ABSTRACT
The study investigates the impact of Information and Communication Technology in the teaching and learning of Biology in Secondary Schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. The study make used of simple random sampling techniques to select five (5) secondary schools, two hundred (200) Biology students from Senior Secondary Schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire, which was developed and administered to Biology students. The data from their responses were analyzed with the use of frequency count, simple percentage, mean score and standard deviation. The result of the analysis revealed that the Impact of ICT on the Performance of Biology Students in Secondary Schools include; The use of ICT stimulate students interest to learn Biology, facilitate learning of abstract concepts by helping to concretize Biological concept or ideas and stimulate learners’ imagination, promote retention of Biological concept easily, help to increase active participation in the learning process while saving teacher energy and also reducing the verbal instructions, help the teachers to teach with ease and the learners to learn without stress, also help to assist in achieving the stated behavioural objectives when evaluation is carried at the end of each Biology lesson. The functional ICT facilities available for teaching and learning of Biology in secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo state include; Desktop Computer, Keyboard, Mouse, Central processing unit (CPU), Photocopying machine, Projectors and modern for internet connection but extremely low as none of the facilities were up to 50% of availability in schools for teaching and learning of Biology. The utilization level of ICT facilities used by teachers in teaching of Biology in senior secondary schools in Oredo Local Government area of Edo state is still low as teachers of Biology don’t always use ICT (e.g. projector), in each Biology lesson, Students can’t easily access the various ICT resources in the schools with guidance from their Biology teacher and Teachers of Biology do not allow students perform tasks using ICT resources because of its unavailability. The challenges involved in the utilization of ICT in the teaching and learning of Biology in secondary schools in Oredo Local Government area of Edo state include; Lack of ICT resources (computer, internet etc.), Shortage of regular power supply, poor computer skills to integrate ICT into the teaching and learning of Biology, Lack of awareness xii of ICT use in learning Biology, Lack of ICT technical support, Shortage of time of instruction to utilize ICT and lack of fund to sponsor the purchase of ICT resources. It is therefore recommended that Government, School administrators, Proprietors, Educational stakeholders, Non-Governmental organizations etc. should provide adequate ICT resources, including the internet, power supply and ICT infrastructure needed for teaching and learning Biology. Enlightenment campaign, workshops and seminars should to be organized for teachers and students by Education Authorities – Federal and State Ministries of Education to create awareness of the functional ICT facilities strategies/techniques that will advance and increase motivation of students and teachers in teaching and learning of Biology. The use of ICT in teaching and learning process should be mandated and encouraged in secondary schools by the Ministry of Education and Biology teachers should make conscious efforts to utilize ICT and its gadget for their lesson preparation, instructional delivery and evaluation of student’s performance in Biology.
