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Full-Text Articles in Science and Mathematics Education

Development And Validation Of A Questionnaire To Explore Teachers’ Knowledge About The Nature Of Mathematics The Teaching And Learning Of Mathematics, Munira Amirali Aug 2023

Development And Validation Of A Questionnaire To Explore Teachers’ Knowledge About The Nature Of Mathematics The Teaching And Learning Of Mathematics, Munira Amirali

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

Investigating teachers’ knowledge about the nature of mathematics and their viewpoints about the teaching and learning of mathematics is important as it has a great influence on what they do in classrooms. This paper describes the two phases of the development and validation process of an instrument named as Mathematics Teacher Survey Questionnaire (MTSQ) developed to determine Pakistani teachers’ knowledge about the nature of mathematics, its influence on their viewpoints about the teaching and learning of mathematics. Phase one includes item writing, item analysis and item administration whereas phase two includes the tool validation process using Cronbach’s alpha and content …


Feed-Forward: Strengthening Assessment Of Pre-Primary And Primary Science And Mathematics Education In Tanzania, Nipael Mrutu, Esther Kibga Jan 2023

Feed-Forward: Strengthening Assessment Of Pre-Primary And Primary Science And Mathematics Education In Tanzania, Nipael Mrutu, Esther Kibga

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Classroom assessment is a critical part of teaching and learning and is a potentially useful tool for enhancing learning outcomes. It provides information on where learners are with their learning goals and what they need to do to improve their understanding and meet the intended learning outcomes. In response to the agent's need for proper interpretation of classroom assessment, researchers and policymakers have developed guidelines, principles, and models to help teachers understand and implement effective assessment conceptions. Despite these initiatives, research continues to show that teachers struggle to interpret assessment policies and implement practices aligned with contemporary formative assessment notions. …


Pakistan’S First-Ever Participation In An International Large-Scale Assessment (Timss): Critique And Implications, Sohail Ahmad, Sherwin Rodrigues, Sadia Muzaffar Bhutta Dec 2022

Pakistan’S First-Ever Participation In An International Large-Scale Assessment (Timss): Critique And Implications, Sohail Ahmad, Sherwin Rodrigues, Sadia Muzaffar Bhutta

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

The International Large-Scale Assessment (ILSA) is a rapidly growing field in education which has gained considerable attention of stakeholders across the globe. Historically, ILSA emerged from the developed context which has drifted to the developing contexts in a short span of time due to globalisation. Pakistan has participated in ILSA (i.e., TIMSS) for the first time in the 2019 cycle. In light of the global critique on ILSA, this paper presents a critical analysis on Pakistan’s participation in TIMSS by raising questions embedded in contextual realities. The discussion adds to the understanding of ILSA in terms of historical developments, theoretical …


An Account Of The Methodological Implementation Of Design-Based Research In The Chemistry Classroom Context, Esther Kibga, Emmanuel Gakuba, John Sentongo Sep 2022

An Account Of The Methodological Implementation Of Design-Based Research In The Chemistry Classroom Context, Esther Kibga, Emmanuel Gakuba, John Sentongo

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Design-Based Research (DBR) has recently received a significant amount of attention in the educational research literature of the 21st century. This work analyses the understanding of DBR as the research methodology, why, and how it can be applied in educational research to bring a practical outcome and improve educational practices. Besides, this work reflects on a step-by-step implementation of the Hands-on Instructional Model (HIM) designed to enhance the development of chemistry learners’ curiosity and problem-solving skills. Also, it gives a detailed description of the two prototypes of the first alteration cycle. A sample of 169 Senior Three chemistry students was …


Assessing Teachers’ Pedagogical Practices And Students’ Learning Outcomes In Science And Mathematics Across Primary And Secondary School Level: A Nationwide Study (2018-21), Sadia Muzaffar Bhutta, Nusrat Fatima Rizvi Jan 2022

Assessing Teachers’ Pedagogical Practices And Students’ Learning Outcomes In Science And Mathematics Across Primary And Secondary School Level: A Nationwide Study (2018-21), Sadia Muzaffar Bhutta, Nusrat Fatima Rizvi

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.


Extended Generalized Logistic Distributions Based On Beta Distributions And Their Generalizations, Howard Omukami, Patrick Weke, Joseph Ottieno Jan 2022

Extended Generalized Logistic Distributions Based On Beta Distributions And Their Generalizations, Howard Omukami, Patrick Weke, Joseph Ottieno

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

We derive the extended generalized logistic type IV distribution using beta 1 and beta 2 distributions along with generalized three parameter and four parameter beta distributions.


Teachers’ Perceptions About Mathematics In A Socio-Religious Context: A Case From Pakistan, Munira Amirali, Anjum Halai Dec 2021

Teachers’ Perceptions About Mathematics In A Socio-Religious Context: A Case From Pakistan, Munira Amirali, Anjum Halai

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

This study investigated mathematics teachers’ beliefs about the nature of mathematics and the contributory factors shaping them. A survey of 200 trained and untrained mathematics teachers from public and private schools was carried out in Karachi Pakistan, a context with a strong influence of religion on the socio-cultural practices of the people. The survey was followed by a focus-group discussion with selected teachers and is the focus of this paper. This is a ground-breaking study in a hitherto under-researched socio-religious context.
Teachers across the system showed a strong similarity in beliefs. A commonly held view was that mathematics is created …


Developing Students’ Curiosity Through Chemistry Hands-On Activities: A Case Of Selected Community Secondary Schools In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Esther Kibga, Emmanuel Gakuba, John Sentongo Mar 2021

Developing Students’ Curiosity Through Chemistry Hands-On Activities: A Case Of Selected Community Secondary Schools In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Esther Kibga, Emmanuel Gakuba, John Sentongo

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Curiosity is the inner drive for learning or ‘hunger for learning’ which is among the twenty-firstcentury learning competencies. Students in their earliest stage ought to exhibit curiosity to stirup knowledge acquisition and exploration, yet the development of curiosity in the context of education is considered to be unusual. This research assesses how chemistry students develop and express curiosity in a hands-on learning environment. A sample of 169 senior three students from three community secondary schools in Dar es Salaam was involved in this study. Besides, the study examined how hands-on activities in chemistry lessons can be incorporated as a pedagogical …


Effectiveness Of Hands-On Activities To Develop Chemistry Learners’ Curiosity In Community Secondary Schools In Tanzania, Esther Kibga, John Sentongo, Emanuel Gakuba Jan 2021

Effectiveness Of Hands-On Activities To Develop Chemistry Learners’ Curiosity In Community Secondary Schools In Tanzania, Esther Kibga, John Sentongo, Emanuel Gakuba

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Learners’ curiosity is among the affective domains of learning that has a great potential to take learning to higher levels and meet the demands of the 21st-century teaching and learning process. This paper assesses how hands-on activities performed using learning materials from learners’ immediate environment can enhance learners’ curiosity in chemistry lessons. Observing students’ hands-on activities during chemistry lessons enabled researchers to monitor the development and expression of curiosity in the actual learning environment. The study involved 169 senior three chemistry students purposively selected from three intact science classes in three community secondary schools from Dar es salaam, Tanzania. We …


Exploring Ict Adoption In Teaching And Learning Of Science: A Case Of Senior Teachers In Homa-Bay Sub County, Kenya, David Ochieng Odhiambo Jan 2021

Exploring Ict Adoption In Teaching And Learning Of Science: A Case Of Senior Teachers In Homa-Bay Sub County, Kenya, David Ochieng Odhiambo

Theses & Dissertations

The high potential conferred to ICT in the 21st century has necessitated its integration in teaching and learning of science. The COVID 19 endemic has even increased the need to embrace ICT to reach learners away from educational institutions. Technological skills are necessary to solve daily life problems in this digital age. Many literatures have depicted age as positively correlated with ICT adoption. It is imperative that all teachers irrespective of age employ ICT to effectively enhance transfer of knowledge. This study, anchored on diffusion innovation theory, examined adoption of ICT among senior science teachers, aged 45 years and above, …


Exploring The Use Of Concrete Materials In Teaching And Learning Of Fractions In Grade Three: A Case Study Of A Public Primary School In Homa-Bay County, Kenya, Ouma Patrick Okoth Jan 2021

Exploring The Use Of Concrete Materials In Teaching And Learning Of Fractions In Grade Three: A Case Study Of A Public Primary School In Homa-Bay County, Kenya, Ouma Patrick Okoth

Theses & Dissertations

Learners who struggle with mathematics may have difficulties in comprehending the core ideas in mathematics. The concrete-representational-abstract (CRA) instructional sequence of teaching allows teachers to assist pupils in making sense of numbers and the mathematical concepts they represent. The use of concrete materials is critical in the teaching of mathematics to young children; they are the major instruments that early childhood teachers use to train young learners in their mathematics classes today. To encourage the use of concrete materials in mathematics instruction, this research investigates how mathematics teachers use concrete materials in the teaching and learning of mathematics, as well …


Students’ Attitudes Towards Learning Chemistry Using Mobile Phone Simulations: A Case Of Two Secondary Schools In Dar Es Salaam Region., Ahmed Mbaruku Nyenga Jan 2021

Students’ Attitudes Towards Learning Chemistry Using Mobile Phone Simulations: A Case Of Two Secondary Schools In Dar Es Salaam Region., Ahmed Mbaruku Nyenga

Theses & Dissertations

Students’ attitudes have significant influence on their academic achievement in life. While at a younger age, they show keen interest towards scientific concepts, they grew in teenage years with a declining curiosity and will to take up science subjects. This has been due to abstract content overload for which a student needs sequential understanding as new concepts are built on older ones. Although technology has presented us with simulation applications in mobile phones, which would bring back the exciting nature of learning that children experienced with toys and video games at a tender age, efforts in terms of studies to …


Defying The Gendered Norm; A Case Of Girls’ Successful Enrollment, Participation And Achievement In Science Subjects In A Public Secondary School In Taita Taveta County, Kenya, Alice Machocho Mwang'ombe Jan 2021

Defying The Gendered Norm; A Case Of Girls’ Successful Enrollment, Participation And Achievement In Science Subjects In A Public Secondary School In Taita Taveta County, Kenya, Alice Machocho Mwang'ombe

Theses & Dissertations

The 21st century requires learners that are critical thinkers, problem solvers, creative and innovators. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as a discipline demands logical thinking, engagement and exploration which results in the equipping of learners with these essential skills. In reality, however, STEM is perceived as difficult to master and in particular gender stereotyping prevail whereby science is constructed as male and masculine discipline. Research on women and STEM primarily reports women in science from a negative stance, from negative perception to science or high prevalence of gender stereotypes that affect female access to science. These studies uphold a …


Exploring Tutors’ Pedagogical Practices In The Teaching And Learning Of Mathematics Education: A Case Of Three Primary Teachers’ Colleges In Eastern Uganda., Geofrey Mabonga Jan 2021

Exploring Tutors’ Pedagogical Practices In The Teaching And Learning Of Mathematics Education: A Case Of Three Primary Teachers’ Colleges In Eastern Uganda., Geofrey Mabonga

Theses & Dissertations

The major purpose of this study was to explore tutors pedagogical practices in the teaching and learning of mathematics education in primary teachers colleges in Uganda. This study employed qualitative research approach. That being the case, Qualitative approach was based upon the interpretive constructivist underpinnings whose aim was to explain the phenomenon from the subjective reasoning based on participants’ opinions, realities, meanings, attitudes, and motivations that lie behind their social behaviour. This study used case study research design. A total of twelve (12) respondents participated in this study. These included six (6) Mathematics Tutors and six (6) Student teachers. Tutors …


Exploring Teachers’ Questioning Practices During Teaching And Learning Of Mathematics: A Case Study Of A Secondary School In Taita Taveta County, Kenya, Caroline M. Makato Jan 2021

Exploring Teachers’ Questioning Practices During Teaching And Learning Of Mathematics: A Case Study Of A Secondary School In Taita Taveta County, Kenya, Caroline M. Makato

Theses & Dissertations

This study explored teachers’ questioning practices during teaching and learning of mathematics in form two: a case of a secondary school in Mwatate sub-county, Kenya. Despite the importance attached to questioning in causing class interactions and stimulating mathematical thinking, questioning may be underutilized during teaching and learning mathematics. Studies on teachers questioning practices seem to have also been neglected in the Kenyan context. This gap in mathematics pedagogy was the focus of the study. The study aimed at establishing the level of questions teachers ask during teaching and learning mathematics, the characteristic features of mathematics teachers’ questioning practices and the …


Use Of Songs In Teaching And Learning Ionic Bonds: A Case Of A Secondary School In Vihiga County, Kenya, Daniel Omollo Odhiambo Jan 2021

Use Of Songs In Teaching And Learning Ionic Bonds: A Case Of A Secondary School In Vihiga County, Kenya, Daniel Omollo Odhiambo

Theses & Dissertations

Factoring learner engagement during chemistry lessons is key if conceptual understanding is an objective. In Kenya however, the gradual decline in chemistry mean scores, coupled with evidence from studies, reveal disengagement in chemistry among learners. One of the most cited causes of this disengagement is the domineering teacher-centred teaching pedagogy. This action research studied how science content songs can be used to enhance engagement and interest in ionic bonding among high school learners in Kenya. The study, which was conducted in a mixed double-streamed secondary school, involved two collaborating teachers and 65 students, out whom, 8 participated in a focus …


Energy-Efficient Load Balancing Ant Based Routing Algorithm For Wireless Sensor Networks, Xinlu Li, Brian Keegan, Fredrick Mtenzi, Thomas Weise, Ming Tan Aug 2019

Energy-Efficient Load Balancing Ant Based Routing Algorithm For Wireless Sensor Networks, Xinlu Li, Brian Keegan, Fredrick Mtenzi, Thomas Weise, Ming Tan

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are a type of self-organizing networks with limited energy supply and communication ability. One of the most crucial issues in WSNs is to use an energy-efficient routing protocol to prolong the network lifetime. We therefore propose the novel Energy-Efficient Load Balancing Ant-based Routing Algorithm (EBAR) for WSNs. EBAR adopts a pseudo-random route discovery algorithm and an improved pheromone trail update scheme to balance the energy consumption of the sensor nodes. It uses an efficient heuristic update algorithm based on a greedy expected energy cost metric to optimize the route establishment. Finally, in order to reduce the …


Science Education For The Future: Five Recommendations A Policy Brief For Pakistan, Nelofer Halai Jan 2017

Science Education For The Future: Five Recommendations A Policy Brief For Pakistan, Nelofer Halai

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

High quality education and particularly in the area of what is generally called STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is the greatest indicator of quality of life. Sustainable human development, eradication of poverty and removing unequal distribution of resources all depend on high quality education. High quality education in the area of science has been defined as far back as 1962 by Schwab and Brandwein as teaching through inquiry-based methods. Continuing to teach science content through rote memorization produces teachers who know of no better method to teach other than memorization. These teachers themselves lack conceptual understanding of science content …


Students’ Attitude Towards Science In Lower Secondary Classes : Comparison Across Regions, Nahid Parween Anwar, Sadia Muzaffar Bhutta Jan 2014

Students’ Attitude Towards Science In Lower Secondary Classes : Comparison Across Regions, Nahid Parween Anwar, Sadia Muzaffar Bhutta

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

Science education is an area of interest for long and has gained a lot of attention from science educators. Keeping this in view, the current study explored the attitude of grade VI-VIII students towards science in the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan. This research study was conducted as part of a 5-year project titled ‘USAID-LINKS to learning: Education Support to Pakistan’ (USAID-EDLINKS). A 5-point rating scale, Science Attitude Scale (SAS) was adapted from previous research. SAS has 32 items arranged under five constructs: learning science in school, self-concept in science, science outside of school, future participation in science and importance …


Light And Enlightenment, Jan-E-Alam Khaki Aug 2013

Light And Enlightenment, Jan-E-Alam Khaki

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.


Enhancing Content Knowledge Of In-Service Science Teachers Through Model And Modeling, Naheed Perveen, Sadia Muzzafar Bhutta Jun 2012

Enhancing Content Knowledge Of In-Service Science Teachers Through Model And Modeling, Naheed Perveen, Sadia Muzzafar Bhutta

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

The guiding question for this paper is; how does model and modeling enable student-teachers to develop a conceptual understanding of the cell as a structural and functional unit of living things? A teaching unit ‘The Cell’ was designed in view that models are a major teaching and learning tool for developing scientific thinking, whereas modeling means a process of forming representation. The teaching and learning strategies reported here encapsulated four modeling phases. Firstly, student-teachers modeled historical development of cell through a time line and role play and discussed the evolutionary and tentative nature of science. Secondly, the candy factory analogy …


A Secondary Science Teacher’S Beliefs About Environmental Education And Its Relationship With The Classroom Practices, Salima Begum Jan 2012

A Secondary Science Teacher’S Beliefs About Environmental Education And Its Relationship With The Classroom Practices, Salima Begum

Professional Development Centre, Gilgit

Global environmental issues are increasing due to the rapid developments in science and technology. To address these environmental issues there is a need to create awareness about environmental education among the masses. This can only be possible through teachers and teacher educators. It is assumed that science teachers are teaching environmental concepts as scientific facts, without creating awareness about environmental education. The ultimate purpose of this study was to explore the beliefs of a secondary science teacher about environmental education and how his stated beliefs matched with his classroom practices. The study was conducted in one of the co-operative schools …


The Unforgettable Experience Of A Workshop On Pythagoras Theorem, Salima Shahzad Arwani Nov 2011

The Unforgettable Experience Of A Workshop On Pythagoras Theorem, Salima Shahzad Arwani

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.


Developing Pedagogical Content Knowledge Of Science Teachers Through Action Research: A Case Study From Pakistan, Nelofer Halai, Manzoor Ali Khan Jun 2011

Developing Pedagogical Content Knowledge Of Science Teachers Through Action Research: A Case Study From Pakistan, Nelofer Halai, Manzoor Ali Khan

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

The aim of this study is to analyze the action research undertaken by Khan as a teacher researcher in a private school as part of the degree requirement of his M.Ed. program in Teacher Education at the Aga Khan University, Institute for Educational Development. The purpose of this analysis undertaken by the first author and supervisor of the study in collaboration with Khan was to understand the development of Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) of the teacher researcher through action research in a science classroom in the context of Pakistan. Khan taught the concepts of heat and temperature using an inquiry …


One Step On A New Journey, Salima Shahzad Arwani May 2011

One Step On A New Journey, Salima Shahzad Arwani

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.


Understanding A Pakistani Science Teacher’S Practice Through A Life History Study, Nelofer Halai Jan 2011

Understanding A Pakistani Science Teacher’S Practice Through A Life History Study, Nelofer Halai

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

The purpose of the single case life history study was to understand a female science teacher’s conceptions of the nature of science as explicit in her practice. While this paper highlights these understandings, an additional purpose is to give a detailed account of the process of creating a life history account through more than 13 in-depth interviews. It includes a discussion of what the author calls composite observations where the observations of the teacher and the researcher are presented as a single unified story. Also discussed are ethical issues specific to life history created due to the intimacy created by …


Teachers’ Knowledge About The Nature Of Mathematics: A Survey Of Secondary School Teachers In Karachi, Pakistan, Munira Amirali, Anjum Halai Dec 2010

Teachers’ Knowledge About The Nature Of Mathematics: A Survey Of Secondary School Teachers In Karachi, Pakistan, Munira Amirali, Anjum Halai

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

This study presents the findings from a study which explored patterns in teachers’ knowledge about the nature of mathematics. A survey questionnaire was developed and distributed to 200 secondary school mathematics teachers teaching in public and private schools in Karachi, Pakistan. Exploratory factor analysis was performed which showed patterns in teachers’ view about the nature of mathematics. The analysis illustrates that teachers hold contradicting views about the nature of mathematics i.e. mathematics, both as discovered as well as invented body of knowledge. Moreover, teachers irrespective of their professional qualification, considered mathematical knowledge as ‘truth’, where mathematical rules can never be …


Students’ Conceptions Of The Nature Of Mathematics And Attitudes Towards Mathematics Learning, Munira Amirali Jun 2010

Students’ Conceptions Of The Nature Of Mathematics And Attitudes Towards Mathematics Learning, Munira Amirali

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

Students’ conceptions of the nature of mathematics have a great influence towards mathematics learning. In order to understand gender-wise students’ conceptions and attitudes towards mathematics this study has been conducted in Karachi, Pakistan. This paper examines patterns in students’ conception and attitude towards mathematics by analyzing survey data obtained from 82 students studying in grade eight in a private school context. The survey was conducted using a five-point Likert scale ranging from ‘strongly agree’ through ‘neutral’ to ‘strongly disagree’. The survey findings illustrate that students consider mathematics as a useful subject which is used in daily life routines and facilitates …


Mathematical Notation: Help Or Hindrance?, Geoff D. Tennant Dr Jan 2010

Mathematical Notation: Help Or Hindrance?, Geoff D. Tennant Dr

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

This article puts forward a range of reasons for using mathematical notation, emphasizing the need to allow children learning it time and space to come to terms with it. Examples are given in furthering the argument that the time to introduce notation is after the concept is already fully understood.


Teaching Teachers And Students About The Nature Of Science, Nelofer Halai Jan 2010

Teaching Teachers And Students About The Nature Of Science, Nelofer Halai

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

This article advocates the teaching about the nature of science to both pupils in schools and teachers in teacher education institutions in Pakistan. Not knowing about science; teachers tend to continue to teach science as fixed knowledge and not as inquiry and this cycle continues. This cycle needs to be broken. This article first discusses the salient features about the concept of the nature of science and then illustrates these ideas with the help of a simple but a powerful activity which could be used both with teacher educators and pupils in secondary and lower secondary classrooms.