BIOLOGY TEACHERS LEVEL OF UTILIZATION AND AWARENESS OF INNOVATIVE TEACHING STRATEGIES IN THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF BIOLOGY IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

<doi>10.24250/jpe/1/2022/MCO/CO/UVA</doi>

Abstract

This study investigated biology teachers’ level of awareness and utilization of innovative teaching strategies in the teaching and learning of biology in secondary schools in Anambra state, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was used. The sample for the study is 150 biology teachers from 75 co educational school. The instrument used was developed by the researchers known as Teacher's Awareness and Utilization of Innovative Teaching Strategy Scale (TAUITSS) which was scrutinized by three experts from Department of Science Education one from Nwafor Orizu College of Education Nsugbe, another from Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. The questionnaires were distributed by the researchers. Mean were used to answer the research question while t-test was used to test the hypotheses involving two mean, ANOVA was used to test the hypotheses involving more than two mean. The findings shows that there is no significant difference between the mean ratings of teachers on the awareness of innovative teaching strategy that can be used in the teaching of Biology in secondary schools based on gender, there is a significant difference between the mean ratings of teachers on the awareness of innovative teaching strategy that can be used in the teaching of Biology in secondary schools based on academic qualification and there is no significant difference between the mean ratings of teachers on the extent of utilization of innovative teaching strategy that can be used in the teaching of Biology in secondary schools based on gender. The last hypothesis showed that there is no significant difference between the mean ratings of teachers on the extent of utilization of innovative teaching strategy that can be used in the teaching of Biology in secondary schools based on academic qualification. Base on the findings, these recommendations were made, in order to improve the performance of students in Biology, teachers should consider using the innovative teaching strategies and this should as well be implemented in other levels where Biology is taught if performance in biology exams is to be improved and school administrators should be encouraged to improve on management of academic programmes by providing necessary innovative tools required for instructional purposes.