CHAPTER ONE
1.1 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
One of the major
problems of learning within the conventional setting is the emphasis on
verbalism as the sole mode of communication between the teacher and the
learners Bolick (2002). In the word of Maduabum (2000), words simply make
learning abstract and inactive as it address only one of the many senses of
human understanding and communication in fact in some cases such as the hearing
impaired (i.e. people whose ear do not function normally)verbalism has no place
in their programmes Ema,(2001).
Hence, the need to adopt a
better strategy which will encompass the
use of audio visual materials, to ensure
that students have the best possible opportunity to retain the information
being given to them. One way of achieving this is through the use of
instructional materials. Instructional materials according to Faurant (1995)
are materials used by a teacher or that enable students assimilate what is
being put across to them. Instructional materials represent fundamental
resources for school for enhancing instruction, furthering the pursuit of knowledge
and providing experiences of educational significance for class groups or for
individual students.
Teachers need instructional
materials in every aspect of teaching. They need materials for background
information on the subject they are teaching. Teachers often use instructional materials
for lesson planning. These materials are also needed by teachers to assess the
knowledge of their student (Sotayo2001).
One of such instructional
materials is a “flip chart”. A flip chart is a stationery item consisting of a
pad of large paper sheets, supported on a tripod or four legged easel. It is
typically fixed to the upper edge of a white board, such charts are commonly
used for presentation. A flip chat is thought to have been unvented by “Peter
Kent” who built one to help him in a presentation. He went on to find the
visual communication group Nobo pic.
A flip chart according
to Collins English Dictionary (2003) is a pad, containing large sheets of paper
that can be easily turned over, mounted on stand and used to represent reports
and data while America Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, (2000)
defined it as a chart consisting 0f sheets hinged at the top that can be
flipped over to represent information sequentially.
A lip chart is commonly
supported on a tripod, flip chart come in various forms. Some of these are:
Stand alone flip chart:
Resembles a big isosceles triangle box usually six on a table. Imagine a book
that you would open at 27dgeree angle and then lay on a table. The paper is
flipped from one side to the top of the triangle box to the other.
Metallic tripod (Oreasel) stand:
usually have 3 or 4 metallic legs that linked together at one extremity. A
support board is attached to two of these, led to support the large paper pad.
This is the common type of flip chart stand.
Metallic mount on wheel
usually has a flat based to support the paper and is mounted on one or two legs
that then have a set of wheels. The advantages of these more recent forms of
stands are that it is easier to transport the flip chart from one location to
another. Flip chart can be placed on an easel or held. The teacher stands
besides the flip chart referring to the text printed at the back of necessary.
As each page is finished the teacher flip it over to the back. Flip are easier
to use when the pages facing the group have large print and illustrations.
Meanwhile, many questions
have been raised on the effectiveness of this “Flip chart” in the teaching and
learning of integrated science. This study is therefore undertaken to answer
some of these questions. In other words, it is the focus of this study to
investigate the effects of “Flip Chart” on students’ retention of concepts and
their overall achievement in integrated science.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The world as a whole and developing
countries in particular are continuously faced with enormous educational
problems which the conventional classroom settings and learning methods cannot
cope with. Example of such problems is the abstract nature of some concepts
especially in science, leading to students’ poor performance in subject. Hence
the adoption off a new teaching strategy with the use of a flip chart. It is
therefore the problem of this to determine the need to explore how flip chart
can enhance teaching and learning of integrated science most especially the
human skeletal system
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The
main purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of flip chart in teaching
and learning of human skeletal system in some selected secondary schools in
Abeokuta North Local Government of Ogun State.
1.4 RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
This study answered the
following questions:
i.
To what extent do teachers use flip
chart?
ii.
Do the varieties in use of flipchart
have any impact of the academic performance of students in teaching and
learning of human skeletal system?
iii.
What are the factors that determine the
types of flip chart?
iv.
Why do teachers need to use flip charts
v.
What challenges do teachers have in
using flip chart?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
This study upon completion
will be of help to both teachers and learners, as it will enlighten them with
the importance of flip chart in classes such as in removing the boredom and
recreating learning interest i.e. it aid students’ better understanding and
comprehension of the topic being taught. This eventually will exist in turning
out well groomed graduate. It will also enable those in government or
curriculum planners to see reason why flips charts should be provided for use
in schools. It will equally assist the teachers to achieve their aim and
objective of the topic “Human skeletal system” being taught to the learners
within a short time. It will also open the eye of educational technologist to
the production of flip chart
1.6 SCOPE
OF THE STUDY
The study covers only
four selected senior secondary schools in Abeokuta North Local Government of
Ogun State.
The schools are in the same
geographical area which includes:
i.
Lafenwa High School, Lafenwa Abeokuta
ii.
Premier Grammar School, Lafenwa Abeokuta
iii.
St Peter High School, Olomore Abeokuta
iv.
Army Day Grammar School, Alamala
Abeokuta
1.7 DEFINITION
OF TERMS
–
Proliferation:
A rapid increase or spread of flip chart
–
Chart:
Information written or drawn in the form of picture, graph e.t.c for easy
understanding
–
Verbalism:
Teaching verbally only without flip charts
–
Communication: The exchange of information or words.
–
Inherent:
At basic or permanent part of something that can be removed
–
Stimulated:
To make somebody interested excited about something
–
Educator:
The educated people
–
TeachingPractice (TP): A school student
teacher can practice teaching under the guidance of experience teacher or
supervisor
–
Conventional:
The opinion that most people consider to be normal and right but sometimes
wrong
–
Solicit:
To ask someone for help or information
–
Boredom:
The quality of being boring