Science students’ attitude towards their teachers and the learning environment: effect on their learning approaches and performance in sciences.

Abstract

Students’ attitude plays a role in determining their learning approaches and learning outcomes in sciences. The purpose of this paper was to examine the effect of students’ attitude towards their teachers and the learning environment on their learning approaches and performance in sciences. This paper was written after a systematic review other articles. The articles were searched online using the key terms; science, attitude, teachers, learning environment, approaches to learning and performance and later screened to fulfill the desired criteria. The articles were analyzed and the findings indicated that there is a high use of deep and strategic approaches to learning and a low use of surface approach; the findings also show that students’ attitudes towards science differ and students’ attitudes influence their learning outcomes. The findings also found a significant relationship between students’ attitudes and academic achievement. The findings imply that teachers must build a positive attitude amongst students and encourage the use of deep approach to learning.