Papers by Michael A . Adarkwah
Smart Learning for A Sustainable Society, 2023
While several studies revealed that gamification could enhance students' learning motivation and ... more While several studies revealed that gamification could enhance students' learning motivation and engagement, less focus in the literature has been paid to the changes that gamification might bring to students' learning behaviors. Motivated by this research gap, this study harnesses the power of big data and learning analytics (LA) to analyze and compare students' learning behaviors in gamified and non-gamified learning environments. This study first develops a Gamified Learning Management System (GLMS) based on the self-determination theory (SDT). It then analyses the students' learning behaviors on it and compares them to a non-gamified version of it. Involving 204 students who used the two LMSs to learn the Human-Computer Interaction course were divided into two experimental groups. The findings revealed a positive and significant correlation between gamified earning points, students' final grades, and increased student engagement, The implications of this study suggest that gamification could be a practical approach to enhance students' academic performance and engagement in online learning environments.
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Smart Learning for A Sustainable Society, 2023
Information source accuracy and trustworthiness are vital in undergraduates' education in terms o... more Information source accuracy and trustworthiness are vital in undergraduates' education in terms of how they seek teacher feedback and educational content. Nowadays, the infusion of technologies into education has led to convenient and easy access to learning materials in electronic libraries and web-based platforms or search engines. Undergraduates are expected to make rapid use of groundbreaking technologies to sift for academic information over the internet. With the advent of ChatGPT, it is estimated that undergraduates might rely on it for academic information. The theoretical study gauges the potential impact of Chat-GPT on the information-seeking behavior of undergraduates and what it means for classroom engagement. To do this, we utilized the inquiry-based learning theory which emphasizes the active participation of learners in discovering new information. The study is one of the first to contribute to the ongoing discussions on the impact of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT on education.
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British Journal of Educational Technology, 2023
Twenty years after its inauguration, the information communication and technology for accelerated... more Twenty years after its inauguration, the information communication and technology for accelerated development (ICT4AD) policy intended to transform Ghana into an information and technology‐driven high‐income economy through digital education has been unsuccessful. In this digital era, young adults' attachment to technological tools is anticipated to expedite technological adoption in the education sector. Still, there are less promising indicators of realizing this expectation because of situational factors that curtail technology usage and adoption in higher education (HE). It is estimated that the adoption of technology in HE will aid Ghana in using ICT as its engine of growth. This paper gauges the progress of the ICT4AD policy after two decades, presents an intricate account of why technology integration in HE in Ghana is still in its infancy and proposes interventions for sustaining and advancing the objectives of the ICT4AD policy. Drawing from an extensive review of literature on three conceptualized thematic themes relating to technology (ie, addiction, abduction and adoption), policymakers in education and stakeholders in HE will be able to identify their roles in guaranteeing the success of the promulgated ICT4AD policy. Viable areas of research are also discussed in the study. Practitioner notes What is already known about this topic?
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Teachers, particularly in developing contexts, were vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pa... more Teachers, particularly in developing contexts, were vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. As natural parental figures for students, they had to reconcile the dual role of ensuring the safety and health of students and their own and family well-being. The external crisis of COVID-19 heightened the negative experiences of teachers in their work environments during both online and physical instruction. The qualitative phenomenological study involving thirty (30) secondary school teachers in Ghana took a comprehensive and fresh look at how COVID-19 impacted the work motivation of teachers. It was found that teachers suffered a great deal of stress in the wake of the pandemic and had face-mounting concerns about their working conditions. The low morale of teachers precipitated by COVID-19 made them develop attrition intentions. However, intrinsic and altruistic traits such as passion, the feeling of responsibility, and the desire to contribute to society and foster student...
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Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching, 2023
Artificial intelligence (AI); chatbots; ChatGPT; conversational agents; diffusion of innovation; ... more Artificial intelligence (AI); chatbots; ChatGPT; conversational agents; diffusion of innovation; technology awareness. By increasing technology trend awareness, individuals can leverage novel and groundbreaking technologies to complete mundane activities and buy time to focus on other projects. This article presents an overview of why there is a slow pace of digital transformation in education in Ghana using ChatGPT (an advanced chatbot) as a case scenario. In this two-phase study, which used a triangulation approach (an exploratory sequential design), we found that most of the authors of publications about ChatGPT were not from the African continent or were affiliated with international institutions. A thematic analysis of interview data involving 34 academics in Ghana about ChatGPT revealed that most academics had limited knowledge about ChatGPT and artificial intelligencepowered chatbots. The main themes generated comprised the purpose of ChatGPT and chatbots, their usability and accuracy, and ChatGPT and artificial intelligence (AI) enthusiasm. The quantitative phase of the study surveyed the views of 50 academics who confirmed the minimal awareness of ChatGPT by Ghanaian academics. There were mixed views about the relevance and usefulness of ChatGPT in work-related tasks. Following the findings, we provide ways to create technology trend awareness for academics from African countries like Ghana to transition from being "laggards" to "early adopters", as explained by Rogers' diffusion of innovation theory. The findings call for policymakers and educators to promote technological awareness.
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Education and Information Technologies, 2023
Despite the importance of Student-Centered Learning (SCL), limited information exists in the lite... more Despite the importance of Student-Centered Learning (SCL), limited information exists in the literature on how SCL can be facilitated by various educational technologies. This study, therefore, explores the literature to investigate the role of educational technology in supporting SCL. Particularly, it builds on the American Psychological Association (APA) learner-centered principles framework, and a classification inspired by John Dewey on technologies that support student learning. Specifically, this study conducts a systematic literature review of literature reviews focusing on student-centered learning to reveal research trends, gaps and future directions related to the factors and principles of SCL and the classifications of technologies in SCL environments. The obtained results found that cognitive and metacognitive were the most covered SCL factors, followed by factors related to motivational, affective and individual differences. Additionally, technologies for management were the most utilized in SCL environments and supported both cognitive and metacognitive, as well as motivational and affective factors and principles of SCL. The findings further revealed several challenges when adopting SCL, such as pedagogical, environmental, technological, curriculum, or social related.
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International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE), 2023
The launch of ChatGPT has been revolutionary. This AI chatbot can produce conversations which are... more The launch of ChatGPT has been revolutionary. This AI chatbot can produce conversations which are indistinguishable from that of humans. This exploratory qualitative study is foregrounded in a constructivist-interpretative perspective. The principal objective of this paper is to explore the views of academics on ChatGPT as an AI-based learning strategy at an open distance e-learning (ODeL) institution of higher education. Thirteen academics, who were enrolled as study participants, posted their views of ChatGPT as an AI-based learning strategy on a Teams chat at an institution of higher learning. The results support a few research studies on ChatGPT. The academics recognized the benefits and risks of using ChatGPT for teaching and learning. Further investigations are recommended to explore similar studies in higher education spaces and specifications. *Author affiliations can be found in the back matter of this article 215 van Wyk et al.
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Scientific African, 2023
The sudden emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a paradigm shift in the status quo of educat... more The sudden emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a paradigm shift in the status quo of education. Institutions globally migrated from traditional face-to-face (F2F) learning to online learning to achieve the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal Four (SDG 4). However, Ghana and its peer countries experienced unique challenges which hindered smooth online instruction delivery. Since 2017, Ghana has subscribed to a multi-track yearround education (MT-YRE) for its students at the Senior High School level because of limited physical capacity. In the wake of COVID-19 with its social distancing norms, the failure of online learning compelled some universities in Ghana to adopt the multi-track system temporarily for its undergraduates. In this phenomenological qualitative study, a snowball sampling technique was used to solicit interview data from undergraduate students (n = 20) in some selected universities on their perceptions of the MT-YRE and future education delivery. Thematic analysis suggests that blended learning is a way to mitigate the "challenge-ridden" online learning and as a solution to the MT-YRE. In the MT-YRE, learners experienced academic anxiety and complained about its intensive nature although there was a positive teacher-student relationship and peer-to-peer relations. They perceived their online experience in 2020 as ineffective and called for a blended modality of instruction for better social interactions. The rapid use of mobile technologies and social media was considered an enabler of blended learning. It is recommended that policymakers, school authorities, and educators implement a blended learning model tailored to the needs of learners post-pandemic.
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The Fifteenth International Conference on Mobile, Hybrid, and On-line Learning eLmL 2023At: Venice, Italy, 2023
In the era of digital transformation, teacher professional development has become an essential pa... more In the era of digital transformation, teacher professional development has become an essential part of education. The emergence of new technologies and the changing learning environment have made it necessary to reevaluate the traditional approach to professional development. In this study, we explore the concept of design thinking and its application in the creation of a smart learning environment for teacher professional development. We argue that design thinking offers a unique approach to problem-solving and can help educators develop innovative solutions to the challenges they face. We propose a framework for the design of a smart learning environment based on the principles of design thinking, and we discuss the potential benefits of this approach for teacher professional development.
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International Journal of STEM Education for Sustainability,, 2023
STEM only recently became part of the official Chinese public-school curriculum in 2017 and sugge... more STEM only recently became part of the official Chinese public-school curriculum in 2017 and suggested to be included in the primary school curriculum in 2018. This study shares findings from 79 Chinese early childhood education undergraduate students participating in a variety of hands-on STEM activities over a two-week period. A follow-up question session was conducted with the translator as well. This training was offered outside of normal class times as a professional development. Data showed significant differences between the pre-and post-surveys along with strong relationships between main categories. Indications are that the sessions helped to promote the participant's interest, perception, self-efficacy in STEM, as well as, thoughts toward science teachers and classes. Findings most strongly indicated that the sessions aided understanding of STEM and that STEM could be fun in terms of both learning and teaching. Overall, it appeared that the professional development sessions were meaningful for the participants and highlighted STEM practices and concepts in a positive light.
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Smart Learning Environments, 2023
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies have been progressing constantly and being more visible... more Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies have been progressing constantly and being more visible in different aspects of our lives. One recent phenomenon is ChatGPT, a chatbot with a conversational artificial intelligence interface that was developed by OpenAI. As one of the most advanced artificial intelligence applications, ChatGPT has drawn much public attention across the globe. In this regard, this study examines ChatGPT in education, among early adopters, through a qualitative instrumental case study. Conducted in three stages, the first stage of the study reveals that the public discourse in social media is generally positive and there is enthusiasm regarding its use in educational settings. However, there are also voices who are approaching cautiously using ChatGPT in educational settings. The second stage of the study examines the case of ChatGPT through lenses of educational transformation, response quality, usefulness, personality and emotion, and ethics. In the third and final stage of the study, the investigation of user experiences through ten educational scenarios revealed various issues, including cheating, honesty and truthfulness of ChatGPT, privacy misleading, and manipulation. The findings of this study provide several research directions that should be considered to ensure a safe and responsible adoption of chatbots, specifically ChatGPT, in education.
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COVID, 2023
Teachers, particularly in developing contexts, were vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pa... more Teachers, particularly in developing contexts, were vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. As natural parental figures for students, they had to reconcile the dual role of ensuring the safety and health of students and their own and their family's well-being. The external crisis of COVID-19 heightened the negative experiences of teachers in their work environments during both online and physical instruction. This qualitative phenomenological study involving thirty (30) secondary school teachers in Ghana took a comprehensive and fresh look at how COVID-19 impacted the work motivation of teachers. It was found that teachers suffered a great deal of stress in the wake of the pandemic and had to face mounting concerns about their working conditions. The low morale of teachers precipitated by COVID-19 made them develop attrition intentions. However, intrinsic and altruistic traits such as passion, the feeling of responsibility, and the desire to contribute to society and foster student development made teachers resilient towards the deleterious effects of the pandemic to promote optimal teaching. Future studies should investigate the installation of support structures that strengthen the motivation of teachers in unforeseen crises.
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Proceedings of the 7th International STEM in Education Conference (STEM 2022)At: University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 2022
Early childhood teachers in a variety of Chinese settings have expressed interest in learning mor... more Early childhood teachers in a variety of Chinese settings have expressed interest in learning more about Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) curriculum activities. Since 2020 an American professor who has joined a Chinese faculty of education in Chongqing has been offering STEAM professional development to pre-service and in-service teachers, and administrators. Up until recently this has always been done face-to-face and held either at a university or school setting. The decision to offer synchronous online training was made rather than cancel the professional development for the 2nd year in a row for kindergarten teachers in Guizhou. The curriculum choices were made keeping in mind a variety of factors such as cost, ease of acquiring, and practicality for classroom use. Participants were given a materials list in advance. Tencent Meeting and WeChat were the platforms in use for the sessions. The training sessions were essentially identical servicing two groups of approximately 50 teachers each. A translator assisted throughout the entire session, and a technological assistant was also on hand to offer audio, video, and connectivity support. Over a three-hour period, five (5) individual STEAM activities were conducted. Images from the participants' work were constantly shared to ensure understanding and participation. Following the sessions, a link for an online survey was provided where participants had the option of providing a response. METHODOLOGY An online survey of 60 5-point Likert scale questions and 6 open-response items was conducted. The validity and reliability of the survey are accounted for in the study. Likert scale items address interest in STEAM, perceptions of STEAM, STEAM self-efficacy, science class and teacher support, and an overall view of the professional development. Open response items address the view of the session.
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NOMSA21 Open Up and Connect: Education in a Digital Era Conference Proceedings, 2022
Some educators seem to dwell on the popular belief that mobile devices have a disruptive influenc... more Some educators seem to dwell on the popular belief that mobile devices have a disruptive influence on education. In the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, during which the abrupt disruption of education had forced many institutions to embrace online learning, those in developing countries such as Ghana faced unique challenges. A phenomenological qualitative inquiry approach involving tertiary students (n = 20) from three institutions was used to problematize the online instruction in Ghana and to present the integral role of mobile technologies in education. The paper reinforces the need to adopt mobile technologies to mitigate “challenge-ridden” online learning, as participants perceived m-learning as a pedagogical arsenal to battle the disruption in education. The researchers report that handheld mobile devices can be adopted as an effective learning tool for both online and offline or blended instruction during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Educators should integrate mobile technologies in education to aid struggling institutions with limited physical space to enrol more students and continue the online instruction to achieve lifelong education. Future studies should focus on the learning outcomes of m-learning in this pandemic era and how they can be used as a crisis-management tool post-pandemic.
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The sudden emergence of the COVID-19 triggered a chain of events in the global education system; ... more The sudden emergence of the COVID-19 triggered a chain of events in the global education system; suspended onsite instruction; migration to online learning; adoption of mobile technologies for mobile learning, and diverse technological innovations. All this was done with the objective of adhering to COVID-19 lockdown protocols to speed global recovery from the disruptive effect of the COVID-19 crisis. In many countries, online learning became the only legal means to achieve lifelong and progressive education for over 91% of the world's student population whose education was at risk. Stakeholders in higher education (parents, students, teachers, and administrators) across the globe also became "frontline workers" in a collective effort to combat the spread of the virus. The study explores the integral role of these frontline workers in curbing the virus. The researchers draw from qualitative interviews involving twenty (20) tertiary students in Ghana who experienced a physical resumption of school in 2021. Findings suggest that a policy shift by school leaders led to the adoption of a multitrack year-round education (MT-YRE) system to promote social distancing. Students were provided with personal protective equipment (PPEs), teachers educated students on COVID-19 prevention and fostered good relationships with their students. Students adhered to institutional protocols to study. Parents also provided psychological and financial support. Policymakers in education should provide clear guidelines, resources, funds, and recognition to school stakeholders as they collectively tackle the virus to ensure economic, health, and education recovery post-COVID-19. Future studies should focus on how to establish a crisis-management framework for higher education.
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Interchange, 2022
The paper utilized a document analysis technique and qualitative interviews to provide a comprehe... more The paper utilized a document analysis technique and qualitative interviews to provide a comprehensive understanding of the "Free SHS" policy in Ghana, which remains illusory to many Ghanaian students. First, a preliminary study which involved analysis of prior literature (n = 12) on the policy was conducted. Interviews involving ten teachers from Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), and five private school teachers were conducted to validate the findings from the preliminary study. Existing literature on other African countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, and Ethiopia was used to draw up policy lessons for decision-makers in education. The policy process cycle served as a framework to analyze the different dimensions of the policy. Similar results were observed from the two phases of the study. Implementers of the policy focused more on the program and political dimensions of policy with less emphasis on the process dimension. At the agenda setting stage, no clear problem was identified while at the policy formulation stage, there were no other alternatives to canvass from. It was observed that lack of adequate funds, limited textbooks, inadequate infrastructure, and doubts about educational quality were some of the challenges in the aftermath of policy implementation. Policy implications are also discussed in the study. It is recommended that policymakers partner with the private sector, NGOs, and international bodies, reform the school curriculum to improve learning outcomes, reduce repetition rates in school, create room for more teachers to be trained, and prepare graduates equipped to enter the labor market.
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International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction, 2021
Developing the confidence to teach is one of the most challenging tasks in the teaching professio... more Developing the confidence to teach is one of the most challenging tasks in the teaching profession. Educators have recognized that the initial years of teaching is complex and challenging. However, no study examines novice teachers' self-efficacy beliefs in teaching multiple subjects in developing countries like Ghana. Novice teachers in Ghana are often deployed to schools and classrooms with high number of students but less number of teachers. Hence, they are faced with teaching multiple subjects per semester (term) aside from the already outlined challenges of novice teachers in literature. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design. Using the Teachers' Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSEBs, long form), novice teachers in Ghana (n = 72) were assessed on how they perceived their efficacy in teaching multiple subjects. Results from the study indicate that novice teachers perceived themselves to be moderately adequate in their TSEBs. Efficacy in classroom management score was lower than in student engagement and instruction strategies. Males also recorded high TSEBs score than females. Majority of the teachers taught large classes (43-53). It is recommended that educators reduce the class size of novice teachers and organize more training and professional development programs for novice teachers.
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Academia, 2021
" in the context of this paper is the infiltration of the COVID-19 pandemic in academia. Simply, ... more " in the context of this paper is the infiltration of the COVID-19 pandemic in academia. Simply, it is operationalized as a "pandemic in academia". The disruptive effect of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the status quo of education is unprecedented. Since its discovery and official declaration of the COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020 (WHO, 2020), academia has not been the same in terms of funding, teaching, learning, research practice among others. In the midst of a potential threat of a COVID-19 lockdown and debate over a potent vaccine is to keep the coronavirus at bay, necessity has forced many higher education institutions (HEIs) to migrate emergently to full online learning (Adarkwah, 2021a), there has also been transition to digital libraries to provide educational content to students/communities (Tammaro, 2020), researchers are forced to explore alternative ways of conducting research without physical contact with participants (Braun, Blok, Loeber, & Wunderle, 2020), and there have been advocators and a surge of virtual laboratories to enable final year students complete their experiment for possible graduation (Lorusso & Shumskaya, 2020). The pandemic has therefore terrorized academia causing myriad significant changes in its diverse fields. The paper discusses some of the short-term and long-term changes (the present impact on/response to and future prospects of academia).
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Academia Letters, 2021
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Academia Letters, 2021
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Papers by Michael A . Adarkwah