Effect of Innovative Method on the Teaching of Biology
CHATER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Education is a light that shows the mankind the right direction to surge. The purpose of education is not just making a student literate but adds rational thinking knowledge ability and self-sufficiency. When there is a willingness to change, there is hope for progress in any field. Creativity can be developed and innovation benefits both students and teachers.
Education is an engine for the growth and progress of any society. It not only imparts Knowledge, skills and inculcates values, but is also responsible for building human capital which breeds, drives and sets technological innovation and economic growth. The poor achievement of students in Biology in external examination is linked to the use of traditional method (lecture/expository method) in teaching secondary school Biology (Ibiene, 2010). The traditional/conventional teaching methods often used by teachers in teaching Biology include the lecture expository method, demonstration and direct instrument etc. these traditional method of teaching stress more on the transmission of knowledge in a manner that emphasizes demonization hence they have been characterized by some educators (Ibe and Nwosu, 2013, Sawa, 2011) as a poor method of teaching Biology and other science subjects.
The conventional/traditional teaching methods involve unidirectional flow of information/knowledge from teacher to students and do not encourage process skill acquisition needed for proper understanding of Biology principles, concepts and facts. Guisfi (2008) referred to these traditional teaching methods as teacher-centered approaches to leaning in the sense that the teacher and those upin the educational hierarchy are considered as the possessor of knowledge to be transferred to the student, and as such de ides how the knowledge transfer takes place. The unidirectional flow of information in the traditional teaching method makes students passive and unable to construct meaningful knowledge in the teaching and learning of Biology.
The short comings of these traditional teaching methods resulted to the persistent search for an effective method of teaching and learning Biology which culminated to the discovery and suggestions by some researchers (Mandor, 2012, Ibe and Nwosu, 2013, Nwagbo, 2009 and Akpan, 2010), for the use of innovative teaching methods such as an inquiry method, concept mappings, simulations and games, constructivism problem based learning etc. The innovative teaching methods are activity based and characterized by student sharing some degree of responsibility for making decision in learning process in innovative teaching methods the teacher is often described as a partner and a facilitators in the teaching and learning process and not the possessor of knowledge hence the innovative teaching methods are referred to as student-centered approach to learning (Cambell, 2009). Inquiry method is also considered necessary in this study to determine its efficiency on students achievement and interest in Biology using two different types of inquiry teaching methods (guided and unguided inquire) respectively.
Effect of Innovative Method on the Teaching of Biology
It’s more effective if the students are made to perform rather than just asked to remember some information. The applied and implicit knowledge should be the ultimate good of the education system. A typical classroom environment with a presentation from the subject teacher accompanied by lecture does not promote learners to participate and does not build a required involvement level of the students. Most of the learners just copy the note from lectures or board considering it part of their responsibilities being taught. This typical environment only promotes a fraction of students who start thinking at their own and try to raise questions taking initiatives Obiekwe (2008). This study therefore intends to investigate the different effects of innovative teaching methods and teaching of Biology in secondary schools in Eket Local Government Area.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Despite the recommendation for use of innovative teaching method for teaching and learning of science including Biology by the Federal Ministry of Educations 6-3-3-4 curriculum reform and suggestions by many science Education report from education and researchers indicated that students’ achievement in Biology is still poor. The poor teaching of Biology in school has been associated with the used of poor method of teaching, lack of interest by student to learn. In view of these, researcher’s in science education have continually sought for better teaching methods that will enhance the teaching and learning of Biology promote interest and bridge the gender gap among male and female students in the learning of science based subjects Opara (2011) noted that innovative teaching when fostered in different ways can ultimately and positively affect student understanding, achievement and interest in Biology. The problem of this study posed as a question in which method of innovative when fostered by teachers would enhance teaching promote achievement and interest in secondary schools Biology?
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of innovative method on the teaching of Biology in secondary schools in Eket Local Government Area.
Specifically the study sought to:
- Determine the extent to which cooperative teaching method affect effective teaching of Biology in secondary schools
- Examine the extent to which inquiry teaching method affect the teaching of Biology in secondary schools.
- Assess the extent to which activity based teaching method affect the teaching of Biology in secondary schools.
1.4 Significance of the Study
The study will be significant in the following ways to the following people:
The identification of a more effective approach of the innovative method will be immense benefit to the nation, students, teachers, science educators, other researchers and curriculum developers.
- To the nation, identification of a better method of innovation teaching will improve students’ achievement and interest in Biology and increase the number of students who will go into the study of important science course like medicine, pharmacy, nursing and agriculture.
- To the students, identification of a more effective innovative method will help the students to achieve high in Biology and have increased interest for Biology which will make them to opt for science courses in high institution.
- To the teachers and science educators the identification of better innovative method will make teaching and learning process more interest because students’ achievement will be improved upon and their interest sustained, this enabling the realization of the stated instructional objectives which is the goal of any academic enterprise.
- To other researchers, the findings and suggestions by this study will create an insight for researchers into other methods of innovative, it will be a based-line data as well as reference material for future studies and financially to the curriculum developers, the result from this study will provide based for developing and implementing the use of innovative method that has a greater effect in improving students achievement and interest in Biology
1.5 Research Questions
The following research questions were posted to guide the study:
- To what extent does cooperative teaching method affect the teaching of Biology in secondary schools?
- To what extent does the use of inquiry method affect the teaching of Biology in secondary schools?
- To what extent does activity-based method affect the teaching of Biology in secondary schools?