CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Webster’s Encyclopeadia Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, defines Audio-Visual a Aids as “training or educational materials directed at both the senses of hearing and the sense of sight, films, recordings, photographs, etc used in classroom instructions, library collections or the likes”. The term has also been defined by (Dike, 1993) as; those materials which do not depend solely upon reading to convey meaning. They may present information through the sense of hearing as in audio resources, sight, as in visual resources or through a combination of senses. Indeed, the variety of such resources is a striking characteristic. According to (Anzaku, 2011) “the term audiovisual materials is commonly used to refer to those instructional materials that may be used to convey meaning without complete dependence upon verbal symbols or language”. Thus according to the above definition, a text book or a reference material does not fall within this grouping of instructional materials but an illustration in a book does. Some audio-visual components are in the nature of process and experience, for example, dramatizing an event or a procedure or making diorama. Some of the audio-visual materials like the motion pictures require the use of equipment to release their latent value. Some do not need equipment at all like an exhibit or a study print. T his term designates in common usage both material things as well as processes such as field trips. Anzaku further stated that audio-visual materials include materials and equipment alike, that materials are considered to be system, or body of content of potential value when put to work, while equipment or instructions, often referred to as hardware, components, are the means of presenting such content. The importance of audio-visual materials in the teaching and learning processes cannot be over emphasized. Below are some of the roles of audio-visual materials. Basing learning in sense experience,
Extending experience ,Encouraging participation, Stimulating interest ,Individualizes instructions, Serves as a source of information, Making leaning permanent,1) Basing learning in sense experience: stressing the importance of audio-visual materials,(Ngozi,B.O. Samuel,A.O.and Isaac, O.A., 2012) unanimously agreed that audio-visual materials are very important and useful in education because, the normal learner in so far as the functions of his preceptor mechanisms are concerned, gains understanding in terms of multiple impression recorded through the eye, ear, touch and other series. This is to say that audio-visual materials are the equipment through which that function can occur, that is does not occur in isolation, rather through a balance pattern from any preceptor mechanism that are stimulated by external occurrences (Eze,E.U. 2013) also states that the human being learns more easily and faster by audio-visual processes than by verbal explanations alone. His ability to arrive at abstract concept through perceptual experience is however a phenomenon not clearly explained and perhaps not explicable. Furthermore, (Oketunji, 2000) stressed that audio-visual materials when eectively used have these advantages. They lessen major weakness of verbalism, humanize and vitalize subject matter, provide interesting approach to new topics and give initial correct impressions, economic time in learning, supply concrete materials needed, stimulate the initiative of the pupils. Swank,R.C (2011). stressing the effectiveness of visual materials in leaning, estimated that about 40% of our concepts are based upon visual experience, 25% upon auditory, 17% on tactile, 15% upon miscellaous organic sensation and 3% upon taste smell. With the above assertion, it becomes clearer why audio-visual materials are important in the teaching and learning processes. This is because, they bring the dierent senses contributions together to get 100% clarity.
1.2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
This study is motivated by students’ poor learning/academic performance and the fact that students do not retain for long or understand what they are taught without audio-visual aids. Such learning does not encourage participation and lacks interest or stimulation which has negatively affected teaching and learning in Nigerian secondary schools. Above all, such learning cannot be permanent. Yet, there is also evidence of low utilization and non availability of audio-visual materials in secondary schools. The study will therefore investigate the impact of audio visual technologies in teaching and learning among secondary school students. So that note will be taken of the hindrances and work towards promoting the use of audio-visual materials in Nigeria secondary school so as to halt the current trend of poor academic performances in Nigeria.