THE PROBLEM
AND PROSPECT OF TEACHING AND LEARNING PHYSICS IN SECONDARY SCHOOL LEVEL
(A
Study Of Federal Government College Malali Kaduna, Kaduna State)
ABSTRACT
The study
examines problems and prospect of teaching and learning physics in secondary
school level with reference to federal government college Malali Kaduna. A
survey method was used for the study, the population consisted of all the male and female teacher
of federal government college Malali Kaduna out of 65 academic staff, 35 were
involved in the study. A questionnaire developed by the researchers based on
likert 5 –point scale was used for the study mean scores and frequencies were
used to analyze the data based on the research questions. Research result show
that the prospect of teaching and learning physics lies on the modification and
improvement of the traditional lecture method used in teaching. The study also
identified negative attitude of students in secondary school level towards
learning physics as a factor that affect their ability to learn the subject
furthermore, the teaching techniques applicable in teaching physics is
secondary school are the traditional lecture method used from time-immemorial,
lecture-demonstration technique and cooperative group teaching technique, the
problem militating against teaching and learning of physics in secondary school
level include unavailability of qualified teachers, teachers lack of
competencies, constraint of complex scientific language used in teaching
physics in secondary school level, lack of modern laboratory apparatus as well
as lack of effective teaching techniques and inconsistency in government
policies.
TABLE
OF CONTENT
Title page – – – – – – – – – – i
Declaration – – – – – – – – – – ii
Approval Page – – – – – – – – – iii
Dedication – – – – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgement – – – – – – – – v
Abstract – – – – – – – – – – vi
Table of content – – – – – – – – – vii
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Background of the study – – – – – – 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem – – – – – – 3
1.3 Purpose of the study — – – – – – – 4
1.4 Objectives of the study – – – – – – – 4
1.5 Research Question – – – – – – – 5
1.6 Statement of the problem – – – – – – 5
1.7 Significance of the study – – – – – – 6
1.8 Assumption and problems– – – – – – – 6
1.9 Scope and limitation of the study – – – – – 7
1.10 Operational Definition of term – – – – – 8
Reference – – – – – – – – – – 9
CHAPTER
TWO: Literature Review
2.1 Introduction – – – – – – – – 10
2.2 The prospect in teaching physic in secondary school
level 10
2.2.1 The prospect of learning physics in secondary school
level 16
2.3 Attitude and performance in physics
among secondary school students – – – – 19
2.4
The theories of learning
that are applicable in
teaching physics in
secondary school – – – – 23
2.5
The problems militating
against teaching and
learning of physics in
secondary school level – – – 27
2.6 Summary
of the review – – – – – – – 29 CHAPTER THREE: Research Methodology
3.1 Introduction – – – – – – – – 30
3.2 Research Design – – – – – – – 30
3.3 Area of study – – – – – – – – 31
3.4 Population Sample – – — – – – – 31
3.5 Sample size of the study- – – – – – – 31
3.6 Instrument of data collection- – – – – – 32
3.6.1 Validity- – – – – – – – – 33
3.6.2 Liability – – – – – – – – – 33
3.7 Method of data collection – – – – – – 34
3.8 Method of Data presentation and statistical
analysis – – 35
CHAPTER FOUR: Data Presentation And Analysis
4.1 Introduction – – – – – – – – 36
4.2 Characteristics of
respondents – – – – – 36
4.3 Data Analysis – – – – – – – – 38
4.4 Summary of findings – – – – – – – – 47
CHAPTER
FIVE: Summary, Conclusion and
Recommendation
5.1 Summary – – – – – – – – – 49
5.2 Conclusion – – – – – – – – 51
5.3 Recommendation – – – – – – – 51
5.4 Suggestion
for further study – – – – – – 53
Reference – – – – – – – – – 54
Appendix I – – – – – – – – – 55
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The attitude towards
physics in secondary schools in Nigeria is unsatisfactory sequel to the wrong
perception that the subject is difficult to assimilate, inspite of the benefit
student stand to gain by learning physics most student nonchalantly chose to
study other subjects in place of physic (Okoh, 2002).
Students attitude
towards physics to a large extent have an impact on their interest in leaning
physics. As such Cupdag(1989) opined that the attitude of students reveals
their level of learning toward a particular subject, thus, makes them
enthusiastic to learn than those who have unfavorable
attitude towards its.
In this regard, Cheng
(2004), in a study conducted regarding students learning in physics, found out
that in the students evaluation, consistent with their notion that physics is
complex to learn have unfavorable attitude towards learning it. This also have
a negative consequence on teaching the subject, because the negative perception
of students becomes a barrier to teaching and learning.
Furthermore, Edward
(2006) asserts that research in a similar area which was targeted at assessing
students’ beliefs and perception about the nature of physics learning and
evaluation of teaching practices that would help students develop more
expert-like beliefs and positive attitude; observed that inspite of the benefit
the student would derive from learning physics their perception about physics
being a difficult subject cannot be easily changed thus affecting the teaching
and learning of the subject in secondary schools in Nigeria.
However, Torres (1997)
opined that in present time, the emphasis on science teaching has shifted from
teaching of science as a body of established knowledge towards science as a
human activity. Instead of teaching students to think critically and
independently; science teaching to a large extent, has taught students to
accept scientific knowledge without questions, learn existing theories and
present alternative explanations.
As such, physics as a
dynamic branch of science is difficult to describe, thus, in learning physics,
this should not be taught as a series of formulas to be memorized and applied
just for “cultural” purposes but be taught as a dynamic branch of science which
should provide questions and explanations on how the world works (Jense, 1995).
It is against this
background that the researchers sees the subject matter of this research “problem
and prospect of teaching and learning physics in secondary school level” as an
issue worthy of investigation.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
A lot of studies shows
the poor performance of students in physics this is attributed to the notion
that physics is complex to learn thus making students to develop an unfavorable
altitude towards learning the subject. On the part of teachers, physics is
taught as a series of formulas to be memorized and applied just for the sake of
learning as against teaching students to think critically and independently
instead of accepting such knowledge without questions. This issue has become a
serious concern to education planners and policy makers in Nigeria. As such the
subject matter of this research is considered an empirical problem worthy of
investigation.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The present study is
to determine the problem and prospect of teaching and learning physics in
secondary school level, with a searchlight at federal government college Malali
Kaduna, Kaduna state.
1.4 THE OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1. To find out the prospect of teaching and learning
of physics in secondary school level
2. To examine the attitude and performance in physics
among secondary school students
3. To determine the theories of learning that are
applicable in teaching physics in secondary schools
4. To identify the problems militating against
teaching and learning physics in secondary schools
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What are the prospect of teaching and learning of
physics in secondary school level?
2. What is the attitude of secondary school students
in physics and how do they perform in the subject?
3. What kind of theories of learning are applicable
in teaching and learning of physics in secondary schools?
1.6 STATEMENT OF THE HYPOTHESIS
1. Ho: There is a negative attitude towards
learning physics and poor performance in physics in secondary school
2. H1: There is no negative attitude towards
learning physics and poor performance in physics in secondary school
1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study will be beneficial to physics
teachers in secondary schools who may wish to utilize the findings of this
study to improve their teaching method. The study will also be beneficial to
policy makers in education sector especially as they utilize the findings of
this study as a basis for policy formulation concerning teaching and learning
of physics. It should be noted that the study will enhance existing knowledge
about the problem and prospect of teaching and learning physics in secondary
school level. The study can also be used as a springboard to carryout similar
research as incoming students can use it as a reference material.
1.8 ASSUMPTION AND PROBLEMS
The assumptions of the
study are that students perceive physics as a complex subject to learn and thus
show negative attitude towards learning it, which in turn affect their
performance.
Secondly, poor
teaching method and the traditional method of teaching physics as a
subject to be memorized against proper assimilation and teaching students to
think critically and independently rather than accepting knowledge without
questioning.
1.9 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE
STUDY
The study will cover
an empirical examination of the problem and prospect of teaching and learning
physics in secondary school level, as well as the examination of the attitude
of students and their performance in physics. The study will equally cover the
examination of the theories of learning that are applicable in teaching physics
in secondary schools, as well as the problems militating against teaching and
learning of physics in secondary schools. Empirical data is collected only from
federal government college Kaduna, the time frame for this study covers a
period of five years (2006-2011).
The study is
constraint from a problems arising from the inability of the research to employ
numerous research designs as well as instrument to obtain research data as such
it is not certain if the finding obtained will be the same if other instrument
as well as research designs were used. The nonchallant attitude of some respondents also affected the
validity of the findings. Other limitations include the inability of the
research to combined academic work with the research work as ell as inadequate
literatures on the subject matter. Inadequate fund need to undertake this study
also constitute a great limitation to this study.
1.10 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF
TERMS
Teaching physics: The ability to impact knowledge in physics to students
Learning physics: The ability to assimilate physics lessons by students
Attitude: The
way students feel and behave towards learning of physics
Perception: The way student think about physics
Performance: How well or badly students learn physics in secondary school
Prospects: The success recorded in teaching and learning of physics in secondary
schools
REFERENCES
Cheng, V. (2004). Developing physics learning activities for
fostering student creativity; Hong Kong. Prentice Hall
Edward, B. (2006). Teaching physics Wiley, New York
Jenses, U. (1995). The role of the physics teaching assistant, phys Teach.
21, 21 (1983)
Okoh, E. (2002). Concept of teaching and Learning science subject,
Lagos: Adoki publication.