BELIEFS OF THE BIOLOGY TEACHERS ABOUT USING MULTIMEDIA

Abstract

The Science disciplines suffer from neglect of the learners. Therefore, the teachers are looking for strategies how to increase the popularity and the efficiency of teaching biology. Biology as a discipline is suitable for using different kinds of visualization, including multimedia support as one of the possibilities for increasing the popularity of this subject. The implementation of multimedia in teaching process can be successful only if the teachers are aware of the needs and the advantages of these teaching aids. Confidence of the efficiency of application of multimedia support into the biology lessons was analysed by means of a questionnaire with the main focus on learning strategies and mental abilities of the learners. The questionnaire was distributed on-line in the Czech Republic to 422 teachers working at primary schools, secondary schools and high schools and to 222 pre-service biology teachers. Respondents identified the importance of using multimedia in everyday life. They determined many educational opportunities arising from the use of multimedia in education. According to their beliefs, the main roles of using multimedia are related to motivation, cognitive activity and learning activity. Besides, the teachers evaluate themselves as not very well experienced in using multimedia tools. Key words: multimedia support of education, teacher´s opinions about multimedia, motivation of learners, popularization of biology.