EFFECT OF INTERNET-BASED TOOLS ON PERFORMANCE OF SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN BIOLOGY

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1          Background to the Study

The introduction of western education in Nigeria in the early 19^th century has brought with it variety of teaching methods and instructional materials. Instructional materials were meant to assist the teacher in presenting the lesson in a manner that will be well understood by students. Indeed part of a teacher’s professional responsibility is to prepare his lesson properly, and major component of writing the lesson is the selection of appropriate instructional materials to ensure effective lesson delivery. Some of the initial teaching aids used by the teachers included maps, charts, flip charts and physical objects. In the corvette of time and with the development in technology, there was the introduction of slides, transparencies, audio materials and videos. Mhlolo (2007), says, this enhanced the ability of teachers to teach more effectively and for the students to learn in more concrete ways.

The importance of curriculum materials in teaching and learning Biology in secondary schools cannot be over emphasized, some of the importance includes; stimulation of the learners interest, making teaching and learning more productive, making teaching become more concrete, real and immediate, contributing to performance analysis, stimulation of problem solving in students and helping to clarify complex events and situation among others.

According to National Policy on Education (2009), one of the aims and objectives of teaching Biology in secondary schools is the ability to communicate the skills of Biology to ensure that

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Biology students acquire the process and skills of Biology as a science subject. This cannot be effectively achieved unless students are exposed sufficiently to practical work and laboratory experiments. The creative use of curriculum materials by teachers has increased the probability that the students will learn more, retain better what they learn and improve the performance of the skills that they develop. The aims of secondary Education according to the NPE are to equip the students to live effectively in the modern age of science and technology. The Biology Curriculum recognizes the utilization of discovery approach in the teaching and learning of Biology. This involves demonstration, individual practical work, group discussions, field work, project work and building models.

EFFECT OF INTERNET-BASED TOOLS ON PERFORMANCE OF SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN BIOLOGY