ABSTRACT
This project was carried out to
find out the problems in teaching Biology practicals in senior secondary
schools in Yaba Local Government Area in Lagos state, district 4.
Opoh (2008) and Onah (2002),
observed that Biology practical is the scientific study of the life and
structure of plants and animals and their relative environments in real or
experimental set up. Furthermore, the present researchers findings made it
evident that there are many methods to make Biology practicals more effective and
efficiency in educational system.
Chapter one and two is the
background of the study and the review of related literature respectively. In
chapter three, the research method and overall design of the study was
presented. Chapter four, dealt with data presentation and analysis of data. The
educational findings of the study, recommendation and summary were contained in
chapter 5.references and appendices were inclusive.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pages
Title page i
Approval ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgement v
Abstract vi
Table of contents vii
CHAPTER
ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the Study 1
1.2
Statement of the Problem 4
1.3
Purpose of the Study 6
1.4
Significance of the Study 6
1.5
Research Questions 8
1.6
Scope of the Study 8
1.7
Definitions of Terms 9
CHAPTER
TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0
Introduction 10
2.1 Biology practicals 10
2.2 Biology practicals and Effective Teaching 13
2.3 Biology Practicals and Effective Learning 17
2.4 Problems Encountering in Teaching
Biology
Practicals 20
2.5
Biology practicals and Academic
performance 21
2.6
Biology practicals and Gender 22
2.7
Effect of Environment on Biology
students 23
2.8
Summary 25
CHAPTER
THREE: RESEARCH METHOD
3.0 Introduction 27
3.1
Design of the Study 27
3.2
Area of the Study 27
3.3
Population of the Study 27
3.4
Sample and Sampling Techniques 28
3.5
Instrument for Data Collection 28
3.6
Validity of Instrument 29
3.7
Reliability of the Instrument 29
3.8
Administration of the Instrument 29
3.9
Method of Data Analysis 29
CHAPTER
FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.0 Introduction 32
4.1 Research Question 1 32
4.2 Research Question 2 34
4.3 Research Question 3 35
4.4 Research Question 4 36
4.5 Research Question 5 37
CHAPTER
FIVE: FINDINGS, SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1
Discussion of the Findings 39
5.2
Discussion on Summary and conclusion 40
5.3 Recommendations 40
References 42
Questionnaire 44
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
According
to Oxford Advanced Learner Dictionary (2000) defined “problems” as a thing that
is difficult to deal with or to understand effectively. According to the Oxford
advanced learner dictionary (2000) defined practical as an ideal method or a
course of action, right or sensible, likely to be successful.
Practical
work is very essential to the effective teaching of students in school. Every
citizen will be able to participate more effectively in any life situation, he
can speak out on questions that involve both biology principles and human
welfare, such knowledge will out come from were bookwork, but from practical application
of the materials learnt to real life situation.
Science
is the study of the natural things around us. Biology being a branch of science
involved the study of living and non living things. (Sanjini, 2001). Similarly,
World Book Encyclopedia (2000), defined Biology as the scientific study of
living thing. Traditionally, biology is divided into two branches Viz; Botany
and study of plants and Zoology the study of animals. Some of the usefulness of
biology were cited by Sarojiet (2001), as follows: it helps;
(1) Scientific
research and development of new tools and techniques which in variably improve
the quality of our lives,
(ii) Finding
applications in medicine, dentistry, vetenary, science, agriculture and
horticulture,
(iii) Biotechnology
which include fields like genetic engineering and hybridoma technology.
(iv) Dealing
with ecological problems such as over population, food storage, erosion,
pollution, and diseases etc.
Biology
practicals is the scientific study of the life and structure of plants and
animals and their relative environment in real or experimental set-up rather
than dwelling in the theory and ideals (Opuh, Eze and Ezeagu (2008). On its
preamble to the international senior secondary school certificate Examination
syllabus, West African Examination council WAEC (1998: 2003), buttresses the uses
of biology practicals in teaching and learning of biology in the secondary
schools. The syllabus was designed to asses candidates in;
(i) Understanding
of the structure and function of living organism as well as appreciation of
nature.
(ii) Acquisition
of adequate laboratory and fields skills in order to carry out and evaluate experiments
and projects in biology.
(iii) Acquisition
of scientific skills example observing, classifying and interpreting biology
data etc, to its previous edition WAEC Syllabus (2001), stated that great
importance should be attended to experimental work and we control experiments, it was recommended that,
whenever possible throughout the whole course candidates should be aware of
practical application of what is being studied.
From
the foregoing, we can understand that biology practical lessons is most
essential for effective teaching and learning of biology in secondary schools.
Whereas, Akinpelu in Aguokogbuo (2002), defined
teaching as a deliberate effort by a matured or experienced person to
impact information, knowledge, skills and so on to immature or less experienced
person. Consequently, national teachers institution NTI (2000) course book on
education, defined learning as the acquisition of new knowledge, ideas, skills,
values and experience which enable the individual to modify or alter his
action. It also involves the utilization of newly acquired knowledge or experience
as well. It further stated that leaning brings about permanents change to the
learners.
The
national policy of education (2004), defined secondary education, as the
education children received after primary educational level and before the tertiary
state. According to post primary school management Board PPSMB statistical
rewards PRs (2000), there are thirty-three secondary schools in Yaba local government
Area in Lagos district 4.
Yaba
Local Government Area, is in Lagos district 4 (Lagos state) The area is predominantly
are urban settlement with a few rural communities some of the secondary schools
in Yaba Local government includes, Aje comprehensive junior high schools, Akoka
junior high school, Belina college, Ciffman college, Eletu Odigbo senior high
school e.t.c
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Biology
as a science subject requires trained technicians and the laboratory attendant
employed. In few schools laboratory attendant are school dropouts with no basic
knowledge of how to prepare specimen for biology practical. In most cases,
these laboratory attendants lack technical know how to operate, maintain repair
or service the few available equipment whom they had broken down. According to Nwamonu
(2003), students perform poorly in biology practical leading to their failure
in biology examinations Similarly, WAEC chief Examiners (2000) reported that
performance of candidate in biology fell below expectation. The report
discussed the candidates weaknesses under the following sub headings;
(i)
Poor spelling
(ii)
Poor observation
(iii)
Poor mathematical skills
(iv)
Poor deductive reasoning,
(v) Mis-interpretation of question and
(vi) Poor knowledge of biology. The examiner
lamented that
“there were many candidates who could not answer
correctly a single question in section A. in most cases, they have wild guesses
and quite unrelated answer that were sometime unbiological”.
Based
on the poor academic performance (2000) stated that the objectives of biology practicals
are not being realized to a satisfactory extent. He pointed out that the poor
academic performance in biology practicals are caused by, lack of well equipped
laboratory, inadequate qualified biology teachers, limited time table hours,
poor observation, poor drawing and
labeling and poor comparism of specimens, etc. these state of affair is
disturbing . It also emphasis on the West Africa School Certificate to Benin City
of Nigeria also observed that the biology laboratory were inadequate. As a
result the students were not adequately involved only practical lessons. The
students only watched teacher’s demonstration exercise.
This
study therefore intends to examine the problems of teaching Biology practical in
Yaba Local Government Area of Lagos district 4.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
Based
on the background and problems of this study, the main purpose underlying the
project is to investigate the problem of teaching biology practical in senior
secondary schools (SSIII) in Yaba Local Government Area in Lagos state. The
study specifically seeks to;
1.
To determine the problems of teaching
biology practical in senior secondary in Yaba Local Government Area in Lagos District
IV, Lagos state.
2.
To determine how equipped the biology
laboratory with necessary apparatus are.
3.
To determine the performance of male and
female in the learning of biology practical in senior secondary schools in Yaba
Local Government.
4.
To determine whether the urban secondary
schools perform better than rural senior secondary school.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The
practical activities in biology are designed to help students acquire basic
scientific skills and improve the performance and achievement as well. The
study tends to uncover the benefits of
biology practicals to the students, parents, teachers, government and
the entire society.
If
the result of this research is properly initialized, it will;
(i) Promote the ideals that science is both a
product and process in students by arousing their interest in biology practical
work.
(ii) Motivate the parents to provide the basic
requirements to practical lessons for their children.
(iii) Convince the biology teachers that
practical lessonaire mostly essential for effective teaching and learning of
biology.
(iv) Make
the government, through the ministry of education to realize the need for
provision of science equipment to schools and posting of qualified biology
teachers to secondary schools, it is not the issue of jack of all trades master
of none. Teaching has attained professionalism and specialization
(vi) Help
the Nigerian society in their quest for improved technology and industrialization.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following questions
was formulated to guide the study;
(i) What
effect has biology practicals on academic performance of senior secondary
school biology students?
(ii) Does
female students like biology practical than male students?
(iii) Which
sex (i.e) male or female performs better in the biology practical?
(iv) Are
Biology laboratory well equipped with necessary apparatus?
(v) Urban
senior secondary schools do they perform better than the rural schools?
(vi) What
effectiveness has biology practical on effective learning?
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The
study of the research work was specifically based on the, senior secondary school
in Yaba Local Government Area of Lagos District 4. The scope of the study is
also limited to the problems of teaching biology practical in senior secondary
school students SSIII in the area.
1.7 DEFINITIONS OF TERMS
-
BIOLOGY:
Being a branch of science is the study of living and non-living things.
-
BIOLOGY
PRACTICALS: This is the scientific study of the
life and structure of plants and animals and their relative environment in test
and experimental set up rather than dwelling in theories and ideas.
-
PROBLEMS:
Is defined as a thing that is difficult to deal with or to understand
effectively.
-
PRACTICALS:
Is defined as an ideal, on method or a course of action, right or sensible
likely to be successful.
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