Nature of Physics Teaching at Secondary Level in Bangladesh

Abstract

This study investigates and describes the nature of secondary physics teaching and learning in Bangladesh. Here the body of literature on nature of physics teaching has been studied, and it has been discussed how classroom situations in secondary physics classes can be turned into a friendly environment for learning physics. The situations under discussion have been proposed by secondary teachers, during in-service teachers training, as situations from day to day physics teaching could highlight the nature of physics teaching. Secondary schools of all Upazila of Rajshahi district have been purposively selected for the study. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used for gathering research data. Primary and secondary sources have been used for the study. Quantitative data were obtained from the surveys of 81secondary schools, 81 Head teachers, 93 physics teachers and 500 students of class IX-X from secondary schools of Rajshahi District in Bangladesh. Qualitative data, on the other hand, were gathered from the analysis of questionnaire and interviews from Head teachers, physics teachers and students of class IX-X from Rajshahi District in Bangladesh. Quantitative data were coded and analyzed using the SPSS 16.0 statistical package to produce descriptive statistics. Qualitative data also were transcribed and categorized into emerging themes. Some selected variables and their relationship with 2test are shown in the table for head teachers, physics teachers and students. This study investigated 81 schools and evaluated the statement on the basis of using a five points rating scale indicating 1= Poor, 2= Weak, 3= Fair, 4= Good, 5= Very good. The percentages of the occurrences of these points are tabulated and explained. The tabular form of categorical data is graphically represented by correspondence analysis. Graphical display permits more rapid interpretation and understanding of the data. The rows and columns of a table interpreted the similarities and differences between rows, the similarities and differences between columns and the association between rows and columns. Correspondence analysis uses χ2/n, which is termed as inertia or total inertia, rather than χ2 value of contingency table. This graph can be used to investigate the graphical relationship among different categories.