The current work explores the secondary school teachers’ and students’ perception on web-based discussions in teaching and learning and its potentiality to enhance students’ performance in organic chemistry. A mixed approaches typically interviews and achievement tests were applied for collecting qualitative and quantitative data respectively for triangulation purpose. A total of 138 senior five students and 4 teachers were purposively selected from the two secondary schools at Kicukiro District in Kigali city, Rwanda. Discourse and interpretive approaches were used to analyze qualitative data, while t-test was used for analyzing quantitative data obtained from pre- and post-test scores. The results from this study revealed that applying web-based discussions is the teaching method that potentially and effectively enhances students’ performance in organic chemistry with 0.10 learning gains and an effect size of 0.43 (df = 137 and p < .05). In addition, students and teachers have been expressed positive perceptions to the application of web-based discussions in teaching and learning. Therefore, teachers and students are recommended to access a universal chemistry network and conduct web-based discussions for increasing students performance in organic chemistry.

This paper reports the results about teachers’ perceptions towards the utilization of WhatsApp in supporting teaching and learning of chemistry during the COVID-19 pandemic in Rwandan selected secondary schools. The collected data by using a survey questionnaire were from 18 chemistry teachers in Nyarugenge and Kicukiro Districts. The findings illustrated that WhatsApp is effective for teaching chemistry and supporting students learning. This application promotes students’ motivation, engagement, collaboration, interaction, participation, and ubiquitous learning. Despite the facilitation of collaboration between teachers and their students while using WhatsApp, the internet connection related problems including its cost and availability were among the hindering factors for effective collaboration for both students and teachers. The lack of smartphones and computers for some students, teachers, parents, or guardians was among the highlighted limitations for the participation of some students. The limited students’ management and their distraction were also highlighted by some teachers. The provision of computers, smartphones, and enough internet connection for all teachers, parents, or guardians were among the proposed potential solutions. To deal with students’ management and distractions while learning via WhatsApp, there should be the follow-up and guidance provided by teachers, guardians, or parents. Chemistry teachers and students are recommended to use WhatsApp as a supporting learning tool due to its added value of providing ubiquitous learning. Parents, boards in charge of education, and other educational stakeholders should integrate WhatsApp in teaching and learning to complement classroom learning.

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