Dr. Kwaku Darko Amponsah
Senior Lecturer/Head of Department
About
Kwaku Darko Amponsah is a Senior lecturer and the Head of Department of Teacher Education, University of Ghana. He holds a MPhil (Science Education) with concentration in Chemistry from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, and a PhD (Chemistry Education) from the University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa. His research interests include gender studies and STEM education, science and chemistry education, stress/emotional intelligence/and multiple intelligence in science/teacher education. Currently, he is a member of the Editorial Board of Future in Educational Research (FER), Southwest University (SWU), China; member of the Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) for the Bachelor Honours: Educational Planning Programme (NQF level 8), in the Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training at Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST); Africa Education Review Advisory Board member, and a Research Fellow in the Department of Science and Technology Education, University of South Africa.
Education
2020 Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment IEMA – UK
Practitioner Member of IEMA (PIEMA) – Certificate in Environmental Management
2018 University of South Africa (UNISA), South Africa PhD (Chemistry Education)
Thesis: “Collaboration as a conceptual change teaching strategy to facilitate physical sciences students’ comprehension of electrochemistry.”
2010 University of Cape Coast (UCC), Cape Coast, Ghana MPhil (Science Education- Chemistry option)
Thesis: “Differences among female students in science andtechnology-based university programmes in their motivation, perception and constraints in learning science.”
2000 University of Cape Coast (UCC), Cape Coast, Ghana
B. Ed (Science) Honours
Research Interest
My research in chemistry/science education is located within the paradigm of constructivism, encompassing both teaching and research. I love to teach high school and undergraduate courses in Chemistry and Science in general as well as Science Education courses and Research Methods at both undergraduate and graduate levels. However, I also believe that engaging in original research related closely to teaching practice can advance our understanding of success in student learning in chemistry/STEM courses at high school and undergraduate levels. My research is focused on Gender studies and STEM Education, Science and Chemistry Education, Stress/EI/MI, and Teacher education and professional development. My career goals include training my students in 21st century skills to be creative, critical thinkers, and be able to solve problems within the society, and compete with their peers from other parts of the world.
Publications
Opoku, A., Budu, G. B., Kemetse, J. K., Amponsah, K. D., Donkor, P. B. K. (2023). Pre-Service Teachers' Perceptions On Biology Classroom Environment And Their Attitudes Towards The Subject In Ghanan. . The Cradle of Knowledge: African Journal of Educational and Social Science Research, 11(3), 181-190.
Awoniyi, F. C., Amponsah K. D. Positive attitudes toward mathematics among senior high
school students in Cape Coast Metropolis. Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn) 17 (2), 183-194.
Amponsah, R. O., Addai-Mununkum, R., Commey-Mintah, P. Awoniyi, F. C., & Amponsah, K. D. (2023). Perspectives of Basic School Level Headteachers in Accra Metropolitan Education Directorate about their Job Satisfaction amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Cradle of Knowledge: African Journal of Educational and Social Science Research, 11(1), 21-29.
Yeboah, R., Amponsah K. D., Commey-Mintah, P., Sedofia, J., & Donkor (Opare), P. B. K. (2023). Game-based learning in Ghanaian primary schools: listening to the views of teachers. Education 3-13, 51(2). DOI: 10.1080/03004279.2023.2171269
Commey-Mintah, P., Adjei-Boateng, E., Boateng, F. K., Awoniyi, F. C., Amponsah, K. D. (2023). Occupational Stress and Marital Contentment in the COVID-19 Era Among Married Tutors of Colleges of Education. Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn), 17(1), 102-112.
Amponsah, K. D., Aboagye, G. K., Narh-Kert, M., Commey-Mintah, P., Boateng, K. F. (2022).
The Impact of Internet Usage on Students’ Success in Selected Senior High Schools in Cape Coast metropolis, Ghana. European Journal of Educational Sciences 9(2), 1-18.
Commey-Mintah, P, Awoniyi, F. C., Narh-Kert, M., Tutu-Danquah, C., & Amponsah, K. D. (2022). Effects of Stress and Coping Mechanisms: The Case of Pre-Service Teachers in Selected Colleges of Education in Ghana. American Journal of Educational Research, 10(8), 491-500.
Amponsah, K. D., Boateng, F. K., & Mohammed, S. M. (2021). Pre-Service Science Teachers’ Conceptual Understandings of Electrochemistry at the University of Ghana. African Journal of Chemical Education (AJCE) 11(2), 129-147.
Amponsah, K. D., Bukari, Z., Asano, R., Boateng, F. K., & Darkwa, S. A. (2021). Impact of Multiple Intelligence (MI) on Science Process Skills (SPS) among Senior High School Students. Social Science learning Education Journal 6(8), 533-545.
Mohammed, S. M., Amponsah, K. D. (2021). Teachers’ and educational administrators’ conceptions of inquiry: do they promote or constrain inquiry-based science teaching in junior high schools? Journal of Curriculum and Teaching 10(3), 58-71
Mohammed, S. M., Amponsah, K. D. (2021). Junior high school teachers' attitudes toward inquiry-based science teaching: enabling or disabling dispositions? Journal of Education and Training Studies, 9(7), 41-54.
Asano, R., Amponsah, K. D., Baah-Yanney, O., Quarcoo, F. Azumah, D. A. (2021). Using Quality Teaching and Learning Resources for Effective Integrated Science Education among Senior High Schools in Ghana. Education Quarterly Reviews 4(3), 51-63
Osai, J. A., Amponsah, K. D., Ampadu, E., & Commey-Mintah, P. (2021). Teachers’ experiences with overcrowded classrooms in a basic school in Ghana. International Online Journal of Primary Education (IOJPE), 10(1), 73-88.
Nunoo, F. K. E, Debrah, E., Nketiah-Amponsah, E., Dankyi, E., & Amponsah, K. D. (2021, April). Understanding the current dynamics and perspectives in Ghana’s fisheries sector. Accra: Jubilee House, Office of the President, Ghana.
Mohammed, S. M., Amponsah, K. D., Ampadu, E., & Kumassah, E. K. (2020). Extent of implementation of inquiry-based science teaching and learning in Ghanaian junior high schools. EURASIA Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 16(12), 1-15. Available: https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/9373
Commey-Mintah, P., Adasi, G. S., Amponsah, R.O., & Amponsah, K. D. (2020). Gender influence on pre-service teachers’ emotional intelligence at selected colleges of education in Ghana. American Journal of Educational Research, 8(10), 795-803.
Amponsah, K. D. (2020). South African twelfth grade students’ conceptions regarding electrochemistry. Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn), 14(3), 363-369.
Commey-Mintah, P., Amponsah, K. D., Adasi, G. S., & Amponsah, R.O. (2020). Adolescents’ attitude towards masturbation: Practical study on a sample of senior high school students in the Cape Coast metropolis of Ghana. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 16(28), 195-212.
Okrah, A. K. & Amponsah, K. D. (2020). Science related senior high school curriculum in Ghana and its relevance to the world of work. Social Science learning Education Journal 5(5), 142-156.
Amponsah, K. D., Adasi, G. S., Mohammed, S. M., Ampadu, E., & Okrah, A. K. (2020). Stressors and coping strategies: The case of teacher education students at University of Ghana. Cogent Education,7(1), 1-17. https://www.cogentoa.com/article/10.1080/2331186X.2020.1727666
Aboagye, G. K., Amponsah, K. D., & Johnson, E. A. (2020). Analysis of study skills employed by Ghanaian high school science students. Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences, 15(4), 634 - 650. Https://doi.org/10.18844/cjes.v15i4.5047
Adasi, G. S., Amponsah, K. D., Mohammed, S. M., Yeboah, R., & Mintah, P. C. (2020). Gender Differences in Stressors and Coping Strategies among Teacher Education Students at University of Ghana. Journal of Education and Learning, 9(2), 123-133. doi:10.5539/jel.v9n2p123.
Amponsah K. D. & Mohammed, S. M. (2019). Perception of learning science: The case of females offering STEM majors in Ghana. African Journal of Educational Studies in Mathematics and Sciences, 15(2), 141-154. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajesms.v15ii2.12141
Aboagye, G. K., Amponsah, K. D., & Graham, E. O. (2019). Ghanaian senior high school science students’ conceptions about change of state of matter. International Journal of Science and Technology (STECH, 8(2), 45-63.
Amponsah, K. D., Kotoka, J. K., Beccles, C., & Dlamini, S. N. (2018). Effectiveness of Collaboration on Low and High Achieving School Students’ Comprehension of Electrochemistry in South Africa. European Journal of STEM Education, 3(2), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.20897/ejsteme/2685
Amponsah, K. D., Aboagye, G. K., Kumassah, E. K., & Mensah, A. (2018). Physical Sciences Students’ Perceptions of Chemistry Classroom Environment and the Students’ Resultant Attitude towards Chemistry. Journal of Studies in Education, 8(3) 17-36. Available: https://doi.org/10.5296/jse.v8i3.13289
Amponsah, K. D. & Ochonogor, C. E. (2018). Facilitating Conceptual Change in Students' Comprehension of Electrochemistry Concepts through Collaborative Teaching Strategy. American Journal of Educational Research, 6(6): 596-601. doi: 10.12691/education-6-6-3. Available: http://www.sciepub.com/EDUCATION/content/6/6
Amponsah, K. D., Mensah, F., & Mensah, A. (2014). Constraints experienced by female students pursuing science and technology-based university programs in their learning of science in Ghana. International Journal of Research Studies in Education. 3(4), 1-12. Available: http://consortiacademia.org/10-5861ijrse-2014-684/. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2014.684
Amponsah, K. D. & Mensah, F. (2014). Differences among female students in science and technology-based university programmes in their motivation to learning Science in Ghana. British Journal of Education, Society & Behavioural Science, 4(1), 120- 138. Available: http://www.sciencedomain.org/issue.php?iid=289&id=21
Amponsah, K. D. (2013). Gender differences in learning environment and student attitudes in high school chemistry classrooms in South Africa. Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies, 2(8), 1-13. Available: http://www.srjis.com/srjis_new/images/articles/1/
Amponsah, K. D., Ametefe, J., & Mensah, F. (2013). Factors affecting female students in their performance in science in selected colleges of education in Ghana. Global Research Journal on Mathematics and Science Education, 1(1), 1-23. Available: http://tcfmer.com/volumes/v2-n1-may-2013/
CONFERENCE PAPERS
Amponsah, K. D. & Ochonogor, C. E. (2016). Gender differences in constructivist approach to high school learners’ comprehension of electrochemistry concepts. The Eurasia Proceedings of Educational & Social Sciences (EPESS), 4, 220-231. Available: http://dergipark.gov.tr/download/article-file/334051
Amponsah, K. D. & Ochonogor, C. E. (2016). Impact of a constructivist approach to learning on high achieving students’ comprehension of electrochemistry concepts. The Eurasia Proceedings of Educational & Social Sciences (EPESS), 4, 210-221. Available: http://dergipark.gov.tr/download/article-file/334053.
Mensah, A., & Amponsah, K. D. (2012). Remediating agricultural science students’ misconceptions in chemical equilibrium using analogy. Proceedings: Towards Effective Teaching and Meaningful Learning in Mathematics, Science and Technology. ISTE International Conference on Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 21-25 October 2012. Mopani Camp in Kruger National Park, Limpopo, South Africa. pp. 78-89. Available at http://hdl.handle.net/10500/22330
WORKSHOPS ATTENDED
1st, 15th July, 2020. Online Grantsmanship Workshop Series organized by ORID, UG.
27th to 28th Jan. 2020 Participant, Meeting on the Framework for Writing Professional Development Manuals for Semester 2 and Guidelines for Operationalising National Teacher Education Assessment Policy, T-TEL Head Office, East Legon.
20th to 23rd Jan. 2020 Participant, T-TEL Tutor Professional Development Manuals Writing Workshop, T-TEL Head Office, East Legon.
4th to 6th Sept. 2019 Facilitator, Training Workshop for College Subject Leads on the 4-Year B. Ed Course Manuals, Mensvic Grand Hotel, East Legon, Accra.
27th to 30th August, 2019 Participant, Professional Development Manual Writing Workshop for Subject Writing Leads, Capital View Hotel, Koforidua.
6th August 2019 Participant, Workshop for School of Education and Leadership
Faculty members on Supported Teaching in Schools (STS) and Teaching Year 1 Semester 1 Courses, Yiri Lodge, University of Ghana.