EFFECT OF TEACHING AIDS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN BIOLOGY (A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN PORT HARCOURT RIVERS STATE)

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to examine the effects of teaching aids on students’ academic performance in Biology. The study was carried out in Port Harcourt Rivers State.

Three secondary schools in Port Harcourt Rivers State were randomly selected. These include a male school, a female school and a co-educational school in the area. A total number of hundred (100) students were used altogether for this study. Some (50) of the students were taught biology lesson (physical biology) using improvised Teaching aids (aids).this was referred to as the treatment group. The group taught without the use of teaching aids was used as the conventional group. The effect of gender difference on the academic performance of students in biology was also determined. Both groups were tested on the lesson taught. A pre-test, post-test, and observation techniques were used as instruments for data collection. Both the pre-test and the post-test were written by the treatment groups respectively and conventional.

The findings revealed that there was significant difference between the academic performance of student taught using Teaching aids and those taught without Teaching aids, thus showing the significant impact of Teaching aids in enhancing students’ academic performance on the learning teaching process of biology. It was also revealed that gender difference can affect the academic performance of students in biology, as it was observed from the comparison in favour of the male students in the experimental or treatment group.

On the basis of the findings, a few recommendations were made some of which include: The need for release of more funds by the government for the purchase of teaching aids for use during biology lessons or classes. The establishment of resource centers to enable teachers makes use of local materials, organizing workshops and seminars for various categories of teachers teaching biology to mention but a few