Iraqi secondary schools biology teachers’ competency and performance in laboratory skills
Loading...
Date
2014-08
Authors
Abbas Alsharifi, Estabraq Kadhim
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The emphasis on laboratory skills for biology teachers has increased in recent years. Past researchers had mainly focused on the need for teachers to improve methods of inquiry and thinking skills to be similar to those of active scientists. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify biology teachers' competency and their performance as well as investigating the relationship between teachers' competency and performance in biology laboratory skills in secondary schools. Information was gathered, using two instruments, from a sample of 265 biology teachers. The first instrument is a questionnaire consisting of demography items such as gender and teaching experience in the first part. Part II of the questionnaire named Competency in Laboratory Skills, adapted from the Biological Laboratory skills Questionnaire (BLSQ) was used to determine biology teachers‟ competency while Part III, Performance in Laboratory Skills was used to determine the performance of biology teachers. Data obtained from research instruments was then analysed. Through frequencies, means, percentages, and standard deviations it was indicated the competency and performance of biology teachers is at the (weak) low level. T-test analyses revealed no significant differences between male and female biology teachers in terms of competency and performance in biology laboratory skills. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed significant differences between teaching experience in terms of competency and performance in biology laboratory skills. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that there is a strong significant linear relationship between biology teachers‟ competency and performance of laboratory skills. However, it was found that there is a negative correlation between
biology teachers‟ competency and performance of laboratory skills. Based on linear regression analysis it was concluded that competency in laboratory skills is a significant predictor of performance of biology teachers. This research therefore adds a new dimension to teachers‟ competency and performance in laboratory skills. As this research takes place in the Iraqi context, it contributes to the bank of findings relating to the concepts.
Description
Keywords
Laboratory Skills