Kgomotso Legari: COMET 2 Dissertation, University of Durban-Wstville
INTERVIEW SCHEDULE FOR PHYSICAL SCIENCE TEACHERS IN RURAL (UNDER-RESOURCED) SECONDARY SCHOOLS
./ All the questions below are based on the following Critical Question:
1. How do Physical Science teachers in rural secondary schools define 'under- resourced' in their schools?
2. How do Physical Science teachers in rural secondary schools deal with an under- resourced teaching environment?
3. What beliefs do such teachers have about effective Physical Science teaching and learning, in these contexts?
*[For each of the following questions, the subject will be asked to explain briefly or give specific examples if possible.]
CATEGORY I: PHYSICAL RESOURCES PURPOSE:
1.1 How can you explain the notion of "Under-resourced -To look at the way Physical Secondary Schools"?
Science teachers understand the 1.2 Do you think that most of the schools in your area are under- concept of being "Under-
resourced, especially when looking at Physical Science? , resourced", as well as how they 1.3How is your school as compared to others in this instance? this concept.
1.4Do you see being under-resourced as a serious setback during the process of your teaching?
1.5Does your school have any Physical Science materials that -To get an overview of the usage you find irrelevant/not useful/outdated? of available resources, as well
1.6Do you have a laboratory? as to know about any irrelevant
1.6.1 How often do you use it? materials + extension of the
1.6.2 What other Physical Science resources do you have in research questionnaire.
your school?
1.7 Did you find the need to improvise when equipment was not available?
Kgomotso Legari: COMET 2 Dissertation, University of Durban-Wstville
CATEGORY 2:STRATEGIES PURPOSE:
2.1 What are the major strategies that you usually apply when -To look at different/alternative teaching without proper resources? ways that a Physical Science
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2.2 What do you think can be a rapid solution to this problem? tcacher uses in an under- resourced school.
2.3 Don't you think that teaching in an under-resourced school - To see if anything constructive is a challenge that equips you with a greater responsibility of may arise out of this situation.
initiating solutions under extreme conditions?
2.4 Do you sometimes take your learners for field trips or perhaps visit places such as factories that are directly related to the actual practice of Physics/Chemistry?
2.5 Can you please describe teacher development
sessions/workshops that you may be attending. (if any).
2.5.1 Do you find them useful/ Do you see the need for them?
2.6 Are you able to meet with other teachers on your own in -To know if the Physical Science order to discuss about the teaching of Physical Science? teacher(s) practice team
2.7 Do you teach your Physical Science lessons alone or do you teaching as well as the reasons
use team teaching? thereof.
2.7.1 Why?
CATEGORY 3: AID/CO-OPERATION PURPOSE:
3.1 Do you/your school sometimes borrow Physical Science - The main aim is to know about
Kgomotso Legari: COMET 2 Dissertation, University of Durban-Wstville
resources from other schools? the level of support that
3.2 If so, what means of transport do you use to make this (Physical Science) teachers
possible? receive from different context.
3.3 Do you feel that the Department of Education provides you -Also to know if there is co- with proper support to enable the running of your lessons? operation from stake holders.
3.4 What kind of support do you get from the community around your school, especially from parents?
CATEGORY 4:VIEWS ON: LEARNERS' BACKGROUND.
: EXPERIENCESIEFFECTS.
4.1 May you please tell me anything about your learners' background? For instance: does the majority of them come from middle/working class families, poor/rich families, different backgrounds, please specify if possible?
PURPOSE:
-To get to know the Physical Science teachers' views on learners' background, and whether this may have any effect on their performance 4.2 Being under-resourced, do you think that the performance of - To get a picture of the
your learners is improving or deteriorating? experiences that teachers
4.2.1 If it's improving, what do you think is the major reason encounter based on the fact that
behind the success? their schools are under-
4.2.2 If it's deteriorating, what do you think can be done within resourced, and how this affects
your school? them and their learners.
4.3 Looking at your learners as individuals, do you think that their home backgrounds may have certain effects towards their performance? Based on you experience as a Physical Science teacher, have you ever came across any exceptional cases?
4.4 What are the negative effects that directly affect you
personally since you are a teacher in such a school? (For instance, does this cause you stress at time?) Give other explanations if any.
4.5 Personally, how do you feel about teaching in such a school?
Can you please give a (major) reason.
4.6 In a few words, can you please tell me about the experiences of teaching in an under-resourced rural school.
Kgomotso Legari: COMET 2 Dissertation, University of Durban-Wstville
The Principal
Dear Sir
Re: Request to conduct a research at your school