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.
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