Challenges to Implement Active Learning in Amhara Region Police College, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

Kefialew Yenyet

doi:10.7176/jep/12-1-02

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to assess the current practices and challenges of active learning in Amhara Region Police College in teaching police science. To congregate the objective of the study, mixed research design was employed. Simple random sampling for cadets and census method for instructors’ was used to select cadets and instructors of Amhara Region Police College. Quantitative data were collected from cadets and instructors using structured and pretested questionnaire. The academic director and research department head were interviewed using interview guide. Data analysis was done in three phases. First, analysis of the quantitative data was done in SPSS Version 24 and percentages, means and a frequency, second, qualitative data was analyzed considering the research question, by using descriptive which is a deductive approach. Finally, quantitative and qualitative results were merged. The findings indicated that almost all instructors and cadets had awareness about active learning. Sometimes instructors are practicing active learning but the level of their practice was not satisfactory. Large class size, lack of administrative support, lack of materials or equipment needed to support active learning and cadets lack of interest on active learning methods were rated as the factors that have been negatively affecting the practice of active learning in Amhara Region Police College. Thus, it is critically important that instructors should be committed to discharge their roles to exercise active learning, the administration of the college and other stakeholders should design and implement a mechanism to monitor the practice of active learning, the concerned bodies of the college should design different mechanisms to avoid these problems by appropriately allocating the time, revising crowded materials and avoiding large and unnecessary contents to practice active learning in Amhara Region Police College. Keywords: Active learning, challenges, Amhara Region Police College, cadets DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-1-02 Publication date: January 31 st 2021

Highlights

Education is a universal practice through which students acquire knowledge, develop skill and change in behavior
In addition to questionnaire and interviews, the researcher confirmed that the process of active learning method at ARPC is at a low level, as observed in class room
Regarding to the factors that affects the implementation of active learning in Amhara Region Police College, large class size, lack of administrative support, lack of materials or equipment are needed to support active learning and students lack of interest on active learning methods were rated as the factors that have been negatively affecting the utilization of active learning strategies in ARPC

Summary

Introduction

Education is a universal practice through which students acquire knowledge, develop skill and change in behavior. It plays a vital role to develop human capital and linked with an individual’s well-being and opportunities for better living (Battle & Lewis, 2002) cited by (Temesgen, 2016). Active learning of ideas and skills can occur in a variety of thought-stimulating activities, ranging from direct learning of ideas that explained in a web-page, book, lecture, video, TV or radio show to learning by discovery as in doing an experiment and trying to discover one’s own explanations for what, or in design projects and other kinds of problem solving. These activities can produce active learning, because educationally productive mental activity can occur with or without physical activity in which a variety of mentally active experiences (Craig Rusbult, 2007)

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Discussion

Conclusion