Avornyo, Esinam Ami
3 Publications in AERD
Author Publications
Export PDFImproving teacher-student classroom interactions: what role do social and cultural backgrounds of teachers and students play?
By Kwaah, Christopher Yaw
While quality teacher-student classroom interaction is crucial in promoting students’ learning, literature recognizes the meaningful effects teachers’ and students’ social background characteristics and cultural values or orientations have on classroom interactions. However, the extent of relationships between elements of the social and cultural contexts of teachers and students on teacher-student classroom interactions seem under-researched and may require more efforts from researchers, especially in the context of Africa. This empirical study sought to explore these elements and how they relate with teachers’ and students’ perceived classroom interactions in basic schools in southern Ghana after controlling for their demographic characteristics. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 175 teachers and 501 basic school students and was analysed using exploratory factor analysis, correlation, and hierarchical regression analyses. The results showed that social context and culturally responsive teaching practices correlate positively with teacher-student classroom interactions. Also, variance in classroom interactions was attributed to both social and culturally responsive teaching practices of teachers, with the latter having a greater effect on teacher-student classroom interactions. Implications of these findings for policy and practice are discussed. © 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
He will play because it is play'. Exploring Ghanaian early years parents' ethno-theories about play and learning
By Avornyo, Esinam Ami
This study adopted a qualitative approach and analysed interviews from seven parents with children enrolled in nursery and kindergarten in Ghana. The interviews examined parents' descriptions of play and learning and how they perceive the value of play in children's learning. The findings revealed that the parents generally have doubts about the ability of play in bringing forth learning in the classroom. In general, they hold a narrow view of play as a break activity and a reward for learning, as well as viewing play and learning as mutually exclusive. The findings are discussed from a social and cultural perspective, drawing a picture of the ethno-theories about child development and the meanings of play and learning in Ghana.
Executive Function Mediates the Association Between Cumulative Risk and Learning in Ghanaian Schoolchildren
By Avornyo, Esinam Ami
Research on the associations among adversity, executive function (EF), and academic outcomes in lowand middle-income countries, where developmental risk factors are more prevalent and impoverished environments are more widespread than in high income countries, is sparse. This study examines the relations among cumulative risk, EF, and learning outcomes measured 2-years later in Ghanaian third and fourth-graders (N = 371; 49% female), shedding light on underlying mechanisms of how risk can undermine learning. A cumulative risk index was created based on a set of four child-reported risk factors: home aggression, unsafe home neighborhood, hunger, and having worked for pay. Cumulative risk and EF were negatively correlated. Learning outcomes (literacy and math test scores) were negatively correlated with earlier measures of cumulative risk and positively correlated with earlier measures of EF. EF mediated the association between cumulative risk and later learning outcomes, accounting for 65.3% of the total effect for literacy and 100% for math. This mediated pathway was robust to controls for child and household sociodemographic characteristics. The findings contribute to a small evidence base on the mediating role of EF in linking adversity and learning outcomes in a global context. © 2022. American Psychological Association
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