Analysis of Strategies Used By Lecturers in Teaching Agricultural Education in Higher Institutions in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study analyzed the teaching strategies used by lecturers in teaching agricultural education in higher institutions in Rivers State. The specific objectives focused on the demographic characteristics of the lecturers, conventional teaching strategies used by lecturers, contemporary teaching strategies used and the challenges of the teaching strategies in agricultural education. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The sample size for the study was forty lecturers. Data was collected using a well structured questionnaire designed in four-point rating scale of agreement. Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation with acceptance mean score of  ≥ 2.50. T-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05% level of significance. The study revealed that majority of the respondents agreed that discussion, demonstration, problem-solving, project and lecture strategies respectively were some of the most outstanding conventional strategies used in teaching agricultural education courses. The study also revealed that the contemporary strategies used included E-learning, video conference, power point presentation, internet, digital presentation and computer. Lack of relevant materials, lack of farm tools, lack of demonstration farm among others were some of the challenges of teaching strategies in agricultural education in higher institutions in Rivers State. The result revealed that the three hypotheses were all accepted. Meaning that there is no difference in the response of RSUST lecturers and that of FCET lecturers on the concept.  The study therefore recommends that adequate and appropriate teaching strategies should be used at all times by the lecturers to allow practical involvement by students for effective teaching and learning process.

Keywords: Teaching strategies; Agricultural education; Analysis and Lecturers