by Teachers’ Variables And Academic Performance Of Students In Biology
Abstract
The study was conducted in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State to establish the relation between Teachers’ variables and academic performance among secondary school students in Biology.
Moreover, a Teachers questionnaire and ten item test called Biology Achievement Test (BAT) were developed and validated by the supervisor and two Biology teachers for data collection. Data generated from the instrument was analyzed using an independent t-test method while the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Therefore, the results from findings revealed that teachers professionalism and years of working experience have significant influence on academic performance among secondary school students in Biology.
The study further revealed that students taught by professional teachers performed better than those taught by non-professional teachers. And also students taught by experienced teachers performed better than those taught by in-experienced teachers. Based on findings, the researcher recommended among others that Biology teachers who do not have professional qualification, should try and obtain that.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents Pages
Title Page – – – – – – – i
Certification – – – – – – – ii
Dedication – – – – – – – iii
Acknowledgements – – – – – – – – iv
Abstract – – – – – – – vi
Table of Contents – – – – – – – vii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study – – – – – 1
1.2 Purpose of the Study – – – – – 3
1.3 Statement of the Problem – – – – – 3
1.4 Objective of the Study – – – – – 4
1.5 Research Hypotheses – – – – – 5
1.6 Significance of the Study – – – – – 5
1.7 Limitation of the Study – – – – – 6
1.8 Delimitation of the Study – – – – – 6
1.9 Operational Definition of Terms – – – – – 6
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Who is a Teacher? – – – – – 8
2.2 Variables of a good teacher – – – – – 10
2.3 Factors that Determine Effective Teaching and
Learning of Biology – – – – – 11
2.4 Influence of Teaching Strategies in the Learning of
Biology – – – – – 13
2.5 Teacher gender and academic performance in science – – 14
2.6 Summary of literature review – – – – – 16
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
3.1 Area of the study – – – – – 17
3.2 Research design – – – – – 18
3.3 Population of the study – – – – – 19
3.4 Sample and sampling technique – – – – 19
3.5 instrument for Data collection – – – – 19
3.6 Validation of instrument – – – – 20
3.7 Administration of instrument – – – – 20
3.8 Method of data analysis – – – – 20
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.1 Presentation of result – – – – 21
4.2 Discussion of finding – – – – 23
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND
CONCLUSIONS
5.1 Summary – – – – – 25
5.2 Recommendation – – – – – 26
5.3 Conclusion – – – – – 27
References
Appendices
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Teaching is an activity that has to do with an exhibition of certain variables of a person who is involved in it. The teacher occupies a central position upon which all other activities with the school revolve, therefore these are certain qualities expected of him to posses for effective execution of his functions.
However, these can be related to the work of Ozigi (1980) who opined that an important sign of long range breath of a nation is the spirit and quality of its teacher and had support from the work of Derama (2000) that education is the key to national development and only teachers holds the key and can turn it for national development.
The teacher is therefore the pivot on which every educational development hangs. In addition, if the variables (qualities) of the teacher is good, there is a tendency of his/her students excelling in learning. On a whole, a teacher is effective to the extent of causing learning to occur among his learner’s only when his variables are good.
Furthermore, specification on the variables of a teacher in his context will cover three main aspects, which are the qualification of the teacher, his or her gender.
In addition, gender of a teacher, Ekpo (2001) asserts that the longer teachers (male / female) stays in the teaching profession the more competence they become; as there would be provision for in service training for the acquisition of intellectual, technical competence, resourcefulness and class management.
Teachers’ Variables And Academic Performance Of Students In Biology
1.2 Purpose of the study
Generally, the purpose of this study was to find out Teachers Variables and Academic Performance of Biology Students in Secondary School.
Specifically, the purpose of this study are:
- Firstly, to find out the influence of teacher qualification on students’ academic performance in Biology.
- Secondly, to find out the influence of teachers’ gender on academic performance of students in Biology
1.3 Statement of Problem
Teaching strategies are learned and not automatically manifested by individuals. This means that before anybody is said to be a teacher, such a person must undergo a process of professional training so as to be able to acquire the needed skills for the job.
On the aspect of experience, Rengochetoe (2002) believes that experience are only available to individuals who have subjected themselves to training in order to be able to appreciate the complexities and scope of their functions. However, most times, researchers do overlook the issue of gender as not having anytime to do with the execution of the duties of professionally qualified teachers.
1.4 Research Questions
- What is the mean difference in performance in Biology between student taught by qualified teachers and those taught by unqualified teachers?
- What is the mean difference in performance in Biology between students taught by male teacher and those taught by female?
1.5 Significant of the Study
The study would be important as it would be of benefit to the following;
- Firstly, to teachers, they will adjust and put on those characters that will positively affect the performance of students.
- Also, parents will guide their wards towards achieving from the numerous variables of their class / subject teachers and always aim at performing positively.
- Government; the Government should send in educational supervisors of school pointing to them areas such as qualification of teachers and their gender as well as in the delivery of their duties and who those variables has been affecting the academic performance of students.
1.6 Limitation of the Study
- Limitation: faced during the study were that of duration as only one semester was not much to cover many areas concerning this study. Therefore, financial limitation could not be overlooked as every step in the work need money for it proper execution.
1.7 Definition of Terms
Teachers’ variables: This refers to the various qualities of a teacher which, when put together could promote effective teaching in the classroom.
Academic performance: In brief, this means Knowledge acquired and skills developed in Biology here indicated by marks obtained from test and examinations.
Student: In brief, this refers to a person who is studying at the university, college and secondary school.
Learning: This refers to studies undertaken by someone in order to acquire certain knowledge or skill.
