Influence of culture on secondary school students’ learning of stoichiometry: A case of a Guruve district school, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The study was carried out after realising that students had presented persistent learning problems in stoichiometry. The research was a case study of a purposively sampled 2018- 2019 ‘O’ Level Chemistry class of 45 students. Interpretive analysis techniques were used to determine the relative impact of selected aspects of culture on students’ learning of stoichiometry at a rural secondary school in Guruve District of Zimbabwe. The aspects of culture considered in the study were: language and symbols, values and attitudes and scientific culture. The study employed the convergent parallel mixed research approach. Data generation methods used was: stoichiometry class tasks, questionnaire for students, reflective discussions on class tasks and follow-up semi-structured interviews. Most students exhibited an inability to explain phenomena; lack of logical scientific reasoning, and an inability to explain phenomena in the stoichiometric processes and determinations, which compromised critical thinking skills development among the students. The three aspects of culture, namely; language and symbols, values and attitudes, and scientific culture, were all found to influence students’ learning of stoichiometry in an interrelated manner. For instance, the use of English as a medium of instruction was found to be problematic. A low scientific culture was also observed among the students. It was however noted that students performed better and showed more understanding on stoichiometry tasks that included processes with practical value and importance in real-life A fit-for-purpose classroom language blend with the local dialect was suggested as a way to solve the communication challenge and enhance understanding of concepts. It was also recommended that there be an integration of cultural practices and experiences that involve quantification of substances so as to leverage students’ conceptual understanding of stoichiometry.