Browsing by Title
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Wondie, M.; Schneider, W.; Melesse, A.; Teketay, D. (MDPI Publishing; www.mdpi.com, January 5, 2011)[more][less]
Abstract: The trend of land cover (LC) and land cover change (LCC), both in time and space, was investigated at the Simen Mountains National Park (SMNP), a World Heritage Site located in northern Ethiopia, between 1984 and 2003 using Geographical Information System (GIS) and remote sensing (RS). The objective of the study was to generate spatially and temporally quantified information on land cover dynamics, providing the basis for policy/decision makers and resource managers to facilitate biodiversity conservation, including wild animals. Two satellite images (Landsat TM of 1984 and Landsat ETM+ of 2003) were acquired and supervised classification was used to categorize LC types. Ground Control Points were obtained in field condition for georeferencing and accuracy assessment. The results showed an increase in the areas of pure forest (Erica species dominated) and shrubland but a decrease in the area of agricultural land over the 20 years. The overall accuracy and the Kappa value of classification results were 88 and 85%, respectively. The spatial setting of the LC classes was heterogeneous and resulted from the biophysical nature of SMNP and anthropogenic activities. Further studies are suggested to evaluate the existing LC and LCC in connection with wildlife habitat, conservation and management of SMNP. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1001 Files in this item: 1
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Kanyarusoke, K.E.; Uziak, J. (Wiley Periodicals Inc. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-0542, NaN, 2009)[more][less]
Abstract: Formal Engineering Education has traditionally been delivered using the low technology—high touch lecturing method, in which the lecturer and student meet face to face. Distance education in this field has been quite slow to develop primarily because of difficulty in delivery of practical based instructions and problems on integrity of assessments. Developments in information technology and the increased demand for further education by people already in employment have however changed this even in developing countries. It puts extra demand on Lecturers to guide distance learners in handling numerical computations so prevalent in Engineering. At the campuses, computer based methods are available in the high touch—high tech lecture method. High level and efficient computer software is used to help the student to simulate and solve some problems. However, such software is expensive—and therefore—not readily available to the distant learner. Spreadsheets on the other hand are almost universal on today’s computers and they bridge the gap between hand calculations and high level programme computations. This paper therefore makes a case for the use of spreadsheets in Distance Engineering Education. An example in Spring Design, Selection and Adaptation is used to illustrate the simplification and other advantages of their use by practicing distance learners. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/603 Files in this item: 1
Kanyarusoke_CAEE_2009.pdf (1.031Mb) -
Maundeni, Z. (University of Botswana, www.ub.bw, NaN, 2008)[more][less]
Abstract: The post-colonial Botswana elite built a developmental state.The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) inherited a developmental state-promoting state culture, which it used to modernise state institutions, to focus on creating new wealth for the nation, to build a small but coherent state structure and to centralise the exploitation of natural resources. However, the BDP developmental state reached a point of collapse and two revolutions from above were instituted to try to revive it. This is what this paper argues. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/586 Files in this item: 1
Maundeni_PBJAS_2008.pdf (3.104Mb) -
Maruatona, T. (Elsevier, http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/homepage.cws_home, January 24, 2004)[more][less]
Abstract: Planning adult literacy education in developing nations is largely viewed as a technical process reserved for government officials at the Ministry of Education. This empirical study argues that in Botswana, state sponsored adult literacy asserts its hegemony and stifles learner participation and district initiatives. The paper provides an overview of the socio-economic and political situation in Botswana arguing that in spite of being a liberal democracy, the planning and implementation of adult literacy education is driven by central government officials and views learners as having similar experiences and treats them as passive consumers. It fails to employ literacy education to address social disparities based on ethnicity and gender. Finally, the paper suggests that the planning should be decentralized and use a participatory approach. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/820 Files in this item: 1
Maruatona_IJED_2004.pdf (2.376Mb) -
Swatuk, L.A. (Elsvier, www.elsevier.com, NaN, 2003)[more][less]
Abstract: This paper explores possibilities for achieving 'wise use’, defined as the sustainable utilization of resources of the Okavango Delta system, within the framework of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. The paper argues that while the Ramsar Convention’s wise use strategic plan forms an important basis for collective action toward sustainably managing the Okavango River Basin as a whole, there are numerous barriers to success, the most important of which is the abiding behaviour of the region’s state-makers in defense of sovereignty and pursuit of narrow national interest. In spite of this formidable barrier to success, the paper highlights a number of on-going multilateral activities that may serve to further the aims of wise use of the Okavango River Basin system. It also provides a number of practical suggestions for furthering progressive frameworks of action. The paper is based on a close reading of published and unpublished written materials and the findings of a number of open-ended interviews conducted with stakeholders active in the Okavango River Basin. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/988 Files in this item: 1
Swatuk_state Interests_2003.pdf (2.238Mb) -
Morapedi, Wazha G. (Routledge (Taylor and Francis) http://www.routledge.com, NaN, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: This article analyses the colonial government’s intervention in crop production in Botswana through the ‘progressive farmer’ scheme, from 1946 to independence in 1966. Crop production was not a highly remunerative venture in colonial Botswana because of persistent droughts, inadequate markets and lack of sufficient draught power and farming implements. Although cattle constituted the basis of wealth and, hence, their ownership led to social differentiation from pre-colonial times, the introduction of the ‘progressive farmer’ scheme accentuated the existing social stratification by favouring the well-to-do producers. While only a few farmers benefited from state assistance, this development marked a departure from the period before 1947 when the colonial state did almost nothing to bolster crop production in the country. By utilising statistics and case histories of farmers who joined the scheme, the article argues that the support extended to a few selected farmers in only some reserves accentuated intra-peasant differentiation and differentiation between regions of the country. The article begins by briefly presenting a survey of the concept of peasant differentiation, then focuses on the nature and organisation of progressive farmer schemes and their impact on peasant differentiation. It then discusses the position of farmers in the various categories of the scheme and finally presents and analyses case studies of three progressive farmers from three different reserves. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/485 Files in this item: 1
Morapedi_JSAS_2006.pdf (1.945Mb) -
Abiyu, A.; Lemenih, M.; Gratzer, G.; Aerts, R.; Teketay, D.; Glatzel, G. (BioOne, www.bioone.org, May NaN, 2011)[more][less]
Abstract: Exclusion of grazing animals and tree plantations are 2 methods that have been used for restoration of degraded lands in tropical semiarid areas. These 2 options can foster secondary forest succession by improving soil conditions, attracting seed-dispersal agents, and modifying microclimate for understory growth. We compared native woody plant diversity and soil chemical and physical attributes under exclosure and on Eucalyptus globulus (EGP) and Cupressus lusitanica (CLP) plantations. Vegetation data were collected by an inventory of stands with circular plots of 5.64 m radius, and soil samples were collected from the 4 corners and center of 20 × 20 m plots. As a result, 15 native woody plant species belonging to 13 families were recorded. Importance value index (IVI), Shannon-Wiener, Simpson's diversity, and species richness were higher in the exclosure, followed by EGP and CLP. Contents of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen showed significance difference and were highest in the exclosure, followed by CLP, EGP, and grazing land. Although the difference was not significant, an increasing trend was observed for cation exchange capacity and K+. Bulk density was highest on the grazing land, followed by EGP, CLP, and exclosure. Our results suggest that degraded land reclamation can be achieved with plantation of rapidly growing tree species as well as exclosure. However, native woody species diversity and improved soil attributes are better achieved with exclosure. Exclosures can be established interspersed strategically with single- or mixed-species plantations to facilitate restoration of native vegetation. However, it is important to conduct further research on the comparative advantage of enrichment planting of exclosures with preferred tree species or exclosures interspersed within blocks of plantation. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/989 Files in this item: 1
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Masesane, I.; Steel, P. (Elsevier Ltd; www.elsevier.com/locate/tetlet, June 21, 2004)[more][less]
Abstract: The Diels-Alder adduct of ethyl (E)-3-nitroacrylate and furan provides a versatile template for the stereoselective synthesis of mono and dihydroxylated derivatives of 2-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (ACHC). The hydroxylated ACHC derivatives can be considered to be useful building blocks for B-peptides. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/235 Files in this item: 2
license.txt (1.998Kb)Stereoselective routes to 3-hydroxy.pdf (721.3Kb) -
Chola, J.; Masesane, I.B. (Elsevier Ltd. www.elsevier.com/ locate/tetlet, NaN, 2008)[more][less]
Abstract: Stereoselective syntheses of racemic (1S,2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)- and (1S,2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydroxy derivatives of 2-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid have been achieved by a stereospecific Diels–Alder reaction between furan and maleic anhydride, a Curtius rearrangement and hydroxylation reactions. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/325 Files in this item: 1
Stereoselective sythesis of 3.pdf (1.100Mb) -
Ogwu, F.J.; Talib, M.; Aderounmu, G.A. (Science Publications, http://www.scipub.org/scipub/c4p.php?j_id=JCS, NaN, 2007)[more][less]
Abstract: Recent works on Available Bit Rate (ABR) traffic control have generated efficient control schemes for ABR traffic on Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network. This study examines the improved performance envisaged if these control schemes adjust dynamically to the varying ABR bandwidth capacity in a stochastic manner instead of conventional deterministic approach. The performance difference between setting explicit rate deterministically for transmitting ABR sources and doing the same stochastically using a learning automaton is of particular interest. The learning automaton used is the Stochastic Estimator Learning Automaton (SELA). The performance difference is measured by comparing the congestion levels of the SELA-based control scheme with the reference deterministic control mechanism. Simulation results show that the stochastic estimator gives a better performance. The higher average congestion level experienced by the conventional deterministic approach is mainly due to the propagation time delay in the closed-loop feedback control schemes. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/817 Files in this item: 1
Ogwu_JCS_2007.pdf (502.1Kb) -
Jain, P.K.; Lungu, E.M. (Elsevier Science Ltd: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/969/description#description, NaN, 2002)[more][less]
Abstract: Abstract Harmonic analysis of sunshine duration and solar irradiation measured at Sebele, Botswana is carried out. The data used consists of the monthly averages and the Julian-days averages of sunshine duration and solar irradiation sequences. This study involves splitting the time series into deterministic and stochastic components, and determining the proportion of the variance explained by each component. The stochastic component is analyzed for persistence using the Box and Jenkins technique. It is found that the stochastic component for monthly averages solar radiation series is best described by the second-order autoregressive Markov process, while that for Julian-days averages series has no memory. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/138 Files in this item: 2
license.txt (1.998Kb) -
Pansiri, J. (Routledge, www.routledge.com, NaN, 2009)[more][less]
Abstract: The purpose of this article is to evaluate the strategic motives for alliance formation among tourism businesses. Based on past work on motivation for strategic alliance formation, this article identifies a set of motives and analyzes their implication for tourism businesses. The article further examines the role played by company characteristics in examining these motives. The motives are discussed in the context of the Australian tourism industry. A survey of Australian Travel sector businesses was carried out and the results indicate that 'internal drivers' are perceived as more important than 'external drivers' as reasons fro alliance formation. Company characteristics (sub-sector, number of employees, turnover, category, and ownership status) were found to be influential in top managers' assessment of alliance motives. The findings of this study imply that managers should conduct environmental analysis with a view to understanding how internal and external factors affect tourism businesses before any form of strategic alliances can be formed. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/848 Files in this item: 1
PanJ_IJHTA_2009.pdf (5.781Mb) -
Moalosi, R.; Popovic, V.; Hickling-Hudson, A. (Design Education Forum of South Africa (DEFSA), http://www.defsa.org.za, January 1, 2007)[more][less]
Abstract: There is little in-depth research that can assist designers to use culture as a catalyst for designing innovative products within Botswana’s context. This is supported by evidence from the literature which indicate that from an African perspective, there is no solid theoretical framework which can assist designers to consciously integrate users culture in designing products. This challenges designers to gain a deeper understanding of users culture and find strategies on how they can use culture as a resource in product development. The concept of culture and design are intertwined, thus modification in the former evolution both reflect and determine developments in the latter. For example, design changes culture and at the same time is shaped by it. The paper discusses an experimental design study conducted at the University of Botswana. Participants were challenged to transform a set of socio-cultural factors and encode them into recognised product design features that reflect Botswana's culture. The data generated by participants was analysed using the qualitative content analysis methodology. The paper concludes by discussing a culture-oriented design model which has shown one way on how to consciously specify, analyse and integrate socio-cultural factors in the early stages of the design process. The design model challenges the way products are designed for different cultures and supports the use of local content in solving design problems. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/597 Files in this item: 1
Moalosi_DEFSA_2007.pdf (1.151Mb) -
Moalosi, R.; Popovic, V.; Hickling-Hudson, A.R. (Design Education Forum of South Africa (DEFSA) http://www.defsa.org.za, NaN, 2007)[more][less]
Abstract: There is little in-depth research that can assist designers to use culture as a catalyst for designing innovative products within Botswana’s context. This is supported by evidence from the literature which indicate that from an African perspective, there is no solid theoretical framework which can assist designers to consciously integrate users culture in designing products. This challenges designers to gain a deeper understanding of users culture and find strategies on how they can use culture as a resource in product development. The concept of culture and design are intertwined, thus modification in the former evolution both reflect and determine developments in the latter. For example, design changes culture and at the same time is shaped by it. The paper discusses an experimental design study conducted at the University of Botswana. Participants were challenged to transform a set of socio-cultural factors and encode them into recognised product design features that reflect Botswana’s culture. The data generated by participants was analysed using the qualitative content analysis methodology. The paper concludes by discussing a culture-oriented design model which has shown one way on how to consciously specify, analyse and integrate socio-cultural factors in the early stages of the design process. The design model challenges the way products are designed for different cultures and supports the use of local content in solving design problems. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/579 Files in this item: 1
Moalosi_DEFSA_2007.pdf (1.151Mb) -
Ajiboye, J.O. (African Educational Research Network (AERN), http://www.ncsu.edu/aern/links.htm, June NaN, 2009)[more][less]
Abstract: The primary goal of social studies is citizenship education. Social studies as citizenship education seek to provide students with knowledge, skills, and attitudes which will enable them to actively participate as citizens of a democracy. However, the extent to which the subject is achieving this goal since its introduction into the Botswana school curriculum in 1969 has been somewhat questionable. Recent evidence suggests that products of our schools are manifesting some behaviours that are not in tandem with good citizenship. This paper therefore examined the views of some primary school teachers in Botswana on the effectiveness of social studies in promoting citizenship training and self reliance among the learners. This is essentially a survey study. One hundred experienced teachers (with over ten years of teaching primary social studies) were purposively selected for the survey. A questionnaire tagged “Teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of social studies in developing appropriate citizenship education” with a reliability coefficient of 0.94 using Cronbach Alpha was used to collect data for the study. Two research questions were addressed in the study. Major findings in the study are: teachers poor rating of social studies as a tool for achieving citizenship training, more emphasis in social studies teaching is placed in theory rather than in practice, existence of few materials on social studies to assist teachers, and that social studies is failing largely to promote self reliance skills in the pupils. The implications of these findings for retooling social studies curriculum to achieve the goals of basic education in Botswana were discussed in the paper. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/974 Files in this item: 1
AJIBOYE_TAS_2009.pdf (1.515Mb) -
Gatsinzi, J-B.; Kwashira, R. (Nova Science Publishers, Inc.; www.novapublishers.com; reprinted with permission from Nova Science Publishers, Inc., NaN, 2007)[more][less]
Abstract: Let X be a finite product of even dimensional spheres, we show that the string homology of X contains a finite product of copies of the Witt Lie algebra. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/162 Files in this item: 1
gatsinzi-kwashira1.pdf (139.6Kb) -
Moswela, B (Kamla-Raj Enterprises; http://www.krepublishers.com/, NaN, 2007)[more][less]
Abstract: This article argues that a child's behaviour is influenced mainly by its family background and as such the parent should take full responsibility and accountability for the child's behaviour at school. The proposition to involve and make the parent more accountable should be legislated so that the courts should take action against parents who fail to do so. This argument is made following general concerns that parents are unduly relinquishing their pastoral roles to schools, thus making schools 'dumping grounds' for problem children. Proposals on how parental full participation in students' behaviour can be achieved end the paper. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/206 Files in this item: 2
license.txt (1.998Kb)Moswela_JSS_2007.pdf (874.1Kb) -
Moswela, B. (Librarians of Institutes & Schools in Education (LISE); http://www2.worc.ac.uk/lise/, NaN, 2005)[more][less]
Abstract: This paper investigated the extent to which secondary school students make use of school libraries. It pursued this objective by first looking at the history of libraries; the concept of a library and the important role libraries play in society; how libraries world-wide have been lately under-funded and the effects thereof. The theoretical aspect of the paper was located in the school effectiveness literature. The empirical investigation was done using questionnaires administered to fourteen randomly selected high school classes of about 38 students each, the teacher librarian, and the school library. The paper concluded that although students satisfactorily use libraries, this is constrained by poorly funded and poorly stocked libraries. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/208 Files in this item: 2
license.txt (1.998Kb)Moswela_ELJ_2005.pdf (2.568Mb) -
Mapolelo, Dumma C. (Taylor & Francis, http://www.informaworld.com, April 15, 2009)[more][less]
Abstract: This study documents students’ views about the nature of mathematics, the mathematics learning process and factors within the classroom that are perceived to impact upon the learning of mathematics. The participants were senior secondary school students. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to understand the students’ views about their experiences with mathematics learning and mathematics classroom environment. Interviews of students and mathematics lesson observations were analysed to understand how students view their mathematics classes. A questionnaire was used to solicit students’ views with regards to teaching approaches in mathematics classes. The results suggest that students consider learning and understanding mathematics to mean being successful in getting the correct answers. Students reported that in the majority of cases, the teaching of mathematics was lecture-oriented. Mathematics language was considered a barrier in learning some topics in mathematics. The use of informal language was also evident during mathematics class lessons. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1049 Files in this item: 1
Mapolelo_IJMEST_2009.pdf (1.507Mb) -
Mosothwane, M. (Taylor & Francis, http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals, NaN, 1995)[more][less]
Abstract: This paper traces historical events in the development of primary science in Botswana. It identifies changes that have taken place from 1969 to 1989. Prior to 1969, the word science in primary schools was non-existent. Primary pupils were taught nature study which emphasised hygiene and plants. The revised 1982 primary science curriculum coincided with the period of rapid industrial developments in Botswana. The purpose of including physical science concepts in the primary science curriculum was to prepare the nation for industrialisation. The purpose of including environmental concepts in the primary science curriculum was to raise the environmental awareness of the nation. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1047 Files in this item: 1
Mosothwane_PCS_1995.pdf (1.135Mb)