Thesis Abstract

Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lecture and demonstration methods on the academic achievement of students in chemistry in selected secondary schools. The research employed a quantitative approach and utilized a quasi-experimental design involving pre-test and post-test measures. The study sample consisted of 200 students from four secondary schools, with two schools assigned to each method. The data collection involved administering pre-tests to assess the students' baseline knowledge before the intervention. Following this, the lecture method was employed in one school, while the demonstration method was used in the other school. At the end of the intervention period, post-tests were administered to measure the students' academic achievement. The results indicated a significant difference in academic achievement between the lecture and demonstration methods. Students who were taught using the demonstration method showed a higher improvement in their academic performance compared to those taught through the lecture method. The findings suggest that the demonstration method was more effective in enhancing students' understanding and retention of chemistry concepts. Furthermore, the study explored students' perceptions and preferences regarding the two teaching methods. It was observed that students generally found the demonstration method more engaging and interactive than the lecture method. The hands-on approach of the demonstration method allowed students to visualize abstract concepts and actively participate in the learning process, leading to better comprehension and knowledge retention. Overall, the study highlights the importance of innovative teaching methods, such as demonstrations, in improving students' academic achievement in chemistry. By incorporating practical demonstrations and experiments into the curriculum, educators can create a more stimulating learning environment that caters to diverse learning styles and enhances students' interest and performance in the subject. The findings of this research have implications for curriculum development and instructional practices in secondary schools. Educators and policymakers can consider integrating more interactive and practical teaching approaches, such as demonstrations, to enhance students' learning experiences and academic outcomes in chemistry and other science subjects.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

The level of education has increase overtime with improved method of teaching and demonstration in most secondary schools today in Nigeria. Over the years, there have being an increased rate of poor performance in chemistry due to inexperienced teachers and the unavailability of instructional materials to demonstrate before the students while teaching subject like chemistry.

This effect is mostly noticed in most of the village schools; maybe due to lack of infrastructural development and finances to run the activities of the schools.

Take bariga local government for instance as a case study; Bariga local government is among the interior areas of Lagos state with limited resources and poor infrastructure such as good schools, hospitals etc.

Since the intervention of the federal government of Nigeria as regard the poor academic performance of most students in chemistry, there have being a great improvement in terms of the academic achievement of students in learning chemistry.

Series of programs have created by the federal government of Nigeria through the Nigeria union of teachers (NUT) to improve teaching methods among teachers of most secondary schools in Bariga local government area of Lagos.

The act of demonstration with instructional materials during chemistry class is very important to enhance the students’ achievement in learning chemistry since images stick more than words in the mind of students.

Chemistry is a subject that has to do with chemicals with different colours and textures; take for instance a chemical like copper which is bluish in colour can stick properly in the mind of students when the students see the chemical. A chemistry teacher can tell the students the colour of a chemical, at the end of the day most students tends to forget most of this colours.

Statistics shows that most schools that adopt the method of teaching and demonstration tend to produce better students than those schools that teach students without instructional materials.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Lecture and demonstration method have improve the academic achievement of most students in learning chemistry; but the case is different with Bariga local government area of Lagos some because of lack of infrastructure such as lack of constant supply of electricity, lack of good roads, poor laboratory, dilapidated school library and lack of experienced teachers and lack of instructional materials for demonstration during teaching.

The federal government of Nigeria through the Nigerian union of teachers has put in so much effort to see to the development of most of the schools in Bariga local government area of Lagos.

1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

The effect of poor academic achievement of students in learning chemistry due to lack of lecture and demonstration method in learning chemistry has led to the formulation of the following objectives to help improve learning among secondary schools in Bariga local government area of Lagos; some of the objectives are stated below:

1. To elicit information on the importance of lecture and demonstration method teaching and learning of chemistry

2. To determine the roles of the federal government of Nigeria in the development of most schools in Bariga local government

3. To determine the causes of poor academic performance of students in chemistry

4. To determine the role of teachers in the student’s choice of learning chemistry

5. To assess information on the effect of learning on the academic achievement of students

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

In order to achieve the following objectives the study put up the following questions to have deep understanding of the topic

1. What is the importance of lecture and demonstration method in teaching and learning of chemistry?

2. What are the roles of the federal government of Nigeria in the development of most schools in Bariga local government?

3. What are the causes of poor academic performance of students in learning chemistry?

4. What are the roles of teachers in students’ choice of learning chemistry?

5. What is the effect of learning on the academic achievement of students?

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Hypothesis 1

H0: There is no significant relationship between lecture and demonstration and students’ academic achievement in learning chemistry

H1: There is significant relationship between lecture and demonstration and students’ academic achievement in learning chemistry

Hypothesis 2

H0: There is no significant difference between students who are taught by demonstration and those who are lectured.

H1: There is significant difference between students who are taught by demonstration and those who are lectured

Hypothesis 3

H0: Gender does not influence students’ academic performance in chemistry who were taught by demonstration and those that were lectured

H0: Gender influences students’ academic performance in chemistry who were taught by demonstration and those that were lectured

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study is indeed of great significance as it will elicit information on the effect of lecture and demonstration method in teaching on student’s achievement in learning chemistry, the study will also discuss the cause of poor academic performance of students in learning chemistry. The study will look at the roles of teachers in student’s choice in learning chemistry and finally the study will discuss the effect of learning on student’s academic achievement in learning chemistry.

1.7 SCOPE OF STUDY

The study will focus on the effect of lecture and demonstration method in the academic achievement of students’ chemistry; the study will cover the effect of learning on the academic achievement of students in learning chemistry. The study will consider a total number of fourty (40) respondents in Bariga local government area of Lagos.

1.8 LIMITATION OF STUDY

FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS: Financial constraints tend to impede the students ability to get all the materials needed for the study but with the materials available the researcher was able to get meaningful information concerning the research topic above

TIME CONSTRAINTS: The researcher being a student will be involved with departmental activities like seminar presentation and attendance to class, but the researcher was able to meet up with the time allocated for the completion of the research work.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

DEMONSTRATION: demonstration in accordance to the study is an act of showing that something is in existence

LECTURE:this is simply an educational talk to an audience, especially one of students in a university.

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT:refers to a student’s success in meeting short- or long-term goals in education. In the big picture, academic achievement means completing high school or earning a college degree.