Pedagogics of chemical bonding in chemistry; perspectives and potential for progress: the case of Zimbabwe secondary education

In this study, the pedagogics of chemical bonding in Chemistry at Secondary school level, perspectives and potential for progress was investigated. The study was premised on the qualitative design methodology grounded and informed by the interpretive paradigm. It was guided by the constructivist th...

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Main Authors: Gudyanga, Ephias, Madambi, Tawanda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Science Publishing Group 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11408/1645
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author Gudyanga, Ephias
Madambi, Tawanda
author_facet Gudyanga, Ephias
Madambi, Tawanda
author_sort Gudyanga, Ephias
collection DSpace
description In this study, the pedagogics of chemical bonding in Chemistry at Secondary school level, perspectives and potential for progress was investigated. The study was premised on the qualitative design methodology grounded and informed by the interpretive paradigm. It was guided by the constructivist theoretical framework acting as a lens through which we viewed our study. Eight (8) Bachelors degree holders, having taught chemistry at Advanced Level for at least 2 years, were purposively selected to comprise a sample of participants. Narrative interviews, followed by focus group discussions to validate the procedure, were carried out. Thematic approach data analysis from audio-taped -transcriptionsresulted in main themes and sub-themes being drawn out. It was found out that teachers teach for examination purposes, hence this followed a simplistic pedagogical approach resulting in misconceptions of chemical bonding being formed by learners. Rigid and dichotomous approach to ionic and covalent bonding, as outlined in textbooks and by teachers, forgetting its continuum scale, resulted in misconceptions in the understanding of chemical bonding. Teachers were found to be contributing factors by virtue of incompetence. Therefore use of learner centred pedagogical bottom-up approach was highlighted. Application of computer-assisted instruction on conceptual understanding of chemical bonding by competent teachers was inexorable.
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spelling ir-11408-16452022-06-27T13:49:06Z Pedagogics of chemical bonding in chemistry; perspectives and potential for progress: the case of Zimbabwe secondary education Gudyanga, Ephias Madambi, Tawanda Pedagogics, Chemical Bonding, Misconceptions In this study, the pedagogics of chemical bonding in Chemistry at Secondary school level, perspectives and potential for progress was investigated. The study was premised on the qualitative design methodology grounded and informed by the interpretive paradigm. It was guided by the constructivist theoretical framework acting as a lens through which we viewed our study. Eight (8) Bachelors degree holders, having taught chemistry at Advanced Level for at least 2 years, were purposively selected to comprise a sample of participants. Narrative interviews, followed by focus group discussions to validate the procedure, were carried out. Thematic approach data analysis from audio-taped -transcriptionsresulted in main themes and sub-themes being drawn out. It was found out that teachers teach for examination purposes, hence this followed a simplistic pedagogical approach resulting in misconceptions of chemical bonding being formed by learners. Rigid and dichotomous approach to ionic and covalent bonding, as outlined in textbooks and by teachers, forgetting its continuum scale, resulted in misconceptions in the understanding of chemical bonding. Teachers were found to be contributing factors by virtue of incompetence. Therefore use of learner centred pedagogical bottom-up approach was highlighted. Application of computer-assisted instruction on conceptual understanding of chemical bonding by competent teachers was inexorable. 2016-06-28T07:58:40Z 2016-06-28T07:58:40Z 2014 Article 10.11648/j.ijsedu.20140201.13 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/1645 en International Journal of Secondary Education;Vol. 2, No. 1; p. 11-19 open Science Publishing Group
spellingShingle Pedagogics, Chemical Bonding, Misconceptions
Gudyanga, Ephias
Madambi, Tawanda
Pedagogics of chemical bonding in chemistry; perspectives and potential for progress: the case of Zimbabwe secondary education
title Pedagogics of chemical bonding in chemistry; perspectives and potential for progress: the case of Zimbabwe secondary education
title_full Pedagogics of chemical bonding in chemistry; perspectives and potential for progress: the case of Zimbabwe secondary education
title_fullStr Pedagogics of chemical bonding in chemistry; perspectives and potential for progress: the case of Zimbabwe secondary education
title_full_unstemmed Pedagogics of chemical bonding in chemistry; perspectives and potential for progress: the case of Zimbabwe secondary education
title_short Pedagogics of chemical bonding in chemistry; perspectives and potential for progress: the case of Zimbabwe secondary education
title_sort pedagogics of chemical bonding in chemistry; perspectives and potential for progress: the case of zimbabwe secondary education
topic Pedagogics, Chemical Bonding, Misconceptions
url http://hdl.handle.net/11408/1645
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