THE IMPACT OF USING VISUAL INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS IN SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY TEACHING

1.1 Introduction

Instructional materials have been observed as a powerful strategy to bring about effective teaching and learning. The importance of quality and adequate instructional materials in teaching and learning can occur through their effective utilization during classroom teaching. Instructional materials here include all the tools that the teachers can use to make the learning more interesting and memorable. Instructional methods consist of principles and methods used by teachers to enhance and relate the training to learners. It is defined by the process that you use to instruct people on a particular topic. Each instructional method has its use. Instructional methods are kinds of instructional ways or activities used to guide the facilitation of learning in each phase of the instructional process (Teachmint, 2021).

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, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Instructional materials include both visuals and audiovisuals such as pictures, flashcards, posters, charts, tape recorder, radio, video, television, computers among others. These materials serve as supplement to the normal processes of instruction. Instructional materials according to Emma and Ajayi (2004) are those things which help teaching and learning process. It helps to promote understanding of the concept and generalization by making lesson practical and realistic. Any teacher who has the interest of the student at heart is bound to think of the ways and means he will employ to make his teaching and learning process moiré effective and more interesting to students.

Basssey (2002) described instructional materials media as system component that may be used as part of instructional process which are used to disseminate informative message and ideas or which make possible communication in the teaching-learning process. Experience over the years has shown that teachers have been depending on excessive use of words to express, convey ideas or facts in the teaching-learning process. This process is termed the ‘chalk-talk’ method. Today advances in technology have made it possible to produce materials and devices that could be used to minimize the teachers’ talking and at the same time, make the message clearer, more interesting and easier for the learner to assimilate (Onasanya, et al. (2008).

According to Adeniyi (2000), the effect of instructional materials is to communicate more permanently, health related issues, and information is retained when supplemented with aid. Certainly instructional materials when carefully selected and skillfully used will make learning more effective. Therefore it becomes necessary to investigate the importance of instructional materials in teaching and learning of biology. However, man and animal possess the necessary abilities for learning. In other words, they are potential learners. Certain factors within and outside the learner determine how effectively each individual learn. Instructional materials can be in different forms such as textual and non-textual, the visual the auditory and audio-visual.

Witwoth and Benson (2003), indicate that there is a need for research on the use and effectiveness of visual instructional materials in biology classroom that would enhances its teaching. With these concerns in mind and the educational development, The current study is carried out to address the issues associated with the effect of instructional materials in biology teaching in Secondary schools. Schools should provide enough instructional materials to enable teachers clarify their lesson. Schools should send their biology teachers to seminars and workshops in order to update their knowledge.

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. 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.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Impact of Using Visual Instructional Materials in Secondary School Biology Teaching.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that the effect of using visual instructional materials in biology teaching has been widely researched but many questions are still remains unanswered. The needs for exploring locally available materials as an alternative for the grossly unavailable materials in our schools, resourcefulness of the teacher must be in line with the learners’ curriculum and environment so that classroom teaching does not have to be retarded by lack of funds. Hence, government must strive to develop her local technology in all its ramifications, since biology is interested in providing solutions to man’s problems holistically. Many writers in biology have pointed out the grossly unavailability of instructional materials coupled with teachers attitude towards the utilization during classroom teaching-learning situations.

The problems are that visual instructional materials not available in our schools, teachers are not improvising and reluctant in using them. Thus, in this research attempt would be identified. Identify various secondary schools that required visual instructional materials, Identify visual instructional materials needed for effective teaching and learning of biology in secondary school, Identify visual instructional materials available in secondary schools and Identify how the effect of instructional materials like chalkboard, funnel board, model real things, overhead projector, tape recorders, radio, television etc affect the performance of students in secondary schools. Therefore this study has the problem of finding the impact of instructional materials in teaching and learning Biology.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Impact of Using Visual Instructional Materials in Secondary School Biology Teaching. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To ascertain the extent to which Senior Secondary School Student’s learning of Biology can be influenced by the use of instructional materials;
2. To examine the influence of instructional material utilization on the teaching of Biology in Senior Secondary Schools in Lagos State; and
3. To determine whether there will be any difference in the academic performance of secondary schools students in Biology due to the use of instructional materials.

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:

• Will the use of instructional materials influence the teaching and application of Biology in senior secondary schools?
• Will there be any difference in the academic performance of senior secondary school students in Biology due to the use of instructional materials?
• To what extent can senior secondary school students’ learning of Biology be influenced by the use of instructional materials?
• How frequently do biology teachers utilize visual instructional materials during biology lesson?
• What are the problems associated with the effect of instructional materials in biology instruction?
• What are the benefits of instructional materials to the students?
• What are the reasons why the teachers do not use instructional materials?

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: The use of instructional materials will not have significant influence on the teaching of Biology in senior secondary schools.
• H1: The use of instructional materials will have significant influence on the teaching of Biology in senior secondary schools.

Hypothesis Two

• H0: Visual instructional material does not have significant impact on secondary school students’ learning of Biology.
• H1: Visual instructional material has significant impact on secondary school students’ learning of Biology.

Hypothesis Three

• H0: There will be no significant difference in the performance of students in Biology due to the use of instructional materials.
• H1: There will be significant difference in the performance of students in Biology due to the use of instructional materials.

1.7 Significance of Study

The significance of the study is to identify the importance of visual instructional materials in teaching and learning of biology and how both the teacher and the learner can manipulate the visual instructional materials to achieve maximum learning objectives. The study would be a great importance to the ministry of education and society at large. It will certainly help to identify the basic visual instructional materials for teaching and learning of biology.

To the students, the effective use of instructional materials would enable them to effectively learn and retain what they have learnt and thereby advancing their performance in the subject in question. This is because according to Nwadinigwe (2000), learning is a process through which knowledge, skills, habits, facts, ideas and principles are acquired, retained and utilized; and the only means of achieving this is through the use of instructional materials.

The study is also significant to the educational system and society at large. This is because when teachers solidify their teaching with instructional materials and the learners learn effectively, the knowledge acquired will reflect in the society positively. Students will be able to understand the functioning of the economy, interpret government’s economic policies and activity and perform economically better in the choice of life and work.

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 scope of the research is focused on the Impact of Using Visual Instructional Materials in Secondary School Biology Teaching using Senior Secondary Schools in Lagos State as a case study.

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. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. 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.

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

Utilization: The act of using something to achieve a purpose

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.