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ABSTRACT
The study examined Effect of
Practical on the Secondary School Students Academic Performance in Biology in
Lagos State Descriptive research survey design was adopted in assessing the
opinions of the respondents with the use of questionnaire. One Hundred and
Sixty respondents were used as the representatives of the entire population of
the study. A total of four null hypotheses were formulated in this
study and tested with the use of descriptive and inferential statistics.
Descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages was used to analyse
demographic variables. At the end of the data analyses, the findings that
emerged are as follows: there is significant influence of Biology practical on
students’ performance in Science subjects, there is significant influence of
availability of materials on students’ academic performance in Biology, there
is significant influence of teacher improvisation of materials on students’
academic performance and there is significant gender difference in Biology
practical work and students’ academic performance in Biology. Based on the
findings of this study, the following recommendations are made: biology
teachers should always adopt stimulating methods to stimulate students’
interest and positive feelings towards the biology practical, biology teachers
should ensure that during biology practical lessons, they: encourage students’
participation and collaboration, provide help/clarification to students,
provide direction to the students, encourage supportive relationships among
teachers and students, biology teachers should be helped through seminars,
mentoring, conferences, support supervision, and journal publications, to
acquire a range of skills for effective classroom interaction in biology,
ministries of education, Science teachers Association of Nigeria and the State
Orientation Agencies should intensify campaigns and jingles to change students’
negative feeling towards biology, and emphasize the value of biology and
government should provide schools with high quality science instructional
materials. Teaching with instructional materials is likely to improve biology
teachers’ classroom interactions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title
Page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgements iv
Abstract v
Table of
Contents vi
CHAPTER
ONE: INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background
to the
Study 1
1.2 Statement
of the Problem 4
1.3 Purpose
of the
Study 5
1.4 Research
Questions 5
1.5 Research
Hypotheses 5
1.6 Significance
of the
Study 6
1.7 Scope
of the
Study 7
1.8 Definition
of
Terms 8
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE
REVIEW 9
2.1 Conceptual
Frame work on Biology and Biology Practical 9
2.2 Biology
Practical Role in
School 17
2.3 Assessment
of Practical Work in
Biology 19
2.4 Theoretical
Framework 20
2.5 Challenges
of Biology Practical Practices in
Schools 21
2.6 The Concept of Academic
Performance 27
2.7 Causes
of Poor Academic Performance
Students 28
2.8 The Relevance of Philosophy
of Biology Practical’s to Science
Education 30
2.9 Dominant schools of thought
in the philosophy of Biology
Practical 32
2.10 The Education
of Secondary School Biology
Teachers 42
2.11 Research in
Biology
Education 44
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY 46
3.1 Introduction 46
3.2 Design
of the
Study 46
3.3 Area
of
Study 46
3.4 Population
of
Study 47
3.5 Sample
and Sampling Techniques 47
3.6 Instrument
for Data
Collection 47
3.7 Validity of the Instrument 48
3.8 Reliability
of the
Instrument 48
3.9 Method
of Data
Collection 48
3.10 Data Analysis 49
CHAPTER
FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATIONS
4.0.
Introduction 50
4.1 Data
Presentation of
Teachers 50
4.2 Analysis
of
Bio-Data 52
4.3 Analysis
of Data Collected from
Respondents 54
4.4 Hypotheses Testing 62
4.5 Summary of
Findings 66
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 67
5.1 Introduction 67
5.2 Summary
of
Study 67
5.3 Conclusions 68
5.4 Recommendations 70
References 71
Appendix 76
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
to the Study
According to Oxford Advance Learners
dictionary (2001), “impact” means
(1) A change produced by an action
or cause a result or an outcome. (2) An act of one object hitting another or
noticeable effect (3) An impression created in the mind of a spectator, reader
etc while watching a play, listening to music or looking at a
painting, impact as used in this research topic can then be defined as a
positive change produced by an action, a described outcome or a result.
A Laboratory is experienced as a
well-equipped room for scientific experimentation (Opera mini Dictionary
2007). Whereas the oxford Dictionary (2000), defined laboratory as a
building used for scientific research.
The word” Practical” means
connection with real situation rather than with ideas or theories (oxford
Advanced Learners Dictionary, 2001). Similarly, Opera mini Dictionary (2008),
Defined practical as knowledge acquired through practical or action rather than
theory. Opuh, Eze and Ezemagu (2008), explained practical as a scientific study
or an experimental set-up rather than dwelling in the theory and ideas on the
introduction to the international senior secondary School certificate
examination syllabus. West African Examination council (1998-2003) emphasized
the necessity of practicals in learning science courses. (Under study in
secondary schools)
The Syllabus was designed to assess
students in,
(1) Acquisition of adequate
laboratory and field skill in laboratory practical
(2) Acquisition of important
scientific skills, such as observation, stating of problems in the science
subjects under study, great importance should be attached to experimental work
and that whenever there is need for practical on any science course under
study, students should be properly informed, get involved and they should apply
it to what they are studying.
The national policy on education
(2004), Defined secondary school or secondary education as the education
received after primary education and before the tertiary stage. According to
the post primary School management Board (PPSMB) Statistical records (2009)
there are nine Government Secondary School in Lagos North Local Government
Area.
Academic connected with education
especially studying in school (oxford Dictionary 2000). According to the oxford
advanced learners dictionary (2001) “achievement is defined as a thing that
somebody has done successfully especially using his/her own effort and skill,
web site Opera mini Dictionary (2008) defined academic achievement
as something one does or achieve at school, college or university,
in a laboratory class or field work.
From the foregoing, the academic
achievement of student depends on the effect of laboratory practical. By providing
student with practical laboratory lesson that are academically stimulating,
student are more likely to engage meaningfully with tasks and subsequently may
achieve higher in assessment grades (Karen et al 2009). Opuh, Eze and Ezemagu
(2008), Observed in line with Addeye that “Schools which are involved in
practical classes perform better in examination than those that neglect
practical work’. In a nutshell, it can be understood that Biology, Biology, and
mathematics practical have a positive effect on academic performance of student
in ss2.
Okolo (2008), Defined science as the
study of natural things around us which simply means the investigation of
nature. Biology being a branch of science involves the study of living things
(sarogini 2001). This can be proven with its following usefulness;
(i) It helps scientific research and
development of new tools and techniques which invariably improve the quality of
our lives.
(ii) Finding application in
medicine, agriculture, veterinary science and horticulture.
(iii) Biotechnology, which include
field, like genetic engineering and hybridism technology.
(iv) Dealing with ecology problems
such as overpopulation, food storage, erosion etc the study of Biology has a
lot impact of reference to the building of the nation for example,
(i) the use of animal in scientific
research had solved many family problems, childlessness by production of test
tube babies.
(ii). It also stimulate our interest
in the lives of living organisms and increased the enjoyment of our surroundings
etc (Okolo, 2008).
The report attributed candidate
weakness under the following sub-heading (i) Poor spelling (ii) Poor
mathematical skills (iii) Poor dedication reasoning
(iv) Poor observation (v)
Misinterpretation of question and (vi) poor knowledge of biology, Biology and
mathematics.
The examiner lamented that “there
were many candidates who could not answer correctly a single question in
section A in most cases, they have mild guesses and
quite unrelated answer that were sometimes unscientific based on the
poor academic achievement, Obidiwe (2005), stated that the objectives of
laboratory practical are not being realized to a satisfactory extent. He
pointed out that the poor academic achievement are caused by lack of well
equipped laboratory, lack of qualified teachers, limited time table
hours, poor observation, poor clearing and poor comparison of specimen etc.
This poor state of affairs is disturbing.
1.2 Statement
of Problem.
In
spite of the age long fear and of effects on the science, researchers had done
little or nothing on the effect of Biology practical work and science process
skills on senior secondary school students’ performance in
Biology. Hence basic problem(s) like lack of proper understanding of
certain biology phenomena remains unresolved.
Furthermore,
ill equipped laboratories with fewer instructional materials in our schools is
worthy of note. This is not helped with the fact that many biology
practical instructors were neither trained nor were they graduates of Biology
Education. This study therefore intends to examine the effect of
practical on the secondary school students’ academic performance in Biology in
Lagos.
1.3 Purpose
of the Study
The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of
biology practical on the secondary school students academic performance in
biology
Specifically, this study shall:
1. To
ascertain the extent to which Biology practical work will influence students’
performance in Science subjects.
2. To
ascertain the extent of availability of materials for Biology practical.
3. To
ascertain the extent Biology teacher improvisation of materials.
4. To
ascertain the gender difference in students’ academic performance and Biology
practical work
1.4 Research
Questions
The
following research questions are extracts from purpose of study:
1. To
what extent will practical work influence students’ performance in Biology?
2. To
what extent is the availability of materials for Biology practical?
3. To
what extent does Biology teacher improvise for materials?
4. To
what extent will gender difference in practical work influence students’
academic performance in Biology?
1.5 Research
Hypotheses
The
following null research hypotheses (Ho) are derive from purpose of study:
1. There
is no significant influence of Biology practical on students’ performance in
Science subjects.
2. There
is no significant influence of availability of materials on students’ academic
performance in Biology.
3. There
is no significant influence of teacher improvisation of materials on students’
academic performance
4. There
is no significant gender difference in Biology practical work and students’
academic performance in Biology.
1.6 Significance
of the Study
The
significance of this study would be of importance towards the use
of Biology practical work and students performance and
science process skills. This study is significant in that its findings are
useful for:
- Contributing
to the students practical knowledge and skills for their general education.
- Helping
students develop the ability to apply the use of science Biology in their
theory and practical.
- Helping
students develop an awareness of their place in the science and technology
world.
- It
is a discipline, which is a rational basis for making Biology decision.
Policy
makers in the provision of effective Science curriculum and materials necessary
for proper implementation of the school curriculum at the secondary school
level.
Principals/managers
of secondary schools in order to design good Science curriculum for students’
good academic performance.
Educating
the institutional administrators/managers in both public and private secondary
schools on effective Science subjects.
Educating
the principals/managers in both public and private secondary schools on impact
of Biology practical work on students performance and Biology process skills.
This
research will help the Science teachers and students by providing them with
information about some environmental factors that will improve their
effectiveness of teaching and learning of Science subjects.
This
research will also provide the curriculum developers and state ministries of
education with some criteria before recommending textbooks and developing
Science curriculum for teachers and students.
1.7 Scope
of the Study
This study is delimited to effect of
practical on the secondary school students academic performance in biology: A
case study of Yaba local government area of Lagos State. The targeted
schools are the senior secondary schools in Lagos Local
Government Area of Lagos State. The scope is also delimited on SS2 biology
student and their practical achievement. The contents of SS1, 2 & 3 biology
scheme of work are Excretion, Reproduction and Digestion while those of Biology
are separation technique and titration.
1.8 Definition
of Terms
(STS): Science
and technology studies
Influencing: The ability to have the power to affect something
in a given way.
Laboratory: A room used by students and teachers for the
study of any branch of science for example Biology through
experimentation and observation.
Local
Education Districts: This refers to educational
bodies responsible for the administration of schools in their areas of
jurisdiction.
Poor
performance: This is the low quality of
result of an action or things done or the inability to meet the stated
objectives.
TOPIC: EFFECT OF PRACTICAL ON THE SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN BIOLOGY
Format: MS Word
Chapters: 1 - 5
Delivery: Email
Delivery: Email
Number of Pages: 65
Price: 3000 NGN
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