Educational Technology Commons^™

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Ai Text Humanising Tools In Reducing Ai Detection In Ai-Generated Texts By Ai Detectors, Samuel Nicodemus Epaphras, Fredrick Mtenzi

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, such as Gemini and ChatGPT,  is  on  the  rise,  and  it  has  revolutionised  content  generation  in professional and academic domains. However, their increasing sophistication presents challenges in distinguishing AI-generated texts from human-written ones,  raising  concerns  about  integrity,  especially  in  academic  writing.  This study   evaluated   the   effectiveness   of   three   AI   text   humanising   tools: Writesonic, QuillBot paraphraser, and WriteHuman in refining texts generated by ChatGPT and  Gemini.  The study employed  a  comparative  experimental design.  By  employing  quantitative  analysis,  the  study  compares  baseline  AI detection    rates    with    those    after    successive    humanisation    iterations. Comparison  was  also …

Using The Reading Sciences And Technology For Teaching And Learning In The Global South, Larysa Lysenko, Philip C. Abrami, Alexandra Gottardo, Eileen Wood, Anne Wade, Enos Kiforo, Jean Baptiste Maniraguha, Abraham Shivachi, Rose Iminza, Clifford Ghaa

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Background

In the Global South, persistent literacy challenges have been exacerbated by schooling disruptions during the pandemic and afterwards. Addressing this problem requires teachers who both understand how to teach reading, and can implement it effectively and efficiently. Aims

This research examines the effects of an intervention combining a technology-based teacher professional development and implementation of new knowledge and skills and ABRA-READS interactive literacy software in early-primary classrooms in Kenya and Rwanda.

Sample

Participants were 22 teachers and 1341 students from Kenya and 20 teachers and 1002 students from Rwanda.

Methods

This quasi-experimental research featured the experimental teachers who implemented …

School System And Student Performance: Examining Science And Mathematics Achievement In Pakistan, Sadia Muzaffar Bhutta, Sohail Ahmad, Aisha Naz Ansari

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

Public and private school systems are the two largest providers of formal school education in Pakistan, differing significantly in their governance, resources, and practices. While previous studies showed differences in Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs), often favouring private schools, these comparisons remained largely descriptive. This paper compares elementary grade students’ performance in mathematics and science between public and private schools in Pakistan, accounting for factors such as grade level and geographical region. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 15,391 students from grades 5, 6, and 8, selected through a multistage sampling technique from a total of­­ 153 public and private schools …

Applying The 6e Learning By Design Model To Support Student Teachers To Integrate Artificial Intelligence Applications In Their Classroom, Musa Saimon, Fredrick Mtenzi, Zsolt Lavicza, Kristóf Fenyvesi, Maik Arnold, José Manuel Diego-Mantecón

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

The 6E Learning by Design (LbD) model can enhance student teachers’ development of competence for integrating technologies in the classrooms including Artificial Intelligence (AI). However, teacher educators rarely use the 6E LbD model in supporting and encouraging student teachers to integrate AI applications in their classrooms effectively. To attract teacher educators to use the 6E LbD model, in the present study, we modeled learning activities for each phase. We also examined the impact of the 6E LbD model in supporting student teachers to integrate AI in the classroom. We adopted a Participatory Action Research approach implemented in two cycles. We …

Teacher Professional Education And Student Learning: A Secondary Analysis Of Nationwide Data, Aisha Naz Ansari, Sadia Muzaffar Bhutta, Sohail Ahmad

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

Professional qualification of teachers is widely recognised instrumental for enhancing students’ learning experiences and outcomes. Recently, the introduction of 4-year B.Ed Hons programme was introduced in Pakistan with the intention that it will help in preparing professionally qualified teachers who would not only demonstrate better classroom practices but also contribute to enhancing their students learning. This paper employed a secondary analysis of a nationwide dataset to compare students’ performance who are taught by teachers with B.Ed (Hons), B.Ed, and no professional qualifications. Furthermore, this study also present descriptive comparison of classroom teaching practices of these three types of teachers. The …

Towards Unleashing The Potential Of Ai In Education; Exploring Educators' Perceptions And Practices In Tanzania (The Case Study Of Two Districts In Coastal Region, Tanzania)., Luciana Marwa Hanson

Master of Education

As AI adoption in education progresses globally, understanding educators' viewpoints is crucial for effective integration in specific contexts like Tanzania. This study was an exploration of the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, focusing on the Tanzanian context. It aimed to understand educators' perceptions and practices regarding AI integration in education. The research objectives include exploring the potential benefits and challenges of AI integration, as well as understanding educators' attitudes and intentions toward AI adoption. Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model, the study utilized a qualitative case study approach involving interviews, FGDS, and observations with 10 students, 10 educators …

Examining The Implementation Of Gender-Responsive Pedagogy By Course Participants Of The Diploma In Education Leadership And Management., Prudence Hope Murabu

Master of Education

This study examined the implementation of Gender Responsive Pedagogy (GRP) by course participants of the Diploma in Education Leadership and Management (DELM) programme. DELM aims to equip educators with skills to mainstream gender knowledge in schools. The study assessed participants' preparedness to apply GRP in teaching and leadership. Factors influencing adoption and the extent of GRP integration in pedagogical strategies were explored. A qualitative approach using interviews, focus groups, observations and document analysis was employed. Sixteen course participants and six facilitators were selected through purposive sampling. The study was conducted in primary schools in Kilifi and Mombasa counties, Kenya. Findings …

Social-Emotional Learning: An Exploration Of The Role Of Storytelling In Promoting Empathy And Learning Among High School Learners, Patience Akoth Aloo

Master of Education

Empathy is a vital human quality with profound significance in both the broader world and the school environment. It forms the bedrock for building positive relationships, resolving conflicts, promoting inclusivity, and enhancing communication skills. In schools, it creates a supportive and inclusive atmosphere, facilitating effective teacher-student communication, reducing discrimination, and encouraging students to develop essential life skills that will serve them well in all aspects of their lives. Despite the above importance of Empathy, learners do not appreciate its importance and end up acting unempathetically while research has shown that teachers feel inadequately equipped to teach this value. This research …

A Makerspace Intervention To Foster Grade 3 Learners' Creative Writing Proficiency., Mary Sada Chanzera

Master of Education

This research project investigates the effectiveness of integrating a MakerSpace intervention to enhance the creative writing skills of Grade 3 learners. Recognizing the importance of developing these skills in early education for communication, academic success, and critical thinking, the study addresses challenges faced by Grade 3 students in expressing thoughts effectively through writing. The proposed integration of MakerSpace technology is positioned as a transformative tool to unlock learners' linguistic potential and stimulate imagination. MakerSpace offers interactive tools, collaborative spaces, and self-directed learning opportunities, providing a comprehensive solution to obstacles hindering creative writing development. By incorporating MakerSpace into the curriculum, Grade …

Mewaka National Teacher Development Reform In Tanzania: Design-Based Implementation Research: Cycle 1 Findings, Saalim Koomar, Winston Edward Massam, Kristeen Chachage, G Anthony, Winifrida Jacob Mrope, Mustafa Malibiche, Emmanuel Mutura, Taskeen Adam, Sara Hennessy, Fredrick Mtenzi

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

MEWAKA (Mafunzo Endelevu kwa Walimu Kazini, or Teacher Continuous Professional Development [TCPD]) is a landmark, school-based teacher professional development programme being implemented nationally by the Government of Tanzania, with the ultimate aim of raising learning outcomes in schools. EdTech Hub, Aga Khan University, and the Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE) are conducting research to iteratively enhance the MEWAKA implementation at primary school level and to understand the role that technology can play in scaling TCPD. This report presents the findings and recommendations from the first cycle of design-based implementation research (DBIR) conducted in rural schools in the Lindi region. Following …

Enhancing Grade 3 Learners' Creative Writing Through Makerspace Pedagogy, Mary Sada Chanzera, Wachira Nicholas

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

This research project explored the integration of MakerSpace interventions to enhance creative writing skills in Grade 3 learners. It addressed the challenges students face in expressing thoughts through writing, and aimed to unlock linguistic potential and stimulate imagination with interactive tools and collaborative spaces. Traditional teaching methods in Kenya often fail to foster a love for writing or produce proficient writers. Factors such as limited exposure to diverse materials and difficulty understanding English structures contribute to low motivation and poor performance. The study highlighted the need for engaging and effective teaching approaches. MakerSpace interventions offer hands-on, experiential learning that encouraged …

A Guide To Administering Knowledge Tests For Research, Aisha Naz Ansari, Sadia Muzaffar Bhutta, Sohail Ahmad

Institute for Educational Development Pakistan (IED-PK) Archives

This guide serves as a concise, step-by-step resource designed to equip graduate students and field researchers with the essential guidelines to administer knowledge tests with precision and consistency, ensuring standardised assessment practices.

5e Instructional Model: A Constructivist Approach To Teaching & Learning, Munira Amirali, Javed Ahmad, Shella Asad, Sadam Hussain, Syed Sardar Hussain, Tahira Jabeen, Tajun Nisa, Wahid Murad

Books

I taught ‘Curriculum Teaching and Learning’ as one of the master-level courses that enables course participants to broaden their understanding of curriculum models, teaching, learning and assessment approaches. The assignment required participants to choose a topic in their subject area, review relevant literature, and identify challenges faced by teachers and students during teaching and learning that topic.
In addition, course participants were asked to list misconceptions students possess regarding the relevant topics and explore possible solutions and recommendations to address the identified challenges and misconceptions. Thus, the course participants developed learning resources (lesson plans) using the 5E model (Engage, Explore, …

Ai In Education: Investigating The Potential Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) To Support Biology Teachers In Improving Their Pedagogical Practices To Teaching Topics Perceived As Difficult., Silas Otiende Ouma

Master of Education

Ensuring learner engagement is crucial for achieving conceptual understanding, especially in biology classes. In Kenya, a noticeable decline in average biology scores, and insights from studies indicate that there is a dominant use of teacher-centered teaching methods which rarely engage learners to enable them to comprehend some of the biology topics that are marred with complexity. This research aimed to explore the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support biology teachers in improving their pedagogical practices in teaching topics perceived as difficult. The study began by exploring the perceived difficult topics in biology, the current pedagogical approaches used to teach …

Exploring The Integration Of Ict In Early Childhood Education To Enhance Literacy And Numeracy In Kaliua District: Insights From Preschool Teachers’ Practices., Nemes Danstan Benguye

Master of Education

This research project explores how ICT is integrated in early childhood education in Tanzania, focusing on its potential to enhance reading, writing and numeracy skills among young learners. It emphasizes the importance of ICT integration in shaping children's academic trajectory and cognitive development. In developed countries many studies on ICT integration in ECE to enhance literacy and numeracy skills are being conducted unlike those in the global south.  Findings from those studies conducted in the global south, particularly in Tanzania have consistently documented the contributing factors for limited opportunities, challenges associated with the availability of ICT tools and resources, and …

Exploring Effective Ict Integration Strategies In Education: A Case Of Two Public Primary Schools In Mombasa, Kenya, Juma R. Haji, Rose J. Shiyo, Nipael Mrutu

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Purpose:

The contemporary education landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, largely driven by the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). This paper explores the experiences of educators as they incorporate ICT into teaching and learning.

Methodology: The study was conducted in Mombasa City, Kenya, and utilized qualitative research methods, including in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and classroom observations, in a case study design involving two urban primary schools. The research meticulously documented the experiences of 16 participants.

Findings: The findings of the study highlight several advantages of using ICT in teaching and learning, including easy access to information, interactive …

Thinking Global, Acting Local, Ali Gohar Qazi

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

Ongoing or continuous professional development is essential for teachers to develop and maintain the knowledge base required to produce more powerful learning outcomes among their students. Research has shown that professional development is more effective and meaningful to teachers when it is content focused, involves active learning and collective participation, and when it is sustained in duration, instead of being top-down, episodic, or delivered as ‘one-shot’ training workshops.

Policy Analysis Of Girls’ Primary School Completion In Rural Sindh: Root Causes And Policy Recommendations Using Iiep Education Policy Toolbox, Sajid Ali, Aisha Naz Ansari, Mushtaq Ahmed, Zobia Israr Ahmed, Naveed Saleh Siddique, Naveed Ahmed Shaikh, Shazia Solangi, Mujeeb Rehman Khatri, Tauseef Lateef

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

This report emerged from the policy analysis work produced as part of the course titled ‘Diagnostic tools for improving education policy planning’ by the IIEP-UNESCO with support from KIX. This course enabled us to explore diagnostic tools and their implications, specifically for developing countries, and helped the team unpack diagnostic tools and learn the history of their evolution. We further learned how the education management information system works and how data is essential for policy decisions. Finally, we engaged with real policy analysis using the IIEP Education Policy Toolbox. As a team, we chose to study the issue of girls’ …

Online Early Childhood Teacher Education Program: Practices And Future Possibilities, Yasmeen Mehboob, Silpa Aziz Karim

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

The study aimed to test the effectiveness and the feasibility of Zoom and Virtual Learning Environments (VLE) for early childhood teacher education (ECTE) at a university in Pakistan. The study addresses how a Community of Inquiry (COI) framework can be embedded within Zoom and VLE to make the online course meaningful, interactive and accessible. This is an exploratory case study with a mixed method approach. Data was gathered through survey, focus group discussion, reflective journals, observations and meeting notes. Pre- and post-online knowledge tests and assignments were used to assess changes in participant’s knowledge and understanding. Survey result indicated positive …

Pakistan’S First-Ever Participation In An International Large-Scale Assessment (Timss): Critique And Implications, Sohail Ahmad, Sherwin Rodrigues, Sadia Muzaffar Bhutta

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

The International Large-Scale Assessment (ILSA) is a rapidly growing field in education which has gained considerable attention of stakeholders across the globe. Historically, ILSA emerged from the developed context which has drifted to the developing contexts in a short span of time due to globalisation. Pakistan has participated in ILSA (i.e., TIMSS) for the first time in the 2019 cycle. In light of the global critique on ILSA, this paper presents a critical analysis on Pakistan’s participation in TIMSS by raising questions embedded in contextual realities. The discussion adds to the understanding of ILSA in terms of historical developments, theoretical …

The Role Of Leadership In Effective Implementation Of Quality Assurance Mechanisms In Higher Education: An Exploratory Case Study From Pakistan, Sohail Ahmad, Afaq Ahmed

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

Purpose: This study aims to explore whether and how leaders’ attributes, understanding of and attitude towards quality assurance (QA) shape their practices towards effective implementation of QA in universities.
Design/methodology/approach: Using qualitative case study, the data were collected from nine institutional leaders purposively selected from two universities. The data, collected through semi-structured interviews, were analysed using thematic analysis technique.
Findings: The findings revealed that personal attributes of leaders such as understanding of QA, attitude towards QA and practices shape leadership style either as transformational or compliance leader. The transformational leader implements QA procedures with the intention of bringing improvement in …

School Teachers And Principals’ Experiences During Covid-19 In Pakistan, Azra Naseem, Mirat Al Fatima Ahsan, Sohail Ahmad, Tasneem Anwar, Razia Fakir Mohammad

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, educational activities were disrupted globally. In Pakistan, schools were also closed, and though some schools had started teaching online, the staff (including principals and teachers) and students' readiness for education during the pandemic remained unexplored. An internet-based survey was conducted to explore the experiences of the teachers and principals during the lockdown. The survey included both open-ended and closed-ended questions. Responses were collected from respondents in different parts of Pakistan, with the majority coming from Sindh and coming from both the private and public sector. While the respondents from private schools reported that …

Examining The Self-Efficacy For Online Learning Across Young And Old Age Students Of Sindh, Aisha Naz Ansari

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

This paper presents the self-efficacy for online learning during the pandemic, across two age groups young (25 and below) and old (above 25) from different schools and universities in Sindh based on five constructs of self-efficacy. These constructs include completion of online courses, social interaction among students, academic interaction among students, interaction with instructors, and handling online tools of course management. This was a quantitative study with a web-based survey. The population of the study was school and university students of Sindh aging from 18 onwards and have taken online classes. The sample (n=162) was selected conveniently. And the data …

Design-Based Implementation Research Baseline Data Collection: Technical Report, Koomar Saalim, Adam Taskeen, Winston Edward Massam, Anthony , Gervace, Mrope Winifrida Jacob, Fredrick Mtenzi, Mwakabungu Fika, Aneth Komba, Sara Hennessy, Barretto Johnpaul

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

This research study aims to investigate the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of a tech-supported, decentralised, and school-based teacher continuous professional development (TCPD) model, to improve learning outcomes in rural Tanzanian primary schools. The research will test and iteratively improve the national TCPD model and roll-out (including the semi-structured Communities of Learning), as outlined in the Tanzanian National TCPD Implementation Plan (2021). We seek to understand the model’s effectiveness and the role that technology can play. The research team includes researchers from EdTech Hub, Aga Khan University, and the Tanzania Institute of Education. The study employs a Design-Based Implementation Research (DBIR) …

Mix Method Approach Of Measuring Vr As A Pedagogical Tool To Enhance Experimental Learning: Motivation From Literature Survey Of Previous Study, Muhammad Mujtaba Asad, Aisha Naz Ansari, Prathamesh Churi, Antonio José Moreno Guerrero, Anas A. Salameh

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

This research has been experimented on our previous literature review. Technological advancement has prevailed in the modern era from the 20th century. Artificial intelligence and virtual worlds have been created for rapid technological development. This paper is aimed at exploring the effect of virtual reality as a pedagogical tool for enhancing experiential learning among undergraduate students. Considering this, it was a mixed-methods study following the design of sequential exploratory–which includes qualitative followed by quantitative part. The targeted population was undergraduate students taking education programs from Public Sector Universities of Sindh. For the qualitative part, the sample of eight undergraduate students …

Transforming Summative Language Literacies’Assessment Of Tanzania Primary Education Through Mobile Technology, Musa Saimon, Fredrick Mtenzi

Book Chapters / Conference Papers

The use of paper-pencil assessment can hardly facilitate language literacies’ assessment that focuses on the communicative aspects of the language such as speaking and listening among others. This has prompted practitioners in the field of language assessment to consider the use of ICT (information and communications technologies) such as mobile applications as among the best tools for improving language literacies’ assessment. However, summative language literacies’ assessment in Tanzania primary education is still administered in the form of paper-pencil assessment. This has led to low literacies level among primary school leavers, which eventually, hinders their career growth and participation in democratic …

Virtual Reality As Pedagogical Tool To Enhance Experiential Learning: A Systematic Literature Review, Muhammad Mujtaba Asad, Aisha Naz Ansari, Prathamesh Churi, Mohammad Mehdi Tahanzadeh

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

Since half of the century, technology has dominated the modern era. The rapid advancement of technology has reached generating artificial intelligence and artificial realities. So, virtual reality is an emerging technology and is applicable in education as well. Virtual reality is a computer-generated simulation, where people can interact within an artificial environment. Moreover, in an educational setting, such an environment provides students with a chance to get experiential learning. This paper has a systematic literature review on emerging technologies, such as virtual reality as a pedagogical tool for enhancing students’ experiential learning. This review aims to explore and understand the …

Reflective Practices As The Cornerstone For Teacher Development In The 21st Century: Lessons From Educators’ Action Research Projects, Musa Saimon, Fredrick Mtenzi

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Research has shown that reflective practices improve teaching practices, which makes them valuable in the 21st century where the teaching context is complex due to increasing technological innovations and diversity among learners. However, it is hardly practiced among teachers. As a result, the present study aims at highlighting how reflective practices could improve teaching practices in a challenging context. The study adopted a Self-Study qualitative research approach. The data were collected through reflection, observation, and interviews from two collaborating researchers, primary school teachers, and students. Data were analyzed thematically. Findings show that reflective practices improve four main aspects of teaching …

Energy-Efficient Load Balancing Ant Based Routing Algorithm For Wireless Sensor Networks, Xinlu Li, Brian Keegan, Fredrick Mtenzi, Thomas Weise, Ming Tan

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are a type of self-organizing networks with limited energy supply and communication ability. One of the most crucial issues in WSNs is to use an energy-efficient routing protocol to prolong the network lifetime. We therefore propose the novel Energy-Efficient Load Balancing Ant-based Routing Algorithm (EBAR) for WSNs. EBAR adopts a pseudo-random route discovery algorithm and an improved pheromone trail update scheme to balance the energy consumption of the sensor nodes. It uses an efficient heuristic update algorithm based on a greedy expected energy cost metric to optimize the route establishment. Finally, in order to reduce the …

Investigating The Relationship Between Students’ Digital Literacy And Their Attitude Towards Using Ict, Salma Jan

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

This study aimed to explore the relationship between secondary school students’ digital literacy and their attitude towards using information and communication technology in a private secondary school in Karachi, Pakistan. For this study, the data were collected through survey questionnaire using google forms. The total sample size for this study was 344 secondary school students having almost equal ratio of male and female. On bivariate correlation analysis, digital literacy was found to be associated with students’ attitude towards using information and communication technology (ICT) and other ICT related demographics. Further analysis using multiple linear regression analysis showed that digital literacy …