The Role of Instructional Materials in Pupils Academic Performance
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of the study
The aim of this study was to ascertain the role of instructional materials in pupil’s academic performance. The specific objectives are to:
- ascertain the level of pupil’s academic performance in Nigeria.
- examine the influence of instructional material utilization in primary schools of Nigeria.
- determine measures for preventing low academic performance using instructional materials in Nigeria.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
The chapter deals with literature review on the concept of the role of instructional materials in pupils’ academic performance. This involves various definitions of instructional materials, academic performance, causes of low academic performance, overview of Nigeria primary schools, strategies to deal low academic performance. The review of empirical studies, theoretical review, theoretical framework and summary of literature review.
Conceptual Review
In this section, the basic relevant concepts were reviewed. These include instructional materials, academic performance among others.
Instructional Materials
Instructional materials refers to human and non-human materials and facilities that can be used to ease, encourage, improve and promote teaching and learning activities. Instructional materials also known as teaching/learning materials are any collection of materials including animate and inanimate objects, human and non-human resources that a teacher may use in teaching and learning situations to help achieve desired learning objectives (Lewis, 2018). Instructional materials may aid a student in concretizing a learning experience so as to make learning more exciting, interesting and interactive. They are tools used in instructional activities which include active learning and assessment (global dictionary, 2019).
Instructional materials can be classified on their types. They include
- Prints: such as textbooks, pamphlet, handouts, study guides, manuals.
- Audio: it include cassettes microphone.
- Visuals: such as charts, real objects, photographs, transparencies.
- Audiovisuals: including slides, tapes, films, filmstrips, television, video, multimedia
- Electronic interactive: such as computers, tablets, graphing calculators.
Academic Performance
Performance is defined as the observable or measurable behavior of a person in a particular situation usually experimental situation (Simpson & Weiner, 1989). Academic performance is the outcome of education, the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their educational goals (Annie, Howard & Mildred, 1996). It is an observable or measurable behavior of a student in a particular situation such as examinations conducted by schools.
A number of studies have been carried out to identify causal factors of poor academic performance in a number of institutions worldwide. Diaz (2003) reported that most studies focus on the three elements that intervene, that is, parents (family causal factors), teachers (academic causal factors), and students (personal causal factors), though the influence on academic performance varies from one academic environment to another, from one set of students to the next, and indeed from one cultural setting to another.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter covers the methodology of this study. Key issues discussed includes; data collection, sampling technique, instrument for data collection, method of data analysis among others.
Research Design
The research design used for this study is survey. This is because data gotten through this method can be used to describe the characteristics of primary schools. It is used as an assessment tool to provide information on which to base sound decisions. It also serves as a foundation for more investigation. This research method was adopted because it offers opportunity for the collation of facts and information from a wide spectrum of respondents, hence it is expedient for this research.
The use of survey is a favourable option for the following reasons:
- It is most appropriate for analysing instructional materials as a mode of teaching.
- It is accurate
This method is objective in the sense that the personal bias of the researcher is not allowed in findings.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
Introduction
In this chapter, the researcher tends to deal with the analysis and presentation of data collected in the course of this project. A total of 300 copies of questionnaire were administered in the area under study and 288 copies were retrieved from the respondents. This represents 96% return rate.
Data Presentation/Analysis
Demographic characteristics of the Respondents
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
This chapter deals with the summary of this study, conclusions from the findings and recommendations which can be used for policy making.
Summary
This study assesses the role of instructional materials in pupils’ academic performance. The study is in five chapters. In the first chapter, a general background of the study was undertaken. In view of the background, the problems of study were identified and stated, the research questions, the objective, scope and significant of the study were outline and discussed. Finally in the first chapter is the definition of key concepts used in the study and the organization of study.
Chapter two contains the review of various literatures on the concept of the role of instructional materials in pupils’ academic performance. This involves various definitions of instructional materials, academic performance, causes of low academic performance, overview of Nigeria primary schools, strategies to deal low academic performance. Also in the second chapter is the empirical and theoretical reviews, theory use as a basis for this study (behaviourist model) was found best for this study.
In the third chapter of this work, the research design, population of study, sample size, sampling techniques, instrument for data collection, method of data collection, validity/reliability of instrument and method of data analysis were all discussed.
In the fourth chapter, data collected (primary) were presented and analysed to answer the research questions. Based on the various findings, the three questions were answered. After the analysis, the findings are as follows:
- The level of pupils academic performance in primary schools is high
- The level of pupils academic performance taught with instructional materials is very high.
- The problem of Low academic performance can be solved using instructional materials such as prints, visuals.
Conclusion
This study has underscored the role of instructional materials in pupils’ academic performance. Findings from this research uncovered that level of assimilation by students in primary schools are poor if not taught with instructional materials. Hence, schools should ensure that such technique is adopted by teachers when teaching. This is consistent with the findings of Nwike and Onyejegbu which revealed that students taught with instructional materials performed better than those taught without instructional materials.
Thus, in the light of the foregoing, this study reliably concludes that the use of instructional materials when teaching in primary schools should be embraced, this will help raise the level of comprehension.
The findings of this study have clearly shown that instructional materials make very significant contribution to learning. The success/achievements of pupils lies on it.
Recommendations
On the strength of the observations and findings made in this study the following recommendations have been made.
- Pupils should be taught using instructional materials.
- Teachers should use the different instructional materials when teaching such as prints, visuals, audio, and audio-visuals.
Limitations to the Study
The study faced some constraints. They include insufficient literature material, financial constraint, time constraint, various location of the schools etc. however, findings made is valuable for policy making.
Suggestions for Further Studies
This study has researched on the role of instructional materials in pupils’ academic performance. Further research can be done on the following:
- Instructional materials application in teaching lower secondary students.
- The effectiveness of instructional materials among form one students .
REFERENCES
- Dubey, D. L. and Barth, J. L. (1980).Social Studies.The Inquiry method Approach, Nelson Africa, Lagos. Educational Technology, The Magazine for Managers of Kange in Education. Vol. 37, No. 3, May – June, 1997
- Global dictionary (2019). What is instructional materials? Retrieved 2019.
- Lewis, B. (2018). TLM or Teaching Learning materials definition. ThoughtCo. Archieved.
- Mohan, R., Arumugam, R., Mohamed, A. H., Saralah, D. M. and Azlina, B. H. (2018). The Drill And Practice Application In Teaching Science For Lower Secondary Students. International Journal of Education, Psychology and Counseling, 3(7), 100-108.
- Nsa, S. O., Ikot, A. S. and Udo, M. F. (2013). Instructional materials utilization and students‟ performance in practical agriculture. Journal of Educational Research and Reviews. 1(4), 49-54.
- Nwike, M. C. and Onyejegbu C. (2013).Cognitive Achievement in Agricultural Science. Journal of Educational and Social Research. 3 (5), 103-107 Doi:10.590 /jesr.2013.v3n5p103
- Oladebinu, T. O., Amos, A. A. & Dr. W.O. Oyediran. (2018). factors affecting students’ academic performance in colleges of education in southwest, Nigeria. British Journal of Education Vol.6, No.10, pp.43-56, October 2018 ___Published by European Centre for Research Training and Development UK (www.eajournals.org).
