Volume 9, Issue 2. May, 2023
Use of Social Media by Nigerian Students: Some Critical Reflections
Chibueze, Great. I.
In education, as is the case with other sectors of the contemporary world social media has had a phenomenally positive impact. It has virtually removed the four walls of traditional classrooms and has reduced the over-domineering influence of the teacher in traditional classrooms. It has enabled researchers, academics, teachers and students access to an unprecedented amount of information relevant to their academic pursuits. Despite these huge advantages of social media however, the way and manner in which students use social media could also be detrimental to their studies. Wrong use of social media by students could lead to addiction as some researchers have shown that many students spend more time on it doing other things that are not related or relevant to their academic studies. Social media also leads to plagiarism. Hence, the paper recommends that teachers, school administrators, examination bodies, parents and other stakeholders in education should always guide students on how best to use social media to enhance their studies. Moreover, Students are to be encouraged on best ways to pursue academic creativity and originality.
Peer Influence and Self-Concept Correlate of Examination Malpractice Proneness Among Senior Secondary School Students in Oyo East Local Government
Yekinni, Lukuman O.
Development of any society is tantamount to issues that extend to educational inequality prevalent in society. It is therefore believed that most students that engage in examination malpractice do this as a result of poor self-concept and some as a result of peer pressure. Hence, this study examined self-concept and peer pressure as correlates of examination malpractices proneness among senior secondary school students in Oyo East Local Government. The study adopted a survey research design or correlational type was used in carrying out the study. The population for this study, comprised all senior secondary school students in Oyo East Local Government of Oyo State, Nigeria wherein, two hundred (200) senior secondary school students were randomly selected for the study. The data collected were analyzed using both descriptive statistic. Pearson product-moment correlation statistic was used to analyze the research questions. The results of the research showed that there was a positive significant relationship between the rate of examination malpractices and peer influence (r=.803**, N=100, p<.01), there was a positive significant relationship between the rate of examination malpractices and self-concept (r=.820**, N=100, P<.01), and was positive significant relationship between examination malpractice and peer influence and self-concept (r=.558**, N=100, P<.01). It was therefore concluded that decadence experienced among students today can be associated to the rise in examination malpractices globally and as such, examination malpractices among secondary school teachers were as a result of the poor self-concept of students and negative peer influence. It was recommended among others that Counselling services should be organized frequently.
Extent of Implementation of the Language of Instruction Policy at Lower Basic Education Level in Enugu State, Nigeria
Ekwe, G. M., Ene, H. N., Okoye, G. O., & Egbo, C. E.
The study centered on extent of implementation of the language of instruction policy at lower basic education level in Enugu State, Nigeria. Two research questions and two hypotheses were formulated for the study. The population for the study consists of 96 head teachers and 862 teachers. Questionnaire as instrument for data collection was designed by the researcher to elicit appropriate information from the respondents. The reliability co-efficient of the instrument was calculated using Alpha method. Alpha value was found to be 0.79 indicating high reliability of the instrument. Mean score and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, and t-test statistic was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Some of the major findings of the study indicated that there is a great extent to which English language is been implemented as language of instruction policy at lower basic education level in Enugu State. From the result of the findings, the two groups of respondents share the view that there is great extent to which English language is been implemented as language of instruction policy at lower basic education level in Enugu State. Based on this, it was recommended that Government should strategize and organize seminars, workshops and other programmes to give teachers proper orientation and direction, proper knowledge and application of the language of instruction policy.
Influence of Teachers’ Academic Self-Concept on the Academic Achievement of Secondary School Physics Students’: The Mediating Role of Academic Motivation
Onah, Kingsley T.
The study investigated the influence of teachers’ academic self-concept on the academic achievement of secondary school physics students: the mediating role of academic motivation in Agbani Education Zone of Enugu State. Four null hypotheses tested at .05 level of significant guided the study. An Ex-post-facto and correlational survey research design was adopted for the study. A simple random sampling procedure was used in selecting 275 SS II Physics students comprising 144 males and 131 females from twelve selected schools in the Zone. Teachers Academic Self-Concept Scale (TASCS) adapted from Marsh (1992), Physics Academic Motivation Scale (PAMS) adapted from Sinan (2018) and Students’ Achievement Scores obtained from their promotion examination results from the schools used were used for data collections. The instruments (TASCS) and (PAMS) was validated by three experts and tested for reliability using Cronbach’s alpha with the reliability indices of 0.82 and 0.86 respectively. Data were analyzed using path analysis to test the proposed hypotheses. The findings of the study amongst others showed that academic motivation positively mediated the relationship between teachers’ academic self-concept and academic achievement of secondary school physics students. Based on these findings, it was recommended that Teachers should adopt teaching strategies that would stimulate students’ academic motivation through their academic self-concept in teaching Physics.
Comparative Analysis of Psychometric Properties of 2016 WAEC and NECO Mathematics Examination Items in Sabon Tasha Education Zone, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Dairo, Dorcas O. & Maude, Luka K.
This study investigated the psychometric properties of 2016 WAEC and NECO Mathematics examination items in Sabon Tasha education zone, Kaduna state, Nigeria. The objective was to find out the difficulty, discriminating and distracter indices of WAEC and NECO 2016 mathematics examination questions. The design was cross-sectional survey involving 310 SS3 students as a sample drawn from a population of 7,917. A multistage sampling technique was used for the study. The two instruments used for data collection were objectives past question papers of 2016 SSCE Mathematics examinations developed by the two public examination bodies (WAEC and NECO) which were duly validated by the department of test development in the two examination bodies. Item analysis was employed to provide empirical answers to the research questions which were: calculation of difficulty, discrimination and distractor indices. Independent sample t-test was used to test the hypotheses using SPSS version 20. The results indicated that there is no significant difference in the difficulty (t = 0.789, df = 108, p > .05), discrimination (t= -1.947, df = 108, p > .05) and distractive indices (t = 0.551, df =388, p > .05) indices of items in mathematics question papers set by WAEC and NECO in 2016. It was recommended among others that public examination bodies should ensure that difficulty and discrimination of items as well as functionality of mathematics multiple choice test options fall within the acceptable limits for certification at the school certificate level.
Enhancing Student’s Academic Performance in STM Related Subjects Using Think-Pair- Share Mode of Teaching in Kogi State, Nigeria
Abuh, Y. P., Tanko, C. A., & Akubor F.
The study investigated how to enhance students’ academic performance in Science, Technology and Mathematics related subjects using Think-pair-share mode of teaching in Kogi State; Nigeria. Two research questions and Two hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted quasi experimental, non-equivalent, non-randomized pretest- posttest control group design. The sample of the study constituted 242 Senior secondary II students. Science performance Test (SPT) validated by three experts with a reliability coefficient of 0.87 was used to collect data. Mean, standard deviation was used to answer reaserch questions and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analysed the hypothesis . Results revealed that TPSM is more effective in enhancing the academic performance of students in STM than TTM. There is a significant difference in the mean performance scores of students taught using TPSM and those taught with TTM. The result equally revealed that there is no significant difference in mean performance scores of male and female students taught using TPSM. The study recommends that the use of TPSM strategy should be incorporated into the mainstream of pedagogy in teaching STM since it enables students to learn meaningfully among others.
The Relevance and Quality of Physics Education in National Unity
Adeoye Busola A., & Adedoyin Sekinat A.
The paper is a logical survey of the relevance and quality of physics education in national unity. The paper viewed concept of national unity, conceptual and theoretical analysis of physics education, challenges of physics education in Nigeria, and the relevance of physics education in national unity. Conclusively, the significance of Physics education cannot be over - accentuated as it forms the foundation for high-tech innovation of any nation. Physics plays a dynamic role in the development of any society; the paper recommended that government should finance physics education to provide jobs for graduates, making the world worth living and reducing unemployment among youth, government should integrate into the physics curriculum the concept of national unity and ethical topics from primary to the higher institution and should be made compulsory. Physics education remains the key that can unlock disunity.
Effectiveness of Computer Based and Paper Pencil Tests on the Achievement of Senior Secondary School Chemistry Students in Kano Metropolis
Albert Alabi, Kelvin Samuel & Abdulmalik Sabitu
Effectiveness of Chemistry Computer Based and Paper Pencil Test on the achievement of secondary school chemistry students, was studied using causal comparative design, a sample size of 178 was used. Instrument for data collection was the Chemistry Achievement Test, (CAT). The CAT was validated using test and retest it was found with reliability coefficient of 0.89. Research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation while hypotheses, were analysed using independent sample t-test: the findings revealed that Chemistry students who were administered Paper and pencil test (PPT) perform better than their peers in computer base test (CBT). CBT chemistry examination was gender friendly. It was recommended that chemistry teachers should attend seminars and workshop on effective utilization of PPT irrespective of the number of students.
Assessing the Adequacy, Functionality and Utilization of ICT Facilities by Teachers, Students and Administrators of Senior Secondary Schools in Adamawa State, Nigeria
Patrick K. Bauti, Balarabe Yushau & Sa’adatu Abubakar M.
The study assessed the adequacy and functionality of ICT facilities in secondary schools and how teachers, students and schools administrators are utilizing these facilities. Cross sectional survey design was used, checklist and open ended questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. The internal consistency of the instrument was determined using Cronbach Alfa and reliability coefficient of 0.89 was obtained. Data was analyzed using frequency and percentage. It was found that the ICT intervention facilities provided to these schools were not adequate. However, most of the facilities were found functional. Furthermore, it was found that teachers utilize ICT facilities in preparing lesson; presenting video clips and for assessment. While the students utilize ICT facilities in doing assignment, homework and accessing online learning materials. And the administrators utilize ICT facilities in communication, maintaining records of students, teachers and other staff. It was recommended that government should increase supply of ICT facilities in the secondary schools and teachers should be encouraged to utilize ICT facilities in their teaching.
Preliminary Pages