Impact of Environmental Resource Utilization on the Academic Performance of Students in Chemistry

Impact of Environmental Resource Utilization on the Academic Performance of Students in Chemistry

ABSTRACT

This research dealt with the effect of the environmental resources utilization on the academic performance of secondary school students in chemistry in Ika Local Government Area. The population of the study consists of 120 SS2 students from eight (8) out of ten (10) secondary schools in Ika Local Government Area. Three research questions were formulated which help in the formulation of three research hypothesis. Random sampling was employed to select eight (8) schools (4 private and 4 public schools).

Chemistry achievement test (CAT) and questionnaire were used to collect data and the data collected were analyzed using t-test statistical tool. The result from the findings shows no significant difference in the three variables investigated. Students taught with standard instructional materials are not better than those taught with improvised materials. Also students taught without effective utilization of instructional materials are not better than those taught without availability of instructional materials.

Impact of Environmental Resource Utilization on the Academic Performance of Students in Chemistry

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background to the Study:

Science is a dynamic human activity concerned with understanding the workings of our world. This understanding helps man know more and even explore the other planets of the universe. Chemistry as one of the science disciplines is indispensable to the scientific and technological development of any nation.

The study of Chemistry has been and will remain of enormous benefit to man-kind because of the vivid explanation it gives on natural phenomena and everyday life occurrences. The role of Chemistry in technological and national development has been acknowledged the world-over. (Udofia & Udo,2006). The teaching of Chemistry helps the students to comprehend the world around them and also better prepare them to improve on it.

Udongwo (2013) observed that the child should be given first hand familiarity with the variety of natural, physical and man-made phenomena in the world around him. For effective Chemistry teaching, the use of available natural resources to enrich instructional delivery and concretized learning is vital.  The teaching of Chemistry without learning materials will certainly result poor performance in the subject.

Franker et al (2006) stressed that professionally qualified teachers no matter how well trained would be unable to their ideas into practice if the school setting lacks equipment and materials necessary for them to translate their competence into reality. Bassey (2010) opined that science is resources oriented.

The materials used for enhancing instructional effectiveness are aspects of media employed to describe instructional objectives. Bassey (2002) described instructional materials (media) as system components that may be used as part of instructional processes to disseminate information, messages and ideas or which make communication possible in the teaching-learning processes and the actual feed-back or outcome of the processes.

1.2  Statement of the Problem:

There are many factors that are responsible for the poor performance of secondary schools students in chemistry in Ika Local Government Area. Such factors include; inadequate instructional materials in the right amount and quality that can ensure effective utilization, lack of improvisation of laboratory material and apparatus by teachers, and the inability of the teachers to use the available environmental resources effectively. These have constituted impediments to the teaching-learning processes as well as set backs in the academic performance of students in Chemistry.

This study is undertaken to assess the possibility of improving on the performance of students in Chemistry through effective utilization of available instructional resources (whether standard or improvised) in the learning environment.  

1.3      Objectives of the Study: 

The study is aimed at examining the impact of environmental resource utilization on the academic performance of students in chemistry and this shall be achieved through;                    

(i)      examining the availability and utility of environmental resources for the teaching of Chemistry so as to assess the effectiveness of improvisation of laboratory apparatus.

 (ii)     Comparing the achievement scores of students taught by utilizing environmental resources with those taught without utilizing environmental resources, to see whether there are significant differences between them.

 1.4    Significance of the Study:

            The Study Will;

(i)      improve the technical – know – how and skill of the teachers on the use of available instructional resources in the environment in teaching Chemistry in secondary schools.

(ii)      reveal to the teachers of chemistry the need of improvising in some teaching – learning setting.

(iii)     inform the students and teachers on proper handling of the available instructional resources.

(iv)     serve as a reference point to other researchers on the same or related topic.

Impact of Environmental Resource Utilization on the Academic Performance of Students in Chemistry

1.6      Research Hypothesis:  

i         HO₁ There is no significant difference between the academic performance of students taught Chemistry in schools where there is availability of library equipments and students taught Chemistry in schools where library equipments   are not available.

ii        HO₂ There is no significant difference between the academic performance of students taught Chemistry with effective utilization of white board and those taught Chemistry with effective utilization of black board.

iii      HO₃ There is no significant difference between the academic performance of public school students taught Chemistry with effective use of laboratory equipments and that of the private school students taught Chemistry with effective use of laboratory equipments.

1.7     Limitation of the Study

This study is limited by time, finance and geographical factors

1.8    Delimitation/ Scope of the Study

The scope of the study was limited to few selected secondary schools in Ika Local Government Area. The study was limited to only SS2 students randomly selected from eight (8) schools out of ten (10) in Ika LGA.

Impact of Environmental Resource Utilization on the Academic Performance of Students in Chemistry

1.9     Definition of Terms:

For clarity, it is necessary to define the operational terms as they relate to this study, thus;

Environment: Is the surrounding. It is also defined as the place where plants, animals/ human and non-living things are found.

Environmental Resources: These are the available materials and other sources of information (natural or artificial) in the world around us, that can he used in teaching Chemistry.

Utilization: This is the use of environmental resource to suit the advantage/ purposes they were meant for in the teaching of Chemistry.

Environmental Resources Utilization: This means the effective/ineffective use of the resources in the immediate environment for the achievement of the objectives of teaching – learning processes.