1. Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Peter van Marion
Norwegian University of Science and Technology

2. SBED 1256 Lecture 1 Friday 6 Jan 2017 Introduction
Teaching Biology – Didaktikk
Science Education in Tanzania

4. … It is difficult to pass in science subjects at our school – this is because of the difficult learning environment. First of all science subjects are too difficult to understand because they cover many concepts, apart from that, science books are lacking, no science facilities, but also many of our science teachers are too fast in their teaching and don’t care even if we ask questions.
Student at secondary school in Morogoro
From: Mabula, N. (2012). Promoting science subjects choices for secondary school students in Tanzania: Challanges and opportunities. Academic Research International, 3 (3):

5. Copying notes from the teacher 2 % 80 %
Classroom activity
Never
Nearly every lesson
Copying notes from the teacher
2 %
80 %
Conducting experiments
78 %
3 %
Opportunity to express ideas
34 %
6 %
Class discussion
13 %
Group work
11 %
35 %
Outdoor science activities
56 %
Teacher supervising classroom activities
27 %
10 %
Teachers’ giving feedback
Listening to explanations from teacher
0,5 %
79 %
Mabula, N. (2012). Promoting science subjects choices for secondary school students in Tanzania: Challanges and opportunities. Academic Research International, 3 (3):

6. A good teacher …… Try to think of a good teacher you had in school …
What was it that made this teacher such a good teacher?
Write down the 2 most important qualities this teacher had.

7. He/she Was good at explaining Had good subject knowledge
Was good at marking
Was good in organizing
Was friendly
Was committed and
enthousiastic about
what he/she taught
Had good subject knowledge
Had good pedagogical knowledge/skills
Was strict
…………….

8. The «art» of Teaching Biology
Teaching Methods
Science Education
Biology Didactics /Didaktik
What, why and how? And where?

9. Teaching What? Product Process Learning about science
The Nature of Science (NoS)

10. Kalolo (2015): Relevance Context Responsiveness
Functionality and applicability

11. Recommended Reading
Mabula (2012)
Kalolo (2015)