IMPACTS OF INSUFFICIENT INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEMS IN TEACHING BIOLOGY

Abstract

The research was conducted on the impacts of insufficient instructional materials and higher education systems of teaching biology on the qualification of graduates as outputs. Data collection methods were through variables of in-depth interview questions and face-to-face observations, whereas both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to analyze evidences comparatively. Data sources were graduates of biology of different universities, who joined the post graduate diploma in teaching (PGDT) teachers training program of Addis Ababa University to be biology teachers, and evidences were gathered while the trainees were attaining the course biology teaching methods. Interview questions were distributed to 200 trainees and respondents provided their judgments both in written or oral forms. The face-to-face observations were conducted on 20 of the trainees while conducting the tasks of biology teaching methods using observation checklists. As a result, the impacts of the insufficient instructional materials and higher education systems were accounted for 56.83% and impacts on competence of the graduates of biology in performing expected biological tasks were accounted for 71% that made learners at an average 63.915% unsuccessful. The research was concluded with great divorce of theory and practice due to the impacts of insufficient inputs of instructional materials and poor education systems, in which graduates ended with incompetence and joblessness. Keywords: biology teaching, instructional materials, higher education.