Implementing pedagogies to engage the disengaged grade V girls’ students in science learning

Date of Award

7-11-2014

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Master of Education (M. Ed.)

Department

Professional Development Centre, Karachi

Abstract

Science has fundamental importance in the world and it is recognised that the progress in science has led to all scientific developments. However, the development of science requires rich science learning that requires both boys and girls active engagement in science learning. However, in rural Pakistan, there are less learning opportunities for girls due to broader socio-economic conditions and school practices. Also in most rural contexts of Pakistan, students experience passive reading and copying of answers from textbook and rote memorization with an emphasis on scoring of good marks in examinations. These impersonal and transmission mode of science teaching leads towards girls’ disengagement in the learning process. Hence, this action research study was designed to; a) explore the current science teaching practices and b) to explore how engaging pedagogies could be implemented and the supporting and hindering factors in the implementation these in primary science classrooms. Data collection in this study occurred in three stages; i) pre-intervention, ii) intervention and iii) post intervention stage through semi-structured interviews, classroom observations and reflective diary. The key findings of the study reveals that engaging pedagogies like questioning, role pay, communicative puppet, including cognitive, physical and emotional tasks could lead girls towards engagement. The findings also indicates that girls are dis-engaged and passive in classroom due to i) Structured mode of teaching; ii) No focus on student learning and iii) presence of younger siblings. Girls’ engagement requires changes in pedagogies and context factors, such as seating arrangements, teachers’ appearance, and siblings’ engagement. The recommendations are that science teacher education programmes should focus on students’ engagements and learning and not only teaching strategies. Teacher education should focus on context of teaching and learning and on understanding and addressing the factors that hinder students’ engagement in science classroom.

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