Papers by Israel Kibirige
Journal of Innovative Science Education/Journal of innovative science education, Dec 6, 2023
Group Discussion (GD) as a collaborative teaching strategy focuses on the teachers and learners t... more Group Discussion (GD) as a collaborative teaching strategy focuses on the teachers and learners to solve problems through multiple engagements. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of GD on pre-service teachers' conceptual understanding and retention compared to the Traditional Approach (TA) in teaching osmosis. A quasi-experimental design with pre-and post-tests and a case study design were used for the study. Ninety-four pre-service teachers (N=47) for the Experimental Group (EG) taught using GD, and (N=47) for the Control Group (CG) were taught using the Traditional Approach (TA). Results from post-tests show EG performed better than CG, as indicated by Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), p < .05, suggesting that GD improved conceptual understanding. A Mann-Whitney U-test shows no significant differences in performance between males and females in EG, implying GD favoured both genders. In addition, EG retention was higher than CG when tested after an extended period. Thus, the results show that GD improves pre-service teachers' conceptual understanding and retention. The implication for educators is that the use of GD in teaching biology improves pre-service teachers' conceptual understanding of Osmosis, and these results have far-reaching implications in teacher education.
African Journal of Disability, Aug 5, 2022
Adulthood-acquired disabilities (AADs) are disabilities that individuals gain after 18 years of a... more Adulthood-acquired disabilities (AADs) are disabilities that individuals gain after 18 years of age and after high school. Globally, 350 to 500 people acquire physical disabilities each day (Disabled World Tomorrow 2013). A few studies show that AAD may arise from illness or injury (Calderón-Larrañaga et al. 2018; Lisko et al. 2021; McAlpine 2008; Norman et al. 2007), and they come with significant changes to social, emotional and psychological well-being. The number of people with AAD globally is shocking. According to the Disabled Living Foundation (2021), 80% of all Background: Society places people with physical disabilities acquired during adulthood in disadvantaged positions, especially when they cannot participate in activities like their nondisabled counterparts. The situation can be worse for individuals who acquire disabilities during adulthood, where they have to learn to cope with the adulthood-acquired physical disabilities. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the types of physical disabilities acquired during adulthood and their causes and explore how participants defined their disabilities and the coping strategies they used. Methods: The study used a phenomenological research design. Five adults (three women, two men) with adulthood-acquired disabilities were purposefully selected from a rural area in Limpopo, South Africa. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was used to generate themes about coping strategies study participants used. Results: The results show four types of adulthood-acquired disabilities amongst the participants: visual impairment, paraplegia, weakened muscles which led to bilateral amputation, loss of function on both hands and legs. Participants' meanings of their physical adulthood-acquired disabilities ranged from a punishment, pain, not a bother, black magic, to results of doing wrong things to someone. In coming to terms with their adulthood-acquired disabilities, participants used problem-and emotion-focused strategies. Four themes from the participants' responses were spiritual support, social support, substance dependency, access to health and rehabilitation services. Conclusion: The study contributes to understanding the experiences of individuals who acquired disabilities in adulthood, how they define their disabilities and the divergent coping strategies they use. This study established that participants used problem-focused, positive emotion-focused and negative emotion-focused coping strategies.
Getting it from the horse's mouth : a case of dialogic teaching in high school
Journal of Educational Studies, 2014
Although dialogic teaching improves teaching and learning of science, it is seldom used in school... more Although dialogic teaching improves teaching and learning of science, it is seldom used in schools. This study investigated educators' understanding and use of dialogic teaching, as well as factors that hindered Grade eight science educators from using dialogic teaching. A phenomenological research design was used to solicit lived educators' experiences. Six educators were purposively selected because they all taught science in Grade eight. Personal interviews and document analysis were used to collect data which were analysed thematically. Results show that educators' had partial understanding of dialogic teaching though their views differed from one educator to another. Only one (16.7%) educator used dialogic teaching and five (83.7%) did not. Reasons for not using dialogic teaching were: inadequate knowledge and skills amongst educators, overcrowded classrooms and low motivation amongst learners. Analysis of educators' portfolios shows that activities given to learners did not encourage dialogic teaching. The study recommends in-service workshops, for educators, on how to use dialogic teaching in the science classroom in order to improve learners' performance.
A comparative study of the Jigsaw and Chalk-and-Talk Methods on grade 12 learners’ achievements in reaction rates in South Africa
Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences, Nov 30, 2022
Reading ability of in-service science educators : a preliminary study
South African journal of higher education, 2011
Journal of Psychology in Africa, Aug 3, 2020
This study explored lived parent-carer experiences of children with physical disabilities in a ru... more This study explored lived parent-carer experiences of children with physical disabilities in a rural South African setting. Participants were eight parent-carers (female = 8; age range = 40 to 50 years). The parent-carers completed semi-structured face-to-face interviews on the lived experience of caring for their children with physical disabilities. Findings from the thematic analysis suggest perceiving culturally conflicted advice from traditional healers and church leaders. The parentcarers also reported with diminished material and social support resources and transportation difficulties of getting their children to needed services .
Changing societies & personalities, Oct 10, 2022
The COVID-19 pandemic set a New Normal (NN) and altered the modalities of performing different ac... more The COVID-19 pandemic set a New Normal (NN) and altered the modalities of performing different activities. Several activities came to a standstill, resulting in job loss and school closure. New dynamics in the labour market emerged, such as Working-From-Home (WFH), Virtual Meetings (VM), Social Distancing (SD), and Downsizing (DS). These dynamics altered employer-employee relationships, which espoused new skills. The strategy was to change policies to work from home and use Information Communication Technology (ICT). However, many people were not adequately skilled to face the new challenges. This paper aims to describe what short learning programmes (SLPs) are, why institutions offer them and examine why individuals participate in SLPs. The author uses the Capability Theory (CAT) and the Critical Reality Theory (CRT) to explain why SLPs are crucial to face employment challenges beyond COVID-19. The main findings are that SLPs are necessary for everyone to be re-schooled and attain new skills needed at a specific time. Hence, many institutions offer SLPs to various learners. The contribution of this paper is the advocacy of SLPs to increase individuals' employability. Hence, SLPs are depicted as a means for skills development beyond COVID-19.
Journal of Social Sciences, Jun 1, 2022
It is a challenge to implement the work and employment policies for Persons with Disability (PWDs... more It is a challenge to implement the work and employment policies for Persons with Disability (PWDs). This study explored challenges regarding implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in a rural South Africa setting. Participants were seven persons with disabilities (female =four, male= three, age range = eitghteen to fifty five years). The researchers used a semi-structured personal interviews to get challenges regarding implementing employment of PWDs. Findings from the thematic analysis suggest language barriers, perceptions and attitudes towards disability and reasonable accommodation. The participants reported challenges related to reasonable accommodation, access to built environment barriers, assistive devices, and workplace adaptation. These findings have implications for the employers and the working conditions of PWDs. The researchers put a few recommendations at the administrative level forward to improve the PWDs challenges.
Eurasia journal of mathematics, science and technology education, Jan 9, 2022
The study explored science teachers' perceptions of Scientific Investigations (SI) and their clas... more The study explored science teachers' perceptions of Scientific Investigations (SI) and their classroom practices in South Africa. An explanatory sequential design using qualitative and quantitative approaches was used. Qualitative data were collected first using interviews and classroom observations, followed by quantitative data using a questionnaire. Qualitative data were thematically analysed, whereas quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics: percentages; and inferential statistics: t-test; Analysis of Variance (ANOVA); and Honest Significant Differences (HSD) Tukey. Three themes emerged from qualitative data: different perceptions of SI, challenges in teachers' skills, and resource challenges in schools. Quantitative results show teachers from differently resourced schools had diverse perceptions of practical work, inquiry, and SI (ANOVA, p=.04). These perceptions included confining hands-on activities to practical work, and limiting inquiry to oral questioning. Teachers' challenges in facilitating SI included inadequate skills and a lack of resources. These findings have far-reaching implications for learners' science achievements and policymakers.
Unnes Science Education Journal, Nov 4, 2021
Learners bring various misconceptions to class. The study explored learners' misconception preval... more Learners bring various misconceptions to class. The study explored learners' misconception prevalence about heat and temperature among Grade nine Natural Sciences learners. A single case study design with 30 Grade nine learners from one secondary school in Magatle Circuit. The Heat and Temperature Concept Questionnaire (HTCQ) was used to elicit learners' misconceptions. For each questionnaire item, percentage frequencies of incorrect, correct, and unanswered responses were calculated. The overall prevalence of misconceptions regarding heat and temperature among learners ranged from 40 to 93% (Mean 68.0% SD = 6.3), with the highest prevalence in thermal dynamic questions. The correct responses ranged from 0 to 57% (Mean = 25.1, SD = 7.1) where most learners scored between 20-30%, while unanswered questions ranged from 0 to 13% (Mean = 6.9, SD = 1.3). These results show a high prevalence of misconceptions. They could not explain how heat travels within molecules of different objects because of the lack of a link between every knowledge and school science. The findings of this study have several implications for classroom planning, teaching, and the designing of learning materials.
Education Sciences, Apr 11, 2023
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Journal of education technology, Aug 31, 2022
Respirasi adalah salah satu topik biologi yang sulit, dan guru memiliki tantangan untuk mengajark... more Respirasi adalah salah satu topik biologi yang sulit, dan guru memiliki tantangan untuk mengajarkannya secara efektif untuk meminimalkan kesalahpahaman. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisis pengaruh simulasi komputer inkuiri terbimbing terhadap kinerja guru prajabatan. Sebuah desain kuasi-eksperimental digunakan dengan 65 guru in-service: 33 kelompok eksperimen diajarkan menggunakan simulasi komputer inkuiri terbimbing, dan 32 kelompok kontrol menerima instruksi menggunakan kapur-dan-bicara tradisional. Data dikumpulkan menggunakan Tes Kinerja Akademik dan dianalisis menggunakan T-test untuk mengetahui perbedaan antar kelompok. Analisis kovarians digunakan untuk mengetahui pengaruh intervensi. Kedua kelompok diuji sebelumnya untuk mengukur pengetahuan mereka sebelumnya dan setelah diuji untuk menetapkan perubahan setelah pengajaran. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan kelompok eksperimen mengungguli kelompok kontrol. Juga, kinerja laki-laki dan perempuan dalam kelompok eksperimen serupa, menunjukkan bahwa simulasi komputer inkuiri terpandu disukai kedua jenis kelamin. Ini menyiratkan bahwa simulasi komputer inkuiri terpandu adalah alat yang efektif untuk meminimalkan kesalahpahaman mengenai respirasi seluler. Dengan demikian, para peneliti merekomendasikan menggunakan simulasi komputer inkuiri terbimbing dalam pendekatan kualitatif dan kuantitatif dengan sampel besar guru dalam jabatan dari wilayah geografis yang berbeda. A B S T R A C T Respiration is one of the difficult biology topics, and teachers have challenges effectively teaching it to minimise misconceptions. The aims of this study was to analyse the effect of guided inquiry computer simulations on pre-service teachers' performance. A quasi-experimental design was used with 65 in-service teachers: 33 experimental groups taught using guided inquiry computer simulations, and 32 control groups received instructions using traditional chalk-and-talk. Data were collected using the Academic Performance Test and analysed using a T-test to determine the differences between the groups. Analysis of Covariance was used to find out the effect of the intervention. Both groups were pre-tested to gauge their previous knowledge and post-tested to establish changes after the teaching. The results show experimental group surpassed the control group. Also, males and females performance in the experimental group was similar, suggesting that guided inquiry computer simulations favoured both genders. It implies that guided inquiry computer simulations are effective tools to minimise misconceptions regarding cellular respiration. Thus, the researchers recommend using guided inquiry computer simulations in qualitative and quantitative approaches with a large sample of in-service teachers from different geographic regions. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA license.
Journal of Education Technology
Although BLB has many applications students use, it is not clear which applications are used most... more Although BLB has many applications students use, it is not clear which applications are used most and perceived most useful for Self-Regulated Learning (SRL). The objective of this research is to establish applications pre-service teachers use most and perceive as most useful for SRL. The study used a cross-sectional survey design with 120 technology education undergraduate pre-service teachers. A questionnaire was distributed during the Technology Education period and collected after 45 minutes. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) determined the most BLB applications and their perceived usefulness, while a t-test examined male and female differences in the use and usefulness of BLB applications for SRL. Both tests were done using SPSS version 22. The major result shows half of all BLB applications perceived as useful were the ones used most and had positive associations. Three out of eight accounted for 95.69% of the use, while four applications accounted for 73.33% variances in use...
Issues in Educational Research, Apr 14, 2019
Universal primary education (UPE) is a crucial strategy for the global target of Education for Al... more Universal primary education (UPE) is a crucial strategy for the global target of Education for All, but several countries failed to meet the 2015 mark. This study investigated parents' perceptions of UPE in Kotido District, Uganda. Data were collected during face to face interviews from 36 purposively selected parents who had school-age children. The results indicate that whilst parents perceived UPE positively, only 13 (36.1%) had all their school-age children enrolled in primary schools. The reasons which influenced parents' decisions were socioeconomic, environmental, and cultural. The study also revealed that 32 (88.9%) parents had not attained formal education, which may have influenced their perceived value of education and their choices to enrol children in UPE. Also, parents were cynical about the survival of Karimojong pastoralist culture with the successful implementation of UPE. This study contributes to the understanding of factors that influence access to primary education and recommends more parental involvement in designing further education strategies that suit marginalised communities worldwide.
Education Sciences
Information and communication, technology (ICT) has become a necessary tool in education post-COV... more Information and communication, technology (ICT) has become a necessary tool in education post-COVID-19 pandemic. However, integrating ICT into teaching and learning has been a daunting challenge in many developing countries, such as Uganda. This qualitative case study investigated the challenges that primary school teachers face in implementing ICT in teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects in Uganda. The study found various challenges divided into three categories: infrastructure and internet connectivity; individual factors and administrative support; and curriculum and learner support materials. A significant obstacle was the lack of computer access, internet connectivity, and ICT textbooks. Additionally, teachers lacked the ICT skills necessary to integrate technology into their teaching methods, and administrative support was insufficient. The identified challenges in this study will require a multi-pronged approach that includes increasing in...
Journal of Education Technology
Respiration is one of the difficult biology topics, and teachers have challenges effectively teac... more Respiration is one of the difficult biology topics, and teachers have challenges effectively teaching it to minimise misconceptions. The aims of this study was to analyse the effect of guided inquiry computer simulations on pre-service teachers' performance. A quasi-experimental design was used with 65 in-service teachers: 33 experimental groups taught using guided inquiry computer simulations, and 32 control groups received instructions using traditional chalk-and-talk. Data were collected using the Academic Performance Test and analysed using a T-test to determine the differences between the groups. Analysis of Covariance was used to find out the effect of the intervention. Both groups were pre-tested to gauge their previous knowledge and post-tested to establish changes after the teaching. The results show experimental group surpassed the control group. Also, males and females performance in the experimental group was similar, suggesting that guided inquiry computer simulatio...
The role of ICTs, state and non- state actors in peace-building in Mt. Elgon region, Kenya
Changing Societies & Personalities
The COVID-19 pandemic set a New Normal (NN) and altered the modalities of performing different ac... more The COVID-19 pandemic set a New Normal (NN) and altered the modalities of performing different activities. Several activities came to a standstill, resulting in job loss and school closure. New dynamics in the labour market emerged, such as Working-From-Home (WFH), Virtual Meetings (VM), Social Distancing (SD), and Downsizing (DS). These dynamics altered employer-employee relationships, which espoused new skills. The strategy was to change policies to work from home and use Information Communication Technology (ICT). However, many people were not adequately skilled to face the new challenges. This paper aims to describe what short learning programmes (SLPs) are, why institutions offer them and examine why individuals participate in SLPs. The author uses the Capability Theory (CAT) and the Critical Reality Theory (CRT) to explain why SLPs are crucial to face employment challenges beyond COVID-19. The main findings are that SLPs are necessary for everyone to be re-schooled and attain ...
African Journal of Disability
Background: Society places people with physical disabilities acquired during adulthood in disadva... more Background: Society places people with physical disabilities acquired during adulthood in disadvantaged positions, especially when they cannot participate in activities like their non-disabled counterparts. The situation can be worse for individuals who acquire disabilities during adulthood, where they have to learn to cope with the adulthood-acquired physical disabilities.Objectives: This study aimed to identify the types of physical disabilities acquired during adulthood and their causes and explore how participants defined their disabilities and the coping strategies they used.Methods: The study used a phenomenological research design. Five adults (three women, two men) with adulthood-acquired disabilities were purposefully selected from a rural area in Limpopo, South Africa. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was used to generate themes about coping strategies study participants used.Results: The results show four types of adulthood-acquired ...
Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education
The study explored the effect of the activity-based approach (ABA) on grade 11 learners' performa... more The study explored the effect of the activity-based approach (ABA) on grade 11 learners' performance in solving two-dimensional (2D) trigonometric problems. A sequential explanatory design was used, starting with the quantitative, followed by the qualitative method. The experimental group (EG) and the control group (CG) were facilitated using ABA, while CG was taught using traditional teaching approach. A 2D trigonometry test was used as a pre-and posttest to measure learners' performance. EG's experiences of using ABA were captured through focus group interviews. The study findings reveal significant differences between EG and CG posttests [t(100)=.3. 95; p=.05] with Cohen d=.79. Also, ABA did not segregate between boys and girls. Despite ABA being time-consuming, learners in EG developed collaborative skills, trigonometry vocabulary, the ability to solve trigonometric problems, and learning autonomy, which improved their performance. The study recommends ABA to improve learners' performance.
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Papers by Israel Kibirige