Abstract
This study investigated effects of instructional materials on the academic achievement and retention of SS 2 biology students in Delta State. The study sample consisted of 86 SS2 biology students randomly selected from a population of 5,626 students drawn from 18 public schools. An instrument designed and developed from past WAEC questions by the researcher known as Biology Achievement Test (BAT) was validated by some senior lecturers in science, English and statistic from Ahmadu Bello University and senior biology teachers in Delta State. The instrument used was tested and certified to be reliable at 0.65 coefficient. Quasi-experimental design was adopted which involves two groups: experimental and control groups. The experimental group was subjected to treatment using instructional materials but the control group was taught without any instructional materials. Four null hypotheses were tested using ttest statistics. The following major findings were made: There is a significant diff
CHAPTER ONE
THE PROBLEM
1.1 Introduction
Science explains the natural existence of man and his activities. Science could be seen as
problem solving in order to improve the living standard of man. There are different definitions
of science by different schools of thought; Owolabi (2004) defines science as an integrated part
of human activities. It is seen as a dynamic human activity concerned with manipulating
spherical world. It is seen as “knowledge covering general truths and laws, obtained and tested
through scientific methods as concerned laws with the physical worldâ€. Science can be seen as
the bedrock of national development. A nation that is not scientifically advanced is termed a
backward nation. Science is used by humans to solve daily problems and control the
environment.
The usefulness of science cannot be under-rated. There are many areas of life that
science has contributed such as in medicine, geophysics, hydrology, agriculture,
communication, technology, education, transportation, healthcare to mention a few. Agriculture
has improved greatly through the introduction of high yield improved agricultural seeds.
Science has led to breakthrough in medical care. Diagnostic machine for checking different
ailments and diseases are now controlled and diseases cured through science. The usefulness of
science to humanity cannot be over emphasized.
Biology is defined as the study of living things which include plants and animals. It is a
fascinating study that ranges from microscopic-cellular molecules to the biosphere,
encompassing the earth’s surface and its living organisms (Sarigin, 2010). Biology is a core
subject that is mandatory in all secondary schools in Nigeria as it is a pre-requisite to the study
of many courses relevant to humanity which include the following; Medicine, Pharmacy,
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Biochemistry,Agriculture, Anatomy, Physiology, Botany, Zoology, Microbiology, Cell
Biology, Ecology, Entomology Immunology, Molecular biology, Evolutionary, Genetics and
population dynamic among others. Biology can be conveniently taught in a laboratory which is
a place designed and equipped with materials for teaching and learning. It is obvious that most
secondary schools lack physical laboratories and where they exist, there are inadequate or lack
of equipment. One of the problems militating against effort to enrich science is inadequate or
absence of teaching aids or materials which include; indoor or outdoor laboratory, reagents,
chemicals and unqualified teachers. Nwoji (1999) reported that some essential facilities were
not available in the school visited (Baike 2000).
The importance of Biology is so much that it needs to be taught with instructional
materials to arouse students’ interest. Tabotndip (2004) lamented that abstract teaching goes on
today where teachers do not use apparatus and students are not using textbooks. It is reported
that most secondary schools do not have biology laboratory, the few existing ones have been
converted into classrooms to create space for the overwhelming population of students arising
from the Universal Basic Education (UBE) and Universal Primary Education (UPE). As a result
of WAEC specification on SSCE examination, some schools resorts to multipurpose laboratory.
There is need for a single laboratory for each of physics, chemistry as well as biology practicals.
This ought not to be so for they have their disadvantages such as fire or chemical outbreak or
accidents. In case of biology, the charts, specimen and models may not be displayed for
recognition and observation. Learning occurs when all the facilities for study are harnessed for
work during a teaching and learning experience (Azikwe1990,Tabotndip 2004). Visual
imaginary e.g. pictures charts etc has become the most powerful means of communication in the
society today. (Ajayi 2004).
Outdoor activities in form of outdoor laboratory learning could be encouraged in form of
biology garden, field trips or around the school wall since the activities of the indoor laboratory
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cannot unfold true happenings in nature or forms of living things e.g. reproduction of
amphibians in water, observation of flowering plants, taxonomy of plants and animal.
Morphology of living things can be studied in the laboratory to an extent but their activities,
influence and interaction with one another in their habitat would be better studied outside the
laboratory. This method of instruction promotes inquiring strategy. Inquiring is a process that
encourages students to solve problems in a logical systematic manner using the process skills
(James, and Permida (1997, 2000).
The Biology garden as an outdoor laboratory plays a very important role in the teaching
and learning process that includes:
1. Free movement of teacher and students in terms of observation of specimens and
objects.
2. It promotes good relationship between students and their teacher.
3. It encourages inquiry, discovery and meaningful learning.
4. It exposes the students to study plants and animals in their natural habitat.
5. Biological garden helps the teacher to collect specimen without travelling long
distances.
6. It also reduces the cost of providing materials during WAEC examination.
There are still some biology concepts and phenomena that require indoor laboratory attention
such as chemical reactions in Biology (Physiology) e.g. osmosis, turgidity, etc. in plants and
some physiological activities in animals. It is necessary therefore to introduce the use of
materials in teaching and illustration of biology concepts for a meaningful study to take place.
These materials include; concrete objects, charts, stored specimens and other teaching materials.
It is on this background that the study is focused, finding out the effect of instructional materials
on academic achievements and retention of SS 2 Biology Students.
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Instructional materials are teaching aids or materials used to illustrate the teaching
process and make instruction more compressive to the learner. According to Franzer,
Okebukola, and Jegede (1992) professionally qualified science teacher no matter how well
trained would not be able to put his ideas into practice if the school setting lacks the equipment
and materials necessary to translate potentials into reality. The use of teaching aids or
instructional materials is an important tool in the teaching of Biology. The objective of any
educational process determines the content, methods and materials needed for achieving such
objectives. Different instructional materials are used for different concepts in Biology. Yero,
(2000) mentioned four types of instructional aids or materials, which include the following: –
i. Visual Aids: – these are instructional materials that make visual impression – that is, it
interprets the vision of the eyes. They include chalk board, posters, models, motion
pictures, projected transparences.
ii. Auditory Aids: – these appeal to the sense of hearing and include record players, tape
recorders and language laboratories.
iii. Audio – visual Aids: – these involve both hearing and visual senses e.g. based on sound
and vision. Advancement in modern technology has led to the production of devices
known as Information Communication Technology (ICT), which is also used in
teaching.
iv. Stimulation Devices: – These include devices built to stimulate the actions and function
of real thing or object. Instructional materials according to Oriade (2000) have the
characteristics of holding attention of almost all the students because they reinforce
verbal messages by providing a multi-media approach.
The importance of instructional materials according to Oriade (2000) emphasized that
no matter how good a curriculum maybe, absence of the use of instructional materials can
jeopardize its effective implementation. The selection and use of instructional materials depend
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on the teachers, if the science or biology teacher does not have the skills to manipulate the
materials, learning becomes difficult. Teachers should be committed and enthusiastic to use
instructional materials in teaching biology concepts. The provision and application of
instructional materials should be reinforced in the school system, for it is on this note that the
effect of instructional materials on academic achievements of Biology students, could be
determined by their interactive and participation in class which is based on the teacher’s
presentation of the biology concepts or subject matter. Both achievements and long term
achievement could be measured by test analysis designed. An instructional material stimulates
student’s participation in class, increase knowledge and affects the achievement of biology
students. The use of inappropriate teaching materials results such as wrongly labeled charts
results in several academic problems which according to Josiah and Okaoboh (2001) ranges
from mass failure or under achievement in public examination to the gradual deteriorating
situation in educational institution at all levels. Instructional materials are seen as an
improvement and great relief for teachers in impacting knowledge and making the message
clearer, more interesting and easier for the learners to assimilate (Onasanga and Adegbija
2008).In their view, there is no need teaching if what is learnt cannot be recalled.
Retention is the ability to store what has been learnt and recall what has been stored in
the memory. According to Bichi (2002) retention is the ability to retain and later remember
information or knowledge gained after learning in to memory. The nature of the materials to be
coded contributes to the level of retention. Instructional materials contribute to quality and level
of retention in terms of meaningful, concreteness and image evolving characteristic.(Adeniyi
1997). The study therefore investigates the effect of instructional materials on the academic
achievement of teaching and learning process in biology concept. Logoke,(1992) in Bichi
(2002) investigated the retention ability of two groups of students; experimental group taught
biological concepts using the analogical linage strategy while the control group was thought
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(skeletal system) same concepts using the traditional teaching method. The results showed that
the experimental group performed significantly better and retained more of the biology concepts
taught than their counter parts in the control group. Akale and Usman (1993) and Eniayeji
(1995) opined, that carefully selected and skillful use of teaching materials make facts and
information better retained and learning more meaningful. It is on these findings that this study
is focused. The study tends to consider gender factor in terms of biology achievement and
retention.
Gender issue has been the concern of all classes and groups of people all over the world
especially researchers and educators. The issue of gender is considered and treated based on
certain facts such as social and cultural beliefs, pattern of life and priorities of individuals. In the
colonial days, boys were allowed to attend school while girls remained in the house to do house
chores. Today there is no disparity on gender. From the findings of Ifamuyiwa (2005), a total of
215 candidates that sat for school certificate further mathematics involving 181 males and 34
females; result analysis showed that though the females were much fewer; 16% female, 34% of
male, they relatively performed better. Even though there was poor performance of some female
student’s which was attributed to certain factors such as negative and discouraging attitudes of
female teachers, parents to the ideas of women engaging in “male careers†such as engineering.
The learning of boys and girls is associated with the society’s gender norms and perpetuated
through informal education in the homes and society. (Erinosho1997).Studies have confirmed
the inferiority of females in science enrolments and achievements.(Arends, (1991),andAgholor,
1993). According to Aleboisus, (2000) there is inequality in access to education, health and
employment. This study tends to access the effect of instructional materials on academic
achievements and retention among SS2 Biology students in Ika North East Local Government
Area of Delta State considering gender factors.
1.1.1 Theoretical Framework
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The theoretical framework of this study is based on constructivism theory, which is about
providing material which is more effective for the opportunities of the student to test ideas and
give them time to construct relationship among concepts and the use of higher level embedded
assessment (Ronande dios 2012).
According to Good (2003) the modem teacher sees the child as akin to a plant that is
helped to grow according to its abilities and aptitudes. The understanding of an individual
derived from a learning situation depends on both the incoming ideas and knowledge and
individual’s organization of the knowledge and deliberate re-structuring of his pre-existing
conceptual framework. Learning becomes more effective when students are actively involved in
the teaching learning process. They make their own knowledge as a result of interaction with
specific phenomenon as such from the basis on which new knowledge are anchored ( Ronande
Dios 2012). Studies of some science educators such as Okebukola (2005) advocated the use of
activity oriented instructional strategies such as constructive instructional strategy to enhance
the teaching and learning of sciences. The constructive instructional strategy is related to
Ausubel’s theory which is concerned with how an individual learn large amount of meaningful
materials from verbal /textual presentation in school settings (in contrast to theory developed in
the context of laboratory experiment Ronande Dios (2012)
The constructivist instructional strategies involve instructional materials. Constructivist
learning encourages learners to acquire necessary knowledge and skills for finding meaningful
solution to real world problems. Their learning involves learners-centered, goal-directed and
situated activities. There are experiences in a traditional classroom where the constructivist
learning process in practiced across various subject disciplines but to transform the
constructivist learning to e-learning remains challenging.
There are two main reasons:
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1. It requires adequate learning content design skills to ensure flexibility, re-usability and
interoperability to meet learners requirement.
2. Learning content design must allow a sound educational purpose to enforce knowledge
construction. An effective learning design is not driven by the advancement in
technology; it has to be rooted in sound learning theories and appropriate instruction
strategies (material).
A Primary process in learning according to Ausubel is the subsumption in which new
material is related to relevant ideas in an existing cognitive structure on a substantive non
verbatim basis. Cognitive structures represent the residue of all learning experiences; forgetting
occurs when certain details get integrated and lose their individual identity. (Ronande Dios
(2012) Constructivist theory as related to Ausubel’s learning theory of subsumption and
advanced organizers is helpful to provide more clarification for better knowledge of the use of
instructional material and strategies. Hollman (2007) according Ronande Dios (2012) is of the
view that children who learn science by the discovery approach will discover for themselves the
true structure of the discipline in complete harmony with modern philosophy of science
education .
This study which is focused on instructional materials is based on constructist theory.1.2 Statement of the Problem
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One of the main problems facing most secondary schools in the Nigerian society today
is the relative decline in the academic achievements of the students especially in the sciences.
The secondary schools in Delta State are no exception. The academic achievements of students
in the sciences have been on the decline (Ajagun 2000) and being able to reach the desired goal
can be termed achievement. Most research findings in academic achievement in sciences are
applicable to Biology as a science subject. The poor achievements in biology could be attributed
to some factors such as: – lack of use of apparatus Tabotndip(2000), lack of fund to purchase
material Ezeudu(1995). From experience as a teacher, there are other factors that contribute to
poor achievement in biology which include: –
Lack of facility for imparting knowledge.
Inadequate equipment in laboratories where they exist.
Lack of teacher’s zeal to make use of instructional materials or improvise in the absence
of standard materials.
Lack of students’ exposure to practical lessons and insufficient time for practical
activities.
Lack of interest in creativity in the part of teachers and poor teaching strategies.
Large size of the classes, leading to inadequate or poor management of classes.
Unqualified or inexperience teachers handling biology classes.
Analysis of students’ poor achievements in recent WAEC examination and result poses a great
concern to the nation. James and Pemida(2000) in a paper termed “biology education through
the biological garden†is of the view that biology stands out distinctly to be taught and learnt
among other science subjects by making use of available materials. According to James et al
(2000) mere collection of specimens taken to the laboratory do not give room for active
participation of students and thus, does not contribute to scientific attitude of students. The
transfer of knowledge from school to life situations, to the development of decision making
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skills and values, cannot be nurtured through the conventional chalk and board nor can it be
effective through traditional laboratory experiments but the use of more interactive strategies
that can facilitate participatory learning and independent enquiry (UNESCO 1987 –2006).
Biology is developing more rapidly today than in past and so in Connell (2000), the skill and
techniques of imparting useful biological knowledge, lecture and text book as a sole source of
knowledge should give way to newer educational techniques that require the use of instructional
materials.
Available literature shows that much of biology teaching is carried out through chalk
and board with little or no emphasis on the use of instructional materials. This study therefore
investigated effect of the use of instructional materials on academic achievements and retention
of Biology concept among SS2 student in Ika North East area of Delta State.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The study has the following objectives, to:
1. Investigate effects of the use of instructional materials on the academic achievements of
SS2 Biology student’s in Delta State.
2. Investigate effect of the use of instructional materials on the retention ability of SS2
Biology students in Delta State.
3. Examine the gender-related effect of instructional materials and academic achievements
of biology students.
4. Examine the gender-related effect of instructional materials and retention ability among
SS2 Biology students.
1.4 Research Questions
The following questions are set for answering:-
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1. What is the effect of the use of instructional material on the academic achievement in
biology among SS2 students in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State?
2. What is the effect of the use of instructional materials on the academic achievement of
boys and girls among SS2 biology students?
3. Is there any difference in the mean retention scores of SS2 biology students taught
biology concepts using instructional materials and that of their counterparts taught same
concepts without the use of instructional materials?
4. What is the effect of the use of instructional materials on retention ability of male and
female SS2 biology students in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State?
1.5 Null Hypothesis
The following null hypotheses were formulated for the study and were tested at 0.5 level of
significance.
H01: There is no significant difference in the mean achievement scores of students
taught biology concepts using instructional materials and those taught without
instructional materials.
H02: There is no significant difference in the mean achievement scores of male and
female students taught biology concepts using instructional materials e.g chart
and specimens.
H03: There is no significant difference in the mean retention scores of SS2 students
taught Biology concepts using instructional materials and those taught same
concepts without instructional materials
H04: There is no significant difference in the mean retention scores of male and
female students taught biology concepts with the use of instructional materials.
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1.6 Significance of the Study
This study is significant to Biology teachers in Delta State in particular and in Nigeria in
general. Teachers and would find this study relevant and useful in teaching and learning
procedures.
The use of instructional materials would help curriculum planners in the area of practical
works.It will be helpful to examination bodies such as WAEC and NECO in setting
examination questions with emphasis on area of practical works.
Science equipment manufacturers and science book publishers etc. will find this study
relevant in areas of science instructional materials production to schools.
This study will be helpful for further research on retention.
1.7 Basic Assumptions
The study has the following basic assumptions:
1. That Secondary schools in Delta State have adequate facilities for academic activities in
schools.
2. That teachers are trained and encouraged to use instructional materials in teaching
biology
3. That secondary school teachers are familiar with the use of instructional materials in
teaching Biology.
1.9 Scope and Delimitation of the Study
This study would have covered more schools and areas of Ika North East Local
Government Area of Delta State but due to constraints time and material resources, it was
confined to SS2 Biology students in four (4)public schools in Ika North East Local Government
Area of Delta State: they include, the following: –
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1. Ekwuoma Mixed Secondary School Ekwuoma
2. Ika Grammar School Boji – BojiOwa
3. OwantaMixed Secondary School, Owanta
4. Mbiri secondary school, Mbiri
The topics of research are
(1) Biological Concepts of Skeleton
(2) Skeletal materials
(3) Types of Skeleton