Factors Militating Against the Effective Teaching Learning of Computer Science in Junior Secondary Schools

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The factors militating against the effective teaching-learning of computer science in junior secondary schools in Enugu North L.G.A. Enugu are those factors that make the subject not to be properly understood by the students. They are those limitations that create an ineffective understanding of computers to students in junior secondary school in Enugu North L.G.A. Enugu State. The research highlighted some factors that contribute to it.

They include;

i. Instructional materials used

ii. The categories of teachers

iii. Teaching methods used

iv. Problems facing teachers and students

v. Physical environmental factors

1.1 Background of the Study 

The world is advancing at a rapid rate. Events have moved to the electronic stage with computers at the centre. This development has brought a lot of innovations and revolutions into teaching and learning. The 3R’s which forms the nucleus of the old system of education has witnessed series of literacy reforms. The world is now in the age of hence there is need to keep abreast with time. One of the ways of achieving this is through the introduction of computers into our institutions of learnings John Ugoji (2006) explains the computer as an electronic machine that performs tasks. Such as calculation or electronic communication under the control of a set of instructions called programmes. The programmes usually reside within the computer and are retrieved as processed by the computer’s election. He wants further into defining computer as an electronic machines that have the ability to accept data, process data and retrieve data i.e. gives out the result as information. Okolo Lawrence (2007) describes the term “computer” as an electronic machine or gadget that accepts data as input and process them electronically to produce the desired output or information with the aid of a set of instructions. The computer can be generally defined as an electronic device that accepts data, process the data and brings out the result of the data as information. Involving computer science into teaching-learning as a case in Enugu North Junior Secondary Schools simply means that teaching should carry a definition of the computer during learning for easy understanding. In this case, teaching according to Nicholas .O. Anyanwu (2006) means a systematic, rational and organized process of transmitting knowledge, attitude and skills in accordance with professional principles. He also said that teaching has come to be a complex task and should involve only professional teachers in the system in order to transmit the knowledge of the computer to the learners properly.

The learners that are mentioned here are the students of junior secondary schools in Enugu North L.G.A. of Enugu State that studies computer science. Wikipedia (2010) describes learning as a change in behaviour based on previous experience. This learning, therefore, involves the processing of various types of information.

1.2 Statement of Problem

The world as it is today has become computerized. That is to say that everything and almost all the activities of today is are computerized. Going by this, it, therefore, becomes very important that everybody should have the knowledge of computer, starting from the junior secondary or even primary school. This is very important for young children in order to be able to cope with any computer challenges that may arise.

Computer science is a technical subject that demands a skilful teacher to handle it if the students should be expected to perform well in it. Following this assertion, we know that the junior secondary schools in Enugu North L.G.A. are faced with problems that hinder the effective teaching-learning of all the subjects especially computer science.

1.3 The purpose of the Study

The overall purpose of this study is to identify factors militating against the effective teaching-learning of computer science in some junior secondary schools in Enugu North L.G.A. of Enugu State. Specifically, the purpose of the study is:

i. To identify the teaching method used by the teacher during computer classes.

ii. To identify the types of instructional materials used in the process of teaching-learning of computer science. iii. To identify the categories of teachers that are teaching computer science.

iv. To identify the problems facing the teachers and students during teaching-learning of computer science.

v. To identify the physical environmental factors in that area.

1.4 Significance of the Study

The findings of the study will be important to the teachers of computer science and also the learners while learning the subject. By so doing, it will help them to improve on their teaching method. The teacher will benefit because it will avail them the opportunity of discovering the teaching method to be used and the materials suitable for teaching-learning of computer science in junior secondary schools. It will enable them to discover the areas that they need to help the computer teachers improve on. It will equally lead to the discovering of students problems or weaknesses in the study of computer science. To the students, they study so as to enable them to identify their own problems in the study of computer science.

1.5 Scope of the Study

This study is meant to cover the junior secondary schools in Enugu North L.G.A. of Enugu State. It will equally discuss the method of teaching-learning of computer science. The study will as well study the problems facing the teachers and students in teaching-learning of computer science and also the physical environment factors.

1.6 Research Questions

The following questions were asked to guide the study i. What are the various methods used in teaching and learning computer science in junior secondary schools in Enugu north? L.G.A. ii. What are the various types of structural materials used in teaching-learning of computer science in junior secondary schools in Enugu North? iii. What are the problems facing teachers and students during teaching-learning of computer science in junior secondary schools in Enugu North? iv. What are the physical environmental factors that exist during the teaching-learning secondary schools in Enugu North L.G.A.