CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Chemistry is one of the science subjects upon which technology break through is built and is the pivot on which the wheel of science relates. It is very important and helpful in fields such a medicine, agriculture, transport, housing, industries etc. life is made more meaningful with chemicals products such as drugs, cosmetics, parents, soap, fertilizer etc.
Laboratory activities as students learning experiences involve interaction with materials and/or with models in order to observe and understand the correction between science and the natural world. They are of valuable importance in science and chemical education (Hofstein&Lunetta; 1998). These activities have a potential to enhance students conceptual understanding development of some affective dimensions such as motivation and attitude with respect to science learning, scientific practical skills and problem solving (Bowen, 1999; Hofstein&Lunetta, 1982; Lazarowitz and Tamir, 1994).
Therefore, in laboratory environment, students are taught not only to design experiments and make observations but also develop more positive attitude towards learning. One of the affective dimensions of learning has a detrimental effect on students’ environment (Bowen, 1995; Ericson &Gardener, 1992; Keeves Morgenstern, 1992) students anxiety levels related to chemistry laboratory also a key role in their attitudes towards chemistry and their achievement in the laboratory. Students might give more importance and are interested in the issues related to safety and risks than chemistry learning (Hogstrom, Ottander&Benkert, 2010).
Furthermore, students need to be given sufficient time and opportunities for interactions and reflection in chemistry laboratory (Gun stone& Champagne, 1990). Using chemical materials and time effectively to complete on experiment are some issues about which students might have anxiety in chemistry laboratory (Essy, 2000). Hofstein and Lynnette (2004) argue those teachers’ expectations and assessment practices affect student about chemistry laboratory is likely to have a poor performance in carrying out laboratory activities. That is to say, chemistry laboratory anxiety has negative effects on students’ self- efficacy in performance in performance in chemistry laboratory (Kurbanoglu&Akin),-2010).
Therefore, determining the extent and the sources of students’ chemistry laboratory anxiety will be useful in selecting the way of reducing anxiety levels of the students (Azizoglu&Uzuntiryaki, 2006). Issue of the science laboratory through review of the history goals and research findings regarding the laboratory as a medium for instruction in senior secondary schools science teaching and learning
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The laboratory has been identified as the heart of a good scientific programme which allows students to gather experiences which are consistent with the goals of scientific literacy. Practical chemistryeducation of students in the other science courses will be affected negatively. Therefore, secondary schools require properly equipped and functional laboratories.
When students’are taught chemistry theoretically, without the practical aspects in the laboratory, the students will not learn properly. The implication of this means that the role of the laboratory on the academic achievement of students in chemistry cannot be ignored.Consequently, students will lack scientific inquiry skills of scientific research environment, learn chemistry poorly and in the end perform poorly in practical chemistry in internal and external examinations.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study is to investigate the assessment of the functionality of chemistry laboratory in senior secondary schools (A case study of Odeda Local Government). It aims at
i. Determining if the use of the chemistry laboratory in teaching the subjects develops scientific attitudes or students towards the learning of chemistry.
ii. Ascertaining if the use of chemistry laboratory in teaching the subjects develops scientific skills for problem solving in students.
iii. Find out if the use of chemistry laboratory in teaching the subject, help student to learn scientific methods.
iv. To find out whether the use of the chemistry laboratory helps the students to watch their abilities through the laboratory experiences they are exposed to.
v. To assess the level of laboratory equipment and its functionality in senior secondary schools in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION
1) What is the impact of chemistry laboratory on academic performance of senior secondary schools students?
2) Does the effectiveness of the chemistry laboratory in teaching the subject develop scientific attitudes in students’ towards chemistry?
3) Does the functionality of chemistry laboratory in senior secondary schools is useful for students career?
4) What are the factors that de directly involved in science at Odedadetermine the functionality of chemistry laboratory in senior secondary schools?
5) What is the level of chemistry laboratory equipment and its functionality in senior secondary schools?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
Laboratory teaching makes the students to learn about the nature of science and technology in order to foster the knowledge of human enterprise of science. Therefore, the study will be of great importance to both teachers and the learners of chemistry who are directly involved in science at Odeda Local government, Ogun state.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study covers four (4) senior secondary schools students in OdedaLocal Government’s area of Ogun State.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Assessment: This is a process of documenting knowledge, skills and attitude and beliefs
Functionality: This is the act of having or serving a utilitarian purpose or capable of serving the purpose for whichit was designed.
Chemistry: This is the science that deals with the composition, properties of substances and various elementary forms of matter.
Laboratory: A building, part of a building or other place equipped to conduct scientific experiment, test, and investigationetc.
Students: A person formally engaged in learning especially one school or college. It can be define as any person who studies, investigate or examines thoughtfully.