E-Learning Materials Availability and Utilization and Teaching of Biology
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
The concept of individualized instruction has become popular in education. This arose out of the general belief, supported by some research studies that individuals differences among learners can influence the outcome of instruction. The experiment of individualization of instruction argues that learners differ in age, learning abilities, rate of learning and in general disposition to learning. The concern for individualization of instruction has been accentuated in recent years by large increase in enrolments at every level of education, especially in developing countries. The limit of this learning is innumerable. The most obvious of these limitations is the prohibitive cost of running it. Educators, therefore, continue to look for ways of meeting the instructional needs of individual learners. One method being used to cope with this problem is the utilization of e-learning materials which information are programmed for the independent use of individual learners (Ntuk, 2015).
However, the global wave in the use of c-learning materials and it’s revolutionary effect is a major attraction to many researchers. This is because in the classroom, the three elements stand out which are: the teachers,the learner and the instructional materials. These elements interact among themselves using appropriate methods to convey the content (lesson) which constitutes the aim of education which will be educated (Obot, 2015). E-learning materials that occupy a greater position in this modern system of education are instructional materials that have both solid and visual components at times (Jadal,2012). The use of the internet, computers, mobile phones, learning management systems, televisions, radios, and others in the educational system enhance the teaching and learning activities.
E-Learning Materials Availability and Utilization and Teaching of Biology
Furthermore, e-learning is a unifying term used to describe the field of learning, web-based training and technology-delivered instruction. According to Oye, (2010), e-learning has become an increasingly popular learning approach in higher educational institutions due to cast growth of internet technology. It has a competitive advantage and many universities and colleges have implemented it and this has impacts on students’ academic performance. However, still there are other universities that use very low interactive E-learning due to a lack of e-learning materials enough to contribute to the performance of students as well as the effectiveness of their teaching staff. Today technology is a tool used to remove geographical barriers and facilitates everybody to learn anytime and anywhere without the presence of the teacher.
The availabilities of E-learning materials in schools increase the accessibility to education at a reduced cost and time as well as improving student’s interest in learning similarly, according to Rodgers, (2013), c-learning materials facilitates different students at different continent to attend the same class almost at some time as well as accessing much information about a particular learned concept at the lowest cost and without stress. This technology enables is aimed to improve the quality of education. This background above, therefore, motivated this research on c-learning materials availability and utilization and it’s effects on the teaching of biology in secondary schools
1.2 Statement of the problem
Biology is a general subject offered by science and non-science students in secondary schools and is written in these examinations. Quality education is evidenced in the performance of the students in external examinational like the West African school certificate examination (WASCE).
Unfortunately, it is observed that the academic performance of most students falls below expectations as noted by Momoh (20,14). Momoh attributed this fallen standard to many factors such as peer group influence, te4g methodology, and teachers variables. However, Wales (201 5 have reported a positive influence of the use of e-learning materials on the performances of students in physics in secondary schools in Yemen when he investigated on factors affecting learning in Yemen: reality and ambition. This raises the question, could the use of e-learning materials influence the teaching of biology in secondary schools in Uyo Local Government Area? The quest for the provision of answers to this question and many others summarizes the problem to this study.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study was to investigate e-learning materials availability and utilization and teaching of biology in secondary schools in Uyo Local Government Area. This study specifically, intends to i. Investigate the level of availability of e-learning materials such as the internet and mobile phone for the teaching of biology in secondary schools in Uyo Local Government Area.
- Investigate the effect of the rate of utilization of the internet and mobile phone on the teaching of biology in secondary schools in UyoLocal Government Area.
1.4 Significance of the Study.
The findings of this study will be of significance in the following ways.
- this study is an important contribution to the research of understanding how to use e-learning materials.
- it will be significant to students as it will enable them to adopt e-learning materials in their learning which will reduce abstraction and make lessons real for them.
3) it will help teachers to adopt e-learning in their teaching which will make their teaching effective.
4) this study will help curriculum designers in developing curriculum for Nigerian science teachers of tomorrow.
5) it will enhance innovative thinking and creativity in teachers as they will have to think of and select relevant e-learning materials for utilization in their teaching.
6) it will serve as a source of data for future researchers on a related topic.
1.5 Research Questions
The following research questions were formulated to guide the study.
- At what level are e-learning materials such as the internet and mobile phone available for the teaching of biology in secondary schools?
- At what level does the utilization of internet mobile phones influence the teaching of biology in secondary schools?
E-Learning Materials Availability and Utilization and Teaching of Biology