Abstract:
The successes of students in biology in the West African Secondary School
Certificate Examinations over the years have been very discouraging. Studies have
specified that this is partly due to the poor knowledge of students in biological
drawings, labeling and identification of specimen. Indications in the literature
revealed that biological drawings labeling and identification could be used to facilitate
students’ learning. This study, therefore, evaluated the knowledge of biological
drawings, labeling and identification possessed by Senior High School students in
Winneba Senior High School. Action research method was employed. The population
for the study was all Biology students in Winneba Senior High School. A sample of
35 Biology students were used for the study. The instruments used were
questionnaire, observation, interview and tests. The research was conducted in three
phases, the pre- intervention phase, the intervention phase and the post- intervention
phase. Three research questions were answered. Findings of the study showed that:
students possessed poor of biological drawings, labeling and identification and the use
of CAI was able to improve the competencies of the sampled students. The study
concluded that Students’ drawing skills were improved, in that, there were no more
shading, there was a reduction in the use of wavy and double lines, the correct pencils
were used and also students were able to make proportional drawings. The labeling
skills of students’ were also improved. Label lines were neatly drawn with rulers,
label lines were no longer having arrow and label lines were not crossing each other.
Students’ identification skills were also improved, they were able to identify specimen
easily and faster. It was recommended that teachers should make themselves available
to new technologies such as Computer- Assisted Instruction and other computer
software in other to be abreast with time. They should always be around to supervise
students when they are using computers to learn because some students may do
something else with the computer rather than learning.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Science Education,
Faculty of Science Education, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Science Education)
in the University of Education, Winneba
JUNE, 2020