LEARNING RESOURCES UTILIZATION AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF BIOLOGY STUDENTS

Abstract: Learning Resources Utilization and Academic Achievement of Biology Students.This study was to examine the influence of learning resources utilization and academic achievement of Biology students in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Two research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A quasi-experimental research design was employed in carrying out the study. 2,687 SS2 students formed the population of the study. A simple sample random technique was adopted in selecting the four secondary schools from which 200 Biology students were selected. Biology Achievement Test (BAT) was the instrument used in data collection. The data collected were analyzed using independent t-test. Result showed that students taught with learning resources utilization perform better than their counterpart taught without learning resources utilization. Also there was no significant differences between the academic performance of male and female students taught with learning resources utilization. Based on these findings, it is recommended that, there is need for Government to build more learning resources center in our secondary schools in order to record high academic performance.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study

The effect of the use of learning resource utilization in promoting student achievement in educational development is indisputable. The teaching of Biology in Nigeria secondary schools needs to be properly handled. The materials used by teachers to teach drive home their subject points at both the primary and secondary level of our education system is incontrovertibly a paramount interaction and successful transfer of knowledge from the teacher to the learners.

Learning resources are those materials which assist teachers to make their lessons explicit to learners. They are also used to transmit information ideas to learners. (Idaduola, 2001). Learning resource materials include visual and audiovisual such as recorder, posters, charts, radio, television, computer among others.

Biology is an important subject that must be credited by science students before gaining admission into any tertiary institution. The importance of technically of this subject makes it necessary that relevant instructional materials should be used to teach the learners. This fact is supported by Macaulay (2000) who asserts the visual aids which make lesson come alive and help students to learn better. Poor academic achievement in Biology could be tribute to many factors among which teachers strategy itself was considered as an important factor. This implies that the mastery of Biology concept might not be fully achieved without the use of instructional materials.

Learning Resources Utilization and Academic Achievement of Biology Students

The teaching of Biology without this resource materials may certainly result in poor academic achievements. Franzer, Okebukola & Jedge (2002) stressed that professionally qualified science teachers no matter how well trained, would unable to put his ideas into practice if the school setting lacks the equipments and materials necessary for him/her to translate his competence into reality. Bassey (2001) opined that science is resource intensive and a period of Biology recession it may be very difficult to find some laboratory equipment for the teaching of Biology in school adequately.

Research such as Obioha (2006) & Ogunlaye (2002) reported that there were inadequate resources for teaching science subject in secondary schools in Nigeria. They further stated that the available ones are not usually in good condition. There is then need for improvisation. Adebimpe (2007) & Daramola (2008) however noted that improvisation demands adventure, creativity, curiosity and perseverance on the part of the teachers, such skills only realizable through well phone training programme improvisation. Omosewo (2008) & Akinsola (2000) considered the human factors as the teachers professional commitment, creativity, mechanically, skills, initiative and resourcefulness. They found that many Nigeria science teachers were aware of the possible improvisation. They also noted that very few teachers practice improvisation while majority depends on imported equipments and claim that improvisation is time consuming and fund depleting. The authors also noted that students too, possessed little or no interest  in improvisation.

The objective of any educational process determine the contents, methods and materials needed for achieving such objective. The material used for enhancing instructional effectiveness are the aspect of media employed for achieving the instructional objective. Bassey (2002) described instructional media as system component that may be used as a part of instructional process which use to disseminate information, messages and ideas or which make possible communication in teaching learning process effectively.

It is against this background that, this study attempt to examine the extent to which the utilization of learning resource materials could advance secondary schools Biology student achievement in Abak Local Government Area.

Learning Resources Utilization and Academic Achievement of Biology Students

1.2       Statement of the Problem

The act of teaching is fundamentally concerned with passing ideas, skills and attitude from the teacher to the learners. Scholars like Mutibi & Matora (2004) have emphasized that effect of instructional material utilization on teaching and learning according to them we learn and remember 10% of what hear, 40% of what we discuss with others, and as high as 80% of what we experience directly or practice.

However, the problem in this study will be the use of learning resource and academic achievement of Biology students in Abak Local Government Area.

1.3       Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of learning resource utilization and academic achievement of Biology student in Abak Local Government Area. Specifically, the objective of this study sought to:

1. Compare the academic achievement of Biology students taught with learning resources and those taught without learning resources.
2. Examine the influence of gender in the academic achievement of Biology students with the utilization of instructional materials in Abak Local Government Area.
   

   Learning Resources Utilization and Academic Achievement of Biology Student

Originally posted on April 22, 2021 @ 4:15 pm