RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TEACHING METHOD

AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY

SCHOOL STUDENTS

BY

OSABOUHIEN- OSARUMWENSE ABIEYUWA

AAU/SPS/FED/EFM/Ph.D/17/00125

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS

AND MANAGEMENT

AMBROSE ALLI UNIVERSITY,

EKPOMA, EDO STATE,
NIGERIA.

APRIL 2019.
 ABSTRACT

The effect of teaching methods on secondary school student’s academic

performance should be the interest of every teacher and students. Teaching methods
denote various strategies that the teacher uses to deliver his/her subject matter to the
students in the classroom based on the instructional objectives to bring about
learning. Teaching methods aids learning and help to communicate ideas and skills
to the students. There are several teaching methods but it is left for the teacher to use
the ones most appropriate for the students. These methods if properly used will
enhance teaching and learning and bring about desired changes in the students.

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 INTRODUCTION

The primary purpose of teaching at any level of education is to bring a

fundamental change in the learner (Tebabal & Kahssay, 2011). To facilitate the
process of knowledge transmission, teachers should apply appropriate teaching
methods that best suit specific objectives and level exit outcomes. In the traditional
epoch, many teaching practitioners widely applied teacher-centered methods to
impart knowledge to learners comparative to student-centered methods. Until today,
questions about the effectiveness of teaching methods on student learning have
consistently raised considerable interest in the thematic field of educational research
(Hightower et al., 2011).

Moreover, research on teaching and learning constantly endeavor to examine

the extent to which different teaching methods enhance growth in student learning.
Quite remarkably, regular poor academic performance by the majority students is
fundamentally linked to application of ineffective teaching methods by teachers to
impact knowledge to learners (Adunola, 2011). Substantial research on the
effectiveness of teaching methods indicates that the quality of teaching is often
reflected by the achievements of learners. According to Ayeni (2011), teaching is a
process that involves bringing about desirable changes in learners so as to achieve
specific outcomes. In order for the method used for teaching to be effective, Adunola
(2011) maintains that teachers need to be conversant with numerous teaching
strategies that take recognition of the magnitude of complexity of the concepts to be
covered.

As an educator, the researcher has always been fascinated by the relationship

between teaching methods and secondary school students’ academic performance;
especially when it comes to applications in the context of 21st century education. It
seems that there is something in teaching that opens the gate of learning. It is true
that successful learning depends on various factors that are not all teacher-related,
but the methods that a teacher uses continue to play an important role in student

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learning and in their academic achievement. According to Ayeni (2011), teaching is
a continuous process that involves bringing about desirable changes in learners
through use of appropriate methods. Adunola (2011) indicated that in order to bring
desirable changes in students, teaching methods used by educators should be best for
the subject matter.

Furthermore, Bharadwaj & Pal (2011) sustained that teaching methods work
effectively mainly if they suit learners’ needs since every learner interprets and
responds to questions in a unique way. As such, alignment of teaching methods with
students’ needs and preferred learning influence students’ academic attainments
(Zeeb, 2004). This paper presents the reader with three classes of teaching method
and their relationship on student academic performance, and factors affecting
student’s academic performance in secondary school.

Implication of The Study

As an educator, this study is an eye opener in the sense that, it helps to use variety
and flexibility in teaching method, in order to reach all learning preference. Also
students come from different cultural and social background and for a variety of
reasons are all learning from their own individual perspective.

Concept of Teaching Method

Teaching method comprises the principles and methods used by teachers to
enable student learning. These strategies are determined partly on subject matter to
be taught and partly by the nature of the learner. For a particular teaching method to
be appropriate and efficient it has to be in relation with the characteristic of the
students and the type of learning it is supposed to bring about. Suggestions are there
to design and selection of teaching methods must take into account not only the
nature of the subject matter but also how students learn. In today's school the trend is
that it encourages a lot of creativity. It is a known fact that human advancement
comes through reasoning. This reasoning and original thought enhances creativity.

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Concept of Academic Performance
Student performance measures the amount of academic content a student
learns in a determined amount of time. Each grade level has learning goals or
instructional standards and teaching methods that educators are required to teach.
Student performance will increase when quality of teaching methods are used to
teach instructional standards properly, there are many variables that can impact
successful student academic performance, but the most critical are classroom
instruction and method of teaching. It is important to remember that all students do
not learn the same way or at the same rate.
Students are like leaves on a tree; there are no two exactly the same. Just as a
leaf comes in unique colors, shapes and sizes, each student has their own unique
learning style. Classroom instruction or teaching method is the most important factor
that impacts student academic performance. Furthermore, teaching methods work
effectively mainly if they suit learners’ needs since every learner interprets and
responds to questions in a unique way. As such, alignment of teaching methods with
students’ needs and preferred learning influence students’ academic performance

Classification of Teaching Method

Teaching method can be classified into three ways like Teacher-Centered
Method, Students- Centered method, and Teachers- Students Interactive Method.

Teacher- Centered Method

Under this method, students simply obtain information from the teacher without
building their engagement level with the subject being taught. The method is least
practical, more theoretical and memorizing It does not apply activity based learning
to encourage students to learn real life problems based on applied knowledge. Since
the teacher controls the transmission and sharing of knowledge, the teacher may
attempt to maximize the delivery of information while minimizing time and effort.
As a result, both interest and understanding of students may get lost. To address such
specified that teaching should not merely focus on dispensing rules, definitions and

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procedures for students to memorize, but should also actively engage students as
primary participants.

Student-Centered Method
With the advent of the concept of discovery learning, many scholars today
widely adopt more supple student-centered methods to enhance active learning. Most
teachers today apply the student-centered method to promote interest, analytical
research, critical thinking and enjoyment among students. The teaching method is
regarded more effective in teaching secondary school students, since it does not
centralize the flow of knowledge from the teacher to the student. The method also
motivates goal-orientated behavior among secondary school students; hence the
method is very effective in improving student academic performance.
Teacher-Student Interactive Method:
This teaching method applies the strategies used by both teacher-centered and
Student- centered method. The subject information produced by the learners is
remembered better than the same information presented to the learners by the
teacher. Teaching method encourages the students to search for relevant knowledge
rather than the teacher monopolizing the transmission of information to the learners.
As such, research evidence on teaching method maintains that this teaching method
is effective in improving students’ academic performance

How to Improve Students’ Academic Performance

 Involve the student in planning of different activities.
 Move from simple to complex with examples.
 Make material meaningful and according to their needs or applications of
knowledge
 Plans for periodic test or summative evaluation
 Reward desired learning with praise
Factors Affecting Students Academic Performance

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 Time Management – Students in secondary schools have a busy schedule, hence
it is vital for them to generate awareness in terms of effective time management.
Research has indicated that the normal schedule of the secondary school students
comprise of school hours, and then they need to spend some time in completion of
home-work assignments. They also get involved in some kinds of extra-curricular
activities and sports. Playing and getting engaged in creative activities, not only help
them concentrate better, but they are able to stimulate their mind-sets. For the
secondary school students, it is important to get engaged in extra-curricular activities
and for this purpose; they need to implement proper time management skill. It is
essential for the students to create a balance between all the tasks and activities. The
activities that are more important should be given more time and lesser amount of
time can be spent on the activities that are less important.
Home Environment – The home environment should be amiable and pleasant in
order to generate appropriate academic outcomes. Within home, among the family
members, it is vital to initiate measures to form effective terms and relationships.
They should communicate with each other in an appropriate manner and minimize
the occurrence of conflicts and disputes. Research has indicated that conflicts may
take place among siblings in terms of use of technology or books or stationary,
hence, it is vital for the parents to ensure that all children are provided with the
necessary materials to enhance their learning. The availability of materials and
amiable environmental conditions with the home are essential for the students to
focus upon studies and generate the desired academic outcomes.
Teaching-Learning Methods – The teaching-learning methods and strategies
should be appropriate and encouraging to the students. The teachers in school are the
ones that contribute an imperative part in promoting learning among the students. It
is essential for them to ensure that the teaching methods used should prove to be
beneficial to the students. For instance, if the students are able to learn better through
dictation of notes, then teachers should provide notes. If the students are able to learn
better through verbal explanation, then they should promote verbal explanation and
so forth. Within home, if students are taking private tuitions of certain academic

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subjects such as, mathematics or science, or their parents teach them, then too, it is
vital for the parents and tutors to make sure that effective teaching -learning methods
are implemented, which may encourage learning among the students and help them
understand better.
Lack of Adequate Planning – For the students to achieve good scores, it is
essential to implement the function of planning. In secondary schools, they have
numerous tasks to perform. These include, studying, playing, getting involved in
other recreational activities, watching television, making use of technology and so
forth. As far as their subjects are concerned, they should spend more time in revising
those subjects that they find difficult. More focus should be put upon the weak areas.
On the other hand, one can devote comparatively lesser amount of time towards
subject areas, in which one is proficient. Adequate planning is mainly referred to
planning one’s work efficiently. One should form a study plan, for a week or a
month. It should comprise of all the subjects and concepts that one would revise.
Lack of adequate planning is regarded as one of the areas that may lead to low
academic achievement.
Psychological Factors – There are number of psychological factors that are
related to the academic performance of the students. These include depression, exam
phobia, attention disorder, learning disabilities and slow learning. Depression mainly
takes place among students due to low grades in assignments and tests. When they
feel, they have worked hard and achieve low grades, they feel depressed. Exam
phobia is the fear of the exam and expectation of failure. It weakens one’s
preparation for the exam. Attention disorder is referred to the lack of attention on
one subject area for a suitable amount of time. Lack of attention impedes ones
learning and understanding. Learning disabilities and slow learning are referred to
the problems that individuals experience, when understanding the subjects. They are
the functional deficits within the brain, leading to a lack of capacity to acquire new
knowledge. Learning disabilities and slow learning primarily impedes the learning of
the students. They are unable to manage the learning of concepts, when they
experience these problems.

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CONCLUSION

The teacher is a vital factor in the success of an educational system in a nation.

Teaching is an attempt to bring about desirable changes in human learning, abilities
and behavior. Effective implementation of the curriculum is depended in the
effective use of appropriate teaching methods in the classroom. Teaching methods
are used to facilitate students learning and satisfaction. A variety of the use of
teaching methods is a must for teachers if learning is to be effective and efficient.
There is need for a good teacher to be multi-talented in other to be conversant with
the use of various teaching methods in the teaching and learning process. The teacher
is a vital factor in the success of an educational system of a nation; therefore,
teachers should be familiar with the principles underlying the choice of teaching
methods. A combination of teaching methods is encouraged for effective teaching.

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SUGGESTION

The following suggestions are made for effective use of teaching methods in the
teaching and learning process.

 Teachers should know the nature of the subject matter to be taught and be
conversant with it to enable him/her determine the most suitable teaching
method/methods to use in a given lessons
 The teacher must be very familiar with the type of teaching methods he/she
wants to use at any given time; and must ensure it is most appropriate for
the success of the lesson.
 The teacher must consider the age, interest, etc of the learner and ensures
the right teaching methods and materials that will suit the learners are in
place.
 In choosing appropriate teaching methods, the teacher is encouraged to
consider the time to be used for a lesson, as this will go a long way to
determine also the type of teaching methods to use.

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REFERENCE

Adunola, O. (2011),“The Impact of Teachers’ Teaching Methods on the Academic

Performance of Primary School Pupils in Ijebu-Ode Local cut Area of
Ogun State,” Ego Booster Books, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Ayeni, A.J. (2011), “Teachers professional development and quality assurance in

Nigerian Secondary Schools,” World Journal of Education, 1(2):143-
149.

Bharadwaji, B.K,& Pal, S.(2011). Mining Educational Data to Analyse Students’

Performance, International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and
Applications, 2(6):63-69

Chang, Y,(2010). Students’ perceptions of Teaching styles and use of Learning

Strategies, Retrieved from: http:// trace. Tennessee. Udv/ utk
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Hightower, L.T. (2011). Critical issue: Using technology to improve student

achievement. 37(2), 155-192. Subject teaching: commitment, constraints,
caution and change. Journal of Curriculum.

Tebabal, J., & Kahssay, E. (2011). The role of teacher’s initiation in online
pedagogy‟ Education Training Vol. 54 No. 6, 2012 pp. 456-471.

Zeeb, M.S.(2004). Improving Student Success Through Matching Learning and

Teaching Styles, Available from http://www. Creative learning centre.
Com/.

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