Influence of Science Teaching Methods on the Students’ Performance in Homabay Sub-County, Kenya
Abstract
Sciences play a vital role in developing the technological aspect of a country. Teachers play a major role in determining whether or not sciences desired results are achievable. The success or failure of sciences depends on the teachers. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the methods used to teach sciences are contributing towards the poor performance. The study was based on Activity theory on the active involvement of the learners in teaching and learning processes and Farrat theory on the training of teachers. The study utilized mixed method where qualitative and quantitative methods are put into use and convergent parallel mixed method. The target population for this study was 73 head teachers, 637 teachers and 4650 pupils in class 7 and 8 from the 73 Primary schools. The sample size was 14 head teachers, 25 sciences teachers and 465 sciences pupils and equal in gender. The sampling procedures was as follows; pupils were purposely chosen from those taking sciences in form three and four. the research instruments were observation check list and documents analysis, questionnaires for the teachers and pupils and interviews guide for the headteachers. The piloting was done in Rachuonyo East on 10% of the sample size, which is a neighboring sub-county. The researchers tested the reliability of the instrument using the spearman-brownprophecy formula of split half technique which revealed reliability test of 0.85, while the validity of the instruments were ascertained by consulting the experts in the area, the supervisor and the teachers of sciences. The data was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) and results presented in tables, charts and graphs. the results showed that apart from the gender of the sciences teacher, in-service, sciences teachers attitude and education level, and method of teaching influences the performance of sciences pupils. Conclusion was drawn that, poor performance of sciences in pupils can be attributed to poor sciences teachers attitude, lack or proper education level and poor teaching methods. The study recommends that there should be more in-service training for sciences teachers besides proper training of sciences teachers, sciences teachers should have positive attitude and should at all cost try to deliminate the notion that physic as a subject is hard.
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