A WIHIC EXPLORATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL SCIENCE CLASSROOMS – A CASE STUDY FROM TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

Abstract

In this work the WIHIC (What is Happening In this Classroom) instrument was used to assess the types of interactions, from students’ perspectives, that occur in two science classrooms in Trinidad & Tobago. It was the first attempt to use the WIHIC instrument in the research context. An exploratory case study research design in the quantitative paradigm was employed in the assessment. The findings reveal that classroom interactions were dominated by student-centered interactions that mapped onto the student cohesiveness and cooperation scales of the WIHIC instrument. A high level of interaction in the investigation and involvement scales was also determined. What was surprising however, was the low level of teacher supportive interactions and interactions which demonstrated teacher impartiality as reported from students’ perspective.

Keywords

• classroom interactions
• student perceptions
• wihic instrument