Tolu O Okoruwa | Federal College of Education, Abeokuta, Nigeria (original) (raw)

Papers by Tolu O Okoruwa

Journal of Information Technologies and Lifelong Learning

Advancement in science and technology calls for enabling students making informed decisions in th... more Advancement in science and technology calls for enabling students making informed decisions in the context of socio-scientific issues (SSI). This study aimed at exploring the efficacy of teaching science through SSI-based argumentation for improving grade-IX students' argumentation skills with particular focus on the quality and complexity of argumentation. A pre-experiment; pre-post-test design was employed. All of the grade-IX students (n= 44) of biology group in an urban public school of Karachi, Pakistan were recruited as a sample. After being taught a unit of eight lessons (45-minutes each) on genetics, students were explicitly engaged in oral and written argumentation for further four sessions (45-minutes each). Data were collected through writing frames before, and after the intervention to gather evidence on progress, students have made in SSI-based argumentation. The data were analysed for complexity and quality of argumentation using the pre-defined analytical frameworks. The findings indicated an overall improvement in complexity of students' argumentation with significant difference (Wilcoxon W = 553; Z =-4.94; p < 0.01). The magnitude of difference fell in the category of large effect (r = 0.80). Similarly, a significant difference (Wilcoxon W = 528; Z =-5.00; p < 0.01) was observed in the quality of students' argumentation with a large (r = 0.832) effect size. Moreover, a model of teaching and learning science through SSI-based argumentation has also been developed.

Abstract Teaching mathematical skills effectively to young children in the early years of schooli... more Abstract
Teaching mathematical skills effectively to young children in the early years of schooling is important because it not only predicts subsequent achievement in mathematics in later years of schooling, but it also affects achievement in reading, science, and in reducing the likelihood of class repetition. Moreover, beyond school, all adults need basic mathematical skills to make informed decisions in their jobs, households and community lives. This underscores the need for greater attention and commitment to the promotion of solid foundations in mathematics right from the early schooling years. This paper, therefore, examines the importance of mathematical skills in the early schooling years as well as the relationship between mathematical skills and school success. Furthermore, it reports ways of ensuing quality mathematics education for preschoolers.

Abstract Today’s children will be joining the workforce tomorrow. However, they need to be prepar... more Abstract
Today’s children will be joining the workforce tomorrow. However, they need to be prepared for success in tomorrow’s work environment. They need computer, writing, presentation, team work and problem-solving skills as well as workplace habits such as punctuality, reliability, ability to cope with failure, among others. A highly skilled future workforce leads to a prosperous economy. To stay competitive in an increasingly complex marketplace, and produce more workers who can take responsibility for the nation’s economic prosperity in the decades ahead; rather than wait until young people are at the verge of entry into the job market to address this issue, investing in children’s earliest learning experiences is a crucial step in cultivating a viable, productive workforce for Nigeria. This paper therefore focuses on ways in which qualitative early learning experiences could prepare Nigerian children as the future dynamic and productive workforce that would enable the nation take a seat of pride among the advanced nations of the world. It is recommended that the government should increase investment in quality early childhood education. Clubs sand societies should also be introduced to children early in school, so that they can develop team spirit, self confidence and decision making skills which could help prepare them for their career in later life.
Key words: early childhood, workforce, economy, skills, career.

Abstract Violence is pervasive, and could cause deep and lasting physical and psychological damag... more Abstract
Violence is pervasive, and could cause deep and lasting physical and psychological damage to children. One of the ways in which children could be exposed to violence is through the use of the internet. Aspects of cyber interactions through which children could be exposed to violence are the production, distribution and use of materials depicting child sexual abuse (child pornography); online sexual solicitation, or “grooming”; exposure to illegal and harmful materials; and harassment, including cyber bullying. While acknowledging the various benefits of internet use to children, emphasis should be on maximizing potentials and minimizing risks, thus protecting the best interest of the child. This paper therefore examines the exposure of children to violence through the use of the internet as well as the need for parents, schools, government and all stake holders, through comprehensive education and child protection standards, among other means, to take both protective and preventive measures in order to guarantee the safety of children in cyberspace.
Keywords: Violence, children, cyberspace, internet, ICT.

Abstract Outdoor play is important for children to master physical and motor skills. It helps the... more Abstract
Outdoor play is important for children to master physical and motor skills. It helps them
express freedom and independence, while preventing obesity and health related issues.
Unfortunately, outdoor play is fast disappearing from Nigerian children’s lives, particularly at
home. This is as a result of parents’ tiredness due to overloaded work schedule, fear of injury,
traffic and the threat of kidnapping. This leaves the school with the responsibility of making
up for the inadequacies by providing more opportunities for children to play outdoors in
school. This study, therefore, examines preschool teachers’ perception of the importance of
outdoor play for children, the opportunities provided in schools for outdoor play as well as
the roles of the teacher during outdoor play.
The descriptive survey research design was adopted. Stratified and purposive sampling
techniques were used to select the sample of 439 preschool teachers involved in the study
from Abeokuta Metropolis of Ogun State, Nigeria. A questionnaire tagged ‘Outdoor Play
Teachers’ Questionnaire’ with Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.873 was used for
data collection.
The results revealed that majority of the sampled teachers believed that outdoor play prevents
obesity, improves children’s mood, enhances creativity and helps children understand and
respect nature among others. However, it was believed that children make a lot of noise that
disturbs neighbours, get injured and could be lost or kidnapped during outdoor play. Children
mostly played outdoors during break time (of about 40 minutes) or after school hours while
waiting for their parents to pick them up from school. Outdoor play never occurred before
morning assembly or during teaching hours in many schools. The roles of the teacher
whenever outdoor play occurred include supervision and passing instruction to children.
However, about a third of the teachers reported using cane to enforce obedience to instruction
and spent the time either resting or doing other school duties.
It was recommended that more opportunities should be provided for children’s outdoor play.
Teachers also need to be educated about their roles during outdoor play as well as how to
integrate outdoor play into their teaching so that children could benefit maximally.

Abstract It is important that meaningful educational experiences are offered to children during t... more Abstract
It is important that meaningful educational experiences are offered to children during the early years to ensure high quality teaching and learning. The fundamental elements of quality preschool teaching and learning practice include the effective use of instructional materials. However, these materials are grossly inadequate in Nigerian preschools, thereby underscoring the need for their production and improvisation. This study, therefore, focuses on the production and utilization of instructional materials in early childhood education. The descriptive survey research design was adopted. Stratified and random sampling techniques were used to select the sample of 101 preschool teachers involved in the study from Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State. One self-designed questionnaire was used for data collection whose Cronbach Alpha coefficient was 0.70. Simple percentages and means were used in answering the research questions, while t- and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used at 0.05 level of significance to test the hypotheses that guided the study. It was found that teachers had an average perception of the importance and use of instructional materials but did not always produce or use instructional materials for teaching, while some could only improvise a few. Recommendations were made based on these findings.

Abstract Nigeria today is laden with a number of social ills and vices such as robbery, kidnappin... more Abstract
Nigeria today is laden with a number of social ills and vices such as robbery, kidnapping, assassination, embezzlement, suicide bombing, drug abuse and many more which run contrary to national security and development. There is therefore a need for social transformation particularly starting from the early years where young children’s attitudes, values, behaviours, habits and skills are formed. This paper therefore discusses both the immediate and long term benefits of good quality early childhood education and its prospects which include higher educational attainment and less crimes. It also examines how the early childhood education practices could be restructured in order to encourage social transformation and good citizenship, including learning to appreciate differences and diversities. Recommendations were then made based on the issues raised.

Abstract The goal of Higher Education in Nigeria is to produce skilled, competent and resourceful... more Abstract
The goal of Higher Education in Nigeria is to produce skilled, competent and resourceful graduates equipped to meet the immediate and future needs of the society. However, Nigerian graduates have been reported to be half-baked and unemployable. This paper examined the reforms that could be made to the curriculum in order to correct this aberration, particularly with respect to early childhood educators. It examined who an early childhood educator is as well as career opportunities that are open to him/her. It also considered some factors that could make these graduates unemployable. Furthermore, employability skills were identified as well as how students could acquire them in the course of their study. Recommendations were then made on the reforms that could be made in order for early childhood education graduates to be, not just employable, but assets in whatever establishment they may find themselves after graduation.
Key Words: Early childhood, employable, skills, higher education, reforms.

One of the objectives of preschool education in Nigeria as stated in the National Policy on Educa... more One of the objectives of preschool education in Nigeria as stated in the National Policy on Education is smooth transition from home to school, that is, school readiness. This involves socio-emotional development in addition to cognitive development. Children whose socio-emotional development is hampered have been reported to be disadvantaged educationally right from elementary school to the later years in career. This paper therefore examined the role of the preschool in making children ready for school through the promotion of their socio-emotional development. Recommendations are also made to policy makers as well as classroom teachers.

1 The conventional teaching method being used in the primary science classroom often leads to poo... more 1 The conventional teaching method being used in the primary science classroom often leads to poor performance. This study therefore investigated the effects of conceptual change (CCTS) and enhanced explicit teaching (EETS) strategies as well as the moderating effects of cognitive style and gender on pupils' achievement in primary science. A pre-test post-test control group quasi-experimental design was adopted. One hundred and ninety primary six pupils from three public primary schools selected from Ibadan Southwest Local Government Area participated in the study. Three instruments: Science Achievement Test (SAT), Operational Guide for Instruction (OGI) and Cognitive Styles Analysis (CSA) were used. SAT had average difficulty, discriminatory and KR-20 reliability indices of 0.49, 0.63 and 0.83 respectively while the test-retest reliability index for CSA was 0.91. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). All the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Treatment and cognitive style had significant effect on pupils' achievement scores but there was no significant moderating effect of gender on achievement. Conceptual change and enhanced explicit teaching strategies enhanced pupils' achievement in science more than the conventional method. It is therefore recommended that teachers should adopt the CCTS and EETS in order to improve pupils' achievement.

The mother's role in enhancing the child's intelligence is pivotal since she carries the pregnanc... more The mother's role in enhancing the child's intelligence is pivotal since she carries the pregnancy and the child spends more time with her than with the father in the first few years of life. The early years are crucial because it is the time for the child's rapid brain development. This paper therefore examines the ways by which the mother can enhance her child's intelligence right from pregnancy to the child's early years. It also considers certain practices by the mother that could be harmful to the baby's prenatal cognitive development. Physical exercise and good diet (particularly rich in omega-3 fatty acids), among others are necessary during pregnancy, while breastfeeding during the early years, providing the child with good diet, age-appropriate educative toys, mental work-out, as well as the mother caring personally for the child are of utmost importance. However, conception at an advanced age, lack of certain minerals (such as iron and iodine) in the mother's diet as well as the use of certain medication, tobacco and alcohol are practices that could hinder the baby's prenatal cognitive development. Expectations are that financial empowerment of the mother and reduction of her working hours during the child's first year are likely to empower the mother to effectively enhance her child's intelligence.

Conference Presentations by Tolu O Okoruwa

Abstract Corruption in Nigeria has been a persistent problem which is the bane of the nation’s so... more Abstract
Corruption in Nigeria has been a persistent problem which is the bane of the nation’s socio-economic development. One of the major causes is lack of positive values, and so there is a need for value re-orientation to curb and ultimately eradicate corruption. This paper, therefore, focuses on ways in which integrity, which has been reported as the antidote for corruption, could be inculcated into Nigerians, particularly from the early years; with the view of redeeming the nation’s already tarnished image and producing a future breed of incorruptible and accountable leaders.

Key words: Corruption, re-orientation, integrity, early childhood, values.

Journal of Information Technologies and Lifelong Learning

Key words: Corruption, re-orientation, integrity, early childhood, values.