Gender Differences in Senior High School Science Students’ Perceptions of Their Teachers’ Classroom Management Strategies in New-Juaben Municipality of Ghana

Abstract

This study explored gender differences associated with science students’ perception of their educators’ classroom management strategies used in the learning and teaching of science. A cross-sectional survey design was used for the investigation, which took place in three senior high schools offering the General Science programme in the New-Juaben Municipal (Koforidua), in the Eastern Region of Ghana. A sample of 300 third year (SHS 3) senior high school students in the 2018/2019 academic year were selected using a random sampling procedure to respond to a Self-Report Survey Questionnaire with closed-ended and open-ended questions. The questionnaire was adapted from the Technology-Rich outcomes-focused Learning Environment Inventory -TROFLEI) to suit the study design and was pre-tested to ensure that the statements were reliable and valid. The results from the study revealed that there are clear differences between genders regarding educators’ classroom management strategies. One other key finding from the study was students’ indecision as to the extent to which their teachers use the 10 classroom management strategies prescribed to be used by teachers. It was therefore recommended among others for educators to create an empowering technology-rich classroom atmosphere for learners to actively partake in classroom activities.