Browsing by Author "Berhe, Asmerom Kahsay"

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    An Investigation of the Use of Teaching Aids by Grade 8 Biology Teachers in Secondary Schools in Eritrea
    (University of the Western Cape, 2003) Berhe, Asmerom Kahsay; Smith, Juliana
    In Eritrea, the extent to which secondary school Biology teachers have used teaching aids in their teachers use classrooms has not been addressed. Hence, this study focuses on the extent to which teachers use teaching aids in teaching and learning, with special references to grade 8 Biology in secondary schools in Eritrea. Further, this study provides insights into the availability of teaching aids, constraints that prevent the use of teaching aids, and the importance of teaching aids on learners' understanding. Located in the constructivist paradigm, the research focuses on gaining an understanding of the research problems through questionnaires and interviews. In this study, the participants were teachers involved in the teaching of Biology. The desire of the researcher was to investigate the extent to which Biology teachers use teaching aids in teaching and learning situations from the point of view of teachers. The result of the study indicates that teaching aids such as textbooks, diagrams, and living things collected from the community were the main ones available in most schools. Audio-visual aids such as videos and other science-related activities were not available due to the lack of funds. Also, the result indicates that most Biology teachers use teaching aids along with the presentation of the lessons by means of the lecture method. Some of the constraints for not using teaching aids were large class sizes, lack of resources, and heavy teacher load. The last part of the study suggests recommendations for the improvement of the situation in teaching and learning in secondary schools in Eritrea. Some of these recommendations include • Training teachers on how to prepare teaching aids and integrate them into their lessons • Creating resource centers at school and at the regional level to facilitate easy access. to the necessary equipment; and • Minimize teachers' load in order for teachers to have enough time for preparation.