EXTENT OF USE OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS IN EFFECTIVE TEACHING/LEARNING OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

ABSTRACT

As the world is becoming a global village. The use of computer in our education sector becomes very important. This study was undertaken to asses the extent of use of instructional materials in effective teaching and learning of Computer Science in Junior Secondary Schools in Enugu North L.G.A. The study considered the availability of National curriculum, functional computer system, laboratory facilities, quality computer textbooks and the use of qualified computer teachers as contributing variables. The study also dealt with the method of which all the data to build up this work followed and their presentations and analysis. Consequent upon these, the researcher sets up four research questions to address the issue. Subsequently, questionnaire items were designed to seek for responses in investigating the research questions. The data collected from ten samples schools were analysed using statistical analysis. The findings of the analysed results are Computer Science curriculum is largely used in teaching and learning Computer Science; there is a low level of the availability of Computer Science textbooks. Computer Science laboratories are poorly used in junior secondary schools. Computer Science teachers are competent and committed in teaching of computer science. The researcher recommended that the government should make available funds for procurement computer laboratory and computer systems in schools.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Over the years, Nigeria has embarked on a scientific, industrial and technological take-o. The national policy on education (FRW 2004) can only be attained if Nigerian citizens are properly equipped with necessary knowledge and skills oered in Computer Science by the use of adequate instructional materials in teaching/learning . Computer has continued to play significant role in the development of any society. Indeed computer is a basic tool in realizing the nations scientific and technological aspirations. According to Attach (2003) computer is an electronic and automatic machine that accepts data through the central processing units. It has been seen as a factor in the development and understanding of any society or nation since the world is a global village. Computer is taught to people to enable them think creatively and constructively in computer terms and to apply it in the analysis of data.

Today, mysteries of nature cannot be understood without the knowledge of computer. Inspite of the important place of computer in our educational system, students in junior secondary schools continually register fair performances (Obodo 2002). According to Betiku (2002) the fair performance may be due to methodology of teaching attitude of teachers or lack of interest by students. Having seen the important of computer as an inevitable tool for human and technological development, it is necessary to look into the use of instructional materials for effective teaching and learning. The understanding mostly in junior secondary school. Obodo (2004) mentioned many reasons abound why there is need to advocate for the use of instructional materials. Policy makers on the other hand see it as the way to simulate and maintain interest of students while in class. Because of these conflicting views on the use of instructional materials for effective teaching and learning of Computer Science associated, following its overwhelming important as attested by various authors and philosophers in the background, we therefore consider it necessary to conduct a survey on the extent of use of instructional materials for effective teaching/learning of Computer Science in junior secondary schools.