1.1 Introduction
Basic technology is a subject offered in Junior Secondary Schools in Nigeria which introduces students to basics or rudiments of technology. Instructional media are all the materials and physical means an instructor might use for instruction and to facilitate students achievement of instructional objectives. Instructional media encompass print and non-print items that are used to pass information to students in the educational process. Instructional media include items such as kits, textbooks, magazines, newspapers, recorded videos, projectors, visuals such as charts, real objects, photographs, and transparencies, audio visuals such as slides, tapes, films, television, and video, multimedia and so on. Instructional media play a very important role in the teaching and learning process.
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 and learning is done with instructional materials; Nachias (2000), Owo (2009) and Nwagbo and Ugwuanyi (2015) observed that innovative pedagogical practices using technology and improvisation enhance teachers effectiveness Basic Technology concepts cannot be fully achieved without the use of instructional materials. The teaching of Basic Technology without instructional materials will certainly result to poor performance in the course.
The available instructional media to some extent determines the success of the method the teacher uses in teaching Basic Science. Apart from the chalkboard and textbook which are often available for the teachers’ use, instructional media are capable of complementing the teacher’s effort in the teaching/learning process. One reason why Basic Science Students in Junior Secondary Schools sometimes find it difficult to comprehend immediately what is being taught is the non use of instructional media that can easily convey the message of the lesson to them.
Basssey (2002) described instructional materials media as system component that may be used as part of instructional process which are used to disseminate informative message and ideas or which make possible communication in the teaching-learning process. Experience over the years has shown that teachers have been depending on excessive use of words to express, convey ideas or facts in the teaching-learning process. This process is termed the ‘chalk-talk’ method. Today advances in technology have made it possible to produce materials and devices that could be used to minimize the teachers’ talking and at the same time, make the message clearer, more interesting and easier for the learner to assimilate (Onasanya, et al. (2008).
According to Soetan et al. (2010), graphics including charts, posters, sketches, cartoons, graphs and drawings. Graphics communicate facts and ideas clearly through combination of drawings, words and pictures. The use of graphics in teaching creates definitiveness to the materials being studied. They help to visualize the whole concepts learned and their relationships with one another. Hands-on instructional materials show, rather than tell, which increase information retention. A truism often heard in teaching is that if you have not learnt, I have not taught. A reasonable conclusion then is that the importance of instructional materials in teaching and learning science is most efficient illustrated through student achievement result.
Samba and Eriba (2011) see improvisation as the act of using alternative materials and resources to facilitate instructions whenever there is lack or shortage of specific first hand teaching aids. The authors see improvisation as the choice of the best instructional material which enables the teacher to achieve some carefully specified educational objectives.
Stiggins (2008) added that there are various methods used to increase class participation and performance among students. The researchers hope that improvisation of instructional teaching materials could be one of them. Recent models of teaching and learning view learning as a social activity in which children construct knowledge with the teacher and other children (Kerry, 2002).
Therefore, in Lagos State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know The Impact of Availability and Utilisation of Instructional Material in Teaching of Basic Technology in JSS.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the transmission of facts, ideas and information from the teacher to the students in a systematic order or procedure is referred to as teaching. During this process instructional material otherwise known as teaching aids meant to make instruction more meaningful, clear and much more interesting to students are brought in display. There is a general impression that science education is not achieving the desired objectives especially with high incidence of students’ poor performance in Basic Technology and other science subjects at senior secondary certificate examination.
This situation has assumed a precarious dimension in all secondary schools in Lagos State. The failure of educational system to provide adequate and appropriate teaching-learning aids in order to improve academic performance of students is of a great concern to government, educational institutions and other concern citizens. It is believed that if adequate instructional materials are made available to school and are used appropriately in teaching-learning process, a better performance could be achieved. Hence, the motivation of this study seeks to find out the Impact of Availability and Utilization of Instructional Material in Teaching of Basic Technology in JSS in Education District III of Lagos State.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Impact of Availability and Utilization of Instructional Material in Teaching of Basic Technology in JSS in Education District III of Lagos State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To identify the availability of instructional materials used by the teachers in teaching basic technology subject in Junior Secondary School;
- To assess the frequency of use of these instructional materials are used by the teachers in teaching basic technology;
- To examine the perceived impact of the use of instructional material on student's achievement; and
- To identify the utilization of instructional materials used by the teachers in teaching basic technology subject in JSS in Education District III of Lagos State.
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:
- Does an instructional material influence instructional materials on academic performance of senior secondary school students in Basic Technology?
- Is there any relationship between instructional materials and student academic performance in Basic Technology?
- What are the available of instructional materials used by the teachers in teaching basic technology subject in Junior Secondary School?
- What is the frequency of use of these instructional materials are used by the teachers in teaching basic technology?
- What is the perceived impact of the use of instructional material on student's achievement?
- What are the instructional materials utilized by the teachers in teaching basic technology subject in JSS in Education District III of Lagos State?
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 between the mean response of male and female students on the utilization of instructional materials in teaching basic technology in Junior Secondary Schools.
- H1: There is a significant difference between the mean response of male and female students on the utilization of instructional materials in teaching basic technology in Junior Secondary Schools.
Hypothesis Two
- H0: There is no significant difference between the mean response to male and female students on the frequency of use of instructional materials in teaching basic technology.
- H0: There is a significant difference between the mean response to male and female students on the frequency of use of instructional materials in teaching basic technology.
Hypothesis Three
- H0: There is no significant difference between the mean response of male and female students on the perceived impact of the use of instructional materials in teaching basic technology
- H1: There is a significant difference between the mean response of male and female students on the perceived impact of the use of instructional materials in teaching basic technology
1.7 Significance of Study
The study is expected to be of great advantages to the teaching and learning of Basic Technology and other subjects offered in the under basic school. Instructional materials help to facilitate teaching creation and distribution of contents during learning. Thus a study focusing on the use of instructional materials based on contents could definitely ensure quality materials for effective teaching and learning to achieve educational goals and objectives.
The result of the research could help education stakeholder such as students, teachers, schools, administrators, parents, government and society to better understanding the benefit of relating basic technology curriculum with instructional basic technology materials.
This study might open up science teachers' mind to the effectiveness of the materials they use for Basic Technology. The study would make teachers to see the need to use the materials and make necessary suggestions to officials from Ministry of Education as guides in selecting materials.
1.8 Scope of Study
The study focuses on the Impact of Availability and Utilization of Instructional Material in Teaching of Basic Technology in JSS in Education District III of Lagos 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 Definition of Terms
Basic technology: It is a subject offered in Junior Secondary Schools in Nigeria which introduces students to basics or rudiments of technology.
