Perceptions of teachers and students about the current practice of teaching and learning of species diversity concepts

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the current practice of teaching and learning, needs, and problems in teaching and learning species diversity concepts of teachers and students in the 2005 academic year. Data were collected by semi-structured interview. Five teachers from five schools in Rachaburi Province and 15 students in grade 11 and 12 of these teachers were interviewed about teaching objectives, teaching methods, instructional media, learning resources, problems and needs in teaching and learning species diversity concepts. In addition, 4 community leaders were interviewed the problems and needs about species diversity in their community. The interviewed data were transcribed verbatim and were analyzed using content analysis based on the framework of teaching and learning science according to the basic curriculum standards. The results revealed that teaching and learning were not consistent with basic curriculum standards, Teachers thought that the objectives of learning species diversity concept were to get the basic knowledge before learning the complex concepts. The teachers used lecturing and assigning students to study from textbooks as the teaching method for all topics in species diversity. They did not use knowledge and learning sources in their community for teaching and learning species diversity concepts. Teaching problem was found most on plant classification and living organisms were needed to teach this concept. The students wanted to have a variety of activities and want to study from living organisms. In learning problems, there were a few and unfamiliar specimens for learning species diversity concepts. For the community leaders, they wanted to know the concepts in species diversity for people in community to realize the value and conservation of species diversity in the community.