Browsing by Author "Malekani, A. W."

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Access to, Use and Challenges of ICTs in Secondary Schools in Tanzania: A study of Selected Secondary Schools in Morogoro Municipality
(Information Impact, 2018) Malekani, A. W.
This study was conducted to establish current status of ICTs in terms of access, use and challenges of ICTs in selected secondary schools in Morogoro municipality. The study was a cross section survey and used self administered questionnaires that were given to teachers and students in selected schools. This was supplemented by observations and secondary data review. 20 teachers and 60 students were involved in the study. The findings indicated that the status of ICTs is not good in secondary schools. Though students and teachers seem to be aware of ICTs, but the schools have no enough facilities for ICTs and the facilities available are not adequately utilized. Moreover, the teachers reported that they have no in-service training related to ICTs in teaching and learning. It was also reported that low band width (resulting into poor internet connectivity or slow speed), lack of standby power, and lack of a policy and training schedule hindered the utilization of ICTs in the selected schools. It is recommended that to effectively introduce and efficiently utilize these emerging technologies, remedies should be made to overcome the stated challenges.
Analyzing the usage patterns and challenges of telecenters among rura communities: experience from four selected telecenters in Tanzania
(IJEDICT, 2009) Mtega, W. P.; Malekani, A. W.
The objective of this study was to examine use patterns, challenges and way forward for effective beneficial use oftelecenters in Tanzania. The study covered the following four telecenters, namely Kilosa, Mpwapwa, Kasulu and FADECO ( Family Alliance for Development and Co-operation) telecenters. It was found that the studied telecenters in Tanzania are still at infancy and most do not offer adequate information to communities living in rural areas. Most are still faced with a number of challenges that make it difficult to meet people's expectations. It was concluded that so as to meet their objectives, telecenters should provide information relevant to people's needs, different formats should be used to present information as people have different information searching skills. Moreover; telecenter catchment area is an important factor in building an information rich society.
Application of local agro-biodiversity knowledge for climate change adaptation among local communities in Masasi and Nachingwea Districts, Tanzania
(2014-12) Malekani, A. W.; Chailla, A. M.; Wamunza, A.
This study was carried out in Masasi and Nachingwea districts in Tanzania to provide empirical evidence of existing local knowledge (LK) related to agrobiodiversity surrounding the local communities and how that knowledge contributes to adaptation to climate changes. The study employed two research designs namely a case study and a cross sectional survey. Hence, a combination of tools including Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews and semi-structured questionnaires, were used . for data collection. The research .findings showed that farmers possess a wide range of indigenous knowledge on agro-biodiversity which they use in adapting to climatic changes. The type of indigenous knowledge identified include those on soil characteristics, soil . fertility and infertility, cropping systems, seed storage and use of wild food products. It was recommended that such indigenous knowledge be promoted and used in other similar localities to foster the farmers' ability to adapt to climate changes.
Effective outreach techniques for the promotion of library information resources in academic libraries in Tanzania: A case of Sokoine National Agricultural Library
(University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 2018-02) Malekani, A. W.; Benard, R.
This study examines the techniques for promoting library information resources and services through outreach activities and how librarians and other library patrons perceive the techniques for promoting the resources and services, and the factors affecting the perceptions regarding effectiveness of techniques used. Data were collected using a survey questionnaire that was purposively distributed to students, librarians and members of academic staff. A total of 40 respondents participated in the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square Test) using SPSS software V.16. It was found that several techniques are used to promote library resources and services. These include catalogues, displays, print adverts each 7%, followed by e-mails (6%) and workshops, phones, leaflets, and face to face events each 5%. The present position respondent holds were found to influence positively and significantly a number of outreach approaches. It was found that the catalogue was rated effective by 28 (70%) respondents in promoting library services, the website was rated effective by 28 (70%) of respondents and the posters were rated effective by 20 (50%) of respondents. From the study, it can be concluded that the library could invest in the use of most highly rated outreach techniques such as face-to-face events, training sessions, workshops, brochures, catalogue, website, phones, leaflets, adverts, e-mail, classroom instructions, social media, posters and library tours to promote the use of services and resources among the library user community. On the part of respondents, they gave the following opinions to improve outreach services: use of social media and library website updates (61%), frequent email alerts of new arrivals, regular user training, and increased publicity by brochures and leaflets each (13%).
The role of Institutional Repositories in making lost or hidden cultures accessible, a study across four African University Libraries
(DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 2018) Malekani, A. W.; Kavishe, G.
This study was undertaken to uncover the potential role that Institutional Repositories (IR) can offer to preserve in the long term the special collections (especially cultural heritage materials) so as to reap the advantages that these collections offer in terms of intellectual development in Africa. The study involved use of scoping review which involves five stages: research question, identifying the relevant study, selecting the study, developing a narrative review (charting data), summarizing (collating) data and an optional consultation step. The study also involved a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) involving participants in the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme at the University of Pretoria from various universities in sub-Saharan Africa. The study found that the potential roles of IRs were mainly centered in three levels: at user level, researcher level and the institution level. In the cultural heritage context, the study found that IR offers opportunities to enjoy replicas of artefacts and museum environments from a distance and to avoid the spatial and temporal limitations of an actual visit to a museum. In turn, the increased accessibility of cultural contents would underpin a process of democratization of culture, which openly resonated, with the main proposals of the New Museology thinking of the 1970s and 1980s. Based on this study, it is recommended that the rich culture of Africa stored in the name of special collections should be made known to the world and whoever wishes to know more about the continent and its culture.