LEARNING STYLES AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN BIOLOGY IN ETIM EKPO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1      Background to the Study

It is known that learning processes vary from person to person due to the presence of biological and psychological differences. Pack (2008) points out that more than three-fifth of a person’s learning styles is biologically imposed and that each person is born with certain tendencies toward a particular style, but these biological or inherited characteristics are influenced by culture, personal experiences, maturity level and development.

All learners have individual attributes relating to their learning process. Sitt-Gordes (2010) also holds that most teachers teach the way they were taught. This might have caused the frustration of a good number of learners as they witness that their performances are not accounted for by many teachers.

The case is more serious in a context where students come from diverse educational experiences and with different backgrounds compared to the extensive work done on methods and instructional activities, one viral role often neglected is the exploration of learning styles in the classroom. Standard academic performance can be as a standard learning ability.

Researchers have pointed out that learning ability or techniques among students contribute positively or negatively to their level of academic performance. Students do not learn in the same way and a number of different learning styles exist which include; visual learning style, auditory learning style, kinesthetic learning style and students personal interest. These styles have contribute immensely to the academic performance of students in Biology.

Investigations have shown that learning techniques among students can contribute either positively or negatively to their academic performance. It is known that learning processes vary from person to person. As written by Isang, (2011), He asserts that the best learning occur when real word problem are paired with real world tools for problem solving. It is believed that when teachers are able to analyze the different needs of their students, the educational process is likely to be optimized for both students and teachers (Fair Hust, 2005).

Researchers have also pointed out that learning ability or technique among students can contribute positively or negatively to their level of academic performance.

1.2      Statement of the Problem

Students have different learning styles while they are being treated equally in the class; they find their study less interesting. Consequently, learners with special learning ability will end up having poor academic performance in the course of studying. Therefore, this study is meant to assess Students' Learning Styles and their Academic Performance in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

1.3      Purpose of the study

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of learning styles on academic performance of Biology students in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

Specifically, the study sought to:

i.             Identify the learning styles often used by Biology students in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area

ii.            To compare the academic performance of male and female students using visual learning style.

iii.          To compare the academic performance of male and female students using auditory learning style.

1.4      Research Questions

This study will attempt to provide answers to the following research questions

(i)                  What are the different learning styles adopted by students during the learning of Biology in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area

(ii)                 What are the differences in the academic performance of male and female students using visual learning style.

(iii)                What are the differences in the academic performance of male and female students using auditory learning style.

1.5      Research Hypotheses

The following null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study:

(i)                  There is no significant difference between the academic performance of students using visual learning style and those using auditory learning style in learning Biology in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State

(ii)                 There is no significant difference between the academic performance of  male and female students using visual learning style in learning Biology in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State

(iii)                There is no significant difference between the academic performance of male and female students using auditory learning style in learning Biology in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State

1.6      Significance of the Study

The findings of this study may be of immense benefit to teachers, parents, students, policy makers in government and guidance counselors.

(i)                  To practicing teachers, the findings may create awareness of the prevalence of different learning styles among students. This may help them to tailor their instructional styles towards matching such learning styles for meaningful and functional learning.

(ii)                 Knowledge of the various learning styles may help students to develop positive attitude towards effective learning that will help them to improve on their academic performance.

(iii)                It will serve as a source of reference material to those who undertake a study of this nature in the years ahead; it will make government to provide teaching aids and media like projectors to schools

1.7        Limitation of the Study

The study was faced with a number of difficulties. The researcher had difficulty in administering the Biology achievement test on the sampled schools. A lot of bottlenecks were placed by the principals, the class teachers whom the researcher had to pass through to reach the student population. Also, finance was a major factor that affected this study.

1.8      Delimitation of the Study

This study was carried out only in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. This study was also delimited to only senior secondary school two (SS2) students in the selected schools.       

1.9      Definition of Terms

(i)                  Academic Performance: This refers to the examination scores or result in Biology after an achievement test or examination has been ministered

(ii)                 Learning Styles: The sum of the patterns of how individual develop habitual ways of responding to experience

(iii)                Visual Learning Style: This learning style is the one in which an individual prefers using pictures, images and spacial understanding.

(iv)               Auditory Learning Style: This type of learning style deals with the learner preferring to use sounds and music. It could be recorded or audio player.

(v)                 Kinesthetic learning style: In this particular learning  style, the learner prefers using the body, especially the hands, in learning; they learn best by making experiments and manipulating objects. 

(vi)               Biology: The  study of life or living matter