ABSTRACT

The study was out to investigate the use of didactic material and its impacts in the teaching learning process. To successfully go through this work the researcher formulated research objectives which were changed to research questions to help the researcher to gather facts from the field. Some concepts related to this study were examined; again theories were used to throw more light on the topic in question. Same way the researcher also compared her work with others under empirical study. The research design used was the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study was examined from where the sample size of 348 was drawn for investigation. The simple random sampling technique was used to select the respondents. From findings, it was revealed that didactic material are a vital tool in the didactic process. It was also discovered that teachers do not often use didactic material when delivering their lessons. The researcher made some recommendations to the educational authorities. Some suggestions were also made in order to come up with a concrete solution to these problems in question which were: Teachers should be well trained during seminars on the importance, production and use of didactic material. The government, school authorities and the PTA should provide the necessary finances for the purchase of material for didactic material. Finally teachers should create nature and shopping corners in their classrooms to enhance the didactic learning process.

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Teaching material is a generic term used to describe the resources teachers use to deliver instructions. Teaching materials can support student learning and increase student success. Ideally, the teaching materials will be tailored to the content in the student in whose class they are being used, and the teachers. Teaching materials come in many shapes and sizes but they all have in common the ability to support student learning. Broadly speaking any device that helps teach can be called a teaching aid. This device can be traditional items such as real object, blackboard and flannel board as well as modern devices such as tables and projectors. Scientific tools such as telescopes and microscopes could also be used as didactic material in a given context. Two overarching common factors between most didactic material: mediums that promote sensory engagement and stimulation. Examples based on classification systems.

In the past educationist were ignorant of the part that teaching -learning material could be used in the didactic learning process in order to ease understanding. This was because they considered the pupils to be empty vessels which the teacher was supposed to fill with knowledge. But today it has been discovered that children are not empty vessels. That is they are born with some knowledge and the teacher is there as a guide, therefore in order to guide the pupils to bring out their innate tendencies it is good to use teaching -learning materials like those mentioned above and also others like charts maps pictures flash cards.

Mzeh (1989) shares the view that the use of didactic learning materials makes learning practical and fun through seeing, hearing, discovering and doing. Therefore, the use of teaching – learning material is very necessary since pupils study well when they see them than when they are taught in abstract.

It is visually important that Teachers keep in mind the purpose of which Instructional Materials are used. The characteristic and special need for pupils to be taught by them and the bases for selecting the materials most likely use to help learners achieve the objective of their study. For examples, teachers must know when to use a film clarifies important concepts rather than explaining it in a text book. When to use discussion alone, when to embark on a field trip with the showing and discussion of a related film strip, when to assign outside viewing of television programme of self-study of a programmed film strip or when to have the class produce diagrams of flame board. Illustrations as part of summarizing oral report on one aspect of class work.

Statement of the Problem

 It was during the numerous visits to some of the schools in Bamenda II, specifically G.B.H.S Bamenda and ST Frederick MankonBamenda that the researcher discussed with the principals and some of the teachers and discovered that the students face a lot of difficulties due to the non -used of teaching -learning materials during the didactic learning process. Most of the students could not relate learning to real life since they are being taught in abstraction. The researcher became worried and had to investigate the cause and effects to propose strategies to the problem of the non-use of didactic materials. The deteriorating state of our educational system is quite worrisome. The problem teachers and students encounter in our educational system include inadequate teaching and learning materials. That is why the researcher is carrying out a study on didactic material and its implications in the didactic process.

Purpose of the Study

The general purpose of this study is to find out the implications of didactic materialin the didactic process.

• To determine the effects of didactic materials on student’s academic performance.
• To find out whether didactic material can influence the didactic process
• To examine how teaching aids can promote creative thinking in the learning process.

Research Questions

• What are the effects of didactic material on students’ performance?
• Does didactic materials affect the teaching learning process?
• How can teaching materials promote critical thinking in learners?