Investigating learning challenges and factors affecting students' lack of interest in plant topics in biology textbooks from the perspectives of high school students and biology teachers

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine some issues and problems in plant topics in biology textbooks from the perspective of high school students and teachers and to identify what causes these problems. Methods: The present study was conducted with a mixed approach (qualitative-quantitative), so that in the qualitative part, a written analysis of students' experiences was used, and in the quantitative part, a researcher-made questionnaire based on the Likert scale for teachers was used., and suggestions of tenth and eleventh grade students, Rezvan high school, and some biology teachers working in schools in Tehran in the academic year 1404-1405. Its purpose was to identify the most important factors in the use of plant topics and to provide solutions for analyzing the teaching process of these topics. Findings: The research findings showed that a set of cognitive, educational, and content factors play a role in the emergence of students' learning problems. The most important of these factors include the abstract nature of concepts, the high volume of specialized terminology, the apparent similarity of plant structures, the complexity of images and diagrams, the need for spatial visualization to understand structural relationships, the similarity and overlap of concepts, the lack of practical and laboratory activities, the feeling that the materials are not applicable, and the dominance of teaching methods based on memorization. Also, the weak connection of educational content with students' everyday experiences was identified as another effective factor in reducing motivation and difficulty in learning these topics Conclusion: Based on the research results, the use of active teaching methods, increasing practical and laboratory activities, using visual aids and educational models, and strengthening the connection between plant concepts and their real applications in everyday life can be effective in reducing learning difficulties and improving students' conceptual understanding of plant biology topics.