1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of Study
Teaching and learning of computer, like every other branch of natural science requires observation and learner centered activities. Business Studies has been discussed as a social science discipline which ought to be taught in all post primary schools in Nigeria as stated by the National Policy on Education. Business Studies is made up of a number of subject areas. In other words, it is an integration of many subjects, it is offered as an integrated subject at the Junior Secondary level comprising, office practice, commerce, shorthand, typewriting and book-keeping. However, at the Senior Secondary level, the subjects are separated into shorthand, typewriting, economics, book-keeping and accounting with a view to providing career options.
Business studies is one of the important fields of studies in the Junior secondary school curriculum in Nigeria. It is an academic field that cut-across various branches of human endeavours such as accounting, banking and finance, insurance, marketing, business management and administration. As a multi-disciplinary field, business studies also relates to other subjects or disciplines such as economics, geography, government/political science, philosophy, psychology, sociology, mathematics, agriculture, and others. The importance of business studies cannot be over-emphasized because it provides the foundation on which the private sector, which is regarded as the engine room of modern economies, thrives. Thus business studies offers the platform necessary for the development of important skills needed in all occupations and careers intended to promote an effective and efficient citizenry for economic growth and development of the country.
Akpan & Ekong (2009) observes that the socio-economic growth and development of a country depends on the quality of its youth and human capital training and development. This assertion therefore calls for students to be properly equipped with the rudimentary knowledge and skills from the junior secondary level so as to become active participants in nation building.
In the near past, researchers have identified defective teaching strategies as one of the reasons of the poor academic performance of students especially at the junior secondary ad senior secondary school examinations (Onasanya, Daramola and Asuquo, 2006). Also, Etiubon (2009) observed that poor performance of students in Science-related and business studies has denied the students the opportunity of competing for career choices in tertiary institutions, and therefore identifies inability of teachers to effectively handle and utilize scientific and business-based models in the teaching-learning process in classrooms.
In the same vein, Udosen (2009) lamented about the general poor performance of students in core subjects in public examinations such as the junior and senior secondary school certificate Examinations. He attributed the dismal performances to the use of poor teaching/learning aids and methods. Udosen (2009) went further to suggest that teachers ought to access information from community resources and update their students’ knowledge base on current issues. However, the most important characteristic of Computer Assisted Instruction to learning is that the learner is made to take active part in the learning process which marks a departure from the passive learning chalk-talk approach found in conventional mode of instruction in schools; whereas, traditional classroom instruction is a teacher-centered instruction which requires the physical presence of both the teacher and the students in the same classroom. It emphasizes direct instruction and lecture to the whole class with the students learning through listening, observing, asking and answering questions (Okonna, 2011).
Adekunle (2008) in Dr. (Mrs) E.O kobia (2011) noted that teaching resources means anything that can assist the teacher in promoting teaching and learning. When the students are given the chance to learn through more senses than one they can learn faster and easier. According to Aduwa-Ogiegban and Imogie (2005) these materials and resources including audio tape recorders, video tape recorders, slide projectors, opaque projectors, overhead projectors, still pictures, programmed instruction, filmstrip, maps, chart, graphs, and many more offer a variety of learning experiences individually or in combination to meet different teaching and learning experience.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Impact of Computer Study on the Academic Performance of Junior Secondary Business Students.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Investigation revealed that Nigeria’s drive towards a dynamic and self-reliant economy driven by the private sector with highly skilled and competent entrepreneurs cannot be achieved without a good background training of the citizenry on business studies. A preliminary survey of students’ academic performances in Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (JSSCE) in business studies over two different periods of time (before and after the introduction of computers in the school) shows contradictory results that call for investigation.
Most of our secondary schools today the teacher–student ration has gone far beyond the stipulation of the national policy on education. Students stay more than fifty in each computer class, seating arrangement altered, thereby making teaching and learning difficult. Educational planners in Nigeria have attributed the over bloated class size due to the explosion of the population of children of school age.
The performance of junior secondary school students in Junior West African Examination Council in 2012 according to report made by (office of the statistics in PPSMB, 2012), calls for proper investigation of causes of poor academic performance of junior secondary schools students in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State. Although, several scholars have proposed various factors responsible for the poor performance of students, few researches has been dedicated to the correlation between class size, school population and academic achievement of students.
In amidst of this claim, this study is set-out to inquire into the impact of ICT on Business Studies performance in JSSCE in Junior Secondary Schools in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State. In doing this, the study aimed to look at the impact of computer study on the academic performance of both male and female students in JSSCE.
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Impact of Computer Study on the Academic Performance of Junior Secondary Business Students using Ethiope West Local Government Area as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To ascertain the effectiveness of teaching and learning computer among junior secondary Business Students in the area under study;
- To determine the effect of individualized computer study on academic performance of students in Business Studies;
- To identify the policy guiding computer study ratio in junior secondary business students in the area under study; and
- To determine the effect of class size in teaching and learning computer among junior secondary school business students in the area under study.
1.4 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 policy guiding computer study ratio in junior secondary business students in the area under study?
- How effective does computer learning impact junior secondary Business Students in the area under study?
- What is the effect of individualized computer study on academic performance of students in Business Studies?
- What is the effect of class size in teaching and learning computer among junior secondary school business students in the area under study?
1.5 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 effect of individualized computer study on academic performance of students in Business Studies
- H1: There is a significant effect of individualized computer study on academic performance of students in Business Studies
Hypothesis Two
- H0: Class size has no significant effect on the teaching and learning computer among junior secondary school business students in the area under study
- H2: Class size has a significant effect on the teaching and learning computer among junior secondary school business students in the area under study
1.6 Significance of Study
This significance of the findings of this research will be of great importance to the stakeholders in the Nigerian education sector as it will encourage the utilization of innovations associated with information and communication technology (ICT), including Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) in order to improve quality of education in Nigeria.
Since computer study has the potential of coping with individual needs of the students, the study will help in the formulation and implementation of appropriate curriculum policy capable of addressing individualized study challenges faced by students in different subjects. Given the rising number of student’s population in schools without a proportionate increase in the number of teachers, this study will enhance the development of effective computer technology programs and Computer Assisted Instructions that will reduce the work load of the existing teachers.
Furthermore, this study has the potential to guide the policy maker about the present scenario of education system. They make the vision and may improve the situation through adopting a better policy about teachers. The study is also likely to guide for developing the education, standard for students teacher, ratio.
This study is also important such that the findings made will help teachers to identify the reasons for the academic performances of students in large classes with high population and how they can address the problems. It will provide comprehensive information for educational planners, educators, and parents on how they can assist students to cope in large classes.
1.7 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Impact of Computer Study on the Academic Performance of Junior Secondary Business Students using Ethiope West Local Government Area as a case study.
1.8 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:
- 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.
- 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).
- Initial Cooperation Delay from Respondents: A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.
1.9 Definition of Operational Terms
For the purpose of this study, the following terms are defined as understated below:
Academic Performance:
This refers to students obtaining a credit score regarded as having passed and those who did not have credit score regarded as having failed.
Computer:
This is the programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of logical operations.
Computer Assisted Instruction:
This is an interactive instructional technique where a computer is used to present the instructional materials, and monitor the learning process that takes place. It allows the student to direct his own progress.
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