Teaching life sciences while integrating teachers’ and learners’ cultural belief systems

Lydia Mavuru

doi:10.29333/ejmste/13929

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Lydia Mavuru ¹ ^*

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¹ University of Johannesburg, Gauteng, SOUTH AFRICA^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

The paper reports a study, which explored teachers’ perceptions and experiences on integration of cultural belief systems when teaching life sciences. Beliefs have been found to influence teachers’ pedagogical practices and ultimately impact on learning and understanding of concepts. These beliefs can be classified as originating from one’s religion or one’s culture. Life sciences is a subject that deals with real life issues hence has topics that challenge or impact on one’s belief systems. In a qualitative case study research design, 20 experienced life sciences (biology) teachers were purposively selected for the study. Each teacher was interviewed, and data was subjected to content analysis. Findings showed that though teachers strive to suppress their own belief systems in the classrooms, both teachers’ and learners’ beliefs need to be integrated when teaching certain topics. The practice enhances development of critical thinking skills and ultimately learner understanding. These findings allude to the need for teachers’ development in employing contextually relevant pedagogical strategies.

Keywords

cultural belief systems
contextual knowledge
life sciences
teachers’ understandings

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, Volume 20, Issue 1, January 2024, Article No: em2379

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/13929

Publication date: 01 Jan 2024

Online publication date: 26 Nov 2023

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Article Downloads: 928

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How to cite this article

APA

Mavuru, L. (2024). Teaching life sciences while integrating teachers’ and learners’ cultural belief systems. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 20(1), em2379. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/13929

Vancouver

Mavuru L. Teaching life sciences while integrating teachers’ and learners’ cultural belief systems. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2024;20(1):em2379. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/13929

AMA

Mavuru L. Teaching life sciences while integrating teachers’ and learners’ cultural belief systems. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2024;20(1), em2379. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/13929

Chicago

Mavuru, Lydia. "Teaching life sciences while integrating teachers’ and learners’ cultural belief systems". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education 2024 20 no. 1 (2024): em2379. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/13929

Harvard

Mavuru, L. (2024). Teaching life sciences while integrating teachers’ and learners’ cultural belief systems. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 20(1), em2379. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/13929

MLA

Mavuru, Lydia "Teaching life sciences while integrating teachers’ and learners’ cultural belief systems". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, vol. 20, no. 1, 2024, em2379. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/13929