Effects Of Animation Based Lesson On Students' Academic Performance And Attitude Towards Biology

Abstract

The study examined the effects of animation based lesson on students’ academic performance and attitude towards biology in Lokoja, Kogi State. Three objectives and three research questions were raised and answered, and three null hypotheses were tested. A non-randomized pre- test post-test quasi-experimental design was adopted for the study. The population covered all public Senior Secondary School, year three (SSS 3) science students in Lokoja, Kogi State. Two intact classes which are made up of one hundred and thirty (130) students were sampled. The instruments for data collection are Biology Achievement Test (BAT), Biology Concept Retention Test (BCRT) and Biology Concept Interest Scale (BCAS) respectively. Statistical tools used include percentages, mean (x̅) and standard deviations to answer the research questions while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analyze the research hypotheses at a significance level 0.05 (5%). Findings of the study revealed that animation teaching was viable in upgrading students’ achievement, retention and interest in biology. The STUDY recommended among others that teachers should teach Biology infused concepts with animations.

TABLE OF CONTENT

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

1.2 Statement of the problem

1.3 Objective of the study

1.4 Research questions

1.6 Hypothesis

1.6 Significance of the study

1.7 Scope of the study

1.8 Limitation of the study

1.9 Definition of terms

1.10 Organizations of the study

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2.1 Conceptual framework

2.2 Theoretical Framework

2.3 Empirical review

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research Design

3.2 Population of the study

3.3 Sample size determination

3.4 Sample size selection technique and procedure

3.5 Research Instrument and Administration

3.6 Method of data collection

3.7 Method of data analysis

3.8 Validity of the study

3.9 Reliability of the study

3.10 Ethical consideration

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1      Data Presentation

4.2 Analysis of Data

4.3      Answering Research Questions

4.4 Test of hypothesis

4.5 Interpretation of Result

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Summary

5.2 Conclusion

5.3 Recommendation

References

APPENDIX

QUESTIONNAIRE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the study

Biology is an important subject among the core science subjects taught at senior secondary school level in Nigeria. Biology as a subject occupies a unique position in the School curriculum. Biology is introduced to students at secondary school level as a preparatory ground for human development where career abilities are groomed (Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2008). The importance of biology in the industrialization and other sector of the economy cannot be overemphasized. As a matter of fact, it is a prerequisite for pursuing a number of careers in sciences which include Medicine, Pharmacy, Biochemistry, Botany, Nursing, Zoology among others. The learning of biology provides an individual with useful information in solving everyday life challenges. Studies have shown that the knowledge of biology contributes towards the socio-economic development of a country (Odubunmi, 2005)

However, the teaching of biology should be one that encourages active participation of students for better understanding of its concepts. It is a natural subject which requires the use of appropriate and effective instructional strategy to understand nature, the environment and the application of biological concepts for everyday use. One of the ways to bring about a change of emphasis in teaching from the teacher directed approach to a facilitated approach, is to change the medium of instruction (Kearsley, 2000; Kiili, 2005). For example, there is a common saying that if a child cannot learn in the way we teach, we must teach in the way the child will learn. Teachers instructional strategies have been observed as strategies to assist students during teaching and learning process that improve students’ performance.

Studies have been conducted Salami et al to identify students’ performance in biology, and the result shows that in the past ten years students’ results have not been impressive. However, another study was conducted by the same authors to identify specific factors contributing to the poor performance of students in biology the results of which have been linked to the poor performance, to poor quality of science teachers, inadequate science equipment and poor teaching methods (Salamiet et al., 2012). Salamiet et al (2012) observed that the current mode of learning in Nigeria is principally structured on traditional chalk-and talk methods. Aladejana (2008) explains that teaching still retains the old conservative approach of teachers acting as repertoire of knowledge and students the dormant recipients. The teacher-centred method emphasizes learning through the teachers’ guardians at all times which favours passive reception of knowledge by the students hence limiting students from learning from variety of sources. Interestingly, technology in many ways is expanding globally and the need to adopt technology based packages to improve the teaching and learning of biology for effective performance of students cannot be overemphasized. The use of technology in the classroom has proven to be effective in the teaching and learning of sciences. It offers new, creative and the most engaging ways of teaching. Technology such as computer Animation instructional packages makes teaching effective as learning is enhanced with images, video and sound. Also the use of technology provides an enabling environment through which different types of learners (visual, audio, kinesthetic etc) learn. Animation, which is basically a form of pictorial presentation, has become the most prominent feature of technology-based learning environments. It refers to simulated motion pictures showing movement of drawn objects. Recently, educational computer animation has turned out to be one of the most elegant tools for presenting multimedia materials for learners, and its significance in helping to understand and remember information has greatly increased since the advent of powerful graphics oriented computers. Computer animation instructional packages are tools that have the capacity to improve quality learning. It seeks to arouse students’ interests, stimulates thinking and concretizes knowledge that could otherwise only be explained in abstract terms. Literally, animation is moving something that cannot move by itself. It is the technique of photographing successive drawings or positions of puppets or models to create an illusion of movement when the film is shown as a sequence (Mayer and Moreno 2002). This aspect of multimedia learning supports student-centred strategy whereby learners take responsibility in their own learning process (Clark and Mayer, 2003). The liberty to proceed or recede allows self-pacing, an important facet to enable learners to learn according to their individual pace and that will ensure both group of students may perceive information equally (Moreno and Mayer, 2000). Online Animation is a subset of computer animation which literally connotes the animation of concepts that are available on the internet. Nowadays, the use of online animation or video is generally becoming more popular in the teaching and learning process. Animation of concepts when viewed on the internet provides learners with insight of some abstract concepts. Agommuoh and Nzewi (2003) reported that videos have the potentials of increasing the probability that students will learn more, retain better and even improve their performance of the skills they are expected to develop. Online animation instructional packages are learner centred strategies and a learning environment in which they are employed can promote interaction, interest and attentiveness etc according to Agommuoh et al (2003). Kearsley (2002) studies show that students who learn from animation have greater self-esteem and motivation. His studies also show that students retain information and the ability to sustain the learning process increases. These learner – centred instructional strategies can enhance a stimulating learning environment in which learners interest can increase positively and this can lead to increased attention, retention, concentration, knowledge and learning (Davis., and McGrail, 2009). This form of technology helps in representing information visually which help students understand concepts effectively as a result, it helps students to construct their own meaning and also to develop deep understanding of the subject content through what they see. It makes learning to be more interesting within students’ zone of proximal development (Vygosky, 1978). There is therefore the need to explore Technology based teaching in enhancing and facilitating acquisition of the knowledge of what is being taught using online animation instructional packages. Sousa, (2011) defines Retention as “the process whereby long term memory preserves learning in such a way that it can locate, identify, and retrieve it accurately in the future’’. He suggested that learning and retention are not the same and that learning does not necessarily result in long term retention. For example, one can learn information for a short period of time and forget such information. Many students have difficulties in learning Biology. They think that learning biology simply involves memorizing the contents of the subject and regurgitate them during their examinations. According to Tekkaya, Ozkan and Sungur (2001), students have difficulties in learning biology and have no interest in the lesson due to the fact that students’ motivation to learn this subject was low. Researchers (Lawal, 2007; Atadoga and Onaolapo 2008) found that the persistent low in academic achievement is attributed to teacher instructional strategies among others. Thus, instructional strategies used by teachers in teaching learning process have significant influence on learners’ learning outcomes.

Atadoga and Onaolapo (2008), states that, instructional strategies adopted by teachers at all levels of education in imparting knowledge and skills to the learners are determined by teachers abilities, topic to be taught, learners age, available resources and available space. Thus, Poopola (2010), ascertained that, academic achievement is a function of a various factors such as method of teaching, teachers‘ qualifications, child‘s home background, school environment, attitude, interest among others. Ogundokun and Adeyemo (2010) added that, academic achievement (low) is related to the decline in the availability of teaching resources in the school.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Researchers in their numerous works in Nigeria have shown that the predominant method of instruction used by secondary school teachers is the conventional teaching method and still students still encounter difficulties in understanding certain concepts infused in biology, and are also unable to extend the knowledge of ideas to fix issues outside the classroom. Coupled with this, it was reported that 49.98% of all candidates who sat for the May/June 2019, failed grossly biology in Nigeria secondary schools. In this category were 389,655 males and 396,361 females, representing 47.32% and 52.92% respectively. It was also reported that 19,781 candidates who sat for examination and 3,851 or 19.46 per cent passed at credit level (WAEC Chief Examiner’s Report, 2019). Probably, the mass failure may be attributed to many reasons of which could be traceable to the predominant use of the conventional teaching method. Therefore, there is the need to try if the use of animation teaching strategy may improve students’ performance in learning biology.

• Objective of the study

The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of animation based lesson on students’ academic performance and attitude towards biology in Kogi State. The objectives of the study are:

1. To determine the differences in the mean achievement scores of students taught biology with animation strategy and those taught with Conventional Teaching Method (CTM);
2. To determine the differences in the mean retention scores of students taught biology with animation strategy and those taught with CTM.

• To determine the differences in the mean interest scores of students taught biology with animation strategy and those taught with CTM;

1.4 Research Questions

The research will be guided by the following research questions:

1. Is there any difference in the mean achievement scores of students taught biology with animation strategy and those taught with Conventional Teaching Method (CTM)?
2. Do animation strategies improve students’ performance?
3. What are the animation strategies used in our schools presently?

1.5 Hypotheses of the study

The following null hypotheses are formulated for testing at 0.05 level of significance.

Ho₁. There is no significant difference in the mean achievement scores of students taught with animation strategy and those taught with CTM.

Ho₂. There is no significant difference in the mean retention scores of students taught with animation strategy and those taught with CTM.

Ho₃. There is no significant difference in the mean interest scores of students taught with animation strategy and those taught with CTM.

1.6 Significance of the study

This study shall serve as a means of providing evidence that could be used to encourage as well as support Biology lecturers in Universities to practice flipped classroom, thereby, spurring them to get actively involved in continuous improvement of classroom teaching and students’ achievement. The information from this study shall serve as a basis for pedagogical reorientation of University dons especially in relation to courses presumed to be difficult to teach as a result of its large volume contents and practical works involved.

Furthermore, results from this study has exposed the need for the inclusion of flipped strategy into the curriculum of teacher preparation at Nigerian Colleges of Education (NCE programme) and Faculties of Education in Nigerian Universities (B.Sc. Ed./ B.Ed. programme).

The findings from this study shall serve as a motivating factor for teacher and educators on how to use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in their teaching careers.

Findings from this study shall also provide evidence to Science students to use ICT form of learning.

1.7 scope of the study

The study determined the main and interactive effects of animation based lesson on students’ academic performance and attitude towards biology, which covered selected secondary schools in Kogi state.

1.8 Limitation of study

Finance, inadequate materials and time constraint were the challenges the researchers encountered during the course of the study.

1.8 Definition of terms

Achievement in Biology: This refers to the pretest and posttest scores obtained from Biology Practical Achievement Test (BPAT)

Practical Skills in Biology: This refers to the laboratory practical activities performed by the students and eventual scores from the pretest and posttest scores obtained from the Biology Practical Skills Rating Scale (BPSRS)

Student Computer Self Efficacy: This is the student’s judgment of his or her computer capabilities

Animation-Based Instruction: Teaching-learning activities practised using the researchers designed animation package

Teacher: A teacher is a person who is trained to teach especially in a classroom setting. It is a person whose occupation is teaching.

Attitude: A complex mental state involving beliefs, feelings, values and dispositions to act in certain ways.

Use: To put into service; make work for a purpose or use as designed.

ICT: Information and Communication Technology is an electronic means of capturing, processing, storing, communicating information.