Respondents got training and capacity building on fish processing technique and preservation (83.0%), hazard prevention and safety training (79.0%), record keeping (71.4%) and quality fish sourcing (67.7%) mainly through their Fish Processors Association. Furthermore, major challenges undermining fish processing and utilization of LCT are lack of fund from the commercial banks (80.3%), poor road network (79.0%), lack of training by extension personnel (74.2%) and epileptic power supply (77.9%). In addition, result of chi-square indicated that significant relationship existed between socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and utilization of low cost technology (χ2 = 12.91, p < 0.05). Fish Processors Association (χ2 = 16.05, p < 0.05). Training and capacity building have significant association with utilization of low cost technology (χ2 = 13.79, p < 0.05). Constraints impeded the utilization of LCT and was positively significant (t = 2.87, p = 0.004). The study concluded that despite the advantages of LCT in reducing PHL and increasing income from processed fish it was not utilized by the respondents in the study area. It was therefore recommended that there should be more awareness and enlightenment on merits of LCT by the extension officers, fish experts and media to facilitate its adoption and utilization among fish processors in the study area.
Keywords: Catalyst, Fish, Low Cost Technology, Postharvest Losses, Utilization
Skills Improvement Needs of Lecturers in the Utilization of selected Weather Instruments for Instructional Delivery in Tertiary Institutions in North-East Nigeria (Published)
The purpose of the study was to determine the skill improvement needs of lecturers in the utilization of weather instruments for effective teaching of students of agriculture in tertiary institutions in North-East, Nigeria. A survey research design was adopted for the study. Four research questions guided the study. The study was carried out in North-East, Nigeria. The population of the study was 219 respondents comprising of 17 Lecturers of Agricultural Education, 9 Lecturers of Soil Science, 8 Lecturers of Geography in Universities and 185 Lecturers of Agricultural Education in Colleges of Education. The entire population constituted the sample for the study. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire named “Utilization of Weather Instruments Questionnaire” (UWIQ). Five experts validated the instrument and was trial-tested. A Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.83 was obtained indicating that instrument was reliable to elicit information for the work. Two hundred and nineteen copies of the questionnaire were administered to the respondents by six trained research assistants in the six States of North-East, Nigeria. The entire questionnaire was retrieved. The data collected were analyzed using weighted mean and improvement need index (INI) to answer the 4 research questions. It was found that all the 64 skill improvement needs identified in the utilization of weather instruments were needed by Lecturers of Agricultural Education in Colleges of Education. The result revealed that Lecturers of Agricultural Education need skill improvement on the following items: 19 skills on utilizing Stevenson Screen, 16 skills on utilizing Thermo-hygrograph, 20 skills on utilizing Maximum and Minimum Thermometers and 10 skills on utilizing Sunshine Recorder. Based on these findings, it was recommended that: Lecturers of Agricultural Education should seek for ways of improving their skills in utilizing weather instruments; Administrators of Colleges of Education should support and approve study leave for Lecturers of Agricultural Education to attend workshops, seminars and conferences on utilization of weather instruments; Skill acquisition organizations should package the finding of the study into capacity building programmes for re-training both Lecturers of Agricultural Education in Colleges of Education and teachers of Agriculture Science in Secondary Schools in North-East, Nigeria.
Keywords: Improvement, Skills, Tertiary Institutions, Utilization, Weather Instruments
Availability and Utilization of Instructional Facilities for the Teaching of Basic Electricity in Ebonyi State Technical Colleges (Published)
This study investigated the availability and utilization of instructional facilities and material for the effective teaching of Basic Electricity in Ebonyi State technical colleges. Two research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. It was a survey research design and the entire population of Basic Electricity technical teachers together with their SSII and SSIII students with a total of 150 were used. Due to this size of the population no sampling was carried out. Instrument for data collection was a structured and validated questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of stability 0.86. The questionnaire were distributed by hand and also collected back after completion with the help of three research assistants. Frequency counts and percentages were used to answer research question one while mean ratings were used to answer the second research question. The hypothesis was tested with t-test statistics. The findings revealed that many vital facilities and materials are not available while some available ones are not even effectively utilized for the teaching of Basic electricity. It was therefore recommended that all stake-holders should contribute financially and materially to enhance the effective teaching of basic electricity.
Keywords: Availability, Basic Electricity, Instructional Materials, Teaching, Utilization
Availability and Utilization of Facilities of Electrical Installation and Maintenance Works Programme of Technical Colleges in North-East Geo-Political Zone of Nigeria (Published)
The study investigated the availability and utilization of Electrical Installation and Maintenance Works Programme of technical colleges in the North-East Geo-political Zone of Nigeria. Two purposes of study were examined. Two research questions were answered and two hypotheses were tested. The population of the study was 808, made up of 24 principals, 58 teachers, 18 workshop attendants and 708 students. The study chose 40% of the population as the sample for the study, which stood at 398, made up of 10 principals, 26 teachers, 10 workshop attendants and 352 students. A structured questionnaire collected data from respondents. It was validated by five experts. A trial test using the test re-test method established the coefficient of stability of the instrument which stood at 0.94. After the administration of the instrument, 440 valid copies were obtained, made up of 10 principals, 22 teachers, 10 workshop attendants and 308 final year students. Analysis of the results was carried out on the valid copies of the instrument. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. The analysis of variance was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. Findings of the study showed that equipment, tools and measuring instruments were moderately available. They included conduit bending machine, battery charger, direct-on-line starter, Allen keys, A.C. meters, rheostat, installation varnish and capacitors. Consumable materials were highly available. They included ceiling roses, cables wiring nails and resistors. Students’ level of utilization of equipment, tools and consumable materials during practical lessons was of moderate performance. Students’ level of utilization of measuring instruments during practical lessons was low in 12 out of 15 measuring instruments. On the whole, students’ level of utilization of measuring instruments during practical lessons was of low performance. A significant difference did not exist, at the chosen probability level, in the mean responses of principals, teachers and workshop attendants on the extent to which facilities for the Electrical Installation and Maintenance Works Programme were available. At a 0,05 level of significance, there was no significant difference in the mean responses of teachers, workshop attendants and students on the level of utilization of consumable materials by students during practical lessons. The study suggested among others, an improvement in facilities supply and an increase in students’ practical activities for enhanced performance.
Keywords: Availability, Installation, Maintenance, Programme, Utilization, facilities