1.1 Introduction
Home Economics is one of the study subjects included in the general education school program. Analyzing the Home Economics programmes in the perspective of time, changes can be observed not only in the title of the study subject, but also in the structure, content and used methods (Lice, 2003a; Lice, 2003b). The goal of Home Economics as a vocational subject is to equip students with all the pertinent practical knowledge and social skills necessary for them to take a productive role in the economy. A teacher of Home Economics education also has the sole responsibility of impacting these knowledge and skills to students in the subject area. The teacher implements curriculum, motivates learning, facilitates learning and guides learning in Home Economics for the benefit of the students and society.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Essentially, home economics is meant to equip learners with skills and aptitudes to maximally enhance family life through the optimal utilization of its human and material resources. Home economics is one of the vocational subjects taught at secondary schools in the Nigerian educational system as a compulsory part of the curriculum. The Nigerian government, at all levels has over the years placed enormous emphasis on teaching aids is shaping efforts and strategies aimed at improving students standard of learning in the country but no one seems to capture the real factors as to why the standard of education in country still remain very low. Teaching aids refers to tools like an object (such as a book, picture, or map) or device (such as a DVD or computer) used by teachers to help learners improve reading, learning and other skills needed for academic excellence. In Nigeria today, many schools cannot boast of teaching aids and therefore government should endeavor to make education her priority to help improve our standard of learning by providing the required teaching aids to schools.
Instructional materials or teaching aids are essential and significant tools needed for teaching and learning of school subjects to promote teachers’ efficiency and improve students’ performance. Teaching aids make learning more appealing and interesting. It also gives room for the students to participate actively in the class and helps the teachers to teach effectively. Ibeneme (2000) defined teaching aids as those materials used for practical and demonstration in the class situation by students and teachers. In addition, Obanya (2004) asserted that several studies carried out in some areas in Nigeria indicated that the results of Senior School Certificate Examinations were completely bad in nearly all subjects offered by the students. He stressed further that only about 10% of candidates ‘meaningfully passed’ the examination. Abdu-Raheem (2011) asserted that non availability and inadequacy of instructional materials are major causes of ineffectiveness of the school system and poor performance of students in schools. Ahmed (2003) confirmed that teaching and learning take place under most un-conducive environments in most secondary schools in Nigeria and these schools lack many essential materials for academic excellence. Eniayewu (2005) posited that it is very important to use teaching aids for instructional delivery to make students acquire more knowledge and to promote academic standard.
Afolabi and Adeleke (2010) identified non-availability, inadequacy and non utilization of learning materials as a result of teacher’s poor knowledge as factors responsible for the use of lecture method. They recommended that students, teachers, parents, Parents/Teacher Association, government and philanthropists should be involved in improvising instructional materials for the teaching and learning in schools. Therefore, Ogbondah (2008) advocated for teachers’ resourcefulness and as well encouraged them to search for necessary teaching aids through local means to complement the standard ones that are available to make their teaching to be more effective. Jekayinfa (2012) also identified the importance of improvisation of instructional materials as making learning concrete and real, substitutes one thing for another, allows the students to participate in the production of materials, economical and more teacher-student resource oriented.
Abdu-Raheem (2014) submitted that improvisation of locally made teaching aids could assist to improve quality of graduates turn out from schools and standard of education generally. Abdu-Raheem and Oluwagbohunmi (2015) also corroborated the idea that resourceful and skilful teachers should improvise necessary instructional materials to promote academic standard in Nigerian schools.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to assess the Impact of Teaching Aids for Effective Teaching and Learning of Home Economics in Senior Secondary Schools.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the major problems facing education sector in Nigeria is the low level of the performance of secondary school students in the examinations. It was observed that students usually fail in examinations owing to improper teaching methods and lack of essential teaching aids for instructional delivery (Afolabi, 2009).
Home economics education subjects ought to attract many students because of its laudable importance but reverse has been the case. The reason for this probably is due to people’s perception that it does not require specialized kind of training. People are ignorant of the importance of the vocational subjects which could help males and female students receive formation and to be able to work solution to problems. Also, it enables the students to acquire skills, abilities needed for independent life. This study therefore finds it worthy to assess the impact of teaching aids for effective teaching and learning of Home economics in senior secondary schools in Nigeria.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to assess the Impact of Teaching Aids for Effective Teaching and Learning of Home Economics in Senior Secondary Schools. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To ascertain the impacts of teaching aids/instructional materials on the academic performance of students in Home economics.
- To inquire the learning aids available for effective teaching and learning of Home economics in secondary schools.
- To survey the challenges facing the use of teaching aids/instructional materials for effective teaching and learning of Home economics in secondary schools.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What are the impacts of teaching aids/instructional materials on the academic performance of students in Home economics?
- What are the learning aids available for effective teaching and learning of Home economics in secondary schools?
- What are the challenges facing the use of teaching aids/instructional materials for effective teaching and learning of Home economics in secondary schools?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant relationship between the use of teaching aids and effective learning of Home economics by the students in secondary schools
- H1: There is a significant relationship between the use of teaching aids and effective learning of Home economics by the students in secondary schools
Hypothesis Two
- H0: There is no significant correlation between the use of teaching aids and effective teaching of Home economics by the teachers in secondary schools
- H1: There is a significant correlation between the use of teaching aids and effective teaching of Home economics by the teachers in secondary schools
1.7 Significance of Study
The result of the study would be of immense benefits to the government. The results of the study would show the devices that are lacking in these institutions so that the government would supply them to the schools. Schools now will increasingly use teaching aids/instructional materials to improve the efficiency of administration.
Through equipping the schools with laboratories, the learners will have access to a wide range of information resources. This will also enable the teachers to teach effectively and makes the tasks of teaching simplified.
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on Assessing the Impact of Teaching Aids for Effective Teaching and Learning of Home Economics in Senior Secondary Schools in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definitions of Terms
The following terms were used in the course of this study:
Academic Performance: Scores attained in form one end of year examination.
Home Economics: field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community. It deals with the relationship between individuals, families, communities, and the environment in which they live.
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