THE IMPACT OF PRACTICAL WORK ON THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF SOME CONCEPTS IN BIOLOGY IN SOME SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Science is a great enterprise which nations depend on, in-order to advance technologically. Science therefore is receiving much emphasis in education because of its significance and relevance to life and society. Biology is the science in which we study living things. You can learn about an organism by reading about it. You can also learn about the organism by picking it up and studying it. The former is a theoretical approach, while the later is the practical approach. It must be borne in mind always that animals should not be killed, nor plants life destroyed needlessly. Aer all, biology is the study of life. Biology as a branch of science and the prerequisite subject for many fields of learning contributes immensely to the technological growth of a nation. This includes Medicine, forestry, agriculture, biotechnology and nursing. The study of Biology in senior secondary school can equip students with useful concepts, principles and theories that will enable them face the challenges before and aer graduation.

Practical work in Biology provides opportunities for students to actually do science as opposed to learning about science. Practical work is a key factor in engaging, enthusing and inspiring students, thus stimulating lifelong interest in science. High quality, appropriate practical work is central to effective learning in science.The science laboratory is organized setting used by students to observe and manipulates material in order to see in concrete terms some of the concepts learned in the class during the lectures and those read in reference textbooks. Hamidu, (2002), pointed out that the teaching and learning of science progresses by exposing students to practical work and experiment in and outside the classroom or laboratory facts. He further stressed that those science teachers in Nigerian Secondary Schools do not teach practical until the second or third term of the final year in the secondary schools, he further `said that the teacher begins hurriedly to the students and then no how to attempt and answer practical questions in their final year examination. Practical work is significant in the aspect Exposure of real life situation i.e. application of practical experiences to real life situation (Onyimadu 2001).

1.2 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study is to assess the meaning and impact of practical work on teaching and learning of some concepts in Biology in some selected Secondary School. The findings from this study is expected to provide the understanding of the impact of practical work on the teaching and learning of some concepts in biology for teachers and educators.