EFFECTS OF TACTILE MODEL ON SENIOR SECONDARY ONE STUDENTS’ WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT’ ATTITUDE IN BIOLOGY IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of tactile models on students with Visual Impairments’ learning attitude towards Biology. This study intends to assists Biology teachers to use tactile models effectively in the classrooms to get a satisfactory learning out-come from  students’ with Visual Impairment in senior secondary schools.  The study was conducted in Plateau State Senior Secondary one students with Visual Impairment, the study used an integrate approach from several relevant psycho-educational theories with a frame work of subsequent reflections that derived effective results. The tactile models were locally designed and used as instructional models from an integrated view point. The models were examined for their validity and reliability as well as their capacity for assessing students’ attitude towards Biology. They were involved in teaching and learning process at Senior Secondary Schools, data were collected and analysed and the results revealed that the students’ perception and learning with tactile models have a positive and significant effect on the students’ attitude. Also, they were found to be useful tools for conducting formative evaluation of the teaching and learning process, because they allow students’ attitude to be captured and compared across different dimensions. The study adopted quasi experimental research design using pre-test, post-test control groups without randomization. The research study was conducted on two groups of students in senior secondary one (VI) students in Plateau State. (Experimental and control controlled groups) the two groups were pre-tested and after administering the intervention, the two groups were post-tested. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the two arms of the intact classes. The sample used comprises of 10 male and female students with Visual Impairments, hypotheses were formulated and questionnaires were administered at the beginning of the lesson and the students’ attitude towards Biology was measured. Pre-test and post-test were done on the students at the end of the lesson to assess their attitude towards Biology. The study shows that after the students with Visual Impairments in the experimental group passed through the tactile models intervention, their attitude towards Biology improved and they also performed well in Biology.