INFLUENCE OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ON TEACHING OF BASIC SCIENCES IN PRE SCHOOLS

Abstract

The  study  examined  the  influence  of  instructional  materials on the teaching of Basic Science in Selected schools in, Makurdi.  This study made use of Survey Research Design. TEN (10) Government and private pre schools were used. It had the population of 2,150 basic science students and 30 basic science teachers.  Sample of 206 students were randomly selected with 10 basic science teachers.   The instrument used for collection of data was a questionnaire designed by the researcher for the teachers and students of basic science. Based on this study, instructional materials was seen as possessing characteristics of visibility, simplicity, attraction, and clarity. That instruction material is important to influence students academic performance in basic science.  Recommendations were made in line with the findings, which include the basic science teachers should endeavour to use and try to improvise instructional materials for effective teaching of basic science in pre schools.   Government should ensure the adequate employment of dedicated and qualified basic science teachers and make funds available and sponsor the teachers  attendance  at   conferences,  seminars,   and   workshops   on   utilization  of basic science instructional materials. In conclusion, students perform better when appropriate and improvised materials were made available and utilized in teaching basic science. The basic science knowledge and subsequent performance of students in both pre and  pre  pre schools  and  basic science as  a subject becomes more interesting to learn when it was taught by experienced, well committed, dedicated and qualified basic science teachers.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page

Approval page

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Abstract

Table of content

CHAPETR ONE

1.0   INTRODUCTION 

1.1        Background of the study

1.2        Statement of problem

1.3        Objective of the study

1.4        Research Hypotheses

1.5        Significance of the study

1.6        Scope and limitation of the study

1.7       Definition of terms

1.8       Organization of the study

CHAPETR TWO

2.0   LITERATURE REVIEW

CHAPETR THREE

3.0        Research methodology

3.1    sources of data collection

3.3        Population of the study

3.4        Sampling and sampling distribution

3.5        Validation of research instrument

3.6        Method of data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

4.1 Introductions

4.2 Data analysis

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Summary

5.3 Conclusion

5.4 Recommendation

Appendix

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION 

• Background of the study

The influence of instructional materials on teaching of basic science has being noted in promoting students’ academic performance, teaching and learning in educational development. The teaching of Basic Science in Nigerian pre schools needs to be properly handled. Creativity contributes to the nation’s economic development, hence, the need to be taught thoroughly if it is to meet the educational and economic development.  Basic Science is one of the subjects in Pre Schools, it cannot be taught effectively without the use of appropriate instructional materials (Ajayi, 1988. Learning by doing was emphasized in the curriculum so that the students should be able to understand the simple basis of science and learn to be creative.   A series of activities were suggested in the curriculum to ensure the development  of  psychomotor  skills  in  basic  science  by  the  students. Students achievement should be continuously assessed through various forms of tests and their experiments’s should be well organized in class and laboratories. Also individual assessments should be carried out to ascertain those students who are educationally sound, so that proper attention can be given more on those still struggling to meet up. From research, educational materials when given to students, especially books with pictures of inventions, it spurs the wide thinking of students to take their academics seriously. Hence  for  effective  and  positive  creative thinking to be done by children in pre schools, there is suppose to be teaching aids that this students will accept and learn faster with.(Oyedun, 2000).

The  teacher  alone  cannot  provide  all  the  needed  condition  for  an  effective teaching  and  learning  process,  other  supporting  materials  should  be  provided.  The students learn better when most of the senses are appealed to the instruction and use of instructional materials in creativity science education has added a new dimension in the positive promotion of the teaching and learning process.   It provides the much need sensory experiences needed by the learners for an effective and meaningful behavioural change. Instructional materials are meant to improve the quality of education for effective academic performance of basic science students in schools. The performance of the students on the intended learning outcome provide the validation – loop on the success of the interaction and instruction (Bakare, 1986).

Teachers normally dodge the use of instructional materials in most of their teaching topics, while they try to do all they could during their experiments teaching in their course of study; even though some of these materials are not usually available in the schools for teachers’ use. Basic science experimentss use a lot of specimens/ materials based on the specific experiment to be carried out.  Most of these materials are only made available for students’ use for the purpose of examinations. These specimens are those that have not been seen or used before by the students. “In most of the pre schools, instructional materials are not judiciously used expecially public schools with no adequate libraries as ought to be.  Many teachers teach in abstract without using the required materials” (Ibrahim, 2000).

In making use of any instructional materials, such materials must be previewed that is, having full knowledge of the material; prepare the environment where it will be used; prepare audience by means of making sure that the materials to be used will attract attention, arouse, motivate and provide the rationale that could be used in the beginning, middle or end.   The effectiveness of utilizing appropriate instructional materials in teaching and learning of basic science is not void of quality instructor.  In order to give quality education to the younger generation, there is need for employment of more competent, experienced and qualified basic science teachers.

The need to identify the suitable instructional materials, by which students can be made to comprehend the extent of the subject easily and intelligibly, is the focus of this study.  An  indepth  look  at  the  pre  schools  basic  science  programmes revealed that there is the need for improving all phases of the programmes (IMAA, 2004). For example, there is need for the introduction and use of instructional materials and equipments for use in both the classrooms and school laboratorys.  The broad aim of any good training materials are to induce and support the learning process that leads to improve on-the-job performance through affecting changes in the knowledge, attitudes, skills and practices of the learners.  With the above reasons, it is worth investigating the influence of instructional materials in the teaching of Basic Science in our Pre Schools, for better performance of students in their examination and chosen career in the field of creativity. If instructional materials are used in Pre Schools, it would help improving the teaching and learning and hence the academic performance of students in Basic Science effectively.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Many of the school authorities have very lukewarm attitudes over the provision of needed tools, equipments, and specific educational materials for basic science, especially for experiments  in  pre schools.    This  non-challant attitude  tend  to  retard genuine efforts of some teachers of basic science in the pre schools.  Inspite of the emphasis being placed on basic science as one of the subjects in pre schools, there is usually not enough time provided in the time-table for a meaningful basic science work (Adeyemi, 2000).

Anything that saves students from performing poorly in basic science, will also save parents or guardians from wasting their hard-earned money.  It may put an end to parents or guardians wasting their hard-earned money re-enrolling their wards to repeat basic science  examinations which  they  are  not  guaranteed passing  even  after several attempts.   The unusual way some basic science teachers approach the

teaching of basic science has contributed to the students’ development of negative attitude to both the subjects and the teachers. Most of the pre schools cannot meet up with the academic (experiments) requirements of this subject as they lack instructional materials for adequate teaching and learning of the subject.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The major objective of this study is to determine the influence of instructional materials on teaching basic science in pre schools, in makurdi, Benue state. The specific objectives are to:

1. Identify the types of instructional materials being used for teaching in order to achieve students’ academic performance in basic science;
2. Determine the characteristics of instructional materials that can be used to influence students academic performance in basic science;
3. Evaluate the importance of using instructional materials to achieve students academic performance in basic science.
4. Examine the factors affecting the use of instructional materials to influence the academic performance of students in basic science.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions were answered in the course of the study.

1. What are the types of instructional materials available for use in the teaching of basic science to students in preschools in Benue State?
2. What are the characteristics of instructional materials being used to teach students basic science in preschools in Makurdi?
3. What is  the  importance  of  instructional  materials on basic science in preschools in Makurdi?
4. What are the factors affecting the use of instructional materials in teaching basic science in preschools in Makurdi?

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The following null hypotheses (Ho) were stated to guide the study.

H₀: There is no significant relationship between the use of available instructional materials and students’ academic performance in basic science in preschools in Benue State.

H₁: There is a significant relationship between the use of available instructional materials and students’ academic performance in basic science in preschools in Benue State.

H₀: there is no significant relationship between the characteristics of good instructional materials used and academic performance of student in basic science in preschools in Benue state.

H₀: there is a significant relationship between the characteristics of good instructional materials used and academic performance of student in basic science in preschools in Benue state.

H₀: there is no significant relationship  between  the  importance  of  using instructional   materials   and   the   academic   performance   of   student in basic science in preschools in Benue State.

H₃: there is no significant relationship  between  the  importance  of  using instructional   materials   and   the   academic   performance   of   student in basic science in preschools in Benue State.

H₀: There is no significant relationship between the factors affecting the use of instructional materials and students’ academic performance in basic science in preschools in Benue State.

H₄: There is a significant relationship between the factors affecting the use of instructional materials and students’ academic performance in basic science in preschools in Benue State.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The findings of the study may provide vital information on the use of IIM to different individuals in various ways. Pre-primary school teachers will benefit from the findings of the study where they will see the need for improvisation and how to use the improvised materials in teaching and learning process. The study could help the school head teachers and the school management to actively support the improvisation of instructional materials for effective learning to take place. The information could be of benefit to county and district education directors on the need to organize seminars and training meetings with pre-primary teachers to train them on improvising instructional materials from the local environment and to encourage them to use them frequently in teaching. Finally, the study may help parents and other stakeholders like Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in channeling their resources and efforts towards improvising materials and enlightening teachers on using improvised instructional material (IIM) during instruction.

 1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers influence of instructional materials on teaching of basic science in preschools in Makurdi Benue state, but in the cause of the study, there were some factors which limited the scope of the study;

1. a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
2. b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
3. c) FINANCE: The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover.

1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Instructional material

Instructional materials are the tools used in educational lessons, which includes active learning and assessment. Basically, any resource a teacher uses to help him teach his students is an instructional material. There are many types of instructional materials, but let’s look at some of the most common ones

Preschools

A preschool, also known as nursery school, pre-primary school, playschool or kindergarten, is an educational establishment or learning space offering early childhood education to children before they begin compulsory education at primary school.

Basic science

Basic research, also called pure research or fundamental research, has the scientific research aim to improve scientific theories for improved understanding or prediction of natural or other phenomena.

• ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study its based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

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