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

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Over the  years, Nigeria has embarked on a scientific, industrial and technological take-off.  The national policy on education (FRW 2004) can only be attained if Nigerian citizens are properly equipped with necessary knowledge and skills offered 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.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Education is dynamic.  This is because societal needs and problems change with time.  With the emergence of computer, the world is fast becoming a global village.

Getting a job or carrying out transactions like internet services are increasingly becoming difficult without possessing computer literacy.

The use of computer indeed Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) suddenly become usual in many sectors on national development (Imoko and Kurumen 2007)

In our educational sectors for instance students and teachers searches for material on internet.  And this can be possible by acquisition of computer knowledge.

Hence, no nation in our modern world can claim educational functionality in the absence of an effective teaching and learning of computer (lyeke and Abongund 2007) To these effect, it becomes important to investigate the use of instructional material for effective teaching and learning of Computer Science in junior secondary schools in Enugu, Educational zone

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study is mainly to investigate the extent of the use of instructional material in teaching and learning of Computer Science in junior secondary school in Enugu Education zone.

Specifically,

–       to find out the extent of use of national junior secondary school curriculum.

–       to find out the extent of use of quality computer science textbook for Junior Secondary Schools

–       to determine the extend of the availability and use of functional computer laboratory in Junior Secondary Schools

–       to find out if qualified computer science teachers are employed to teach in Junior Secondary Schools

–       to determine the extent of teaching Computer Science in junior secondary schools.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The result of this study will help to improve the use of instructional materials in teaching/learning of computer science in junior secondary schools.  In Enugu-education zone.

It will assist the curriculum planners in reviewing the curriculum

It will assist the teacher in the use of instructional materials in teaching and learning of Computer Science

It will also assist the teacher to recognize the  important of instructional  materials in  attaining the stated objectives.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study is investigation of the extent of use of instructional materials in effective teaching and learning  of Computer Science  in Junior Secondary Schools in Enugu education zone comprising of thirty five  (35) in junior secondary schools in Enugu north, Enugu east, Enugu south and Isiuzo local government areas.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.          What is the extent of use of national junior secondary school curriculum

2.          To what extent is the use of quality computer text books to junior secondary schools

3.          How available is the extent of use of quality computer laboratory in Junior secondary schools.

4.          What is the extent of the competence and commitment of Computer Science teachers in junior secondary schools.

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