HARRISON OCHIENG.

TITLE: INFLUENCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL LEARNERS PERCEPTION ON BIOLOGY

PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES ON THIER ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

PURPOSE OF STUDY; To investigate the effect of biology practical on student’s performance in

secondary schools

WHAT IS BIOLOGY? Is a branch of science that deals with the study of living organisms.

Biology is one of the science subjects offered in the Kenyan secondary school curriculum (KIE

2002)

PROFESSIONAL AREAS THAT BIOLOGY IS INVOLVED.

 Medicine
 Agriculture
 Pharmacy
 Nursing

WHAT IS A PRACTICAL? It is the experiences in school setting where students interact with
materials to observe and understand the natural world.

DICUSSION

1) The development of practical skills influences the learner’s academic achievement in

academic performance. This is according to Ian Abraham (2012).
The skills include measuring, observing, recording which is vital for his or her academic
performance. It has been seen that practical work in biology motivates the leaner to have an
urge in science subjects.
2) For countries with a tradition of practical work in school science especially biology, practical
work is often seen by teachers as central to the appeal of science. This is according to Ian
Abraham et al (2014).
Also students prefer practical work to other methods of teaching science.
Ian Abraham came up with ways to enhance perception to biology practical work hence
achievement of academic performance i.e.
 Motivation
 Interest
 Pupils own findings
3) Introduction of online practical preparation resources has successfully supported first year
students making good use of their laboratory sessions. Learners have engaged enthusiastically
with these resources and completion of preparation tasks before the laboratory sessions can be
seen to positively influence students’ performance. This is according to Sue R. Whittle et al
(2015).
This helps the students understand both theoretical background to the practical class and how
experiment will be carried out in the laboratory.
4) Laboratory makes the students to learn about the nature of science and thus enhance the
aesthetic and intellectual understanding of the leaner. This is according to Omiko Akani
 (2015). The student can identify cause effect relationships and in this process develop
important skills hence improve academic achievement.
Practical activities in Biology provide opportunities for students to actually master science as
opposed to learning about science. Meaningful learning is possible from a given laboratory
experiments if the students are given ample opportunities to operate equipments and that help
them to construct their knowledge of phenomena and related scientific concepts.
5) Practical work stimulates learner interest in the science subject they are studying when they
are made to personally engage in useful activities i.e. manipulating apparatus, classifying,
designing, experimenting, hypothesising to make inferences and verifying results. This is
according to AMP, February 20th (2017)
6) Some discussed factors that would lead to improved performance of learners academics are;
 Motivation
 Learning environment
 Discussion groups
 Test and exercise

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that practical Biology has significantly role to play in the students’ performance
in Biology because there is significant effect of practical methods on secondary school student
performance.

RECOMMENDATION

i. Biology teachers should encourage students to develop interest in Biology practical activities.
ii. Government should provide learning resources.
iii. Biology teachers should allow male and female students to participate equally during the
practical lessons.
iv. Government to employ qualified biology teachers in our schools in order to enhance students
performance in Biology.
REFERENCE LIST
1. AMP, February 24th 2017 The Effect Of Biology Practical Activities On Academic
Achievement Of Senior Secondary School Students.
2. Harrison Ifeanyichukwu A. University of South Africa, South Africa & Getachew Fetahi
G. Ambo University, Ethiopia (2016) The Relationship Between Students’ Biology
Laboratory Skill Performance and Their Course Achievement. Vol 71
3. Ian Abrahams (2012) Does Practical Work Really Motivate? A study of the
effective value of practical work in secondary school science, International Journal of
Science Education, 31:17, 2335-2353,
4. Ian Abrahams, Michael J. Reiss & Rachael M. Sharpe (2013) The Assessment of practical
work in school science, Studies in Science Education, 49:2, 209-251
5. Ian Abrahams, Michael J. Reiss & Rachael Sharpe (2014) The impact of
the ‘Getting Practical: Improving Practical Work in Science’ continuing professional
development programme on teachers’ ideas and practice in science practical work, Research
in Science & Technological Education, 32:3, 263-280,
6. John Thiong’o Mwangi (2016). The effects of Chemistry Practical on student’s
performance in Chemistry in Public secondary school of Machakos and Nairobi counties in
Kenya.
7. Karen Croker, Holger Anderson, David Lush, Rob Prince & Stephen Gomez
(2010) Enhancing the student experience of laboratory practical through digital video
guides, Bioscience Education, 16:1, 1-13, DOI: 10.3108/beej.16.2
8. Olutola, Adenkule T. (April 2016) Comparative Effects of Practical and Alternative to
Practical Methods on Students’ Academic Performance in Biology
9. Omiko Akani (2015) Laboratory Teaching: Implication On Students’ Achievement In
Chemistry In Secondary Schools In Ebonyi State Of Nigeria, Department of Science
Education Faculty of Education, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki
10. Sue R. Whittle & Sue R. Bickerdike (2015) Online Preparation Resources Help First
Year Students to Benefit from Practical Classes, Journal of Biological Education, 49:2,139-
149