CHAPTER ONE
1.1. Background to the
Study
Biology
is a widely studied subject. The knowledge of it calls for a balanced secondary
school education. Biology as a school subject may be a factor in improving the
lives of students and their immediate environment.
In a developing country
like Nigeria, the use of "ICT" in the teaching of Biology should be
promoted in all secondary schools, since the national policy on education
states that "the broad aims of secondary education within overall National
objectives should be preparation or higher education". In specific terms,
secondary education should equip students so that they can be able to live
effectively in our modern age of science and technology.
Information Communication
Technology (ICT) has positively transferred effectively and efficiently every
aspect of human lives such as Education, Aviation, Agriculture, Manufacturing
etc. In Nigeria, it appears that most students and schools lack facilities such
as Information Communication Technology facilities, the influence of media
devices such as projectors, perhaps may improve the teaching-learning process
of the subject, Biology.
1.2. Statement of the Problem
There
is a need for steady evaluation of the impact of ICT in the teaching of
essential subjects such as Biology! This is with a view to ascertaining the
level of success recorded in terms of students performance in Biology with the
increased wave of computer based education system in Nigeria.
1.3. Aim and Objectives
The
aim of the present study focuses on the impact of ICT in the teaching and
learning of Biology in secondary schools.
The
specific objectives are:
i.
To determine students performance in Biology within a non-ICT
equipped secondary school system;
ii.
To determine students performance in biology within an ICT
equipped secondary school system.
iii.
To account for the disparity in students performance within the
two contexts of secondary schools if there is any and (iv)Indicate the serious
need for a comprehensive ICT-aided teaching of Biology in secondary schools in
Nigeria.
1.4. Research Question
i.
How relevant is the use of ICT in teaching Biology as a secondary
school subject?
ii.
Do students perform better when they are taught Biology by the
means of information communication technology (ICT).
1.5. Hypothesis
There
are no significant differences in the performance of students who learn Biology
by the means of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and those who do
not.
1.6. Scope of the
Study/Delimitation
Six
schools in three local government areas in Ile-Ife were used for this study as
time and cost did not
permit examining all schools within the selected local government areas.