CHAPTER ONE

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

INTRODUCTION

Teaching method is the main factor necessary for impacting knowledge to the students or pupils. A number of methods have been tested and agreed upon by educators as good. None of the methods is however, perfect and effective for all situations but each of the methods or a combination of them can be used at any particular time to impact our subject matter. (Onwuba E. 1983).

In the past, few methods are used in impacting knowledge into the pupils which sometimes make them boring.

Callahur et al (1977) noted that the method by which the teacher presents his/her materials to the learners and engages them in the task at hand is very important. Methodology is very vital in every teaching and learning situation. This is because, for effective teaching and learning to take place, the skillful teacher needs to use the many different methods and techniques at his command. Even though there is a great diversity in teaching methods and techniques, there is no one of them that can be regarded as the best for every teaching situation. (Onwuka 1982).

A carefully designed teaching method can work wonders in making learning more effective. The success in the use of the method depends on intelligent analysis of the educational purposes, the pupils in the class, the curriculum, and content of the moment or the type of subject matter being taught. (Brown 1990).

There are some methods considered more essential in impacting knowledge on the pupils. Such methods are as follows: Discussion method, discovery method, play method, dramatization method, story telling method, demonstration method, lecture method and field trip method.

DISCUSSION METHOD

Discussion implies the participation of pupils in the process of learning by evaluating points of views, raising issues of their own and seeking solutions based upon study, examination and group analysis under the guidance of the teacher. In order for the discussion class to be effective, the teacher must know how to guide the pupils without dominating the discussion. (Mark 1982).

DEMONSTRATION METHOD

Demonstration method is a method of simultaneously showing and explaining the steps in an operation. it may also be concerned with an explanation of mechanism or material. This method is used with great effect on subjects or topics that demand acquisition of skills e.g. physical education operating, for instance a sewing machine or typewriter etc (Brown 1981).

DISCOVERY METHOD

Discovery method is a pretty difficult method. It involves providing learners with opportunities to discover new truths, rules, methods of tackling problems as well as new values for themselves. Even though it is time consuming, the time spent is compensated by the joy of discovery. Learners, especially young learners are adventurous by nature. (Nurk 1984).

PROJECT METHOD

Project, discovery, experimentation etc, come under activity method in which the learner is actively involved in the learning process. The project method has been defined as a natural life like learning activity involving the investigation and solving of problems by an individual or small group (Okezie 2002).

LECTURE METHOD

Lecture method has been defined as a verbal presentation of subject matter, content, formally organized and supported by other learning (Benson and Florence 1992).

The teacher is the active person in lecture. He or she is obliged to tell the students, who more or less are passive.

It is one of the teaching methods that have criticized widely as an inappropriate learning activity for the students (Paul and Rose 1992).

FIELD TRIP METHOD

Field trip as a teaching method provides students with first hand experiences in other words, a field allows pupils to see and observe processes in natural life settings.

The field trip actually takes the school to the Community/society. The educational value of the field trip is the opportunity to discover and explore new information as well as to apply and organize previous knowledge by concrete examples. Apart from saving to develop interest of pupils in earning as they can gather first hand information regarding the topic being discussed in class, field trips help in developing good public relations. (Onwubiko 1988).