EXAMINING THE HALO EFFECT IN TEACHERS' GRADING OF STUDENTS' ACHIEVEMENT IN SECONDARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN MFOUNDI DIVISION

Students’ learning outcomes in Informatics remain a challenge when conventional instructional media offer limited interaction, contributing to passive engagement and difficulties understanding learning materials. This study examined changes in Grade X students’ learning outcomes after the implementation of Wordwall-assisted interactive learning media for the Computer Systems topic at SMAN 1 Sawahlunto, Indonesia. A quantitative approach was employed using a pre-experimental one-group pretest–posttest design involving 30 students from class X E4. Students completed a multiple-choice achievement test before instruction, participated in Computer Systems learning activities supported by Wordwall, and completed a posttest afterward. The intervention incorporated game-based activities to support practice and engagement; however, the research records did not specify its duration. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a paired-samples t-test, with normalized gain (N-Gain) used to assess the level of improvement. The mean score increased from 53.67 on the pretest to 77.67 on the posttest, a difference of 24.00 points. The paired-samples t-test identified a statistically significant difference between scores (t = 8.664, df = 29, p < 0.001). The mean N-Gain was 0.538, indicating moderate improvement. These results show that students’ scores were higher after the Wordwall-assisted learning intervention. Nevertheless, the study did not include a control group, the observed change cannot be attributed to Wordwall alone; instructional or testing-related factors may also have contributed. Wordwall therefore be considered a useful supplementary medium for Informatics instruction, while further studies using control groups, larger samples, and documented intervention durations are needed to strengthen conclusions about its effectiveness.

Quality higher education plays a vital role in sustainable development by equipping graduates with knowledge, competencies, and skills required for economic and societal development. This study examined the relationship between instructional strategies and the employability skills of undergraduate students in the School of Art and Industrial Design at Kyambogo University, Uganda. Specifically, it investigated the relationships between cooperative teaching, collaborative teaching, inquiry/discovery learning, independent study, experiential (authentic) learning, project-based learning, and students’ employability skills. The study adopted a quantitative approach using a correlational research design. Data were collected from 378 third-year undergraduate students using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Pearson’s product-moment correlation and multiple regression analyses were used to determine the direction and statistical associations between instructional strategies and employability skills. Findings showed that cooperative teaching, inquiry/discovery learning, and experiential teaching had positive statistically significant associations with employability skills, whereas collaborative teaching had a negative statistical association. Independent study and project-based teaching had no statistically significant unique associations with employability skills. Inquiry/discovery teaching demonstrated the strongest statistical association with employability skills among the strategies examined. The study concluded that instructional strategies had different statistical associations with employability skills and that learner-centred approaches are most beneficial when they actively engage students in cooperative, inquiry-oriented, and authentic learning experiences aligned with intended graduate outcomes. The study recommended strengthening cooperative, inquiry, and experiential teaching through structured group tasks, inquiry-based activities, and authentic practical experiences. It further recommended improving the design and implementation of collaborative, independent, and project-based learning to enhance their contribution to graduate employability skills.

Insecurity has become a significant threat to the effective delivery of basic education in Nigeria, particularly in communities affected by banditry, kidnapping, armed attacks, and communal violence. This study examined the influence of insecurity on teaching-learning outcomes in Universal Basic Education primary schools in Kagarko Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Specifically, it investigated the effects of insecurity on pupils’ academic performance and school attendance and identified strategies for reducing its adverse effects. The study adopted a qualitative documentary research design and relied on secondary data obtained from government publications, policy documents, institutional reports, international organisations, and peer-reviewed journal articles. The selected documents were analysed using qualitative content analysis and organised according to the study’s major themes. The findings revealed that insecurity negatively affects pupils’ academic performance by reducing instructional time, disrupting curriculum coverage, weakening concentration, and creating fear within the learning environment. It also reduces school attendance as parents may prevent their children from attending school because of kidnapping, attacks, unsafe travel routes, and instability within surrounding communities. Consequently, insecurity undermines the implementation of Universal Basic Education by limiting regular participation and disrupting stable teaching and learning conditions. The study concludes that ensuring school safety is essential for achieving the objectives of free and compulsory basic education. It recommends strengthening school security, implementing the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools, improving community participation, providing psychosocial support, protecting routes to school, establishing emergency response systems, and adopting flexible learning arrangements during periods of disruption.

Over the last decade, there has been a visible surge of students participating in and leading different forms of activism. Following the cultural reckoning of 2020, the United States saw a rise in awareness and engagement in activism among young individuals. Continuing this trend, higher education institutions have seen an increase in on-campus demonstrations in recent years. Given the recent increase in activism, political engagement, and the globalization of social issues, this study examined how attitudes, beliefs, individual factors, and prior behaviors relate to undergraduate students’ willingness to engage in different forms of activism (i.e., conventional and high-risk). Across both forms of activism, institutional advocacy (i.e., the behavioral targeting of institutional racism) was the most consistent unique predictor of a student's willingness to engage in activism. Need for cognition and individual advocacy were significantly and positively related to conventional activism, whereas political orientation was negatively related to it. Social justice orientation was significantly and negatively related to high-risk activism.

The main aim of this study is to determine the different challenges encountered by TVL students in learning skill-based subject on Modular Distance Learning. The participant was 20 selected Technical Vocational Livelihood Track who specialized Bread and Pastry Production students on Modular Distance Learning of Luis Y. Ferrer Jr. Senior Highschool School Year 20221-2022. This study used qualitative type of study through interview and focused group discussion. Qualitative data was analyzed using Litchman's 3C's of Analysis (Coding to Categorizing to Conceptualizing) to generate emerging themes. The study revealed that TVL- BPP students encountered challenges in learning skill-based subject on Modular Distance Learning such as lack of knowledge and skills, lack of tools, equipment, financial difficulty and attitude problem. Those mentioned problems affect student's academic performance. Most of them failed to meet the appropriate practical outputs. The study also revealed the different coping mechanism utilized by skill-based students. Part time job, watching informative learning videos and articles from internet, time management and improvising tools and equipment were the coping strategies done by students. The study focused only to the challenges and coping mechanisms of Luis Y. Ferrer Jr. Senior High School Technical Vocational Livelihood - Bread and Pastry Production students in learning skill-based subject on Modular Distance Learning. The result of this study serves as reference or basis for the skill-based teacher to formulate clear, effective and efficient form of teaching for the students to easily learn the subjects on modular distance learning.