Purpose: The main purpose of this study is to explore the experiences, struggles, and coping mechanisms of educators currently pursuing doctoral degrees. Research methodology: This narrative research explored the experiences of three (3) STEM teachers in the Division of San Pablo City, who are also enrolled as doctoral students in a private graduate school. Participants were selected through purposive sampling and underwent one-on-one in-person interviews. To better understand STEM-aligned teachers' experiences in teaching vis-à-vis their doctoral education, the Colaizzi method of analysis was utilized. Results: Five themes emerged in this study: (1) practical reasons such as promotion and higher salary cause participants to take doctoral education; (2) challenges such as expensive education, heavy workload, distress, struggles, and strictness of professors are experienced by doctoral students; (3) intrapersonal motivation fuels participants in learning and teaching; (4) cultivating professionally; and (5) personally are what the participants see as benefits of pursuing doctoral education. Limitations: The programs of the participants in their doctoral education were not explicitly specified. Findings may be different if participants take a degree related to their specialization (e.g., science education, mathematics, etc.). In addition, the experiences of teachers teaching in private schools who are pursuing doctoral education may also be explored for comparison of experiences. Contribution: This research could be beneficial to educational institutions where doctoral students teach by adapting to more open policies and regulations that can help teachers attend schools. Moreover, graduate schools may mandate working-student-friendly schedules and policies regarding deadlines and tasks.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of multimedia instructional materials in teaching basic science concepts to students with hearing impairment in Nasarawa State. Methodology/approach: The study used a questionnaire to collect responses from respondents. Sixty (60) students were sampled, and simple percentages, means, and standard deviations were used to analyze the findings. Results/Findings: The findings of the study showed that the use of multimedia is important, as many students with hearing impairment did understand what was taught. In addition, multimedia instructional materials aid student retention during examinations. When multimedia materials were used by the students, they were motivated by their use during science lessons. The respondents’ responses also identified many challenges facing the use of multimedia instructional materials in teaching science. Limitations: The scope of this study must be expanded. Contribution: This study shows the impact of multimedia instructional materials in teaching basic science concepts and effective  modern methods for students with hearing impairment. Recommendations: The study recommends that students at all levels of education should be given adequate information on the impact of multimedia instructional materials on the teaching of basic science to learners with hearing impairment in order to promote the interest of these students in science subjects.

Purpose: This study investigated the influence of social media on students in second-cycle institutions in Tamale. It concentrates on its relationship with academic performance, learning ability, writing skills, and gender disparities in usage patterns. Methodology/approach: A purposive sample method was employed to select 150 students from secondary schools in Tamale. Data were collected through surveys and interviews using both qualitative and quantitative approaches to explore how social media affects students’ academic experiences. Results/Findings: Findings from this study indicate that the use of social media has a significant impact on students’ learning abilities, writing skills, and academic performance. A significant number of learners reported becoming distracted with reduced concentration because they spent excessive time on the sites, leading to possible health challenges and a sedentary lifestyle. The results also indicated that gender differences exist in social media usage patterns, among others, which affect school performance. Limitations: One limitation of this research is that it had a small sample size and may not represent all students found within second-cycle institutions. This further implies that this research is constrained to a particular geographical area, limiting its generalizability. Contribution: This study contributes to the understanding of how social media influences students in second-cycle institutions, highlighting the need for educators and policymakers to establish guidelines for responsible social media use to enhance academic success and mitigate its negative impacts.