EFFECT OF FIELD TRIP ON BIOLOGY STUDENTS ACHIEVEMENT

1.1 Introduction

Field trip involves any activity carried out by a group of learners outside the classroom under a close supervision of the teacher (Sanders, 2015). Similarly, field trip involves taking students out of the classroom to places where they can see concrete illustration of classroom theories (Aliyu, 2008). It involves taking students outside the classroom setting to have first-hand experience of what happens in the environment or real life situation. Student academic achievement is an outcome of interest to both researchers and professionals within the field of education and is generally an outcome desired by many parents, stakeholders, educationist and youth. An important question that is raised by educators, parents and often society is how high academic performance in students can be promoted and what factors or contexts have an influence on academic performance throughout a child's development.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Field trips are a critical component of standards-based instruction in the classroom, not a separate activity, but a direct extension of classroom instruction. Awotua-Efebo (2009) agrees that field work is a type of instructional medium in use today, since instructional medium according to the author, is “anything (materials and equipment) that can help the teacher to communicate effectively his or her ideas to the students, so that at the end of the instruction the student can do that which the teacher stated in the objectives. Examples are: real object (specimen, models, excursions, field work) projected/non-projected images, print non-prints etc.

Basically, biology field trip is seen as a support for effective teaching and not a centre of attention. Awotua-Efebo (2009) argued that effective teaching should be the goal, and defines effective teaching as “getting the content (message) across in a manner that will accomplish the desired objectives, and add also that if at the end of the instruction, the student do what the teacher want them to do through the process of evaluation, then effective teaching has taken place.

Furthermore, biology field trips by secondary school students were expected to enhance student learning experiences through interaction with resource persons and the environment. Such centers were supposed to provide better resources than the school for first hand information, especially as learning outside the classroom aims at ensuring that all young people had chances to participate in high quality outdoor learning experiences. It also set out to improve academic achievement, developed skills and interdependent in a widening range of environments and provide the opportunity to acceptable levels of risk. But regrettably, many critics and observers have expressed that the whole exercise is a mere jamboree and a waste of time and energy and has not in any way responded to improve student's performance in Biology.

Rickinson, et al. (2004) it can lead to life-defining decisions. It can help to broaden horizons, both literally and educationally, and offers great potential for personal development, building independence, self esteem, self confidence and teamwork. Such potentially life-defining opportunities for biologists need to be celebrated and nurtured. Whilst attention often focuses on pressures and demands, field activities can be highly effective in developing mutual understanding between teachers and students which enhances the effectiveness of learning and can provide motivation which transfers/remains after the field experience Hillcox, S. (2003).

Field-trip provide real life context for the material being learned. Studies also conducted by Urulor, (2000) showed that a greater percentage of what is heard, seen and touched during field trip is remembered than what is merely heard. Field trip provides outdoors experiences and observations from which the students learn. It could cover a few hours and could last as long as a couple of weeks. Field trip could mean visit from the school to farms, wildlife parks, zoos, agro-allied and agro-based industries or public places of interest such as the kings' palace, railway station, airport and post-office, all within the neighbourhood. Experiences acquired during field trip are usually long lasting and cannot be easily forgotten by the students.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Effect of Field Trip on Biology Students Achievement.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that most students in large class size classrooms do not copy notes because they think that since the class is large the teacher might not notice them (Pedder, 2006). Field trip is an essential part of learning that enhances effective teaching and learning process. At times this aspect of teaching may not really be effective due to the fact that there are no resources that are pulled towards that direction since it needs so much funding. It could be that most biology teachers do not even know where exactly to take the student to for excursion.

Finally, several researches has been carried out on the effect of field trip on biology students but not even a single research has been carried out on the effect of field trip on biology students achievement in Kwuano LGA, Abia state.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to determine the Effect of Field Trip on Biology Students Achievement. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To identify the effect of field trip on male and female student's achievement;
2. To ascertain the difference in urban and rural school student's achievement in field trip teaching method;
3. To determine the effect of field trip on biology student's achievement; and
4. To proffer possible solutions to the problems of field trip on biology student's achievement in the study area.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• What is the difference in urban and rural school student's achievement in field trip teaching method?
• What is the effect of field trip on male and female student's achievement?
• What is the effect of field trip on biology student's achievement?
• What are the possible solutions to the problems of field trip on biology student's achievement in the study area?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: Field trip has no significant effect on biology student achievement in Kwuano Local Government Area of Abia State.
• H1: Field trip has significant effect on biology student achievement in Kwuano Local Government Area of Abia state.

1.7 Significance of Study

The study will be extremely beneficial to the study area in general because, it will allow the government to finance field trips for students to learn from, and as biology is a more practical subject than theory. In addition, since students have trouble recalling what they see, they may recount an event from start to finish without forgetting anything. This is also true for theoretical lessons and field trips, which will support and aid in their learning.

The study will also enable the government in recruiting and also train effective biology teachers. Finally, the study will contribute to the body of existing literature and knowledge to this field of study and basis for further research.

1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Effect of Field Trip on Biology Students Achievement using Kwuano Local Government Area of Abia State as a case study.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:

1. Time Constraint:The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
3. Initial Cooperation Delay from Respondents: A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.

1.10 Definition of Terms

Field Trip:

It is also known as an excursion which is a journey by a group of people to a place away from their normal environment.

Achievement:

It is a thing done successfully with effort, skill, or courage.

Effect:

It is a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.