Effective teaching of any subject will only stimulates student’s interest in the subject but also enhance their achievement in the examination. To achieve effective teaching and learning process, there is need for the effective use of instructional materials.
Instructional materials are the different teaching aids or apparatus which a classroom teacher employs to facilitate his or her teaching for the achievement of the stated objectives (Donatus, 2006).
Agun (2009) defined instructional materials as those materials which are helpful to the teacher and students and which maximize learning in various areas. Instructional materials include items such as kits, text books, magazines, newspapers, pictures, recording videos, etc. The use of instructional materials in the teaching of technical education is very important because it provide a concrete basis for conceptual thinking, motivates people to learn, and capture student’s imagination if used correctly. Instructional materials play a very important role in the teaching and learning process. It enhances the memory level of the students. At this time education has spread widely, oral teaching cannot be the key to successful pedagogy; therefore the teacher has to use instructional materials to make teaching and learning process interesting. And also, the use of instructional materials can enhance learning achievement.
In the other hand, Technical Education is a type of education that gives individual the knowledge and skills for reliance purposes (Meek, 2006). Technical Education is planned program of courses and learning experiences that begins with exploration of career option supports basic academic standards leadership, preparation for industry defined works and advanced and continuing education. To achieve the aim of technical education, it should be taught in the schools. In teaching technical education, the effective use of instructional materials can appeal to the individual attention by creating interest goal that will help the learning achieve direct effort. It does not only help to develop interest on the part of students but also bring about an enhance respect for teachers knowledge. The need to emphasize on the effective use of instructional materials in any teaching and learning environment cannot be underestimated. The teacher has to make use of these materials that will enable him to teach effectively.
It is in the above background that the study is out to ascertain The EffectiveUse of Instructional Materials in Teaching Technical Education in Bayelsa State.
The effective use of instructional materials in the teaching of technical education is not encouraging. As a result, it makes the morale and interest of students in technical education low. This is because adoption of verbalistic and theoretical method by technical teachers as a way of teaching and learning the subject, mainly due to non-availability of instructional materials in school. It is also observed that most students are complaining of being taught principles that seem to be abstract in nature.
The purpose of this study is to determine the effective use of instructional materials in teaching technical education in Bayelsa state.
Specifically, the study tends to:
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions were raised.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This research work is significant and useful in the teaching of technical education. Findings from this study will help technical education teachers in choosing appropriate instructional materials for teaching technical education. It will motivate technical teachers to develop interest towards reducing failure in the teaching of technical education.
Moreover, the result of this study will be of great significance to technical education curriculum planners. Finally, the study will be useful in education policy making.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of this study is focused on the effective use of instructional materials in Bayelsa state. The study covered the four tertiary institutions in Bayelsa state.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
EFFECTIVE: This is having the power to produce a required effect or effects
USE: This is a purpose for which something may be employed.
TEACHING: teaching is the act of imparting knowledge
TECHNICAL EDUCATION: Technical Education is an education which leads to the acquisition of skills.