A study of teaching ecology in lower secondary schools under the project for extension of educational opportunity in Bangkok (Thai)

Abstract

This study is a part of doctoral research entitled Enhancement of Inquiry-Based Instruction of Thai Science Teachers Using Collaborative Action Research. The study aimed to survey the backgrounds of teachers and their teaching of ecology concepts in lower secondary schools under the Project for Extension of Educational Opportunity in Bangkok. The subjects were 58 teachers who taught ecology. The instrument used was the Teacher Questionnaire about Teaching Ecology. Thirty four questionnaires were returned. The statistics used were frequencies and percentages.The findings indicated that 67.7 percent of the teachers were female, 61.8 percent had a bachelorûs degree in education, and 58.8 percent had five or fewer years of experience in teaching the concepts of ecology. The teachers spent from one to thirty periods teaching the concepts of ecology. Class sizes varied from 30 to 50 students. The three popular teaching methods used when teaching the concepts of ecology were discussion, field trips, and lectures. A few teachers taught these concepts via inquiry-based instruction. The majority of teachers (61.8%) understood that inquiry-based instruction was a teaching method that led students to acquire their own knowledge. Students played an active role in their learning. The majority of science teachers (76.5%) had problems in teaching the concepts of ecology. They reported that the problems came from outside factors; for example, lack of instructional aids and media, students with low interest in ecology, and large class sizes. The findings from this study should be beneficial for those who are conducting professional development programs regarding learning and teaching ecology and/or inquiry-based instruction in lower secondary schools under the Project for Extension of Educational Opportunity in Bangkok. In addition, the results may provide some feedback information and guidelines for science teachers to develop learning and teaching ecology.