ERIC Number: EJ1235825
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Dec
Pages: 25
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0157-244X
EISSN: N/A
Student Motivation in Science Subjects in Tanzania, Including Students' Voices
Mkimbili, Selina Thomas; Ødegaard, Marianne
Research in Science Education, v49 n6 p1835-1859 Dec 2019
Fostering and maintaining students' interest in science is an important aspect of improving science learning. The focus of this paper is to listen to and reflect on students' voices regarding the sources of motivation for science subjects among students in community secondary schools with contextual challenges in Tanzania. We conducted a group-interview study of 46 Form 3 and Form 4 Tanzanian secondary school students. The study findings reveal that the major contextual challenges to student motivation for science in the studied schools are limited resources and students' insufficient competence in the language of instruction. Our results also reveal ways to enhance student motivation for science in schools with contextual challenges; these techniques include the use of questioning techniques and discourse, students' investigations and practical work using locally available materials, study tours, more integration of classroom science into students' daily lives and the use of real-life examples in science teaching. Also we noted that students' contemporary life, culture and familiar language can be utilised as a useful resource in facilitating meaningful learning in science in the school. Students suggested that, to make science interesting to a majority of students in a Tanzanian context, science education needs to be inclusive of students' experiences, culture and contemporary daily lives. Also, science teaching and learning in the classroom need to involve learners' voices.
Descriptors: Student Interests, Science Instruction, Science Interests, Student Attitudes, Student Motivation, Secondary School Students, Barriers, Educational Resources, Language of Instruction, Language Skills, Questioning Techniques, Discussion (Teaching Technique), Teaching Methods, Discovery Learning, Relevance (Education), Cultural Influences, Language Usage, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Tanzania
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A