The impact of physics practical on the teaching and learning methodology of senior secondary schools in Sierra Leone

Abstract

This study is a comprehensive research on the Impact of Physics Practical’s on the Teaching and Learning Methodology of Senior Secondary Schools Selected in Sierra Leone. Physics subject is an elective subject where students in the science stream pursue the subject during their upper secondary school. This is despite the fundamental role Physics as a science subject plays in the contribution of innovations and developments teachers tend to avoid the practical work in the laboratory which they consider waste of time and they do not understand the importance of laboratory experiments. Specifically, the study was set to achieve six objectives namely; To find out the Demographic Characteristic of respondents, To identify the knowledge of teachers and students on physics practical, To examine the attitudes of student and teachers towards physics Practicals, To examine the engagement of teachers and students in physics Practicals, To determine the effectiveness of teaching physics and To identify the factors affecting the teaching and learning of physics Practical. The research was carried out by six selected senior Secondary Schools in Bo City. The design of the research will adopt a descriptive survey. The population of the study consists of 676 pupils and twelve (12) teachers in the senior secondary school that offer and teacher teaching physics respectively. Out of which 169 students and all the twelve teachers were selected through a simple random sampling. Data was collected using questionnaires .the a questionnaire comprises of six sections. Each of the section dealt with one objective. The analysis of the data collected was done using SPSS version 25 and Excel. From the result of the research many problems were unfolded. These problems that were unfolded are: the teachers and student are not effective engage in Practicals and there are factors affecting students and teacher in the effective teaching and learning of physics practical The recommendations made will mitigate the problem.