CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Instructional materials are teaching aids or materials used to illustrate the teaching process and make instruction more compressive to the learner. According to Franzer, Okebukola, and Jegede (1992) professionally qualified science teacher no matter how well trained would not be able to put his ideas into practice if the school setting lacks the equipment and materials necessary to translate potentials into reality.

The use of teaching aids or instructional materials is an important tool in the teaching of Biology. The objective of any educational process determines the content, methods and materials needed for achieving such objectives. Different instructional materials are used for different concepts in Biology.

An instructional material stimulates student’s participation in class, increase knowledge and affects the achievement of biology students. The use of inappropriate teaching materials results such as wrongly labeled charts results in several academic problems which according to Josiah and Okaoboh (2001) ranges from mass failure or under achievement in public examination to the gradual deteriorating situation in educational institution at all levels.

Instructional materials are seen as an improvement and great relief for teachers in impacting knowledge and making the message clearer, more interesting and easier for the learners to assimilate (Onasanga and Adegbija 2008).

Science explains the natural existence of man and his activities. Science could be seen as problem solving in order to improve the living standard of man. There are different definitions of science by different schools of thought; Owolabi (2004) defines science as an integrated part of human activities. It is seen as a dynamic human activity concerned with manipulating spherical world.

It is seen as “knowledge covering general truths and laws, obtained and tested through scientific methods as concerned laws with the physical world”. Science can be seen as the bedrock of national development. A nation that is not scientifically advanced is termed a backward nation.

Science is used by humans to solve daily problems and control the environment. The usefulness of science cannot be under-rated. There are many areas of life that science has contributed such as in medicine, geophysics, hydrology, agriculture, communication, technology, education, transportation, healthcare to mention a few.

Science has led to breakthrough in medical care. Diagnostic machine for checking different ailments and diseases are now controlled and diseases cured through science. The usefulness of science to humanity cannot be over emphasized.

The importance of Biology is so much that it needs to be taught with instructional materials to arouse students’ interest. Tabotndip (2004) lamented that abstract teaching goes on today where teachers do not use apparatus and students are not using textbooks. It is reported that most secondary schools do not have biology laboratory, the few existing ones have been converted into classrooms to create space for the overwhelming population of students arising from the Universal Basic Education (UBE) and Universal Primary Education (UPE).

1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

One of the main problems facing most secondary schools in the Nigerian society today is the relative decline in the academic achievements of the students especially in the sciences.

The poor achievements in biology could be attributed to some factors such as: - lack of use of apparatus as well as lack of fund to purchase material, Lack of facility for imparting knowledge. Inadequate equipment in laboratories where they exist. Lack of teacher’s zeal to make use of instructional materials or improvise in the absence of standard materials.

Lack of students’ exposure to practical lessons and insufficient time for practical activities. Lack of interest in creativity in the part of teachers and poor teaching strategies. Large size of the classes, leading to inadequate or poor management of classes. Unqualified or inexperience teachers handling biology classes.

Finally, several researches has been carried out on the effects of instructional materials on students academic performance but not even a single research has been carried out on the effect of instructional materials on student’s interest in Biology. A case study of selected secondary schools in Makurdi local government area of Benue state.

1. AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aim and objectives of the study is to examine the effect of instructional materials on student’s interest in Biology. Other specific objectives of the study include;

1. to determine the effect of instructional materials on students interest in biology.
2. to determine the factors affecting the use of instructional materials and its effect on students interest in Biology.
3. to determine the extent to which instructional materials affects students interest in Biology.
4. to proffer possible solutions to the problems.
   1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the effect of instructional materials on student’s interest in biology?
2. What are the factors affecting the use of instructional materials and its influence on students interest in Biology?
3. What is the extent to which instructional materials affects students’ interest in Biology?
4. What are the possible solutions to the problems?
   1. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Ho:  Instructional materials have no significant effect on student’s interest in biology.

Hi:   Instructional materials have no significant effect on student’s interest in biology.

1. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study on the effect of instructional materials on student’s interest in biology will be of immense benefit to the selected secondary schools in Makurdi local government area of Benue state in the sense that it will encourage the Government to provide incentives to enable teachers acquire instructional materials where necessary. It will also enable them to provide instructional materials that are free from biases, stereotypes, distortions and prejudices. It will as well help the school management to see that instructional materials are simple and are relevant to the topic taught.

1. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study on the effect of instructional materials on student’s interest in biology is limited to selected secondary schools in Makurdi local government area of Benue state.

1. LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Time Constraints: One the challenges experienced by the researcher is the issue of time; the research will simultaneously engage in departmental activities like seminars and attendance to lectures. But the researcher was able to meet up with the deadline for the submission of the project.

Financial Constraints: Every research work needs funding; however lack of adequate funds might affect the speed of the researcher in getting materials for completion of the project.

1.9   DEFINITION OF TERMS

Effect:     A change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.

Instructional Materials:         Instructional materials refer to the human and non-human materials and facilities that can be used to ease, encourage, improved and promote teaching and learning activities.

Student:  A person who is studying at a university or other place of higher education.

Interest:  The feeling of wanting to know or learn about something or someone.

Biology:   The study of living organisms, divided into many specialized fields that cover their morphology, physiology, anatomy, behaviour, origin, and distribution.