CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Learning is a process that is meant to teach students concepts and skills, and eventually the
ability to apply what they learn to life outside classrooms. However, educators around the globe
seem at a loss for an answer to the dilemma of the right method of teaching that will ensure the
right type of learning. A number of factors, such as the language used, methods of teaching,
pedagogical fit, the textbooks and instructional material used, contribute to the success or failure
of teaching a subject.

With the advancements of information communication technology, the impact on academia has
been well-documented over the past decades and the ways in which these advancements have
pushed learning beyond the classroom walls (Khan, 2014).

According to Adewale, and Effiong, (2015), the procedure teacher employs involves new
dimensions in learning in which inputs are made to satisfy the native and need of the learners, the
demands of the subject matter and the needs of the learner’s society.

Through the ages, the phenomena that different teaching styles affect achievement differently
has been globally tested and trusted. They said that the knowledge of the various forms of
teaching methods exposes the teacher to adopting good and well researched methods in order to
stimulate and motivate students to greater learning. Each new period with technological changes
brings new knowledge and new ways of gaining it. There is a large number of information hard
to remember and new information technology is giving total new situation towards learning
(Adewale, and Effiong, 2015).

Teaching methods are primarily description of learning objectives oriented activities and flow of
information between teachers and students. The methods of teaching for the effective teaching of
Basic science are the innovative ways of imparting knowledge to learners. They usually involve
interactions between the teachers, the instructional facilities, the learners and the classroom
environment. There are different methods and techniques of teaching Basic science and like the

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other school subjects, there are no best method of teaching. A method that is appropriate for a
particular subject matter in a particular level may be inappropriate elsewhere. This is because
varieties of factors combine to determine how effective or otherwise a method is.

Computer is technological improvement and innovation designed under the control of set of
stored program that is capable performs a set of intellectual traits of a human being. It is an
innovative driven gadget outfitted with command interface, electronic digital circuitry, storage
departments, and microscopic semiconductor recording devices for the quick logical execution of
wired commands or operations. Muhammed, (2022), defined Personal Computer (PC) as an
electronic device which stores information on magnetic tapes or disks; scrutinize it and produces
information as required from the data on the tape. Dionysia, (2021), defined computer as a tool
that accepts some input and can then easily manipulate and process the different kinds of data it
receives. It performs complex calculations and produces some output. That output can also be
stored for later retrieval and use. Specifically, a computer is an electronic device, or machine,
that follows certain specified rules and completes a standard set of functions such as: Creating
information, Taking data as input from an external resource, Processing the data into something
useful, Storing all kinds of information and instructions into memory and retrieving them when
required or requested and Generating some kind of output.

Hence, computer could be said to be a human-made machine made up of electronic components

that works information at a quick to convey results that are noteworthy to the customer. It is
basically a processor of information. Computer is a machine proposed to make life less
requesting in view of its speed, exactness, and ability to store significant measure of information
and to finish extensive and multifaceted operation devoid of individual mediation. Computers,
paying little respect to sort and size have five basic parts in particular, Input Unit, Memory Units,
Control Units (CU), Arithmetic and Logic Units (ALU) and Output Units. Both ALU and CU are
joined into one piece of gear/hardware known as the Central Processing Unit (CPU) which is the
computer cerebrum. According to Andro, (2021), A computer system is built up of components
such as Hardware, software, programs, data, and networking. Without these components, no
system can run. In addition to these elements, a computer system consists of four major

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components. And they are: central processing unit, input/output devices and Memory, the key
components of Personal Computers are:

(a) To store the input or information.

(b) Process the input or information.

(c) Show the output of the information processed.

The computer recognizes data through its information devices, for instance, the mouse, screen,
keyboard, light pen, scanner, joystick, microphone et cetera. It shapes data, stores it and
processes it and shows through the output devices for instance, monitor, printer headphone etc.
There are some sorts of computers among which the central sorts are the analog, digital and
hybrid. Analog computers are brought into play for measuring changes in incessant physical or
electrical states. These fuse voltage, pace, weight, temperature, length and volume. Whereas
digital computers are brought into play to perform estimation by counting number certainly
while data are identified with by discrete states of the computer electronic equipment. digital
computers change over data to binary form. Last but not least the hybrid computers are the blend
of analogue and digital computers and acknowledged to have found much relevance in control
and feedback processes. Ugochukwu & Okafor, (2019)

According to Yong & Yizhi, (2020), computer application is a subject that attaches importance
to practice and operation, and it is a science. Medicine is to solve the patients; pain and
difficulties, and computer application teaching is to solve students’ doubts and help them
skillfully use computer tools to eliminate the difficulties in learning and working. The
participants of teaching activities are teachers and students. Through the teaching activities,
various information data are collected and the best teaching measures are extracted. The teaching
of human centered computer application embodies science, art and operability.

In the teaching syllabus of computer application, it is particularly emphasized that in classroom

teaching, students should be given full play to the dominant position of students, so that students
can consciously and actively participate in teaching activities, and give play to the leading role of
teachers in teaching organization and teaching activities. Let teachers play a leading role in
teaching design and teaching organization, and flexibly choose teaching plans, teaching methods
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and teaching strategies. Pay attention to the cultivation of students’ ability, emphasize the
combination of "learning and doing", cultivate students’ practical ability and the ability to solve
practical problems. (Muhammed, 2022)

Evidence based teaching emphasizes teaching practice and helps teachers and educators to pay
attention to the boundaries between various theories and different research methods .American
scholar Geoff petty pointed out that many customary practices in teaching practice are adopted
by most people, but they may not be the best and most effective methods and further pointed out
that, the teaching field should carefully and accurately apply the best teaching evidence (Theory)
available at present, combined with the situation elements such as teachers’ personal knowledge
structure, knowledge, teaching experience, students’ personality characteristics and students’
learning motivation, make accurate judgments, select the best teaching strategies and methods,
and formulate specific teaching methods Case. Peidis’ teaching thought points out an easy way
for teachers and educators. The concept of evidence-based teaching, just for secondary
vocational school teachers to reestablish the concept of teaching and education, to cultivate
students’ high-level thinking, comprehensive ability to contribute new ideas. (Yong & Yizhi,
2020)

According to Yong & Yizhi, (2020), the syllabus does not rigidly unify teaching materials and
teaching methods, but leaves flexible space for educators. It is precisely because of this that
secondary vocational schools do not restrict the teaching materials of this subject, and almost
every school uses different teaching materials. From the current teaching state, teachers are not
able to do what they want, and students are not interested in learning. As far as the current
teaching mode is concerned, teachers mainly adopt the form of practicing while speaking,
practicing after speaking, and combining speaking with practice. Teachers lack passion, students
lack goals, students cannot use what they have learned in practice and life, can’t connect with
other subjects; knowledge, and can’t combine with old knowledge, which leads to weariness of
learning. Most of the students think that the purpose of studying the fundamentals of computer
application is only to cope with the passing examination.

As a result, the computer application course is just a guide for preparing for the examination, and
the teaching material is just a skill training manual. Even if the students have successfully
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obtained some certificate or qualification certificate, it is impossible to realize the effective
integration of the course and other disciplines knowledge, and also cannot achieve the effective
improvement of learning information literacy and ability. Therefore, making the teaching of
computer application more efficient is the first problem we must solve. (Yong & Yizhi, 2020)

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The study of computer application is quite important for the growth and development of students
and the country at large, as the prosperity of a country largely depends on the technology and
digital innovation operating successfully in it. Computer application prepares the students for the
world outside of school and the digital atmosphere in general. Teachers are therefore saddled
with the key responsibilities of imparting the requisite knowledge that will enable the students
function well in the digital society of ours. If teaching method adopted in teaching are not
adequate or effective, students’ academic performance will be poor and this is a problem.

In realizing of important role which computer education plays as an agent of National

development and globalization, there has been agitation for more functional and qualitative
education all over the world. This agitation has not been matched with commensurate effort
aimed at bringing computer to the people. This gap has been in existence for very long time.
(Obioma, Ngozi, and Abuchi, 2021)
Khan, (2014), states that teaching computer-application subjects to students with non-computer-
related backgrounds creates problems because of the range of ability within the group. For this
reason, the computer-applications teacher must be prepared to present material in a variety of
ways, and to adjust to the students’ knowledge of computers as well as their individual learning
styles. Many instructors also face these circumstances as they sometimes faces a class of too
many students, which is a problem to teach such a number at a go.

Boma, (2019), stressed that teachers need to be conversant with numerous teaching methods that
take recognition of the magnitude of complexity of the concepts to be covered. It is against this
backdrop that the study seeks to examine the different teaching methods in teaching computer
application among junior secondary schools in Ankpa Local Government of Kogi State.

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In the light of the above and due to the fact that a computer study has failed to take off in
majority of school, fears are that technological development may be a pipe dream for the
country, Kogi State and Ankpa Local Government at large. Given this scenario, it is necessary
for this study to look in to the assessment of different teaching methods in teaching computer
application among junior secondary schools in Ankpa LGA of Kogi state

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The general objective of this study is the Assessment of different teaching methods in teaching
computer application among junior secondary schools in Ankpa LGA of Kogi state

The specific objectives of this study are to:

i. To evaluate the effect of teaching methods on students academic achievement in junior

secondary schools.
ii. Determine the relationship between discussion/lecturing methods of teaching and
Project based Learning/Cooperative Learning?
iii. To assess the level of performance of students on computer application based on the
teaching method adopted by the teacher.

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions guided the study:

i. What are the effects of teaching methods on students’ academic achievement in junior
secondary schools?
ii. Can one assess the level of performance of students on computer application based on
the teaching methods adopted by the teacher?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

In line with the research questions, the following null hypotheses were formulated for this study:

H01: Teaching methods has positive effect on students’ academic achievement in junior

secondary schools.
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H02: One can assess the level of performance of students on computer application based on the

teaching methods adopted by the teacher

1.6 Significance of the study

On the whole, this study could contribute ideas for improving the teaching of Computer

Application in schools, as the result, this study will be significant through the following ways:-

The findings will help policy makers realize that the world has become a global village with

varieties of multimedia facilities that can enhance teaching and learning via computer

applications’ knowledge.

The findings will reveal to government, educational planners and teachers that Computer

Application facilities and a proper knowledge of it, have the potential to contribute in different

faces of educational development and effective teaching and learning especially in Ankpa Local

Government Area in particular and Kogis State in the general.

The research findings will be useful to education policy makers and curriculum developers of

Junior Secondary School’s computer application studies curriculum as it will make them

appreciate the need to make necessary adjustments especially on incorporation of full and

comprehensive use of computers, and also multimedia facilities such as television, DVD, and

other devices i.e information and communication technology (ICT) in teaching.

The study findings will suggest to policy makers the need to provide necessary multimedia

facilities to computer application teachers, this shall enable them achieve National Educational

goals as spelt out in National Policy of Education (2014).

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It will be useful to teachers as it will reveal more appropriate ways of teaching junior secondary

school students. It will also serve as a reference material to other researchers who intend to

embark on this or similar topics

The outcome of the study findings will also suggest ways of effective use of suitable teaching

methods in teaching computer application to enhance teaching and learning in Junior Secondary

Schools.

1.7 Scope of the Study

This study is designed and delimited to assessment of different teaching methods in teaching
computer application among Junior Secondary Schools in Ankpa Local Government Area of
Kogi State. The research would be restricted to students of JSSII and JSSIII Junior Secondary
Schools under Ankpa LGA so as to make it visualizable, put it to a testable limit and eliminate
vagueness of the research work.

1.8 Definition of Terms

Teachers: Persons who help others to acquire knowledge, competences or values. Informally the
role of teacher may be taken on by anyone.

Teaching: The process of attempting to people’s needs, experience and feelings, and making
specific interventions to help them learn particular things.

Teaching Method: A teaching method comprises the principles and methods used by teachers to
enable student learning. These strategies are determined partly on subject matter to be taught and
partly by the nature of the learner.

Junior Secondary Schools: Junior Secondary is a phase of education in state secondary schools
for Years 7, 8 and 9, which helps to ensure the bridge between primary and secondary school is
safe, strong and consistent for all students.

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Learning: Is the act of acquiring new or modifying and reinforcing existing knowledge,
behaviours, skills, values, or preferences which may lead to a potential change in synthesizing
information, depth of the knowledge, attitude or behaviour relative to the type and range of
experience.

Computer application: Is a subject that attaches importance to practice and operation, and it is

a science. Computer application teaching is to solve students; doubts and help them skilfully use

computer tools to eliminate the difficulties in learning and working.

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References:

Adekemi, A.A., (2001), Introduction to Computer Education. An Unpublished Monograph,

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
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Humanistic Sciences Online: ISSN: 2300-2697, Vol. 61, 70-81,
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Andro, T. (2021). What are the 4 main components of a computer system?
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