ABSTRACT
The study examines the impact of application of e-learning to the teaching and learning of agriculture in secondary schools in junior secondary school in Ipokia Local Government, Ogun State. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) students in junior secondary school took part in the study. The techniques of data collection were observation, class teaching and testing. The major issues of investigation were the students achievement in a unit of Agricultural Science course as well as their level of concepts retention.The research question used in the study include: is there any significant difference in the achievement of students taught with e-learning approach and those taught with conventional approach. Data collected were analyzed with statistical tools of percentage, mean, standard deviation and t-test. Findings from the study revealed that, students taught with E-learning approach performed much better than their counterparts who were taught with conventional approach. Based on the findings, it is hereby recommended that; Agricultural Science classes or laboratories should be equipped with e-learning facilities such as computer, notebook, projector so that difficult concepts would be clarified, team teaching should be encouraged among teachers with the use of e-learning facilities, so that concepts that cannot be handled well by one teacher will be taught by the other.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Today, the society is witnessing a major change in all aspects of life which has affected our houses, businesses and our educational system. Technology has emerged with our curriculum to create a learning atmosphere that allows learners to become more responsible and individualized/personalized in their studies.
The continuous societal changes denoted a need for the educational system to embrace these changes. According to Igwe (2005) “development in everyday language refers to qualitative improvement which is a continuous activity among human beings” The societal changes have affected the schools, the teachers, the learners and the disciplines or subjects taught in schools and this have resulted in the overall curriculum change. All these changes have made it necessary for educators and learners to adopt in other to meet up with the demands of the modern society. Therefore the educational system should move along with the rest of the world as it is a change agent.
Today, it is necessary for someone to have a basic knowledge of the computer in other to function properly. This has brought modernization into our educational system and part of this is the electronic learning.
The launch of the World Wide Web (www) in 1999 brought a surge of interest in the possibilities of electronic learning (e-learning). According to Okeke (2007) “The use of the web as an educational medium was hailed as a major change in the educational sector. It has given rise to a major form of delivery of education or as a combined approach with the old conventional method of classroom based teaching.
E- Learning is computer enhanced and applies to online lectures, tutorial, performance support system stimulations. It is an approach to facilitate and enhance learning through both computers and communication technology. Devices such as personal computers (pc), CD Roms, televisions, Mp3 players and mobile phones are used. Communication technology enables the use of the internet and e-mail discussions.
Lee (2004) noted that the increasing use of internet improved technologies as well as web based applications, the uses of e-learning in the educational sector are of immense benefits. As written by Ajelabi (2005), it motives students to operate modern teaching equipments like microcomputers and other teaching aids like projectors (overhead and opaque) slides, films etc).
By now, over a decade of it launch, it is expected that the concept of e-learning should be clearly defined. Due to attitudinal problems in the use of e-learning for teaching and learning of disciplines in the school curriculum, there is yet to be a consensus about what it actually represents. It is important that the method of teaching and learning should also change to meet with the changing societal needs.
This study therefore sought to investigate the impact of application of e-learning to the teaching and learning of agriculture in secondary schools.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The effectiveness of E-learning has been demonstrated primarily by studies of higher education,government, cooperate and military environment .However these studies have limitation,especially because little or no literatures on its effect on primary and junior secondary school education are available.Hence, there is need to investigate the impact of application of e-learning to the teaching and learning of agriculture in secondary schools.
1.3 Research Questions
i. Is there any significantly difference in the academic achievement of students taught with e-learning approach and those taught with conventional method in Agricultural Science?
ii. Is there any significant difference in the academic achievement of male and female students taught a unit of instruction in Agricultural Science in J.S.S. level using e-learning approach?
iii. What are the factors inhibiting or promoting the integration of e- learning in the educational systems in Nigeria?
1.4 Research Hypothesis
1. There is no significant difference in the academic achievement of students taught with e-learning approach and those taught with conventional method in Agricultural Science.
2. There is no significant difference in the performance of male and female students taught a unit of instruction in Agricultural Science with e-learning.
1.5 Objectives of the Study
The main objective of this study is to investigate the impact of application of e-learning to the teaching and learning of agriculture in in which some selected secondary schools in Ipokia Local Government were used as case study.
The study shall focus on the following specific objectives;
i. to establish the extent to which Junior Secondary School students in Ipokia Local Government are exposed to E-learning in learning of Agricultural Science .
ii. to establish whether there is any significant difference in academic achievement of students taught with e-learning approach and those taught with conventional method in Agricultural Science.
iii. to establish the factors inhibiting and promoting the integration of e-learning in the educational system in Nigeria.
1.6 Significance of the Study
The significance of this study upon completion cannot be overestimated as it is obvious that ICT, when adopted in schools has the potential to accelerate, enrich and deepen basic skills in teaching and learning of Agricultural Science. It will also help in motivating and encouraging students in learning, as they are encouraged to be more independent and responsible for their own learning. The study will provide opportunity to know the problems encountered in the integration of E-learning in Junior Secondary Schools in Ipokia Local Government, Ogun State.
1.7 Definition of Terms
1. Education: it is the transfer of ideals, norms, values, morals, skills, knowledge and culture from teacher to students, through formal, informal and non-formal process which in turns improve the standard of living.
2. Science: it is a systematic and logical enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge inform of testable explanations and predictions about the universe.
3. Agricultural Science: it is an aspect of science that requires the matching or coming together of several related courses or disciplines to produce a meaningful product of science.
4. E-Learning: it refers to the use of information and communication technologies to enable the access to online learning and teaching resources.
5. ICT: This is acronym for information communication and technology, it includes; computer, mobile phone, projector, notebook and other computer based facilities.
6. Effect: The result outcome of something or task, or its impact that can be measured or observed on something
7. Learning: it is the act of acquiring new or modifying and reinforcing existing knowledge ideas, behaviors, skills, values or preference and may involve synthesizing different types of information.
8. Teaching: The profession that involve the passing or transmitting of information, knowledge, ideals, norms, values etc. from teacher or educator to the students or learners.
9. Computer based: it is any course of instruction whose primary means of delivery is a computer. It is sometimes called (course ware) may be delivered via a software product installed on a single computer, through a corporate or education internet or over the internet as web based training
Junior Secondary School (JSS):
This is the first three (3) years in secondary school based on the 6-3-3-4 system of education.