Documenti di Didattica
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Marie Jarra
ITEC 7430-02
GA Southern Fall 17
11/09/17
Article 1.
Summary
This study focused on the subject of Biology and the how there is insufficient
instructional materials and ineffective methods of teaching biology in college classes in Addis
Ababa University. According to the journal undergraduate biology courses in this region of the
world are insufficient due to the scarceness of instructional materials and learning facilities. The
study was designed to determine the impacts of the lack of resources, and how it affected the
students graduating with an undergrad degree in biology. The researchers collected data from 60
post graduate trainees majoring in biology. They used a mixed-method design of study including
both qualitative and quantitative data evaluations to explain the negative effects of the lack of
instructional materials. Data was also gathered by questioning twenty of the candidates that
were participating in the degree program. Some of the interview questions focused on student
access, did the students have all tools such as reading materials, guidelines, and learning
facilities. Access to quality education and practical exercises. The results were that there was
limited and scarce resources and learning facilities for biology students in this university. The
results impact the students by negatively affecting their skills performances of biology related
exercises in their professional careers. The students are not able to perform simple tasks or
Evaluation
I found this study interesting in that even though it is not based in the United States it can
be applied to some higher education institutions here, such as some community colleges. Some
of the findings such as the connection between lack of instructional materials and resources I
related to the skills of transfer college students to a larger four-year university. Without a strong
instructional design many students can fall through the cracks once at a larger university. As a
transfer from a two-year college to a four-year university, I found that the other students in my
class that were not transfers were way ahead of me in lab protocols and procedures.
A weakness I found in the article is that they focused mostly on student instructors, I
would have liked to seen a focus on the professional teachers as well. Student instructors are still
learning and most likely lack the resources because they still lack knowledge in the subject. One
of the strengths of the study is that they conducted interviews with students that were in the
program to get a perspective of their knowledge based on the courses. I think it was important to
get the student perspectives and how some graduates that can give insight on how inadequate
design and materials can affect them in their career. Overall I thought the study was well done
and I believe that the findings will help improve the instructional design of the biology program
in that university and it will arise the topic for many other colleges and universities to take a look
Application
courses, and training because often times people dont like change. In research administration we
INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN RESEARCH 3
often have training and refresher courses designed to train new administrators and introduce new
rules and regulations. Looking at this study I think it would be helpful if my departments training
specialist ran a similar study, by interviewing administrators and create a training and refresher
class that focuses on the needs of the administrators and improving their knowledge. In the future
as a Research Director, I believe I can use some of these same applications to meet the needs of
the office staff and help them meet their goals in their careers. Overall this study was great in
that it arises the questions of are higher education institutions producing quality and not
quantity.
INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN RESEARCH 4
References
Article 1.
Edessa, S. (2017). Impacts of Insufficient Instructional Materials on Teaching Biology: Higher
Article 2.
Vann, L. S. (2017). Demonstrating Empathy: A Phenomenological Study of Instructional
Article 3.
Jeong, Y., Young, L., Sung, P., Wong- Ratcliff, M., Ahangar, R., & Mundy, M. (2015).
Discovering the Needs Assessment of Qualified STEM Teachers for the High-Need
Schools in South Texas. Journal of STEM Education: Innovations & Research, 16(4), 55.