DEMONSTRATION TECHNIQUE AND STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

DEMONSTRATION TECHNIQUE AND STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

ABSTRACT: This study examined Demonstration Techniques and Students’ Academic Achievement in Agricultural Science in Secondary Schools in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area. Three null hypotheses were formulated in line with the specific objectives to guide the study. The quasi experimental research design was adopted for the study. The target population was 523 SS2 students who offered Agricultural Science. A sample size of 120 SS2 students who offered agricultural science was used for the study. The instrument for data collection was “Agricultural Science Achievement Test (ASAT)”. The data collected were analyzed using independent t-test. The result showed that students taught using class demonstration performed significantly better than their counterparts taught without. It also found that students taught using groups demonstration technique performed significantly better than those taught without. The finding further showed that student taught using individual demonstration technique performed significantly better than those taught without. It was recommended among others that agricultural science teachers should adopt demonstration teaching technique in teaching to facilitate students understanding of concept taught and improve their academic performance in the subject. It was concluded that demonstration teaching technique has a significant positive effect on students’ academic achievement in agricultural science.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study

Teaching is an activity driven exercise. It involves the passage or transfer of knowledge or ideas by the teacher to the learner. Teaching and learning do not happen by chance, it takes processes, methods and strategies. As the teacher sets out to implement the curriculum contents at the classroom level, he uses a number of methods and techniques that will facilitate the learners’ understanding of the concept taught. It is however, incontestable that realization of the objectives of teaching any concept or subject matter to a learner or group of learners will be illusion if the teacher fails to use appropriate methods and techniques. Therefore the role of teachers’ teaching technique in the teaching-learning process cannot be over- emphasized.

The availability of qualified teacher in schools does not only guarantee the success of teaching and learning, but also the methods and techniques adopted by the teachers in imparting knowledge to the learners and their application (Dyer, 2009). In preparing for lessons, a teacher should not be only concerned about what to teach but also how to teach what he has to teach in manner that will guarantee proper understanding among the learners. Students’ negative attitude towards some schools subjects might not be unconnected with the teacher’s method of instruction. Not fully appreciated by most teachers is the importance of teaching methods in the teaching-learning process.  Although there are teachers with good mastery of subject matter, the learners ability to comprehend the knowledge imparted by the teacher depends on a large extent on the instructional technique adopted by the teacher.

DEMONSTRATION TECHNIQUE AND STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Foster (2008) maintained that several methods of instruction have been employed by teachers to facilitate students’ understanding of instruction for not much success have been recorded due to their wrong application by teachers. Tawari (2010) observed that the use of teaching methods that encourage students’ centred activities are conspicuously lacking among teachers. Hence, for effective teaching to take place, the teacher should stimulate, encourage and maintain active participation of the learners based on the selection of appropriate teaching technique. This will ensure a perfect balance between what is taught and how it is taught.

1.2       Statement of the Problem

It an indisputable fact that one of the challenges facing the teaching-learning process in schools over the years is the decline in the level of academic performance among students. The abysmal performance of students in schools has become a recurring decimal especially might not be unconnected with certain factors within the school system such as teachers’ methods of instruction.

It has been observed with dismay that most teachers in schools are still using uninspiring and inappropriate teaching methods and techniques to impart knowledge to their students. They rely on methods and techniques that are easy but mostly inappropriate to the subject matter. There is no gain saying therefore, that the realization of the dream of improving academic performance of students at all levels of education will remain an herculean task if the teachers fail to adopt teaching methods and technique most suitable to a particular subject matter. It is against this background therefore, that this study “Demonstration Technique and Students’ academic achievement in Agricultural Science in Secondary Schools in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area” become imperative.

1.3       Objectives of the Study                                                                                                     

The main objective of this study was to examine demonstration instructional technique and students’ academic achievement in Agricultural Science in secondary schools in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.

The specific objectives include:

1. to examine the academic performance of students taught using class demonstration technique and those taught without in Agricultural Science in secondary schools in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.
2. to examine the academic performance of students taught using group demonstration technique and those taught without in Agricultural Science in secondary schools in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.
3. to examine the academic performance of students taught using individual demonstration technique and those taught without in Agricultural Science in secondary schools in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.

Originally posted on May 13, 2021 @ 1:16 pm