Indigenous Leather for the Production of Instructional Materials for Natural Science Education
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Date
2018-10
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KNUST
Abstract
Indigenous tanned leather is not usually used as a medium for the production of
Instructional Materials; hence, it is unknown to the local Instructional Material makers.
Since Science is one of the most important and compulsory subjects taught from Primary
to the Senior High levels in Ghana, it is vital to make it real when teaching it to pupils.
The study sought to document the existing Instructional Materials used for the teaching of
Natural Science and analyze their impact on pupils’ academic performance, in order to
design, produce and test appropriate Instructional Materials (IMs) utilizing indigenous
tanned leather on pupil’s academic performance at Ahinsan M/A Primary ‘B’ School in
Kumasi. The study embraced the qualitative research method, under which the case study
and quasi-experimental research methods were used. It also made use of observations and
interviews as instruments for data gathering in order to describe the use of existing
Instructional Materials, the materials used for production, appropriateness of the material,
as well as analyzed their impact on pupils’ academic performance. The convenience and
purposive sampling techniques were utilized in seeking data from 28 respondents, which
included 26 pupils, 1 head teacher and 1 class teacher. The study revealed that the
Instructional Materials that were produced made it easy for the teacher to teach lessons
within a short period and had adequate time to assess pupils. Again, the lessons taught
with the produced IMs were interactive and lively since pupils participated in class. Also,
pupils were attentive and enjoyed the class because the lessons were not boring as
compared to theoretical and abstract lessons which do not involve practical activities.
Penultimately, the traditional noisy atmosphere made during lessons due to pupils’ lack of
concentration was mitigated since the attention of pupils was not distracted during lessons.
All these impacted positively on the academic performance of the pupils. The researcher
recommends that, the Ghana Education Service should collaborate with Art departments in
the country to equip primary school teachers with skills to develop their own Instructional
Materials using indigenous tanned leather through organized seminars and workshops.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Educational
Innovations in Science and Technology,
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in partial
fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY IN ART EDUCATION