A comparative analysis of marketing strategies used by male and female entrepreneurs in Tanzania

The study investigated teachers' use of interactive teaching methods and strategies that utilize students' learning styles during science teaching and learning in secondary schools in Tanzania. The study explored existing interactive teaching methods most teachers use during teaching and learning processes of science courses. Also, the study assessed how teachers used the interactive methods and strategies either to match or deliberately mismatch students' learning styles,. Furthermore, this study examined teachers' perceptions in utilizing student’s differences in learning according to Fleming's VARK learning styles. The study employed a qualitative research approach and was conducted among Forms I, III and V science students from five secondary schools in Moshi Urban, Kilimanjaro region. Also it involved thirteen chemistry teachers. Data were collected through classroom observations, documentary review and interviews. Data obtained were subjected to content analysis with some information being presented in tabular form using frequencies and percentages. Also voiced statements are presented. Findings revealed that the most common teaching methods were lecture methods, drills, practices and quizzes that favored only students with read/write learning styles. Also findings revealed teachers' inability to suggest a wider range of teaching/learning activities, resources and assessments as suggested in the syllabi. Hence, they failed to encourage students with different learning styles as proposed by Fleming to participate actively in the teaching and learning processes. Results uncovered teachers' limited knowledge in identifying, planning and teaching to match or mismatch deliberately students' learning styles in Fleming's VARK profile. Based on these findings, curriculum developers are advised to include in the teachers' training courses topics concerned with students' learning styles so as to equip teachers with such knowledge. Thus, they would enable teachers to identify, plan and use a variety of teaching/leaming methods and strategies that encompass students' learning styles such as Visual, Audio, Read/Write and Kinesthetic students. It was further recommended that the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training should employ more teachers in schools, build more classrooms, construct well equipped laboratories through SEDP and their facilities in order to resolve teachers'• overload, overcrowding of classrooms, and shortage of teaching/learning resources that were obstacles to utilize students' learning styles. The study suggests that another study should be conducted by focusing on other secondary schools, including all science subjects, and use bigger sample size so that results can be generalized.