PHD-Department of Computing & Information Technology
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Item An educational data mining model for promoting self-regulated learning on learning management systems(Kenyatta University, 2023) Eric, Araka N.; Elizaphan Maina; Robert Oboko; Rhoda GitongaOnline learning environments such as Learning Management Systems (LMS) utilized by institutions of higher learning to deliver open and distance education have different features that may not adequately provide individualized support to learners. Online learners experience inadequate instructor support as many students are enrolling in fully online or blended courses. Therefore, the success of online learning depends on the learner’s ability to take control of their learning process as defined by the Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) theory. Since online learners have no restricted time to go online and learn, the existing freedom requires students who can take charge and control their learning. Moreover, existing models for supporting SRL do not link SRL in educational psychology and SRL in LMS. In view of this, it is necessary to have LMS that support SRL by providing targeted interventions based on students’ online learning activities data. This study explored the use of Educational Data Mining (EDM) techniques to support students’ SRL skills on LMS. To accomplish this, the research applied a mixed-methods approach that involved three phases. First, qualitative and quantitative methods were used in problem identification. Qualitative research was used to explore the current methods used to measure and promote SRL in online learning environments. Quantitative research was used to conduct a pre-study to establish how LMS features are utilized in teaching and learning in higher institutions of learning in Kenya. Secondly, Integrated Design Process was used to design clustering and classification algorithms and integrated them into Moodle LMS to analyze students’ learning activities data. Finally, true experiment research was used to establish the effectiveness of the developed EDM model in promoting SRL through sampled University students who enrolled in data science with python course for 12 weeks. This study, therefore, contributes an EDM model that contains algorithms derived from learning theories as applied in self-regulated learning. Results indicate that students were able to progress from poor self-regulators cluster level to good self-regulators and exemplary self-regulators. The results reveal that students were able to evolve from one cluster to another over time as a result of receiving EDM interventions during the online course. The findings demonstrate that providing external support through the use of EDM prompts leads to the growth of students’ SRL skills. Moreover, this study reveals that it is possible to measure and promote SRL concurrently using EDM techniques. Future studies can focus on the evaluation of the EDM model under varied contextual conditions to examine the effect of SRL interventions on students’ SRL skills and academic performance.Item Developing Instructional Materials that Address Challenges Facing Teachers in Secondary School Chemistry Investigative Practical Work; A Case of Kajiado County, Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2014-10-08) Ituma, Monica GakiiSecondary school Chemistry teachers use various instructional materials to guide the teaching of Chemistry practical work. Many of them however face some challenges in their endeavor to implement investigative type of practical work in their classes. They often require instructional materials that would support the implementation of learner-centred investigative practical work. The purpose of this study was to develop a model of exemplary instructional materials that can support secondary school Chemistry teachers in engaging learners in investigative practical work by addressing the challenges they faced when teaching practical work. The study is based on constructivist theory of learning which proposes meaningful learning by construction of knowledge gained through context-rich, experience-based activities. The study used Design Based Research (DBR) design methods for analysis, design, development and evaluation of the exemplary materials. DBR uses iterative design to develop workable interventions in educational practice. Forty two (42) government secondary schools in Kajiado County formed the target population. Baseline data revealed that teachers needed support in content knowledge, scientific practices, scientific literacy practices and teaching strategies for participation practices and for assessment of learning. Instructional materials for a total of six lessons were designed as derived from the Form one Chemistry topic on acids, bases and indicators. The first prototype of materials designed was appraised by 47 chemistry teachers in pre-service training, three experienced Chemistry teachers and two Science Education experts from the University. The feedback was used to redesign and refine the materials producing the second level prototype which was tried out by three other teachers with their Form one students. Feedback gathered from the try-out was used to re-design and refine the instructional materials leading to production of a third level prototype that was used by five teachers as the practicality and effectiveness of the materials was evaluated. Lesson observation, teacher‘s logbook, teacher interviews, learner questionnaire and concept maps were used to determine the practicality and effectiveness of the materials in a classroom set-up. The instructional materials were found to contain guidelines that teachers could use in guiding learners through investigative practical work. Teachers indicated that their objectives were achieved and learners were motivated to learn chemistry and were able to understand the concepts. The feedback was used to redesign the materials thus developing the final model of exemplary materials. The structure of such materials was detailed and a model for the development of instructional materials for investigative practical work referred to as Secondary Chemistry Investigative Practical Work (SCIPW) proposed. Chemistry teachers can use the model to develop materials that guide them through use of learner centred strategies in practical work. Developers of instructional materials should also use such experimental structures that support investigative practical work.Item An assessment of factors affecting adoption of appropriate technologies by rural women in Meru and Kiambu districts, Kenya(2012-06-08) Mburugu, Keren G.Appropriate technology (AT) has been recognised as a key development strategy for rural areas. It is now accepted that AT innovations can free rural women from drudgery and time-consuming labour. This saves them time and energy, which they could use to engage in self-development activities such as education and training in new skills. However, the available information indicates that rural women are not utilizing the available technologies to a significant extent. The purpose of this study therefore was to establish factors affecting adoption of appropriate technologies by rural women. The study was designed to carry out a survey on a target group of rural women. A random sample was obtained from an accessible population of rural women in Meru and Kiambu districts where AT programmes were initiated. A total of 160 respondents who included users and non-users of AT were selected. The research instruments used to collect data included an observation checklist and a structured interview schedule. The data collected and used in this study included types and conditions of technologies adopted by respondents; demographic and social economic status of respondents; experiences in adoption process and utilization of devices, and perception of rural women on AT. The data were analysed through descriptive statistics-tests analysis chi-square test of association and Pearson’s Product moment correlation analysis. The findings show that the majority of respondents were married, middle aged women, who had attained a primary school level of education. They were in occupations that combined subsistence farming with housework and other related activititesConsequenly, the women carried daily heavy workloads of more than 15 hours. The factors that were found to facilitate adoption of AT included long duration of stay in the community, age, family income, salaried occupation encouragement by husbands and participation in women groups. On the other hand, the major constrains inhibiting adoptions of technologies were found to be financial problems; lack of awareness. Others include inappropriate policies in women projects, biases on women, lack of access to technologies, complexity in implementation and adaptability of technologies. Some of the technologies adopted by women in Meru and Kiambu were improved stoves, dish lacks, cement water jars, ventilated improved latrines, bole holes, solar energy, biogas, soakpits and charcoal coolers. Most of the women kept their devices in good conditions and utilized them well. Home Economics Extension played a significant role in the adoption processor AT devices by ruler women and in the utilization of devices. Statistically significant relationship existed between adoption of technologies and some key variables. These key variables were age of the users and the level of education; users' rating of rural women's work load and age; types of occupation and belief that lack of formal education hinders adoption technologies by rural women; users' level of education and the study of home science in schools. A comparison of users and non-users in respect of AT devies used showed that the users had resided in communyties for longer durations of time, were older and were in more regularly salaried occupation than non users. Generaly Kiambu women found to be significantly older than those in Meru and also they had stayed in their communities for a significantly longer period of time than the womenin Meru. Kiambu women users and Meru users differed significantly in terms of types of technologies adopted, duration of time technologies were used and maintenance condition of devices. Meru users kept hteir devices iin significantly better condition than Kiambu women. However, users in both districts were similar in the way they perceived the need for technologies.Item Factors that determine the performance of technology-Based firms in kenya(2011-08-02) Kinoti, Kaburu FranklinThis study aimed to investigate, in a knowledge based framework, the determinants of performance of Kenyan technology-based firms focusing on the role of human capital, social capital and traditional firm-level characteristics on firm new knowledge acquisition through R&D and technology acquisition (innovation inputs) and the transformational process leading to innovation output and firm performance. The empirical analysis focused on a sub-sample of 320 high and medium-high technology firms drawn randomly from a population of 772 firms located in Nairobi. The sample population was stratified using seven technology-based industrial sectors and three employment size bands. Data collection was done using a self-administered structured questionnaire and analysis done using SPSS version 11.5. The innovative capability was analyzed by use of descriptive statistics while the relationship linking investment in new knowledge, innovation and productivity was established by separately modeling the & terminants of technology acquisition, R&D, innovation output and firm productivity. The study employed logit analysis for R&D decision and innovation outcome, probit analysis for technology acquisition, Tobit for R&D intensity and augmented Cobb Douglass production function for productivity. Empirical evidence revealed that the firm's innovations were largely incremental and that the innovative capability of the firms was largely inadequate. The results demonstrated that size and exporting variables were significant predictors of R&D decision, technology acquisition, innovation output and firm economic performance but not R&D intensity. Of the two innovation inputs, only technology acquisition increased probability of introducing innovations. On the other, hand innovation output contributed significantly to increased firm performance as measured in terms of value-added. Human capital variables had significant positive effect on all the dimensions under study while the role of social capital was multifaceted in its effect. While general linkages with competitors and other institutions had significant influence on the firms to invest in new knowledge, only linkages with customers had significant and positive effects on the likelihood of the firms to innovate. On the productivity side linkages with competitors joined linkages with customers in increasing valued added. Lastly the following conclusions can be drawn. First, it appears that R&D directly contributed to higher firm performance during the study period by increasing the absorptive capacity and not indirectly through innovation propagation as the main hypothesis posited, at least for Kenyan technology-based firms. Thus policies geared towards increasing the capability to transform R&D activities into commercial innovations would significantly increase the innovative performance of the firms. Second, since exporting large firms that had higher level of scientific and technical workforce and qualified managers, had cooperated with customers and competitors, had invested in R&D activities and technology acquisition and had launched new or improved products processes to the markets performed better than those that did not, public policies meant to stimulate increased firm growth and export promotion deepening access to qualified human resources promotion of linkages between firms and other institutions; promotion of in-house R&D and external acquisition of technology in both embodied and disembodied form should have positive results in terms of the overall performance of the firms.