Effect of Improvised Chromosome Model in Teaching Genetics on Student Academic Achievement of Senior Secondary School Student
Effect of Improvised Chromosome Model in Teaching Genetics on Student Academic Achievement of Senior Secondary School Student
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Science is from a Latin word scientia, meaning ‘knowledge’; is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. Today we talk of modern science as it phases out the former scientific methods.
The modern science is typically divided into three major branches that consist of the natural sciences (that is, biology, chemistry and physics) which study nature in the widest sense, the formal sciences (that is, logic, mathematics and theoretical computer science)which study abstract concepts and the social sciences (that is, economics, psychology and sociology), which study individuals and societies. It is evident, however on whether the formal sciences actually constitute a science as they do not rely on empirical evidence.
Disciplines that use existing scientific knowledge for practical purposes, such as engineering and medicine are referred to as applied sciences. Science is based on research which is commonly conducted in academic and research institutions as well as in companies and government agencies. The practical impact of science policies that seek to influence the scientific enterprise by prioritizing the development of commercial products, health care, environmental protection and armament (weapons used to attain efficacy at hunting, law enforcement, self-defense and warfare). Imagine our world without science and technology.
No vaccines, no cure for diseases, no farm machineries, no herbicides, no computers, no cars and the host of numerous others, that has placed us on the eased side of life. Wouldn’t life be joyless and unbearably and extremely hard? However, with science on our side, it’s an entirely different tale. This simply depicts the significance of science in our daily different experiences. Right from time man began to exist: eating, tilling the land, putting on clothes, lighting fire, science became inseparable part of life.
Biology and its application is another factor need be we consider in this study. Over the ages biology has been thought across the globe to kids of all schooling ages even to old age and those in demise. It is therefore widely known to be the natural science that studies life and living organisms, including their physical structure, molecular interaction, chemical processes, evolution, physiological mechanisms and development (Benjamin 2005). Biology may of course be complex, but there are certain unifying concepts that consolidate it into a single coherent field.
Biology recognizes the cell as the basic unit of life, genes as the basic unit of heredity, and evolution as the engine that propels the creation and extinction of species. Sub disciplines of biology are defined by the research methods employed and the kind of system studied: theoretical biology uses mathematical methods of formulate quantitative models while experimental biology performs empirical experiments to test the validity of proposed hypothesis and theories and understand the mechanisms underlying life and how it appeared and evolved from nonliving matter about four million years past through a gradual increase in the complexity of the system.
Biology is embodied with much branches such as: anatomy, astrology, biochemistry, biological engineering, biogeography, bioinformatics, biolinguistics, biochemistry, biomechanics, biomedical research, biophysics, biotechnology, botany, cell biology, chronobiology, cognitive biology, conservation biology, cryobiology, developmental biology, ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics, immunology, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biology, nanobiology, neuroscience, paleontology, pathobiology or pathology, pharmacology,
psychobiology, quantum biology, systems biology, structural biology, theoretical biology and zoology. If we were to consider the advantage of application of the individual branches already mentioned, then it would be glare enough that biology is a broad course and graced with vast applications and importance to life in general. However, just considering the general application of biology, it ranges from knowing that biology is the science in charge of studying all living beings; the feeding, agriculture, health, industrial growth, humans, solving problems, of modern civilization, cultural beliefs, the understanding of the human body, justice and ecosystem.
Haven’t said all that had been mentioned earlier, the study of biology is core. It is a mandatory subject in all Nigerian schools that needs to be passed at least with a credit or with even better grades, before being qualified as to study any of the related branches of biology in higher educational institutions.
Genetics is the study of genes, genetic variations and heredity in living organism. It is considered a field of biology, but intersects frequently with many other life sciences and it is linked with the study of information system. The father of genetics: Gregor Mendel a nineteenth century scientist, studied trait inheritance patterns. In the way trait are handed down from parent to offspring. He observed that organisms inherit trait by way of discrete ‘unit of inheritance’. The term is still used today as a somewhat ambiguous definition of what is referred to as gene.
Klug (2006) defined genetics as the biology of variation. Heredity or inheritance focuses on the transmission of characteristics from one generation to another, hence similarities. While variation dwells on the causes of differences among individuals. Genetics therefore attempts to make plain the mechanisms of two constants that are found in the universe-similarities and differences. No doubt, genetics is been recognized as the conceptual foundation for the understanding of biology itself (Deadman& Kelly, 2000).
Chromosomes is one of the very small structures like threads in the nuclei (central parts) of animal and plants cells or better said to be one of the minute threads in every nucleus in animals and plants cells, carrying genes. German biologist Walter Flemming in the early 1880s revealed that during cell division the nuclear material organize themselves into visible thread like structures which were named as chromosomes which stains deep with basic dyes.
Effect of Improvised Chromosome Model in Teaching Genetics on Student Academic Achievement of Senior Secondary School Student
The term chromosome was coined by W. Waldeyer in 1888. Chrome is coloured and soma is body, hence they mean “colored bodies” and can be defined as higher order organized arrangement of DNA and proteins. It contains many genes or the hereditary units, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve in packaging the DNA and control its functions. Benden and Bovery in 1887 made report that, the number of chromosomes in every species is constant. W.S. Sutton and T. Boveri in 1902 suggested that chromosomes are the physical structures which acted as heredity messengers.
Chromosomes are tightly coiled DNA around basic histone proteins, which help in the tight packing of DNA. During inter-phase, the DNA is not tightly coiled into chromosomes, but exists as chromatin.
Science being a field replete with ideas such that pose difficulty to visualize and most times counterintuitive for learners , has therefore made improvising or modeling an important tool to impactful training of learners to understanding its concept and circumstances. As we can say, the concept of chromosomes would be totally an abstract one, since chromosomes are not visible by the ordinary eyes. Here we put the use of improvisation to function, in order to aid effective teaching (Harrison 2008). He suggests that younger learners will benefit more from concrete analogies that they can feel and see.
He however, said even older ones may not possess the necessary visualization skills as to utilizing verbal and abstract analogies. This issue poses an interesting puzzling question: Should teachers improvise for chromosomes in order to with ease broaden and simplify these complex genetics concepts, or would they be wasting time and resources if they do? Wadsworth (2004) cited that analogical reasoning is not available to children until the stage of formal operations, when children are able to use analogical rules and articulate the form of the analogy.
As it is, in this part of the world, the concepts of chromosomes is usually introduced to learners at the age range of 14-18, or let’s just say that in school biology curriculum, it was observed that genetic concepts play important role in scientific achievement that affects the live of mankind. A review of West African Examination Council (WAEC) chief examiner’s reports in biology for May/June and November/December examinations in the past years yielded an insight into the state of the situations embattling the success of learning biology and the final ordinary level’s results.
Remarks such as: student’s poor understanding of topics taught in biology, poor retention of certain terms and poor performance on questions related to genetics, were among the numerous reasons the chief examiner stated (WAEC 2009-2015). The year in and out poor plus fluctuating performance of students in biology was a recurrent menace in the same document. Failure in biology has resulted into massive lack of manpower during admission into related course of studies into higher educational institutions.
The persistent poor achievement and retention of student in biology, specifically in basic genetic concepts at senior secondary school examination of May/June (2009-2015) reported by the WAEC chief examiner, leaves one with doubt about the effectiveness of the teaching methods popularly used by the biology teacher.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The poor achievement in student basic genetics concept a review of West African Examination Council (WAEC), chief Examiner report for biology in May/June (2009 – 2015) shows students poor achievement has posed a great concern to the study revealed that lack of instructional materials leads poor performance and that improvised materials improves learning Kenny &Gellrich, (2002). Therefore the study intends to investigate the effect of improvising chromosome for teaching genetics in biology among senior secondary school (SS3) students in patigi. Since lack of instructional materials in teaching biology is found to be among the factors causing poor performance in WAEC biology examination in Nigeria.
1.3 Aims and Objectives of the Study
- To determine the effect of improvised chromosome model on teaching on student academic achievement on secondary school biology
- To determine the effect of improvised chromosome model on male and female students taught genetics with chromosome model.
1.4 Research Question
The following research questions were raised to guide this study:
- Is there any difference between the academic achievements of students taught with improvised chromosome and those taught with the conventional method of teaching?
- Is there any difference in achievement of females and males taught genetics with improvised chromosome and those taught without chromosome model?
1.5 Research hypothesis
The following null hypotheses are raised to answer research questions.
H01: There is no any difference between the achievement of students taught with improvised chromosome and those taught with conventional method.
H02: There is no difference in the achievement of male and female students taught with improvised chromosome model.
1.6 Scope of Study
The study is limited to the research for effect of improvised chromosome for teaching genetics in Senior Secondary School, Minna Metropolis.
1.7 Significance of Study
The significance of this research work covers the benefits of the students, teachers, parents and the Nigerian government. Such as:
- The students; to be able to comprehend the concept of genetics and other biological terms, with ease, thereby, avoiding unnecessary delay of admission into related higher educational institutions as a result of failure of biology and other subjects.
- The teachers being able to handle genetics class without recording
- The parents; being relieved of paying tuition fees
- The government; would be able to concentrate on other educational programs, instead of budgeting for rewriting of exams. The government would be certain about what and what not to supply to schools to help in stimulating
1.8 Operational Definition of Terms
Improvisation: Is the process of making something by using whatever is available other than original required thing usually, because what is really needed is not available.
Chromosome Model: This is a constructed chromosome using steel and colours used in the study.
RNA: Ribonucleic Acid
DNA: Deoxyribonucleic Acid.
