Sec 3: Developing Communication &

Collaboration Skills in Biology using

the topic Classification

Odhiambo John

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 Introduction
• Welcome to section 3 of unit 3
• We are going to explore how to develop
learner communication and collaboration
skills using the topic classification.
• Topic is taught in Form 1 and 3 secondary
biology syllabus( but some of the concepts
are introduced in primary school science)
• This section is divided into:

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1) Preliminaries
2) Teaching and learning activities
3) Critique of sample lesson plans
4) ASEI-lesson preparation and
5) Conclusion

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 a)Rationale
• Communication and collaboration are some of
the skills that the secondary education
curriculum envisages to inculcate in learners
and which are necessary skills for the 21st
century
• Importance of these skills is exemplified in the
specific objectives of the biology syllabus
which states that: by the end of the 4 year
biology course, learners are expected to:

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Communicate biological information in a
precise ,clear and logical manner and develop
awareness of the value of cooperation in
solving problems (KIE,2002)
KNEC(2012/3) reported weakness in the
learners’ written communication, esp. mis-
spelling of scientific terms as they record and
describe observations.
• This unit provides an opportunity for you too
enhance skills on how to develop learners’
communication and collaboration skills.

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 b) Session Objectives
• By the end of the session the participant
should be able to:
i. Design learning experiences that promote
communication and collaboration
ii. Identify teaching and learning strategies
that promote communication and
collaboration
iii. Develop an ASEI lesson plan incorporating
T/L activities that enhance communication
and collaboration skills
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iv. Try-out ASEI lesson plan integrating
communication and collaboration skills

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 c. Learning outcome
• ASEI lesson that integrates communication
and collaboration skills

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 What is Communication?
• The Latin root of the word communicate is
communicare, which means to make common or
to share. Eg community, communion.
• The purpose of communication, therefore, is to
express thoughts, ideas, and feelings with
others in a way they will understand.
• Good communication has little to do with a
large vocabulary . It has everything to do with
making yourself understood.
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 Developing Communication &
Collaboration Skills in Biology Lesson
• Ref to page 82 of the module

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 It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You
Say It
• “ I have found it enriching to open channels
whereby others can communicate their
feelings, their private perceptual worlds to
me” Carl Rogers (in Colleen McKenna,2003)
• How you say something is often more
powerful than what you say.
• How does your nonverbal communication
work for you?

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• Your tone of voice and facial expression tell
people more than your words
• Tone, inflection (nuance, variety, tone) and
facial expressions account for 93% of your
message, the actual words only account for
7%
• NB. You don’t need a college education or
bombastic words to communicate assertively
and make yourself understood.
• Its not what you say, it’s how you say it.

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• Your tone of voice and facial expression tell
people more than your words
• Tone, inflection (nuance, variety, tone) and
facial expressions account for 93% of your
message, the actual words only account for
7%
• NB. You don’t need a college education or
bombastic words to communicate assertively
and make yourself understood.
• Its not what you say, it’s how you say it.

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• Your non-verbal communication can either
enhance and support what your words say, or
detract, or even oppose what you are saying.
• The key components of nonverbal
communication are:
Eye contact
Body posture
Distance/physical contact
Facial expressions
Gestures
Vocal tone, inflection, volume
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Fluency
Timing –spontaneity of expression is the goal
Clothing –what you wear and how you wear it
sends powerful signals

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