CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
In the part, there has been a great set back between the developing nations of the world in general and Nigeria in particular regarding the need for industrialization. Therefore much emphasis has been laid on the teaching of computer science from primary school level which is seen as a basic necessity of the dreams of industrialization are ever to come true. In Nigeria, the adoption of 60% to 40% ratio policy in admission of students into the secondary schools in a step considered imperative if the country must develop technologically. However, computer science as a field of study has existed unknowingly among us many years before the introduction formal education in Nigeria but only popularized just in the recent past with the arrival of western educationist.
Our fore-father never saw the four walls of the classrooms nor attended any schools, they were actually making use of tools in their daily activities. The situation is not different from what we have today expect with little modification for example, our fore-father were able to produce cutlasses, holes and knives which were used to cut grasses, make ridges and other things, like the use of stones and their hands to count money and also brain to solve calculations like addition, subtraction, division and multiplication. Computer science has a lot of abstraction and also has strong base in our culture. If it is properly taught and adopted, its application will become part and parcel of our every day life activities.
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Computer science plays an important role in the life of every mankind. The government desire to create a scientifically literate citizenry as well as the need to effectively make her industries with the much needed man power, required the need for total reevaluation and improvement of the method used in teaching computer science. This will enhance the comprehension and to some extent stimulate interest in the natural and physical sciences which forms the basis for much technological transfer. The use of integrated computer science resource materials will appeal to their senses and feelings and consequently, aids learning. Resources materials provide effective means of learning especially when the teacher skillfully integrate them during teaching processes, they serve as aids meaningful instructions.
As teachers we need to understand the students who receive educational instructions from us, we need to study all the factors affecting the pupils before we can properly assess the performance level of students in any subject. Research findings have shown that students’ performance in computer science and integrated science or any other subject is generally poor over the years. (Fakuade, 1976 and Egbede 1993). This may not be due to a number of courses, it may be due to lack of equipments and facilities in the schools. Lack of qualifies and experience teacher, Unfavourable atmosphere, lack of space, frequent change of schools by children etc. it may be pertinent to note that majority of the students, primary and secondary school have different level of performance in computer science.
According to T. S. Bajah 1970 and Farnant J. A. 1964, these educationist prove that education is child centred and that the aim of education is to develop the child in all areas of human endeavours of which computer science is all. The importance of the child and computer science in modern educational system is very relevant. Nigeria today is referred to as developing country because of its low level of technology advancement. It is therefore a well-known fact that Nigeria requires solid foundations in computer science subjects in order to develop her technologies. The manufacturing of hardware and sophisticated materials which make many countries developed and industrialized were only possible through a proper acquisition of the basic knowledge of computer science.