Influence of instructional resources in teaching and learning of social studies in Primary Schools in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State

ABSTRACT

This study examined the influence of instructional resources in teaching and learning of social studies in Primary Schools in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. Three research questions guided the study. Literature was reviewed under conceptual framework and empirical related studies.  The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised of all the one thousand three hundred (1300) pupils and two hundred (200) teachers in public primary schools in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. While one hundred and thirty (130) public primary school pupils and twenty (20) social studies teachers from 10 public primary schools in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State drawn through simple random sampling technique to serve as the representative of the entire population. A total of one hundred and fifty (150) respondents were used for the study. The instrument used for data collection is a structured questionnaire, which was structured by the researcher with a guide from the supervisor and validated by two experts; one in Primary Education Department of Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba and one in Measurement and Evaluation. One hundred and fifty (150) copies of the validated questionnaires were administered on selected pupils and teachers in the selected public secondary schools in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State by the researcher with the help of 2 research assistants, 143 were retrieved and analyzed using mean statistics. Based on the analysis, it was found among others that use of instructional resources have been attained in effective teaching and learning of social studies which have positive influence on pupils’ attitude towards social studies leading to improved academic performance in social studies in Aguata Local Government.On the basis of the findings, it was recommended among others that government should provide instructional resources to enhance the teaching of social studies in primary schools and teachers should use of instructional resources in teaching social studies in primary schools for improved academic performance.

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

In modern teaching-learning situations, the utilization of instructional resources have become prominent because experts and scholars are of the view that teaching will be effective if teaching aids or audio-visual aids are used effectively. Also, pupils learn better if they are exposed to the use of the teaching resources no matter how prototype it would be. The provision of instructional resources is supposed to cut across the four sensory organs viz-a-viz sight, hearing, touch and feeling. Every instructional resource used for teaching is an aid. An aid is such as chalkboard, books, chart, newspapers, modern pictures, radio, tape recorder, posters are good examples for teaching.

Ikerionwu (2016), refers to instructional resources as objects or devices which help the teacher to make learning meaningful to learners. Similarly, Ezegbe (2014) classified them into two; visual resources: made up of reading and non-reading and audiovisual; comprising electrically operated and non-electrically operated resources. The purpose of instructional resources is to promote efficiency of education by improving the quality of teaching and learning. According to Aduwa-Ogiegbaen and Imogie (2014), these resources such as audio tape recorders, video tape recorders, slide projectors, opaque projectors, overhead projectors, still pictures, programmed instruction, filmstrips, maps, chart, graphs and many more offer a variety of learning experiences individually or in combination to meet different teaching and learning experiences.

These instructional materials can as well be used in the teaching and learning of social studies.

Social studies is seen as the study of man and his physical environment. It enables pupils to examine those norms and cultures of their core and immediate communities within the Nigerian society in order to strengthen their socializing and humanizing responsibilities. Social studies helps the child to realize that all the aspect of his environment are revolving or changing. Akpabio (2015), is of the view that social studies is a subject that is concerned with man’s way of life. It examines the way man lives and interacts with his social and physical environment. The use of the available knowledge, skills, tools and technology may aid his interaction. It is important to note that man lives in the society of other human beings. At the same time, society demands the loyalty, cooperation and knowledge of its members in order to ensure development and continued survival of the society. Again, man lives in a physical environment or territory. He interacts with the resources of the physical environment to meet his need for water, food, clothing, shelter, exercise, sleep and rest. In order to interact successfully for the purpose of meeting his social and physical needs. Man, as a general rule uses the knowledge, the ideas, the material objects that his society possesses (Uzoagulu, 2016). Social Studies is not only a way of life, it studies how man is influenced by his physical, social, political, economic, psychological and cultural environment. Uzoagulu further observes that social studies is one of the social sciences disciplines which studies man as he interacts with his fellow men and with his environment. The content of social studies, therefore, is man and his actions.

To effectively teach social studies as a subject, instructional materials are needed. Adekunle (2015) noted that teaching resources in social studies means anything that can assist the teacher in promoting teaching and learning. When the pupils are given the chance to learn through more senses than one, they can learn faster and easier. The use of instructional resources provides the teacher with interesting and compelling platforms for conveying information since they motivate learners to learn more. Furthermore, the teacher is assisted in overcoming physical difficulties that could have hindered his effective presentation of a given topic. The teacher facilitates the learning by acting as a coach, resource guide and companion in learning. The use of instructional resources does not only encourage teachers and pupils to work collaboratively but also results in more cooperative learning activities among the pupils. Hence the need to ascertain the influence of instructional resources on teaching and learning social studies particularly at the Primary school level.

Statement of the Problem

The essence of instructional resources in teaching and learning of social studies in primary schools cannot be over-emphasized. This is as a result that pupils tend to comprehend faster when shown real-life examples than when they are not.

Hence, at the primary school level, the use of instructional resources in teaching pupils, is yet to be ascertained.

Students’ performance in social studies over the years have not been encouraging. This is as a result of pupils’ attitude towards the subject. This again become a problem to be addressed. It is against this backdrop that this study is carried out to ascertain the influence of the use of instructional resources in teaching and learning of social studies in Primary Schools in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of the study entails investigating the influence of the use of instructional resources in teaching and learning of social studies in Primary Schools in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. Specially, the study is aimed at ascertaining:

1. The extent to which the use of instructional resources have been attained for effective teaching and learning of social studies in Primary Schools in Aguata Local Government.
2. The influence of the use of instructional resources on academic performance of pupils in social studies Aguata Local Government.
3. The extent to which the use of instructional resources influence pupils’ attitude towards social studies in Aguata Local Government.

Research Questions

To effectively carry out the study, the following questions were raised:

1. To what extent is the use of instructional resources been attained in effective teaching and learning of social studies in Aguata Local Government?
2. What is the influence of the use of instructional resources on academic performance of pupils in social studies in Aguata Local Government?
3. To what extent has the use of instructional resources influenced pupils’ attitude towards social studies in Aguata Local Government?

Significance of the Study

The study of this nature would be of benefit to teachers, pupils, government, researchers and the field of Primary Education.

The study would be of immense benefit to pupils because it will make them understand the importance of the use of instructional resources in teaching social studies and how it influences their overall academic performance.

The study would also benefit teachers in the sense that it would enable them understand the influence of using instructional resources in teaching social studies which would motivate them to embrace the use of instructional resources for better academic performance in the subject.

It could also, be of importance to the government by calling their attention to the importance attached to the use of instructional resources and the influence it has on pupils’ performance in subjects such as social studies. This could go a long way to making them provide instructional resources for effective teaching and learning of social studies and other school subjects.

Finally, the study would add to existing literature in the field of primary education which could serve as a reference material for researcher who may wish to carry out similar study.

Scope of the Study

This study is delimited to the influence of instructional resources in teaching and learning of social studies in Primary Schools in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, with particular emphasis on the availability of instructional resources, influence of the use of instructional resources on pupils’ academic performance and attitude towards social studies.

Pages:  50

Category: Project

Format:  Word & PDF               

Chapters: 1-5                                          

Source: Imsuinfo

Material contains Table of Content, Abstract and References.