College of Art and Built Environment

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    Key indicators for assessing sustainability during the construction phase of building projects in Ghana
    (KNUST, 2020-09) Botchway, Seth Yeboah
    The attainment of sustainable development would be elusive until due attention is given to sustainability performance assessment. Globally, there is a proliferation of methodologies meant to offer a means of evaluating sustainability performance. Nevertheless, the existing sustainability assessment tools focus more on design and operation issues at the expense of construction-related issues. The sustainability of the project delivery process is equally important, due to its considerable environmental, social and economic impacts. The context sensitivities exhibited by the sustainability concept requires that indicators are established for suitable local application. This study sought to examine key sustainability indicators (SIs) for assessing the sustainability performance of building projects during their construction phase. It specifically sought to assess the degree of familiarity of professionals with the sustainability assessment tools in the Ghanaian Construction Industry (GCI) and identify environmental, economic and social SIs. Data was collected through a questionnaire survey, following the comprehensive review of literature to determine the sustainability assessment tools that have been used in the GCI and identify the relevant candidate SIs, by adopting the purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Out of a total of 330 questionnaires administered, 167 responses were received and analysed. The data analysis consisted of descriptive analysis, reliability analysis, mean score ranking, normality testing and finally the Kruskal-Wallis and MannWhitney tests. In all, 28 sustainability indicators - 10 environmental, 9 social and 9 economic, were identified as critical for construction-phase sustainability assessment of building projects in Ghana. It was recommended that all stakeholders make a concerted effort to enhance the widespread uptake of sustainability practices within the GCI. Further studies can be undertaken to develop a full-fledged index for sustainability assessment, in consequence of indicator development.
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    The dark side of galamsey: depiction of the effects of galamsey on the environment using metal sculpture
    (KNUST, 2020-06) Tawiah-Quashie, Reynold
    ABSTRACT Illegal small-scale mining, popularly referred to in Ghana as ‘Galamsey’ has been a serious menace to the society. Due to the fact that gold is one of the most valuable natural mineral resources in the country, and legal mining is accompanied by a lot of rules and regulations, a lot of individuals in a bid to get rich quick find dubious means to dig for it. The government in efforts to combat the adage has implemented polices and a task forces (Operation Vanguard) whereas media houses have stressed on the effects of galamsey on the environment but it has however not made much impact. This study was focused on constructing a metal sculpture to depicts the negative effect of galamsey on the environment. Studio-based research method under the qualitative research methodology was used for the study, where a detailed written and photographic account of the process of designing and fabricating the work was laid down. The arc welding technic and the use of washers, metals rods and sheet metal were used in constructing the metal pieces. The project was successful and the results were analysed under the social, philosophical, artistic and intellectual contexts. Some of the major findings of the project were that, mining is never a problem until it is not registered, galamsey accounts for one of the leading causes of water pollution in the country and apart from its aesthetic qualities, art can be used as a strong tool for communicating social issues. The finished work was titled “ℇnkum yℇn wiase”, an Akan expression which means “Don’t destroy Our World”.
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    Teaching and Learning Embroidery and Appliquė in Selected Senior High Schools in the Eastern Region of Ghana
    (KNUST, 2018-10) Gamor, Sophia Emerald Emefa
    Embroidery and Appliqué are topics that are taught under Fabric decoration techniques within the elective Textiles syllabus. The two topics are classified under Stitches in the Needlework component of Fabric decoration techniques. These are interesting topics but it seems many Textiles students are not able to acquire the knowledge and technical skills that they need to be able to answer West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) questions in Needlework as the Textiles syllabus was designed to do. The study therefore sought to investigate the teaching and learning of embroidery and appliqué in the Senior High Schools in Ghana, using four schools in Akuapem South District of Eastern Region as a case study to find out the challenges and to suggest ways of improving the teaching and learning outcomes. Specifically, the study set out to identify and describe how teaching and learning of embroidery and appliqué are done in the selected senior high schools, and also to find out how the strengths and weaknesses in the teaching and learning of embroidery and appliqué in the selected senior high schools can be resolved. Data needed to answer the research questions were collected using two sets of a self-administered questionnaire that were administered to 86 respondents comprising 79 Form 3 Textiles students and seven (7) teachers. Additional data were collected through observation during a practical intervention project in which the study respondents were taught embroidery and applique lessons. Analysis of the data collected revealed that the schools lack standard textbooks and reference materials to guide the teaching and learning of textiles; the required materials were also not available in the schools’ libraries. All the teachers in the four schools (coded A, B, C and D) were therefore using whatever reference textbooks they buy from private bookshops, and what they are able to borrow from their colleague teachers in different v vi schools. Out of the 7 teacher respondents, only the Textiles teacher in School C had specialized in embroidery and appliqué and was teaching both the theory and practical aspects of the two fabric decoration techniques while the other teachers were only teaching the theory of embroidery and appliqué by means of the lecture method. The schools had inadequate basic hand tools and equipment such as embroidery machines for Textiles and particularly, for effective teaching and learning of embroidery and appliqué so the students buy their own tools and materials for practical lessons. The intervention lessons made it possible for the textiles teachers and their students to learn about and use appropriate tools and materials to create different stitches and produce embroidery and appliqué articles, which gave the textiles teachers some level of proficiency to enable them to guide their students to do practical works in embroidery and appliqué for acquiring technical knowledge and skills for WASSCE and employment purposes.
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    Accessibility and Utilization of Family Planning Services in Selected Districts in Central Region of Ghana
    (KNUST, 2015-08) Amankwaa ,John
    ABSTRACT Family planning has been considered to contribute immensely to child survival and reduction in maternal mortality, hence targeted as one of the main reproductive health services in achieving the fifth millennium development goal (MDG 5). The 2011 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey report indicates that use of modern contraceptives in Central region has improved from 17.0 percent in 2008 to 29 .1 percent in 2011 and subsequently decline of unmet need for contraceptives from 49.7 percent to 22.6 percent for the same years respectively. In spite of this improvement, there is huge variations in utilization of family planning methods especially between districts in the region, particularly in Upper Denkyira East and Mfantsiman, and the causes of this variations are not clearly known. Hence, the main aim of the study is to assess the level of accessibility and utilization of family planning services in the selected districts and factors influencing them. The study design adopted was descriptive cross –sectional, using both quantitative and qualitative approach for data collection. The sample size was 373 women of reproductive age 15 – 49 years. Again, 66 husbands/male partners were also interviewed to solicit for their views about the subject matter. Eight health institutions as well as 22 religious establishments were also interviewed. The study revealed high knowledge level of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age (93 percent) and men (88 percent) in general. There is little (0.3 percent) difference in contraceptives use between the Upper Denkyira East (25.9 percent) and Mfantsiman (25.6 percent) district. Poor data management in facilities in Upper Denkyira East was accounting for the huge variations. Factors such as proximity to facility or clinic (12.5 percent), privacy and confidentiality at clinic (19.5 percent), wanting to delay pregnancy (49.2 percent) among others motivate use of contraceptives whiles factors such as desire for many children (14.8 percent) , health concerns (9.7 percent) and fear of side effects (7.6 percent) accounted for non-use. Again, social issues such as stigma of use (3.5 percent), husbands/partners opposition (4 percent) and religious prohibition (1.6 percent) among others hinder the use of contraceptives among women. There is good physical accessibility with respect to location of clinic providing family planning services in all study districts. Again financial accessibility to family planning services is good despite unapproved charges for family planning services by health facilities in the study districts. Social accessibility regarding service providers’ attitude, privacy and confidentiality is also good in FP facilities, however social factors such as stigmatization, husband/partner opposition, religious opposition among others hinder access and utilization of contraceptives. To improve on family planning services in the study districts, there is the need for family planning (FP) data collection tools’ training for all FP service providers in the facilities in order to improve on FP data quality. Also, family planning awareness or education should be intensified particularly with respect to health concerns, side effects as well as prices of contraceptives or FP services.
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    The use of kinaesthetic activities as art therapy tools to improve performance in pre-reading and pre-writing among kindergarten pupils.
    (KNUST, 2015-07) Baidoo, Gladys Starlinda
    ABSTRACT This study was conducted to find out the existing teaching strategies for teaching at the kindergarten, their usage in the classroom as well as their impact on pupils’ performance. The study sought to identify instructional materials and activities that teachers of KNUST Nursery School engaged the pupils in when teaching the English alphabet and their related sounds, as well as the challenges associated with them and what teachers do to manage such challenges. The study employed the qualitative research approach to critically study the Curriculum and Handbook for Pre-School Education, both of which guide the teachers in order to find out the existing strategies used in teaching the letters and sounds of the alphabet. Observation, questionnaire and interview were used to identify and study how teachers employ the existing strategies, activities and instructional materials in the classroom and their impact on the pupils’ performance in pre-reading and pre-writing. The major findings of the study indicated that the KG 1 and KG2 teachers in the school were not abreast with current strategies because their lessons centred mostly on patterns, joining of patterns and songs were used to teach the letter names and sounds. They employ child centred teaching approaches with play activities in the teaching and learning of the alphabet and sounds. Because some of the pupils had challenges writing the letters accurately, new art based activities were introduced for the teaching and learning of the alphabet and their sounds which made the pupils very active in class and got them fully involved. The activities motivated them to work sometimes without supervision and on the playground. At the end of the study, pupils’ showed positive signs of improvement in their reading and writing of the alphabets. To improve the pupils performance, it is recommended that the Kindergarten teachers be trained to use the kinesthetic teaching and learning strategies and related instructional materials to teach their pupils to learn to read and write the letters of the English alphabet and recognise them by their sounds.