Browsing by Author "Geofrey, Anna"

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    The environment and the implementation of ordinary level biology syllabus in Tanzania case Study of Kondoa District, Dodoma Region
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2012) Geofrey, Anna
    The purpose of this study was to explore how biology concepts which require environment as teaching-learning resources are taught in secondary schools. The research design employed was a case study design. Four secondary schools in Kondoa District, Dodoma Region, Tanzania mainland, were selected. The sample consisted of one hundred and thirty six (136) respondents namely biology teachers who were selected through purposive sampling technique and students who were selected through simple random sampling. Five data collecting methods were employed, namely, questionnaire, structured interview, documentary review, observation, and focus group discussion. The major findings of the study were that: majority of biology teachers in secondary schools use diagrams, pictures and teaching notes during their teaching, and only a few rarely use environment as teaching-learning resources; biology teachers rarely use study tours, study visits, field studies, and experiments despite the fact that these strategies are essential for utilizing environment as teaching-learning resource; and cost, absence of specimens and instruments, difficult of finding specimens, lack of time to collect specimens, lack of time to set and carryout practical activities, difficulty to obtain living organisms like marine organisms, and poor environmental conditions were the challenges experienced by biology teachers when teaching concepts whose teaching-learning resources rely on environment. It was concluded that biology teachers rarely use environment during teaching due to several challenges. Recommendations were made to MoEVT to arrange appropriate periodical in-service training programs to teachers on how to use their environment and overcome the challenges associated with the use of environment during biology teaching.