Improvisation and utilization of instructional materials in teaching and learning of biology in community secondary schools, Ubungo municipality, Dar es salaam

This study assessed the improvisation and utilization of instructional materials in teaching and learning of biology in secondary schools at Ubungo Municipality in Dar es Salaam. It is specifically focused on teachers’ and students’ conception on improvisation of instructional materials, status of the improvised instructional materials, teachers’ and students’ involvement in the improvisation and utilization of instructional materials and the challenges facing biology teachers in quest to improvise and utilise instructional materials. A case study design built around qualitative research aided the triangulation of the data through interviews, focus group discussions and observation methods. A total of 66 participants from six secondary schools and 2 quality assurers were involved in the study. Data were analyzed through thematic and content analysis by establishing themes and categories for discussion.The findings revealed that, the majority of biology teachers are aware of the concepts related to improvisation of instructional materials although had limited skills on how to improvise such instructional materials in local context. There was also an insufficiency of improvised instructional materials in schools. The few available were damaged and incomplete made in most secondary schools. It was further revealed that, teachers rarely used the improvised instructional materials in teaching and learning processes as it is for the involvement of students during improvisation processes. Generally, the study concluded that, biology teachers improvise and use instructional materials rarely which eventually affect the quality of teaching and learning processes. Teachers’ limited skills on improvisation hampered their ability to clarify abstract concepts in biology classes as a result majority of students lack interest in the subject. Consequently, the study recommends for in-service training, seminars, workshops and short courses for teachers to enhance their ability towards improvisation and utilisation of the biology instructional materials