Impact of Instructional Materials on Academic Achievement of Biology Students in Senior Secondary Schools in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State

The study investigates the impact of instructional materials on academic achievement of Biology students in Senior Secondary Schools in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The objectives of the study are to identify the impact of using available instructional materials (visual, audio, andl audio-visual aids) in teaching Biology and academic achievement of Senior Secondary School students', to determine how often the available instructional materials (aids)are used in the teaching and learning of Biology in Senior Secondary Schools as well as academic achievement of Senior Secondary School Biology students' in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Survey research design was used and population of the study was one thousand one hundred and eighty three (1,183) from which two hundred and thirty six were selected as respondents for this study. The instrument for data collection was the questionnaire.The findings revealed that available instructional materials in teaching Biology has impact on academic achievement of Senior Secondary School students' in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State, that good instructional materials should possess the characteristics of visibility,sufficiency, simplicity, attraction, clarity, and other qualities. It was recommended that Biology teachers should endeavour to use and try to improvise instructional materials for effective teaching of Biology in senior secondary schools, government should ensure the adequate employment of dedicated and qualified Biology teachers' to teach the subject in all senior secondary schools in the study area and in the state, suitable textbooks on utilization of Biology materials should be made available to all secondary schools and government(s) should make available sufficient funds and sponsor teachers' to attend conferences, seminars and workshops on utilization of Biology instructional materials.