Dataset on secondary school teachers' and students' perceptions of teaching-learning activities used in Zambian secondary school biology classrooms

Teaching and learning activities used in the classroom form an important part of the learning environment. Creating productive learning environments may be influenced by how teachers and students perceive the teaching and learning process. Teachers’ and students’ perceptions of teaching and learning seem to influence each other. For example, how teachers approach their subject matter impacts how their students learn and view the learning environment or process. Therefore, the degree of teaching and learning quality congruence between teachers' and students' perceptions of teaching-learning process may impact the setting of the learning environment. This article describes a dataset concerning teachers' and students' perceptions of 26 teaching-learning activities used in biology lessons. The data were collected from 57 biology teachers and 469 students from 16 selected secondary schools in four districts of Zambia. Data were collected during the 2022 academic year using separate validated survey questionnaires. The statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 25 was used to analyse the data by calculating descriptive and inferential statistics to describe and compare the participants’ perceptions of the teaching-learning activities in biology lessons. The data may provide valuable insight into current teaching practices in biology classrooms based on teachers' and students' perceptions. The data may also provide a basis for comparing teachers’ and students’ perceptions of teaching-learning activities in biology classrooms.