METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction
In this chapter, the researcher presents the design to the study, population sampling procedure and instrumentation. They are to be followed by design of instrument, validity of instrument, reliability of instrument and scoring instrument. This chapter would close with a discussion on the interviewing procedures, data collection procedures and lastly data analysis.
3.1 Design of the Study
There are several meetings held with the researcher and the pupils. The aim is to foster closer interpersonal relationship between the researcher and the pupils as well as the teachers in charge of Science in the school. This happened during the interview stage of data collection. The study is designed to evaluate the use of improvised instructional materials in the teaching of Filtration of Water in Science at Dodowa Methodist Basic “A”.
3.2 Population and Sampling Procedure
The targeted population is the pupils in the JSS in Dodowa Methodist Basic “A”. The class the researcher chose is the Form One class. In all, twenty-two (22) pupils and a teacher are involved in the study.
3.3 Instrumentation
The researcher used interviews with the teacher and random selection of the pupils.
The following questions are addressed in the study.
1. What teaching and learning material would help to teach purification of water by filtration?
2. Is the use of teaching and learning materials important to the teaching of Filtration of Water?
3. What are the sources of teaching and learning materials used by teachers to teach lessons in Science?
4. How should teachers use improvised teaching and learning materials in teaching practical lessons in Science?
5. What is the importance of teaching and learning materials in Science lesson?
3.4 Design of Instrument
The main instrument the researcher used is interview. The items in the interview schedule are generated with the research questions in view. This is done to enforce the content validity of the instrument.
They are placed under the following headings, namely;
1. Pre-test interviewing class as a whole before the researcher selected fifteen (15) pupils.
2. The class is randomly divided into two groups. One group is taught without the use of the improvised teaching and learning materials and
the other group is taught using the improvised teaching and learning material designed by the researcher.
3. Post-test, administer to both groups under the same conditions.
3.5 Validity of the Instrument
For content validity to be ensured, few lectures in Science education are consulted for their independent comments and suggestions. These Science teachers are also consulted for a rough estimate of performance levels of their students. Changes and additions are carefully noted and implemented.
3.6 Reliability of the Instrument
The researcher developed a procedure, which is an interview. This is the major instrument used because more information is obtained. The researcher modified the questions depending on the responses to achieve the desired goals. He also communicated vocally and met the interviewees in person and explained the questions for reliable source. Lastly, the interview had a high response rate because the researcher persuaded the respondents to respond to questions.
3.7 Scoring Instrument
The instrument used for the scoring of this study is the interview. This interview is mainly an unstructured one. The researcher made all efforts to record all responses and results.
3.8 Data Collection Procedure
The researcher collected the data on the procedure following the headings
below.
3.8.1 Pre-Intervention
The researcher witnessed how the topic is taught by their Science teacher. Afterwards, an exercise is conducted for them. The outcome of the result reveals that even with the appropriate teaching method mapped out by the class teacher in the lesson delivery, the outcomes is still nothing to write home about.
An interview conducted by the researcher with the class teacher identified that the unavailability of a teaching and learning material is what woefully caused the problem. Looking deep into this problem, the researcher designed a teaching and learning material so as to teach the topic.
3.8.2 Intervention
The topic is “Filtration of water” and so the researcher designed an improvised filter bed to teach the lesson.
Notwithstanding this, the researcher started the lesson with the idea of teaching from the known to unknown. The day is Wednesday and there are fifteen
(15) pupils in class. There are eight (8) girls and seven (7) boys in the class.
Using the known method, the first approach is using a white cloth to cover a container. Water from a nearby stream is carefully poured into the container with the white cloth covering it. The researcher made them aware that it is a way of filtration.
The next thing the researcher did is to now use his improvised filter bed to teach the topic.
3.8.3 How the Improvised Material is made
Materials used in constructing this teaching and learning material are Cotton Wool, Pebbles, Coarse Sand, Fine Sand and a clean watched Plastic Container which could take a gallon of water.
The cotton wool is placed at the bottom of the clean watched plastic container with pebbles, coarse sand and fine sand placed on each other in that order respectively. A narrow hole is then created under the clean watched plastic container.
In the lesson delivery, the researcher brought water from a stream. He went on to explain how this filter bed helped to filter the water. Afterwards, the water from the stream is poured into the improvised filter bed and the filtrate, that is, the clean water is collected into another clean watched container.
3.8.4 Post-Intervention
Questions that the researcher asked after the end of the lesson are accurately answered by pupils. This is due to the fact that the lesson is taught using a teaching and learning material which is available in their environment. Hence learning became very concrete and understanding, well effected.
3.9 Data Analysis
Data is collected for the interview conducted. The data relevant to each research question are extracted from the instrument. The results are converted into simple percentages to answer the research questions.
