CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of the Study
In recent studies, student’s interest in education have been measured by various scholars in terms of their attitude towards school subjects. A student who has negative attitude towards some subjects has
shown a signal of poor attitude and interest in education. Similarly, some researchers have linked poor academic achievements of students in recent times to the low level of interest they have on school subjects.
Halladyna and Shanghnessy (2003) asserts that teachers methodologies could be very complex, making the comprehension of concepts difficult. This has been described as a major factor hampering the level of student’s interest on school subjects. In relation to integrated science, teachers in this field of teaching should make their teaching techniques styles simple and interesting.
Some studies on student’s attitude towards school subjects have concentrated on school related factors such as availability of instructional materials. In schools where there is gross lack of learning and teaching aids, education becomes a boring and tedious task, reducing students interest on school subjects.
Thus, students tend to have high level of interest on a subject where there are sufficient instructional materials.
Student’s interest in learning integrated science have been described along certain lines.
Omoukwe (2005) claimed that female students tend to have high level of interest towards learning of integrated science than male students though integrated science is a course that has been on for a very long time even in colleges.
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Thus student ought not to have much problem in its dynamism. Prior to the study of integrated science, knowledge was fragmented.
However, there was the general awareness of fact that knowledge is more meaningful when integrated. In other words, knowledge should be known as wholistic and not compartmentalized.
There has been the need for urgent insurgence in the awareness level of integrates science among individuals to achieve this goal; students should be made to appreciate the learning of the subject. This will enhance their attitude positively towards the learning of the subject.
Integrated-science studies in Nigeria is the apathy of individuals, including secondary school students towards the subject. Thus this study will evaluate the attitude of secondary school students towards the learning of integrated science in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
1.2. Statement of the Problem
Despite the importance of integrated science in any nation, there seems to be poor perception of its aims and objectives in contemporary societies by secondary school students.
Consequently, there is a poor attitude towards the subject. The various efforts by government and private organization such as the Physical Science Study Committee (PSSC) and the new national policy on education were targeted at boosting the moral of the subject but not much has been achieved. The subject is still place in a secondary scale by students even it is an integration of other valued subject.
As a result of this poor attitude of students towards the subject, there are other major societal problem such as low level of social values, dysfunctional of the education system, irrespective of citizens to societal problem etc.
Thus integrated science is yet to take its place in Nigerian educational system.
The problem now is why do students in Junior Secondary School level still feel indifferent towards the subjects despite it importance in modern societies?
1.3. Purpose of the Study
The purpose of the study is to examine students towards the learning of integrated science in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State and to enumerate the various factors responsible for students poor perception of the subject.
1. To examine if the various methods applied by teachers in teaching integrated science and the influence of these methods on the students.
2. To also examine the impact of school facilities and the availability of instructional materials on students readiness to learn. Such as charts, textbooks, microscope, Bunsen burners, hot plate, meter rule etc on integrated science.
3. This study will also assess students attitude towards the concepts of integrated science.
This will enable the researchers determine if the concepts are responsible for students low interest in learning integrated-science and also intended to enhance students interest in learning of integrated science.
1.4. Research Question
The following research questions are raised and guide the study.
1. Do teachers method affect students attitude towards the learning of integrated-science in secondary schools?
2. Does the non-availability of instructional materials and integrated science concepts after student’s attitude towards the learning of integrated science in secondary schools?
3. Does parental background have effect on student attitude towards the subject in secondary schools?
4. Does the teacher involve students in sight-seeing for the exposure of student in their subject areas in secondary schools?
5. Does lack of practicals in integrated science affect student’s attitude towards the learning of integrated science in secondary schools?
1.5. Hypothesis of the Study
The following hypothesis were formulated from the question to guide the study
1. There is no significant difference between teachers related factors and students attitude towards the learning of integrated science.
2. There is no significant difference between school related factors and students attitude towards the learning of integrated science.
3. There is no significant difference between parent economical status and parent level of education on the attitude of student towards the learning of integrated science.
4. There is no significant difference between school-related factors and student attitude towards learning of integrated science.
1.6. Delimitation of the Study
The study focuses on the attitude of students towards the learning of Integrated Science in Secondary Schools in Delta State particularly in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. This is a give room for detailed study on the topic.
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1.7. Significance of the Study
The findings of this study will be of great importance of the following persons.
i. Students: The outcome of the study will make the students understand integrated science and appreciate the subjects. This will enhance their interest in the subject.
ii. Integrated Science Teachers: The study will help integrated science teachers to develop strategies to effectively tackle students poor attitude towards the subject and encourage students to have profound knowledge of the subject.
iii. Curriculum Planners: The findings of this study will enable curriculum planners develop appropriate content that will instigate students interest in the subject.
iv. Government: In addition, the study will be useful to the government in motivating teacher and providing basic instructional materials that will stimulate teaching and learning of the subject integrated science.
v. Society/General Public: The findings of the study will be of immense benefit to the society at large to other researchers who may wish to carry our further investigation on the study.
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