Collaboration Among Geography Teachers in the Production of teaching and learning Materials: A case of selected high Schools of lusaka
Date
2011-12-13
Authors
Makufele, Brian Neeta
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The study investigated collaboration among Zambian high school teachers of geography in the production of teaching and learning materials (TLM) in selected high schools of Lusaka. The study addressed the question “Do teachers of geography collaborate effectively in the production of teaching and learning materials?”
The general objectives of the study were three fold. Firstly, the researcher wanted to find out whether or not teachers effectively collaborated in the production of TLM. Secondly, the researcher wanted to investigate the levels and forms of collaboration among teachers of geography in the production of teaching and learning materials. Thirdly, the objective of the study was to find out what provisions Zambian book publishers had towards potentially collaborating teachers who wished to produce teaching and learning materials; and to determine whether or not the Zambian Ministry of Education (MoE), in line with its policy statement, offered any incentives to teachers who wished to produce teaching and learning materials.
In order to determine the extent to which teachers collaborated in the production of teaching and learning materials, a sample of twelve (12) high schools was randomly drawn from twenty (20) Government and Grant-aided high schools of Lusaka city. A descriptive survey design was used in order to gather detailed information. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used in the study.
The major research instruments used in the study were the questionnaire, interviews and observations.In data processing, descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Numerical data were summarised using frequency distributions, percentages and graphic presentations in form of tables. Statistics consisting of figures and corresponding percentages were obtained using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Non-structured questions were analysed through categorisation and coding of themes.The study found out that Zambian high school teachers of geography were not collaborating effectively to produce TLM in their schools. The majority of the teachers (75%) were found to be working individually to produce their own materials. The teachers, however, co-operated on issues that were not related to the production of TLM such as meetings, setting common tests, sports activities, and so on. Consequently, the levels of collaboration among the teachers of geography in the production of TLM in the sampled schools were found to be very low, standing at 8.3%. It was unfortunate that a reasonable number of teachers (16.7%) at the time of the study could not state how they produced their TLM in the sampled high schools.The study revealed that there were very few TLM in the schools. It was noted during the study that high schools were relying heavily on the High School Geography Pupils’ book and that there were not enough books in the schools to cater for both the normal classes in the morning and the Academic Production Unit (APU) classes in the afternoon.It was established during the study that there was no collaboration between the teachers of geography and the Zambian book publishers. It was also noted that some of the teachers were not even aware of the incentives that the book publishers had for those who were able to produce materials. The study also revealed that there were no deliberate incentives or programmes put in place by the Ministry of Education (MoE) in order to encourage teachers to produce TLM.Another finding of the study was the dissatisfaction among teachers of geography with their conditions of service. This resulted in most of them (70%) devoting much of their time to income generating ventures such as the production of pamphlets for sale, provision of extra-tuition and other activities in order to supplement their salaries.
Description
Keywords
Teaching-Aids and Devices(Geography)-Zambia , Geography--Study and teaching-Zambia