Problems Affecting Physics Learning and its Effect on the Academic Performance of Students in Integrated Teacher Training Programme

Abstract

Physics is one of the most common problematic subjects for the students in the degree and post graduate level. Students want to spend more time on the subject to get mastery over it. Similarly, to maintain the quality education, the teacher education institutes have a prominent role; they want to focus more on the education part of the subject. Students who are enrolled in the teacher training colleges should play a crucial role in developing and maintaining future science education. This study focussed on the problems affecting the Physics learning of the prospective teachers who are enrolled in the integrated teacher training programs and the different types of problems that they are faced to achieve better results. The study was conducted among prospective teachers of integrated teacher training college who are pursuing the MSc.Ed program. Data was collected by using a questionnaire prepared by the researchers, including provisions for open-ended answering. The sample of the study includes the students from various academic years. Results show that the majority of the students having a medium level of problems with Physics learning and male students are facing more problems compared to female students. The academic year also an influencing factor of problems in Physics learning. Other factors such as previous school education, current grade point average have no relationship with the problems affecting Physics learning.