Audio-Visual Materials And Academic Performance Of Biology Students In Secondary Schools

AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF BIOLOGY STUDENTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS: A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ITU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

 

ABSTRACT

The study was designed to investigate the influence of Audio-Visual Materials on Students’ Performance in Biology. The respondents in the study were eighty (80) Senior Secondary II Students selected from two (2) out of thirteen (13) Secondary Schools in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The experimental design was used for the study. Also the Biology Achievement Test was used. T-test was used for the analysis of the results.

The results obtained revealed that there is a significant difference in academic achievement of Biology students taught digestive system using Television and those taught without it. Also found was that there is no significant difference between academic achievement of male and female Biology students taught Digestive System concept with television. Summary was made, recommendations were considered and conclusion was drawn.

 

Audio-Visual Materials And Academic Performance Of Biology Students In Secondary Schools

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background to the Study

In the classroom, three elements stand out which are; the teacher, the learner and the instructional materials. These elements interact among themselves using appropriate methods to convey the content (lesson) which constitute the aim of education which will be evaluated. The interactions can be influenced by so many factors including the elements themselves (Obot, 2015). At present, education is under constant changing and multiplicity in policies, methods and procedure which can be clearly observed at different levels of education system. Change is always welcomed as per required but change should always be in harmony with certain aspects namely; society, religion, state etc.

However, the present situation calls for comprehensive change in almost every level of education so that practical and dynamic approach can be given to existing and new field of education. The crux of this modern education is to awaken the hidden curiosity and interest of the learner, nourishing his behaviours, attitudes and believes in order to develop basic and essential skills of life long learning and ability to think critically and to judge himself and others in a more beneficial manner. Audio-visual materials are instructional materials which have both sound and visual components at the same time (Prada, 2015).

The use of audio-visual aids is preferred as they are considered as 80% of the whole teaching and learning (Jadal, 2011). They keep the individual learner focus on what is being taught by the teacher in the classroom session. Audio-visual aids make a lesson or a lecture more interesting and a memorable experience not only for students but for teachers as well. They play a vibrant role in focusing the attention of individual student towards the teacher or the topic.

Human beings have five senses which are the doorway for effective learning especially seeing, hearing and touching which bring maximum knowledge for the individual. Jerome Brune a Psychologist at New York university advocates, research has show that people remember 100% of what they hear, 20% of what they read and 80% of what they see and do (Lester, 2012).

Indeed, audio-visual aids are most effective tools for developing flawless communication and interaction between students and contents as well as students and teachers. These aids not only help to save the time of teacher but also help in developing and arousing curiosity, creativity and motivation. They emphasize on the comprehension of knowledge and concept as well as keep working on developing sound foundations for higher and further studies, especially in Biology.

It is therefore hoped that at the end of this research work the researcher will be able to assess the influence of audio-visual aids on academic performance of Biology students in secondary schools in Itu Local Government Area.

Audio-Visual Materials And Academic Performance Of Biology Students In Secondary Schools

1.2   Statement of the Problem

Biology remains one of the core science subjects offered in senior secondary schools by science and non-science students alike. However, performances of students in this subject in both internal and external examinations have not been very impressive.

Many workers and stakeholders have related these poor performances on a number of factors including the non-availability of instructional materials like Audio-visual materials. It is on this premise that the study is being carried out to determine the influence of audio-visual materials on academic achievement of Biology students.

 

1.3   Purpose of the Study 

The main purpose of this study is to determine the influence of audio-visual materials on academic performance of students in Biology in Itu Local Government Area. Specifically, the study seeks to;

• determine the difference in academic achievement of students taught digestive system using television and those taught without it.
• determine the difference in academic achievement between male and female Biology students taught digestive system using television.

 

1.4   Research Questions

The following research questions were set to guide the study:

• What is the difference in academic achievement of students taught digestive system using television and those taught without it?
• What is the difference in academic achievement between male and female biology students taught digestive system using television.

Audio-Visual Materials And Academic Performance Of Biology Students In Secondary Schools

1.5   Research Hypothesis 

The following null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study:

• There is no significant difference in academic achievement of students taught digestive system using television and those taught without it.
• There is no significant difference in academic achievement between male and female Biology students taught digestive system using television.

 

1.6   Significance of the Study

The study will be significant in the following ways:

It will enable teachers to understand the effect of audio-visual materials (television) on students’ academic performance, it will serve as base data in the field of Biology and related discipline, it will enable students to understand the effect of use of television in the teaching, and how it can help improve their academic performance, and it will also enable educational administrators to re-strategize in their quest for qualitative education by ensuring that seminars and conferences are organize to show the effect and relatedness of audio-visual aids and academic performance.

 

1.7   Limitations of the Study

This research study was limited to selected secondary schools in Itu Local Government Area, and also to senior secondary school students offering Biology resources available to the researcher was inadequate, these include; inadequate finance and limited time for the study.

The data used in this project work was limited to the information the researcher collected from books, periodicals, students and teachers.

 

Audio-Visual Materials And Academic Performance Of Biology Students In Secondary Schools

1.8   Delimitation of the Study

The study is delimited to the effect of audio-visual materials (television) on academic achievement of students in Biology in secondary schools in Itu Local Government Area.

 

1.9   Operational Definitions

The task of getting a universally acceptable definition of a particular word or concept is not an easy one. Various authors, writers and researchers differs slightly from each other, consequently, the following are taken as the definitions to suit the purpose of the study:

• Audio-visual Materials: These are instructional aids that provide students with audio and visual experiences by appealing to the hearing and seeing senses at the same time. Examples include; laptop computer, television, overhead projector, slide projector amongst others.
• Academic Achievement: This refers to the child’s examination scores or grade in school.
• Media: It refers to various means through which messages can be reproduced, stored, transmitted, retrieved, amplified, channeled or carried between the source and the receiver.
• Instructional Media: These are resources which may be used by the learner in solution or in combination formally or informally to facilitate the acquisition and evaluation of knowledge, skills and morals.
• Influence: This is the power to affect someone’s character, belief or action through examples like fear or admiration.
• Qualified Teachers: These are teachers who have undergone professional training in addition to having a true grasp of Biology as a subject.
• Motivation: It is the ability and willingness of the learner to sustain his/her interest on a given programme of study due to internal or external influences.