Influence Of Instructional Materials On Learners' Participation And Academic Achievement In Social Studies In Selected Rural Primary Schools In Banda Sub-County Namayingo District Uganda

ABSTRACT

Participation involves working with a partner or in a small group and brainstorming in

order to create a stimulating learning environment. The role of instructional materials is

to glue information into learners mind as what is seen is understood more than what is

heard. During the formative years, learners add increasing qualities of knowledge to

what is already learnt through explorations as they grow and expand horizon on the

quality of content mastered. To widen mastery of concepts, rich leaning environment

which is filled with a variety of instructional materials tend to foster faster acquisition of

requisite skills for sustained learning and development. Such an environment should be

enticing learners to observe, actively participate, make choices and experiment which in

the process results in acquisition of additional knowledge. In the absence of rich

learning environment modeled by the teacher to capture requisite skills, knowledge and

competence. The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of use of

instructional materials on learners' participation in science lesson in preschool in Banda

Namayingo District- Uganda.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of IM exerted on students'

participation and performance in SST classroom, to study the extent to which

availability and adequacy improve learners' participation and to determine the effect of

management of records on the improvement in learners' participation in SST classroom.

The study reviewed literature on effectiveness of instructional materials on participation

in SST classroom. This study was guided by experiential learning theory. This theory

was propounded by Kolb (2008). Kolb proposed a four-stage learning process with a

model that is often referred to in describing experiential learning Beaty (2009). The

study involved a descriptive survey research design where qualitative data was

collected. The design was non experimental soliciting information from teachers on the

IM they use in teaching pupils in the primary school. This study used stratified sampling

since the population embraces a number of distinct categories of teachers'

qualifications.

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The study found that instructional materials are not effectively used in the study area

due to large of number of learners per class, lack of enough compound in the schools,

lack of learners' confidence, language barrier, teachers' negative attitude, lack of

professional skills and domestic violence. The study recommended that government

aided schools be increased to cater for the large number of learners per class. On the

same, the study recommended that more teachers be employed and deployed to

various government aided schools. The study further recommended that more playing

ground be purchased to enable learners be participating fully especially while

experiencing moving air by the use of kites. They need to run over to note the moving

air. Learners should be encouraged to handle IM even in the absence of teacher that is

at home to gain confidence. Parents of the learners who are shy should be improvising

IM at home and encourage children to continue practicing what they learnt at school.

The study recommended that teachers to ensure learners with language barrier get

information taught in class by the use of language they understand better as English is

introduced slowly by slowly. The study further recommended that GOU to employ

qualified teachers with better pay.

Finally the study recommended the grade III teachers work on the creative skills by

going for further studies (Diploma/ degree course) as lack of these skills deny any

teacher the knowledge required in showing and teaching learners on how to handle IM during participation.