Assessing the Relevance of Practical Activities in the Teaching and Learning of Integrated Science in Juniour Secondary Schools in Gombe Metropolis of Gombe State

Abstract

The study was carried out to find out the level of application of practical activities in learning science concepts in integrated science in the secondary schools in Gombe metropolis, also it sought to find out the problems that militate against the successful application of practical activities in learning science concepts. The study was guided by five research questions and one hypothesis. The study adopted a quasi experimental research design and consists of the control and experimental group in determining the effect of practical activities on students’ academic achievement, the control group received no treatment while the experimental group was taught for a period of two weeks employing practical activities.  Also a questionnaire was designed for the teachers, to get their opinion about practical activities in learning science concepts as test was administered to the students to determine the difference in the academic achievement of students taught employing practical activities and those taught with the conventional method. The SPSS was used for the statistical analysis of Pearson Product moment correlation coefficient and the study made the following findings, practical activities in learning science concepts increases students achievement in science, spurs their motivation for learning and makes learning more meaningful as theories are concretized. The study also suggested training and retraining of integrated science teachers to enable the mastery of methodologies recommended for the teaching of integrated science and application of practical activities in the learning of science concepts.