ASSESSMENT OF SCIENCE TEACHERS’ AWARENESS AND PERCEPTION OF ANALOGY USE IN ILORIN, NIGERIA

Oluwasegun Olawale Odeniyi, Ridwan Enuwa Mohammed

Abstract


Analogies are useful tools for teaching difficult scientific concepts and clearing learners’ misconceptions. However, when teachers do not properly perceive analogies, they will be misused, leading to further misconceptions. This study assessed science teachers’ level of awareness and perception of analogies in secondary school classrooms in Ilorin, Nigeria. The sample comprised 80 science teachers obtained across 34 secondary schools using the convenience sampling technique. A researcher-designed questionnaire titled, “Science Teachers’ Awareness and Perception of Analogies” with a reliability coefficient of 0.82, was used for gathering data. Frequency, percentages, and mean were used to describe the responses, while Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the null hypotheses at a 5% level of significance. The findings revealed that the participating science teachers were highly aware of the nature of analogy and had a positively high perception of analogy use. There was no significant difference between science teachers’ awareness and perception of analogy based on their teaching experience. The study concluded that analogies should not be used as the only teaching method even though students learn better with analogies. It was recommended that science teachers take the time to critically assess textbook-recommended analogies to ascertain their relevance to the learners’ immediate experiences.


Keywords


Analogy; misconception; Nigeria; teaching method; science teachers

Full Text:

PDF

References


Ahmad, N., Dzulkifli, N., Jamil, N., Mohamed, A., Mohamed Sapari, J., Sheikh Mohd Ghazali, S., & Che Awang, N. (2022). Analytical separation method: A Student’s perception on analogy-based teaching for terminology. ASM Science Journal, 17. doi:https://doi.org/10.32802/asmscj.2022.887

Akçay, S. (2016). Analysis of analogy uses in secondary education science textbooks in Turkey. Educational Research and Reviews, 11(19), 1841-1851. doi: 10.5897/ERR2016.2984

Ballard, F. N. (2011). An investigation of the effectiveness of using analogies in teaching and learning scientific concepts. Espace - Curtin’s Institutional Repository. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/1572

Brown, S., & Salter, S. (2010). Analogies in science and science teaching. Advances in Psychological Education, 34(1), 167-169. doi:10.1152/advan.00022.2010

Çalik, M., & Kaya, E. (2012). Examining analogies in science and technology textbooks and science and technology curriculum. Elementary Education Online, 11(4), 856-868.

Djudin, T., & Grapragasem, S. (2019). The use of pictorial analogy to increase students’ achievement and retention of physics lessons of direct current. Jurnal Penelitian Fisika Dan Aplikasinya, 9(2), 140–151. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.26740/jpfa.v9n2.p140-151

Esiobu, G. O. (2005). Gender issues in science and technology education development. In U. M. Uvowi, Science and Technology Education for Development (pp. 137-156). Lagos: NERDC Press.

Federal Republic of Nigeria. (2014). National Policy on Education (6th ed.). Lagos: NERDC.

Fotou, N., & Abrahams, I. (2020). Extending the role of analogies in the teaching of physics. The Physics Teacher, 58, 32-34. doi:10.1119/1.5141968

Glynn, S. M. (1991). Explaining science concepts. A Teaching with analogies model. In S. M. Glynn, R. H. Yeany, & B. K. Britton (Eds.), The Psychology of Learning Science (pp. 219-240).

Heywood, D. (2010). The place of analogies in science education. Cambridge Journal of Education, 32(2), 233-247. doi:10.1080/03057640220147577

Johansen, J. (2002). Literary discourse: A semiotic-pragmatic approach to literature. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

Johnstone, A. H., & Kellett, N. C. (1980). International Journal of Science Education, 2, 171–181.

Jonane, L. (2015). Using analogies in teaching physics: A Study on Latvian teachers’ views and experience. Journal of Teacher Education for Sustainability, 17(2), 55-73. doi:10.1515/jtes-2015-0011

Khalid, T. (2003). Pre-service high school teachers’ perceptions of three environmental phenomena. Environmental Education Research, 9, 35–50.

Kılıç, Ö., & Umdu-Topsakal, Ü. (2011). The effectiveness of using student and teacher-centred analogies on the development of the student’s cognitive and affective skills. Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, 12(2).

Maharaj-Sharma, R., & Sharma, A. (2015). Observations from secondary school classrooms in Trinidad and Tobago: Science teachers’ use of analogies. Science Education International, 25(4), 557-572.

Okonkwo, S. C. (2000). Relationship between some schools and teacher variables and students achievement in mathematics. Journal of Science Association Nigeria, 35, 43-49.

Onasanya, S. A., & Omosewo, E. O. (2011). Effect of improvised and standard instructional materials on secondary school students’ academic performance in physics in Ilorin, Nigeria. Singapore Journal of Scientific Research, 1, 68-76.

Ören, F. Ş., Ormancı, Ü., Babacan, T., Koparan, S., & Çiçek, T. (2011). A study of developing guide material based on analogy and inquiry-based learning approach: The unit on “Matter and change”. Journal of Theoretıcal Educatıonal Scıence, 4(2), 30-64.

Orgill, M., & Bodner, G. (2004). What research tells us about using analogies to teach chemistry. Chemistry Education Research and Practice in Europe, 5(1), 15-32.

Orgill, M., Bussey, T., & Bodner, G. (2015, 3). Biochemistry instructors' perceptions of analogies and their classroom use. Chem. Education Research Practice, 16. doi:10.1039/C4RP00256C.

Özmen, H. (2004). Some student misconceptions in chemistry: A Literature review of chemical bonding. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 13, 147-159. doi:10.1023/B:JOST.0000031255.92943.6d

Pedro, H., & Edinson, E. (2021). Use of analogies in science education a systematic mapping study. Computer Science & Information Technology, 87-100.

Rahayu, R., & Sutrisno, H. (2019). The analysis of analogy use in chemistry teaching. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1233, 012022. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1233/1/012022

Rocke, A. J., Usselman, & Melvyn, C. (2022, 08 23). chemistry. Retrieved from Encyclopedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/science/chemistry

Sanders, K. (2018). Research design: Quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, arts-based, and community-based participatory research approaches. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 7(1), 15-58.

Sekaran, U., & Roger, B. (2016). Research methods for business: A Skill building approach (7th ed.). West Sussex: Wiley.

Wikipedia. (2022a). Branches of science. Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branches_of_science

Wikipedia. (2022b). Comparison of chemistry and physics. Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_chemistry_and_physics


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Index