The Impact of Teachers’ Variables on Students Learning In Biology
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Teaching is generally described as the process whereby a specialized skill is used to develop normal knowledge in learners. Teachers have been identified as the heart of educational process and the main determinant of quality and effectiveness of its results. According to Awaka (2011), the main bottle neck to the improvement of students academic performance is recruitment of experienced and qualified teachers.
He noted that teacher’s behaviour is not only influenced by their belief, but also by their attitude towards teaching. And that attitude is defined as internal believes that influence personal action and learning include; work value, teaching methods, teachers’ qualification and teachers’ commitment among others.
Dada (2007), submitted that teachers are more likely to exhibit more enthusiasm in preparation and presentation of less when they are apathetic or indifferent towards students (learners). It is crystal clear that the present of financial and material resources alone cannot get things done effectively except human beings are available with the necessary participation to make use of money and machine. In the school setting, goals and objectives are achieved through the efforts of the people.
The Impact of Teachers’ Variables on Students Learning In Biology
Knowledge could be imparted of human resources are not available or adequate. It is also pertinent to say that teachers are indispensable human resource in the educational system. This is so because teachers interpret the aims and objective of education to ensure that the students are educated in accordance with them since quality outputs depends on quality inputs, the success and quality of education depends on effective teachers, (Obadara, 2009). The concept of teachers’ behavioural trait, teachers’ qualification and teaching effectiveness are multi-dimensional. This involved interplay of various elements in the workforce.
Teachers are role models to the students because as they act, so do the students demonstrate and perfect such act or behaviour. It is very unfortunate that little did many teachers realize that he manner they handled the teaching of biology as a subject, behave and interact with the students in biology teachers could produce major effect on students’ achievement. Some teachers seem to have developed negative attitude towards teaching the students, this subject (Biology) that is very vital to human living.
A close examination of the submissions of Ali et al (1990) and Duyilemi (1996), revealed that academic achievement may be dependent upon positive attitude from the teachers and the students in the teaching/learning process.
Biology as a branch of science is very important particularly in health, nutrition and agricultural science and therefore should be effectively taught and learns in schools in another perspective.
I. Orlando, (2011) highlight the characteristics or variables of an effective teacher to include respect for the students, creating sense of belonging in class, warmth and accessibility, setting high expectation for students, love learning, competence and qualification.
To this end, (Park,2008) has indicated that the personal qualifies of the teacher can either mark or make the lesson delivery in a given subject in school. Accordingly, some people blame the teachers for the poor performance of students in the school. Umoren and M. Ogbodo, (eds) (201). It is based on the assertion that this study sought to determine the influence of the teachers’ variables on the students’ learning in biology in Ikono Local Government Area.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Science teaching, especially Biology, at the secondary school level has been the concern of government and parent. Stakeholders in the education blame students for general unpreparedness to examination as one of the major causes of students’ poor learning. The teachers are also blamed for lack f dedication to their duties which has inadvertely affected the academic performance of students. Whoever is culpable, the general view is that teachers are indiscipensable in the teaching and learning process.
The West African Examination Council (2001) annual report, noted that one f the factors responsible for the poor performance is of subject matter mastery by the teacher which makes the teaching ineffective. It resulted in discouraging students from learning.
This show that where a teacher exhibits an unprofessional variable, the students are classroom to fail and continual failure discourages and in most cases develops hatrate to the lesson. They may out rightly refused to attend such lesson. The total end product could be seen in the final examination.
Base on the extents to which the teachers’ variable affect students’ learning of Biology in Ikono Local Government Area.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The general purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of teachers’ variables on students learning in Biology in secondary schools in Ikono Local Government Area.
Specially, the study sought to:
- Examine the relationship between teaches’ years of service and effective teaching of Biology in secondary school in Ikono Local Government Area.
- Determine the relationship between teachers’ qualification and effective teaching of Biology in secondary school in Ikono Local Government Area.
- Assess the relationship between teacher’s knowledge of the subject matter and effective teaching of Biology in Ikono Local Government Area.
1.4 Significance of the Study
Significantly, the study will be in the following ways:
- It will serve as reference materials t the student and researcher in the same or similar topic.
- It will help to sensitize teachers on the need to examine their effectiveness towards the teaching and learning of Biology.
- It will help to keep government abreast of the need to provide adequate instructional materials and the effective teaching aids for the teaching and learning of the subject