Effects of Practical Teaching Methods on Academic Performance of Biology Students in Senior Secondary Schools in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State

Abstract
This study examined the effects of practical teaching methods on academic performance of Biology students in Senior Secondary Schools in Nassarawa Local Government Area, Kano State. The objectives of the study were to identify the methods of teaching Biology used in selected Senior Secondary Schools in Nassarawa Local Government Area, Kano State; to examine the shortcomings of conventional teaching methods on academic performance of Biology students in Senior Secondary Schools in Nassarawa Local Government Area, Kano State; to examine the effects of practical teaching methods on academic performance of Biology students in Senior Secondary Schools in Nassarawa Local Government Area, Kano State and; to identify the challenges of practical teaching methods in Senior Secondary Schools in Nassarawa Local Government Area, Kano State. To achieve these objectives, four research questions were formulated in line with the objectives. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The population of the study covered a total number of 150 Biology teachers selected from 10 Senior Secondary Schools in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State. The sample size used for the study was 108. Simple Random Sampling (SRS) technique was used to determine the sample size of the study, while questionnaire was used for data collection. The study found among other things that the effects of doing practicals on academic performance of Biology students in Senior Secondary Schools in Nassarawa Local Government Area, Kano State were learning about the nature of science and technology, acquisition of problem skills, learning skills that can be applied to other life situation in future, acquisition of manipulative skills, learning scientific concepts, models, principles and theories and gaining exposure to facts in scientific phenomena. Based on the findings, the study recommends that Kano State and Nassarawa Local Governments should make adequate laboratory facilities, apparatus and equipment available in all senior secondary schools in the Nassarawa Local Government; Kano State and Nassarawa Local Governments should make adequate modern and appropriate specimen and models available in all senior secondary schools in the Nassarawa Local Government for effective and efficient conduct and teaching of Biology practicals; adequate and insufficient time should be allocated to practical Biology and; there should be regular Biology practicals in senior secondary schools in the Nassarawa Local Government.