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Factors Militating Against Teaching of Biology Practical in Secondary Schools

Factors Militating Against Teaching of Biology Practical in Secondary Schools

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Reference ID: PS-25774-TM

DEDICATION

This research work titled "Factors Militating Against Teaching of Biology Practical in Secondary Schools" is dedicated to God for his enabling grace and to all computer enthusiasts who help to make life a pleasant experience.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I owe my indebtedness to my Supervisor (Name of your Supervisor), the Head of Department (Name of your HOD), the Lecturers in the department of Biology Education, Book Authors and Profound Scholars of existing/related research material for your moral support that facilitated the successful completion of my (Tertiary Institution level). I am grateful to God Almighty and my parent for their financial support in my career. I really appreciate you all for everything, Thank you very much.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PRELIMINARY PAGES


CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION


CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

  • 2.1 Introduction
  • 2.2 Conceptual Review
  • 2.3 Theoretical Framework
  • 2.4 Empirical Studies

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

  • 3.1 Introduction
  • 3.2 Research Design
  • 3.3 Population of Study
  • 3.4 Sampling and Sampling Technique
  • 3.5 Validation of Research Instrument
  • 3.6 Method of Data Collection
  • 3.7 Method of Data Analysis
  • 3.8 Questionnaire Administration
  • 3.9 Ethical Consideration
  • 3.10 Statistical Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA ANALYSIS, RESULT AND DISCUSSION

  • 4.1 Introduction
  • 4.2 Presentation and Analysis of Data
  • 4.3 Re-statement of Research Questions
  • 4.4 Test of Hypotheses
  • 4.5 Discussion of Findings

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

  • 5.1 Introduction
  • 5.2 Summary of Findings
  • 5.3 Conclusion
  • 5.4 Recommendation
  • 5.5 Suggestion for Further Study

REFERENCES

APPENDIX A - “QUESTIONNAIRE”


Factors Militating Against Teaching of Biology Practical in Secondary Schools

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 Introduction

Biology is defined as the study of life and structure of living things. Biology is the study of living things and concerns itself with the study of the structural, behaviour, distribution, the origin of plants, and animals and their relationship with their environment (American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language 2009). Abugu (2007) stated that biology is natural science in which we study living organism plants and animals. The knowledge of biology helps in checking environmental degradation such as desertification, erosion, water hyacinth, land, air and water pollution. Biology as one of the science subject is defined as the study of life and structure of living things. Biology is the study of living things and concerns itself with the study of the structure, behaviour, distribution, the origin of plants and animals and their relationship with their environments.

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

Effective teaching in the field of education explains the process of setting objectives and determining the means of achieving the objectives. Lacina and Block (2011) stated that planning is the intellectual anticipation of possible future situations, selection of desired situation to be achieved and determination of relevant actions that need to be taken in order to reach those objectives at a reasonable cost. The effective teaching in secondary schools is a major concern in many countries of the world. For effecting teaching to take place, we need teachers who distinguish themselves and set themselves apart from the rest (Laucina & Block, 2011).

The effective teaching of biology is a process by which biology teachers adopt all the possible methods used in teaching in the classroom to make sure that students understand biology and able to respond positively during assessment or to produce a good result (Ezeobi, 2016). She stated that teachers effectiveness is exhibited in the teaching method, classroom management, material as well as the way students are been handled, a good teacher always bear in mind the individual differences of the students while presenting the lesson and frequently check the students understanding of his or her point to make sure that they are understanding her lesson. This also includes the ability of the teacher to answer questions asked by the students, having knowledge about his or her subject matter and ability to show students how to conduct appropriate researches. Effective teaching is crucial in other for students to reach educational success in and outside classroom setting (Ezeobi, 2016).

The term biology is derived from two Greek words “bios” and “logos” which mean life and study respectively. Biology therefore means the study of life or study of living things. According to stone etal (1985), biology as a science is defined as a scientific study of living organisms. It is therefore a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution and taxonomy. It have several branches; including the two big branches of biology which are botany (the study of plants) and zoology (the study of animals), morphology (the study if external structure of living things) physiology (the study of how living things function), Ecology (the study of relationship between living things and their environments), Genetics (the study of how living things inherits characters from their parents) Cell biology (the study of cell structure and functions). According to Okeke (2000). Students who did well in biology could have prospects of becoming: Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, Dentists, Biology teachers, Medical technologist, Food technologists, Genetic Engineers, Microbiologists, Biochemists, and other science subject.

Biology has its origin from Europe but today all the nations of the world accord priority attention to science and technology in development efforts. The reason for according such priority attention to science and technology being that it carries the promises of great economic improvement and equally serve as a gateway to national development in the age of fast developing technology, has become necessary for all countries of the world especially the developing ones to organize and improve the teaching of science throughout the school stage. It is through science that we get the fundamental bases to develop technology.

Biology often overlaps with other sciences, for example biochemistry with biology and chemistry, Astrobiology with biology and astronomy. Social science such as geography, philosophy, psychology and sociology can also interact with biology, for example in administration of biological resources, developmental biology etc. it is a vast subject containing many subdivisions topics which are five unifying principle that can be said to be fundamental of modern biology.

Effective teaching of biology is a process by which biology teachers adopt all the possible method used in teaching in the classroom to make sure that students understand biology and be able to respond positively during assessment or to produce a good result. Teachers’ effectiveness is exhibited in the teaching method, classroom managements, the material as well as the way students are being handled, a good teacher always bear in mind the individual differences of the students while presenting the lesson and frequently check the student’s understanding of his or her points to make sure that they are getting of understanding his lesson. This also includes the ability of the teacher to answer question asked by the students, having knowledge about his or her subject matter and ability to show students how to conduct appropriate research.

Therefore, in Enugu East Local Government Area where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Factors Militating against Teaching of Biology Practical in Secondary Schools.


1.3 Statement of Problem

Investigation revealed that not much attention has been giving to the performance of the students in senior secondary school subjects most especially in biology and biology practical aspect of biology in schools has been blamed on such factors as the inability of the school authorities to provide materials and equipment for practical work, teachers failure to recognize the importance of practical work in science teaching. Most instructional approaches such as lecture and demonstration used in teaching biology in the classroom or laboratory promote rote learning and lack of opportunity for students to manipulate materials and reflect on what they do during teaching and learning processes. Student interaction during practical activities in the laboratory could play a key role towards concretizing learning.

The inappropriate instructional approaches used by secondary school biology teachers tend to raise doubts about the possibility of realizing the objectives of biology education in Nigeria secondary school as stated in the National Policy on Education (Federal Ministry of Education, 2004).


1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to investigate the Factors Militating against Teaching of Biology Practical in Secondary Schools in Enugu East Local Government Area. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

  1. To determine the insufficient numbers of qualified teachers affects students’ mass failure in Biology subjects;
  2. To determine the influence of biology practical activities on academic achievement of senior secondary students in biology;
  3. To determine how teacher’s incompetence in the use of laboratory equipment affects student’s achievement in biology;
  4. To determine how the student attitude towards biology practical affect their achievement in biology;
  5. To know whether there is any significant difference between the mean scores of male and female students taught biology using practical methods; and
  6. To investigate whether there is any significant difference between the mean scores of urban and rural schools students taught biology using practical methods.

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:

  • Is there any difference in the mean scores of students taught biology using practical and theory methods?
  • Is there difference between the mean scores of male and female students taught biology using the practical methods?
  • Is there any difference between the mean scores of rural and urban students taught biology using practical method?
  • How does teacher’s incompetence in the use of laboratory equipment affects student’s achievement in biology?
  • How does student attitude towards biology practical affect their achievement in biology?
  • What is the influence of gender on academic achievement of students in biology?
  • What is the influence of biology practical activities on academic achievement of senior secondary students in biology?

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 difference in the scores of students taught biology using practical method and those taught using theoretical method
  • H1: There is significant difference in the scores of students taught biology using practical method and those taught using theoretical method

Hypothesis Two

  • H0: There is no significant difference between the mean academic achievement scores of male and female students taught biology using practical activities.
  • H1: There is significant difference between the mean academic achievement scores of male and female students taught biology using practical activities.

1.7 Significance of Study

The result obtained from the study will benefit the following people: Government, Teachers and Students

  1. Government: The study will help to motivate the Government to equip secondary schools with necessary practical equipment for the teaching of biology.
  2. Teachers: This will assist classroom teachers in the organization of practical that would help to develop skills and knowledge in the students. It will also enable trained teachers to adopt those teaching and learning methods that would aid them in organization of their subjects matter for the students.
  3. Students: When students understand more, the importance of biology practical skills, they are equipped to secure employment and this would in no small measure make them contribute meaningfully to the development of the society. Practical method of teaching can also increases the interest of the students to practical works.

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 study focuses on the Factors Militating against Teaching of Biology Practical in Secondary Schools in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.


1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

  1. 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.
  2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
  3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
  4. 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 Definition of Terms

Biology: It is defined as the study of life and structure of living things. Biology is the study of living things and concerns itself with the study of the structural, behaviour, distribution, the origin of plants, and animals and their relationship with their environment (American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language 2009).

Instructional Materials: These are materials that are used to aid in the transference of information from one student to another in Education arena.

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature Review

2.1 Introduction

This chapter focuses on the review of related literature. A literature review includes the current knowledge as well as theoretical and methodological contributions to a particular topic. It documents the state of the art with respect to the topic you are writing. It surveys the literature in the topic selected. In this research work the literature review includes the …

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