This cross-sectional study examined primary and secondary teachers’ and students’ views regarding technology integration into teaching and learning in Muscat, Oman. The target group consisted of teachers (N=44) and students (N=219) from two bilingual and two international schools in Oman. Results showed that the majority of students use technology to do projects and research. Both teachers and students enjoy the use of technology in teaching and learning, they feel competent in using it and they similarly evaluate the effectiveness of available technologies. Although the majority of teachers agreed that teaching has become easier and faster with technology, only a small percentage integrates technology into teaching. Factors hindering technology integration concern curriculum design, network issues, time constraint and other. In theory, the study contributes to our understanding of the reasons why teachers’ and students’ find it challenging to use technological innovations in school. Methodologically, this study provides the basis for examining Technological Pedagogical Knowledge in certain socio-geographical contexts. In practice, the study provides educational authorities with suggestions on how technology can be used to support, enhance and extend the curriculum.

Poultry semen has high spermatozoa concentration and needs to be extended (diluted) for efficient artificial insemination; extenders containing egg yolk often have various limitations to their use. This study assessed chicken egg yolk plasma (EYP) as replacement for chicken whole egg yolk (EY) in semen extenders. The preservative potential under room and cold storage and its influence on fertility and hatchability in breeder chicken flock was also assessed. Ten broiler breeder cocks and one hundred hens were used for the study. Semen ejaculates from the cocks were pooled and divided into five portions. One portion each was extended with egg yolk plasma (EYP); phosphate buffer saline (PBS); egg yolk (EY) +PBS or EYP +PBS while the fifth unextended portion termed fresh undiluted semen (FUS) served as the control. The ratio of EYP and EY to PBS was 1:4. The semen samples were evaluated at 1, 2 and 3 hours after extension under room temperature and at 24, 48 and 72 hours after cold storage (4℃). The hens were inseminated with the freshly extended semen or with cold preserved semen, each for three weeks. Fertility and hatchability of the eggs were recorded on 18th and 21st day, respectively post setting. At room and cold storage temperatures, the quality parameters of the semen significantly reduced as the holding time increased. The EYP groups had the highest spermatozoa motility of 55.33% at 72 hours of cold storage. Freshly extended semen with EYP+ PBS had higher quality and fertilizing potentials which resulted in increased egg fertility (87.49%) and hatchability (84.95%). Cold preserved EYP + PBS semen resulted in significantly higher fertility (75.66%) and hatchability (90.90%). It was concluded that egg yolk plasma could conveniently replace whole egg yolk in chicken semen extender resulting in improved sperm viability and egg hatchability.

The study evaluated the effect of Vernonia amygdalina leaf meal on semen indices, serum testosterone and sperm reserve of male rabbits. Forty rabbit bucks were randomly assigned into four groups and fed the experimental diets containing Vernonia amygdalina (VLM) at 0, 5, 10 and 15 % levels for 84days. Reproductive indices were evaluated using standard procedures. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance at p<0.05. All semen in rabbits fed 0, 5 and 10 % VLM had milky colour while 14.8% light green and 85.2% milky semen colour was observed in bucks fed 15%VLM. Libido score reduced in rabbits fed VLM diets. Bucks fed 15%VLM had significantly higher semen volume (0.47ml). VLM had no significant effect on spermatozoa mass motility, progressive motility and sperm concentration. Live sperm cells significantly increased in bucks fed 5 and 10% VLM diets. VLM had significant (p<0.05) effect on spermatozoa morphology. Vernonia amygdalina leaf meal had no significant (p<0.05) impact on testosterone, testicular and epididymal indices. In conclusion, up to 10%VLM can be adopted as feed ingredient for male rabbit breeder stock without deleterious effect on reproductive indices.