INFLUENCE OF RESOURCES AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION IN LEARNING OF PLANT TAXONOMY IN UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to examined the influence of Resources Availability and Utilization in learning Plant Taxonomy in University of Benin, Benin City, Edo state, three research questions were raised to guide the study two were hypothesized. Are Resources for learning plant Taxonomy available in the Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology? What is the influence of their Utilization on the learning of Plant Taxonomy? Is the influence based on the level of students?

The descriptive survey Research design was used on the Population of the study which consisted of 300 & 400 level Biology Education Department of Curriculum and Instructional Technology and 400 Level Students of Plant Biology and Biotechnology. A sample of 100 students were randomly selected from the population. Questionnaire and Checklists were the instruments used to elicit information from the respondents. The data collated were analyzed using the percentage and t test.

The findings from the study shows that greater percentage of the resources itemized for teaching Plant Taxonomy are available in the Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology and their Utilization have helped Students to be able to identify, Classify and familiar with Plant in their environment. It was also discovered that this resources was not used equally between the two levels in the population, The 400 level were taught using most of the resources while the 300 level were taught with very few of the resources and this Influence their performance negatively in identying and classifying Plants .The recommendation includes: the students should be made to be aware on time that Plant Taxonomy Learning is more of Practical and therefore prepare for it. Despite any effect on acedemics calendar Plant Taxonomy should not be taught theoretically or just to make Student to pass the course but for in-depth knowledge about plants. Above all, the Department timetable should be adjusted to accommodate the activities involved in the learning of Plant Taxonomy effectively.