ABSTRACT
Genetics is often thought of as a subject or a topic in biology that is difficult to learn and understand, especially for novices. Undoubtedly, many would acknowledge that genetics is an important subject to learn in these days and age where its application is ubiquitous and even the cause of many debates. However, due to the nature of the subject matter and the way learning processes occur and, possibly, the way it is being taught, the understanding of genetics ideas of the majority of students is thought to be very poor and full of confusions and alternative views. Thus the overall aim of this study is to examine the influence of practical activities on the learning of genetic by senior secondary school students in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.
The study adopted was survey design in which the questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. Simple random sampling technique was used in the selection of the research sample in which six secondary schools were selected. The six selected secondary schools were further stratified into three private schools and three public schools in order to reflect school type. Ten students which included five males and five females reflecting the gender perspective were simple randomly selected from each of the six secondary schools making a total of 60 students selected for the study. Based on the findings of the study the following conclusions were made; most of the students agreed that biology practical had an influence on their learning of genetics, there is significant difference between private and public secondary students with regards to the influence of Biology practical on their learning of genetics and no significant difference between male and female secondary students with regards to the influence of Biology practical on their learning of genetics.
Based on the above conclusions of the study, the following recommendations were made; the use of practical activities approach for the teaching and learning of genetics should be made compulsory in all secondary schools, teachers should attain workshops and conferences regularly to improve on their performance in genetic lessons, teachers should encourage students to develop interest in learning genetics by engaging them in practical work, Government should build and equip all biology laboratories in all public schools and non-governmental organizations and good spirited individuals should assist the government in building and equipping biology laboratories in secondary schools.
