Challenges facing the implementation of online teaching and learning of ordinary level biology in schools in Mazvihwa area of Zvishavane district
- Author
- Zenda, Doreen P.
- Title
- Challenges facing the implementation of online teaching and learning of ordinary level biology in schools in Mazvihwa area of Zvishavane district
- Abstract
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The research was on challenges facing the implementation of online teaching and learning of ordinary level Biology at two named Secondary schools in Zvishavane District. The project therefore sought to identify challenges that the learners and teachers face in implementing online teaching and learning during the Covid19 pandemic, answering the following research questions; To what extent do Biology teachers use online learning in the teaching and learning of Biology to Ordinary Level learners? What are the benefits of using online learning in the teaching and learning of Biology at Ordinary Level? What challenges hamper the effective teaching and learning of Ordinary Level Biology using online learning? What techniques can be adopted by educators to best make use of online learning in the teaching and learning of Biology at Ordinary Level? On literature review, an evaluation was made on the literature pertaining to: the extent to which online learning is applicable in teaching and learning, the benefits of online learning in facilitating the teaching and learning process, the challenges that can hamper the effective use of online learning in teaching and learning and the possible techniques that can be adopted to improve the use of online learning in the teaching and learning of Biology at Ordinary Level. The sample was made of ten O level Biology learners where the researcher employed a systematic random sampling technique to come up with the sample. The researcher also worked with four Biology teachers in this study. During the study, questionnaires and interviews were used as the research instruments with their merits and demerits being cited briefly. A questionnaire and an interview guide were used on interviewing the Biology teachers and learners. Collected data was presented in form of tables, graphs and charts and then analyzed. After data analysis, answers to the sub problems were given in the research findings. Recommendations were then given, after which a summary was given followed by a conclusion. The data collected indicated that that online learning could appear challenging in the first days of its inception, but after a while, both learners and teachers would acclimatize. The researcher also found out that with adequate support, teachers were ready to implement online learning teaching and learning. The researcher therefore made the following recommendations; the study should be carried on many schools to enable gathering of data from a remarkable population that can allow for generalization of findings; schools should offer technical assistance to teachers in terms of ICT gadgets and internet bundles to ease the process of virtual learning; the Zimbabwean government should also be on the ground with tangible assistance when recommending the implementation of online lessons, not heaping much of the burden on schools and the parent community. Parents of secondary school learners should be closer to their children to enable monitoring and evaluation during virtual learning. The researcher did not encounter any major challenges in carrying out the study. The study was completed in 2024.
- Date
- June 2024
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Online Teaching and Learning
- Ordinary level
- Biology
- Mazvihwa area
- Supervisor
- Dr. H. Chinhara
- Item sets
- Faculty of Science Education
- Media
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Zenda, D. P.pdf