AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS UTILIZATION AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN PHYSICS IN ORUK ANAM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1      Background to the study

Audio visual material is one of the instructional strategies which facilitate effective teaching and learning of physics in secondary schools in Oruk Anam Local Government Area.

The term “visual” came into prominent in the educational sense during the first decades of the 20^th century. “Audiovisual,” a term which combines both sound and visual stimuli later came into use.  The eyes, ears, and nerve ending are some of the means through which communication perception takes place.

Audio visual material is a useful tool that helps to stimulate our perception. It increases our hearing and seeing simultaneously and hence our cognitive skills. With the advancement of modern technology in the world it is more urgent to use modern instructional materials such as audio visual material to develop efficiency in the way students learn. There is a need to restructure our instructional material to make classroom teaching effective, most of the changes have been attributed to the “information revolution.” Many of the transformations taking place are associated with the much rapid flow of information and greater capacity for its system; audio visual materials have a pivotal role to play.

        Many researchers have debated whether education has improved throughout history with the use of multimedia (Pipert, 2002). With the development of technology, teaching tools have transformed from simple test to interactive media, such as audio visual this may be helpful in reducing the difficulty of cantering text into practice because it offers an audio and visual demonstration of instruction.

The use of audio visual materials for the purpose of enhancing learning is beneficial, because it allows for an easier and broader variety of teaching styles with which information can be obtained. It promotes interactive learning and, as a result, encourages greater enthusiasms toward education in both students and teacher (Pryor, 2008). In laboratory the use of audio visual technology is particularly useful, as it enables the visualization of procedures and allows for deeper comprehension than what is obtained through textual presentation (Okworo, 2008).

In the present society, it is observed that with the traditional method of teaching, students are only spoon fed. They do not understand the subject clearly and generally feel that the course or subject is vast and difficult, individual differences in intelligence, abilities, interests and rate of learning. Every student cannot grasp at the same rate (Baja, 2013).

Science is the bedrock of technological development of a nation. To this end, the Federal Government of Nigeria has continuously placed emphasis on the study of science and technology. In spite the importance of science in national development, it is observed that student’s performance in science subjects is not encouraging. One of the challenges in the sciences is poor performance. The West African Examination Council Examiner (2006) report revealed that the achievement of students in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in the May/June Examinations has been on the decline of the total percentage of candidates who attained credit level (grade 1-6) and above in Physics, Chemistry and Biology averaged are 22.61%, 34.92 and 26% respectively, while 45. 49%, 43.79% and 53. 13% respectively failed one rightly (Baja, 2013).

        The poor performance of students in science subjects has been attributed to poor instructional materials employed by the teachers. As well as rote learning in the form of excessive talking, copying of note and rote learning of text book materials adopted by teachers (Ofili, 2012). The challenges of not having well equipped laboratory for practical experience has also contributed to poor performance of students in physics (Ibe, 2006). It is against this background the researcher attempt to investigate Audio –Visual Materials Utilization and Academic Performance of Secondary School Students in Physics in Oruk Anam Local Government Area.

1.2      Statement of the Problem

It has been observed that the performance of students in physics in secondary school has been consistently poor because of lack of modern instructional materials such as audio visual instructional materials. It is also observed that most of the teachers of physics do not know the right instructional materials to apply to a particular topic in the teaching and learning of physics. This study therefore, focuses on audio visual materials utilization and academic performance of secondary school students.

1.3        Purpose of the Study:

This study was to investigate on the audio visual materials utilization and academic performance of secondary school students in physics in Oruk Anam Local Government Area. Specifically, the study aims to:

     i.        Determine whether students taught with audio visual materials performed better in Physics Examinations.

    ii.        Determine if audio visual material has any effect on male and female physics students.

1.4      Significance of the Study

The findings of this study will be of immense benefit to the teachers, students and the society as it will enable the adoption of modern instructional materials for teaching and learning. This study will further help educational administrators in to adopts appropriate administrative strategy in enhancing the use of audio visual materials for instructional delivery in secondary school.

1.5      Research Question

The following research questions are formulated and adopted to guide the study:

     i.        Is there any significance difference in the academic performance of Physics students taught with audio visual materials and those taught without Audio-Visual materials?

    ii.        Is there any significance difference in the academic performance of male and female Physics students taught using audio visual materials?

1.6      Research Hypotheses

The following research hypotheses are formulated for the study:

     i.        There is no significance difference in the academic performance of Physics students taught with audio visual materials and those taught without Audio-Visual materials?

    ii.        There is no significance difference in the academic performance of male and female Physics students taught using audio visual materials.  

1.7      Delimitation of the study

This study was delimited to audio visual materials utilization and academic performance of students in secondary school in physics in Oruk Anam Local Government Area.

1.8      Limitation of the Study

This study was only limited due to time and financial constraint.

1.9      Definition of Terms

The following terms are defined as used in the study:

Academic performance: this is simply defined as the actual grade or marks/scores that a student obtained in examination or during examination and assignment that reflects their ability in that particular subject (physics).

Instructional materials: this is simply the vehicle (tools) that helps the teacher to communicate effectively in teaching and learning process.

Audio visual materials: this is seen as or comprises of all the teaching materials used by the teacher. They are multimedia materials, these includes; television, Radio, Tape recorder etc.

Physics: this is the nature of science concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy which includes heat, light, magnetism and the structure of atom. Etc

Audio: these are sound that is heard but not seen, through a medium, such as radio. It is the audible contents in media production and publishing.

Visual: this is simply the physical component that is associated with images and techniques such as television, projector, computer monitor, map, chart, etc.

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