IMPACT OF MOTIVATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF BIOLOGY TEACHER IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

1.1 Introduction

Education is a preparation for life. This is related to the acquisition of skills to earn a living. Today as always, the definition of education is the ever change and increasing in scope. Our schools are confronted with new pressures arising from changing needs with students; societal expectation, economic changes and technological advancement are to look into.

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, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Biology Teacher's performance refers to what teachers achieve in their studies and how they cope with or accomplish different teaching experiences given to them by their employer. Flegun (2005) reported that in educational institutions, success is measured by academic performance, or how well a teacher meets the standards set out by the institution of teaching. Government, teachers, parents and the general public are greatly worried about the students’ poor performance in Biology as a bed rock subject in most of the courses in the higher institutions of learning in recent times.

Motivation can be intrinsic or extrinsic. Stipek (2008) reported that a student who is intrinsically motivated undertakes an activity “for its own sake, for the enjoyment it provides, the learning it permits, or the feelings of accomplishment it evokes”. He further explained that on the other hand, an extrinsically motivated student performs well in order to obtain some reward or avoid punishment external to the activity itself, such as grades, prizes or simply for teachers’ approval.

Nevertheless, if education program is to be planned and if efforts for continued improvement are to be made, it is very necessary to have some conception the goal that are being aimed at these educational objectives become a criteria by which material are selected, content is outline instructional procedures are developed and human resources are also considered

School environment has been described as an organization where material are produced, managed and organized in such a way that enables the students to acquire desirable learning competericies. The process of managing and organizing materials in teaching brings about fruitful learning since it stimulates students sense as well as motivation them. Denyer (1998), in his study on science games in National curriculums in the united kingdom reported that games when used as a material enables lass able children to stay on task and remain motivated for longer period.

There are varieties of materials in Biology which are models, charts, preserved specimens of plants and animals, culturing equipment and microscope (Olagunju, 2000). The materials should be provided in quality and quantity in classroom for effective teaching-learning process (Umeoduagu, 2000). Nwoji, (1999) in an empirical study, revealed that essential facilities such as equipment like radio, television, computers, chemicals, specimens, videos tape, stave, Bunsen burners, models and charts are not available in schools. This inadequacy of teaching materials, laboratory, space, has been of serious concern to educators.

There is a general agreement among researchers that the most difficult problems educators face in contemporary Nigeria is lack of interest from their students. Condr and Chambers (2008) reported that in many cases, teachers or educators are expected to arouse interest for the subject in students, a very herculean task. When a student comes to school unmotivated in the subject, the teacher’s words, actions and classroom activities become very important in uplifting and arousing the students’ interest in the subject. Marshall (2007) stated that the teacher is best able to motivate students to learn when each correct response from each student is positively reinforced by the teacher. He further went on to explain that motivation in instruction means factoring incentives into instruction and is vital for designing effective instruction.

Therefore, in Warri South L.G.A., Delta State, Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Impact of Motivation of the Performance of Biology Teacher in Secondary Schools.

1.3 Statement of Problem

There is a general agreement among researchers that the most difficult problems educators face in contemporary Nigeria is lack of interest from their students.

Condr and Chambers (2008) reported that in many cases, teachers or educators are expected to arouse interest for the subject in students, a very herculean task. When a student comes to school unmotivated in the subject, the teacher’s words, actions and classroom activities become very important in uplifting and arousing the students’ interest in the subject.

Marshall (2007) stated that the teacher is best able to motivate students to learn when each correct response from each student is positively reinforced by the teacher. He further went on to explain that motivation in instruction means factoring incentives into instruction and is vital for designing effective instruction.

The quality of instruction, teachers, and equipment in Biology are usually considered sub-standard, in adequate equipment and lack of teachers contribute to the poor teaching of Biology education. Many schools do not have Biology laboratory and teachers are often unqualified. Research has shown that poor perception over the production of instruction materials in schools, low level of utilization of these materials, Non challant attitude of teachers towards improvisation of materials, poor funding, lack of equipment, laboratories are major causes of poor educational materials (resources) in the impermanent of Biology education programmed. For leaning to be meaningful and permanent, it is necessary that instructional materials be used. Therefore this study has the problem of finding the Impact of Motivation of the Performance of Biology Teacher in Secondary Schools.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The main aim of the study is to investigate the Impact of Motivation of the Performance of Biology Teacher in Secondary Schools in Nigeria. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To investigate whether or not motivations have positive impact on the performance of Senior Secondary School students’ Biology Teacher.
2. To identify the various motivational aspects that encourages students to perform very well in Biology.
3. To determine the extent of motivational efforts put by teachers in ensuring increasing performance of Biology Teacher.
4. To identify the various challenges affecting efficient motivational efforts of the teachers.

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:

• Do Biology teachers give high priority in motivating their students than in other science subjects?
• Does the paucity of qualified and experienced Biology teachers affect the academic performance of students in Biology as a subject?
• Do the roles of other students in the class motivate some of the students in learning Biology as a subject?
• Does the school have major roles to play in ensuring high level of motivation by providing relevant, current Biology text books in the libraries and cutting edge equipments in the laboratories?
• Do the parents have a major role to play in ensuring high level of motivation on the part of the students?
• Does the state government have major roles to play in ensuring high level of motivation in all areas of academic interest?
• To what extent does Performance of Biology Teacher in Secondary Schools impacts students' achievement?

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.

H0: There is no significant difference in the performance between group of teachers who were motivated and those who were not

H1: There is significant difference in the performance between group of teachers who were motivated and those who were not

1.7 Significance of Study

The result of this study will be useful to students, parents, teachers, guidance counselors, school authorities and the larger society in general, whereby identification of the factors that affect students’ performance is of interest to them. Parents are always interested in the performance of their children’s in the school. Science educators and guidance counselors will find the result useful. The result will make their job easier, enhance the quality of counseling the students receive in school, reduce the failure and dropout rates among students. Also help counselors and science educators to advice parents accordingly on how to relate with their children who are studying Biology. Schools are always looking for ways to ensure that their students perform excellently in every subject in the curriculum. As such school authorities will find the result of the study of great help in improving the curriculum content of Biology.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

1.8 Scope of Study

The study focuses on the Impact of Motivation of the Performance of Biology Teacher in Secondary Schools in Warri South L.G.A., Delta State, Nigeria.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

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. Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
4. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
5. 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).

1.10 Definition of Terms

The relevant terms below were operationally defined relative to their usage in this study.

Effect: This is the change (outcome) that is brought about in a person (s) or something by another person (s) or thing; that is the way in which an event, action or person changes someone or something.

Academic Performance: This is regarded as the display of knowledge attained or skills, shown in the school subjects such achievements are indicated by test scores or by marks assigned by teachers. It is the school evaluation of students’ classroom work as quantified on the basis of marks or grades.

Utilization: The act of using something to achieve a purpose

Instructional Material: What the teacher uses to make the lesson more interesting and understandable.