CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Assessment is a major tool employed in the process of appraising candidate’s achievement or performance in the school system; it plays a major role in the educational process or development. One of the ways of assessing students is using test, which can be either essay or objective. Teachers play a key role in bringing about student’s learning and the role of the teacher is very vital in educating students in the school setting.

Discussion method is a variety of forums for open-ended, collaborative exchange of ideas between a teacher and students and among students for furthering student’s thinking, learning, problem-solving, understanding or literary appreciation (Wilkinson, 2009).

Larson (2000) reported that discussion is thought to be a useful teaching technique for developing higher- order thinking skills that will enable students to interpret, analyse, and manipulate information. During the discussion, learners are not passive recipients of information from a teacher rather; learners are active participants (Johnston, Andermann, Milne & Harris, 1994). Discussion method also is a method of teaching where a teacher and students or learners are actively involved in the learning process of activities.

Chemistry is the scientific study of interaction of chemical substances that constitute atoms or the subatomic particles; protons, electrons and neutrons. It is an integral part of the science curriculum both at the senior secondary school as well as higher institutions.

At this level, it is often called “general chemistry” which is an introduction to a wide variety of fundamental concepts that enables students to acquire tools and basic skills useful at the advanced level. One of the objectives of science education is to develop students’ interest towards science and technology. The development of any nation today depends greatly on its technological and scientific advancement. Teachers are expected to device ways of motivating their students to develop positive attitudes towards science and science related disciplines (Sola and Ojo, 2007). Chemistry, in particular is central to many of the scientific fields of human endeavors; therefore, teaching of chemistry should be given serious attention.

Science teachers have always recognized the importance of practical work as a means of introducing learners to the scientific process of experimentation.

To this end, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Union of pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) have participated in numerous international meetings to promote inexpensive experimental based teaching in chemistry.

1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Teaching and learning are important parts of the process of education which are aimed at the development of learners’ understanding and skills with which to become useful citizens in society.

Students’ persistent poor performance in chemistry has been partly ascribed to inadequate teaching and instructional methods adopted by teachers. More so, not all the students are in sync with discussion method of teaching. It could also be that most teachers are not very good at the discussion method of teaching chemistry.

Finally, several researches has been carried out on enhancing academic achievement and retention in senior secondary school chemistry through discussion and lecture methods but not even a single research has been carried out on the effect of discussion method on chemistry students academic performance among senior secondary schools in akko local government area of Gombe state.

1. AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aim and objectives of the study is to determine the effect of discussion method on chemistry students’ academic performance among senior secondary schools. Other specific objectives of the study include;

1. to determine the extent to which discussion method affects the academic performance of chemistry students.
2. to determine the factors affecting discussion method and its effect on the academic performance of chemistry students.
3. to determine the influence of discussion method of teaching on chemistry students academic performance.
4. to proffer possible solutions to the problems.

1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the extent to which discussion method affects the academic performance of chemistry students?
2. What are the factors affecting discussion method and its effect on the academic performance of chemistry students?
3. What is the influence of discussion method of teaching on chemistry student’s academic performance?
4. What are the possible solutions to the problems?
   1. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Ho: Discussion method has no significant effect on student academic performance.

Hi:   Discussion method has a significant effect on student academic performance.

1. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study on the effect of discussion method on chemistry student’s academic performance will be of immense benefit in the sense that it will encourage the teachers to be better off in the discussion method of teaching so as to make the class interesting and fun for the students to partake in.

More so, the importance of chemistry as a subject cannot be underrated especially in Nigeria where the national income rests on petroleum and petrochemical industries. Due to this, teachers are expected to device ways of motivating their students to develop positive attitudes towards science and science related disciplines and in order to facilitate the process of knowledge transmission, teachers are expected to apply appropriate teaching methods that best suit specific objectives and level exit outcomes. Finally, the study will contribute to the body of existing literature and knowledge to this field of study and basis for further research.

1. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study on the effects of discussion method on chemistry students academic performance among senior secondary schools is limited to akko local government area of Gombe.

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. DEFINITION OF TERMS

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

Discussion Method:                Discussion methods are a variety of forums for open-ended, collaborative exchange of ideas among a teacher and students or among students for the purpose of furthering students thinking, learning, problem solving, understanding, or literary appreciation.

Chemistry:      The branch of science concerned with the substances of which matter is composed, the investigation of their properties and reactions, and the use of such reactions to form new substances.

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

Academic Performance:         Academic performance is the measurement of student achievement across various academic subjects.