Effectiveness of Audio-Visual Aids in Teaching Lower Secondary Science in A Rural Secondary School

Abstract

The study investigates the effectiveness of audiovisual aids in teaching the topic of reproduction, a lower secondary science topic, in a rural secondary school in Miri, Sarawak. The study is a quasi-experiment with questionnaire survey to provide insight into perception of the experimental group on audiovisual aids. Study participants consisted of 30 Form 3 students of evenly distributed academic performance, with 15 in control group and 15 in experimental group. Students in control group were taught using chalk and talk method while students in experimental group were taught using audiovisual aids. Pre-and post-assessments were administered to the students in both group to monitor how the two teaching approaches affected students' test results. A survey was conducted among students in experimental group to gauge their perceptions towards the use of audiovisual aids in teaching. The pre-and post-assessment results were analysed with ANOVA while the survey findings were analysed with Pearson correlation. SPSS was used for the statistical analyses. The study shows that audiovisual aids are effective in increasing the understanding of students as indicated in the significantly improved marks for post-assessment in the experimental group. Students were observed to be more attentive when audiovisual aids were played. Majority of students in the experimental group agreed that the use of audiovisual aids increased their interest and ability to remember the contents. The students in general expressed that they were motivated to learn if audiovisual aids were incorporated in the teaching and learning process. This study contributes to teaching of lower secondary science in rural schools by suggesting that teachers in rural secondary schools could download the audiovisual aids prior to using them in lesson delivery and the Daniel Tang Kuok Ho and Rangis Intai 92 aids should undergo review to ensure appropriateness. In rural schools, financial allocation and maintenance of portable hardware for display of the audiovisual aids in teaching and learning should be looked into for the betterment of teaching and learning.