Abstract: The study investigated the effect of Teacher’s Characteristics and Effective Teaching of Biology. Four research questions where formulated to guide the study. A survey design was adopted for the study. Eight (8) out of ten(10) public secondary were randomly selected. A sample size of twenty four Biology teachers and sixteen Biology students were randomly selected. The instruments used for data collection were questionnaire. The questionnaires were designed to elicit information based on the teachers teaching experience and attitude. The data generated from the study were analyzed using simple percentage, mean and standard deviation. From the result of the findings, the study revealed that teacher’s characteristics has a significant influence in the teaching of Biology; as teachers with NCE, B. Ed, B.SC(Ed), and M.Ed qualifications teaches Biology than teachers with only B.SC and M.SC qualifications.
Also, teachers with 7 and above years of teaching experience teaches Biology effectively than teachers with 0-6 years of teaching experience. In that other, teachers with positive attitudes teaches Biology effectively than teachers with negative attitudes. Lastly female Biology teachers teaches effectively than male Biology teachers. Recommendations made was that government should only recruit teachers with teaching qualifications and also, Seminars and workshops should be organized to newly recruited teachers on the need to improve their experiences on teaching and as well, their attitudes.
Teacher’s Characteristics and Effective Teaching of Biology
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Teaching evaluation is a necessary process in any educational setting. There are a number of tools or instruments available that are used to assess the level of effectiveness of instructors. These tools or instruments can be categorized into three major areas: student’s ratings, peer reviews, and self-evaluations (Berk, 2005). The most often used measurement has been the student rating of instruction or student evaluations as it is more commonly known.
Students rating of instruction has been a highly debated subject, but it is generally believed that students evaluations are reliable and often one of the best methods for obtaining measurements of the quality of classroom instruction. Thus, it is not surprising that, for the past three decades student evaluation—typically involving a rating scale that addresses various dimensions of the instructional process and presentation style has been the primary strategy used for measuring the effectiveness of teaching that occurs in classroom-based courses (Seldin, 1999).
The educational literature describes desirable and undesirable teacher attributes that affect classroom teaching (Kane, Sandretto & Health, 2004). These attributes include personality traits, instructional organization and the instructor’s ability to make the subject useful. Studies of both faculty members and student’s perceptions of effective teachers and effective teaching yielded characteristics that included the following: caring, encouraging approachable, passionate and having a sense of humor (Schaeffer et al, 2003). A teacher, who develops a clearly defined, well- organized topic, is typically considered to be helpful in the learning process (Salles & Bigonha, 2001).
An energetic instructor, who can simplify complex topics, while appearing completely in control of the class, is perceived to be more effective than instructors who do not exhibit these characteristics (Salles & Bigonha, 2001). Therefore, this book seeks to investigate the influence of Teacher’s Characteristics and effective teaching of Biology in mi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Parents and other stakeholders in education have condemned the high rate of poor academic performance of students in Biology examination in WAEC and NECO. This poor performance is not limited to public schools alone, private schools were also involved. Reasons range from some teacher’s characteristics like teachers qualification, teachers teaching experience, teacher’s method of instruction, teacher’s competency in the use of instructional materials, teacher’s preparation, teachers’ mastery of subject contents etc. Therefore, this study is an attempt to investigate the influence of teacher’s characteristics and effective teaching of Biology in mi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Teacher’s Characteristics and Effective Teaching of Biology
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The general purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of teacher’s characteristics and effective teaching of Biology in mi Local Government Area. Specifically, the study sought to;
- Investigate the influence of teacher’s qualification and effective teaching of Biology;
- Investigate the influence of teacher’s teaching experience and effective teaching of Biology;
- Determine the influence of teacher’s attitudes and effective teaching of Biology; and
- Determine the influence of teacher’s gender and effective teaching of Biology.
1.4 Significance of the Study
The result of this study shall be significant in many ways and to different people. Firstly, the result will reveal to Biology teachers their strength and weaknesses in the teaching of Biology. Secondly, the finding of this study shall create awareness to Biology teacher’s on the need to improve themselves so as to be an effective teacher. Thirdly, the study shall help the government to know the quality of teachers they should recruit for teaching services. Finally, the study shall serves as a reference point for researchers and students who may have interest in writing a research of this kind.
