AN ASSESSMENT OF MATHEMATICS UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS PERCEPTION OF TEACHING PRACTICE EXERCISE(A CASE STUDY OF UNIVERSITY OF JOS)
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 INTRODUCTION
Literature review refers to the critical examination of the state of knowledge, including substantive findings as well as theoretical and methodological contribution to a particular topic. In line with this definition, the literature reviewed revolved around the exploration of the intrinsic meaning of variables under study.
Our focus in this chapter is to critically examine relevant literature that would assist in explaining the research problem and furthermore recognize the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.
Precisely, the chapter will be considered in four sub-headings:
Conceptual Framework
Theoretical Framework,
Empirical Review
2.2 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Concept of Education
According to National Policy on Education (1979), Education is the process of acquiring knowledge. It is a tool for person’s development, the single most powerful weapon against poverty, and a fundamental human right to which we all are entitled. It gives people the opportunity to improve on their health, raise productivity and help foster participation in civil society. Education is a process of keeping the world and our society intact and in fostering the development and growth upon which human survival and progress depends. It the development of process of equipping individuals with knowledge and skills to enable them solve the complex problems of living usefully for themselves, their families and make worthwhile contribution to the overall progress and development of the overall progress and development of the society. “Thus the educational process has been described as the intentional transmission of something worthwhile or desirable in a morally acceptable manner. It is the all-round development of a person physically, intellectually, morally, and spiritually. This implies that education encourages a wholesome development of the individual through participation in the activities of the social group, and that there must be a guide who can direct such education in a way that can result in all round development of a person. Education is a tool for national development, the single most powerful weapon against poverty, and a fundamental human right to which we all are entitled. It gives people the opportunity to improve health, raise productivity and help foster participation in civil society. Education is a process of keeping the world and our society intact and in fostering the development and growth upon which human survival and progress depends.
NERD (2004) further asserts that Education is the process of providing information to an inexperienced person to help him/her develop physically, mentally, socially, emotionally, spiritually, politically and economically. That is why at graduation ceremonies one hears the Vice-Chancellors pronounce these words while awarding degrees to their institutions’ graduates, “you have been found worthy in character and learning…” In education parlance, it means that the individual has acquired adequate and appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes and values, known as cognitive, psychomotor and affective behaviours to be able to function optimally as a citizen. These behaviors are the focus of training individuals in institutions of learning .
The planned and systematic training given in an institution of learning is formal education. The programme or is organized, planned and systematically implemented. In an informal education, there is no plan and the training is haphazard and incidental. Education is the process through which individuals are made functional members of their society (Otu 2007). It is a process through which the young acquires knowledge and realizes her potentialities and uses them for self-actualization, to be useful to herself and others. It is a means of preserving, transmitting and improving the culture of the society. In every society education connotes acquisition of something good, something worthwhile. Education is one of the fundamental rights of individuals. Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December, 1949 stipulated that:
Everyone has the right to education.
This shall be free at least in the elementary and primary stages.
Elementary education shall be compulsory while technical and professional
Education shall be made generally available.
Higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
Fafunfwa (1974) defines education as, what each generation gives to its younger ones which makes them to develop, abilities, skills and other behaviours which are of positive values to the society in which they live. He further opined that the development of human beings in the cognitive, affective, psychomotor and psyco-productive domains. While the cognitive aspect refers to intellectual development and the knowledge of subject matter, affective domain refers to the development of desirable behaviours and psycho-motor and psyco-productive domains refers to skill acquisition and its application for purposeful activities.
Overview Of Mathematics
Mathematics is the foundation of science and technology and the functional role of Mathematics to science and technology is multifaceted and multifarious that no area of science, technology and business enterprise escapes its application (Okereke in Okigbo & Osuafor; 2008). Nwoke and Nnaji (2011) stated that Mathematics is the study of quantity, structures, space and change. It developed through the use of abstraction and logical reasoning from counting, calculation, measurement, and the study of the shapes and motion of physical objects. The ingredient for the effective articulation of the abstract elements of science that gives impetus to the development of technologies of any nation is based on mathematics. The indispensability of mathematics in human day to day activities cannot be over emphasized; therefore, considered as the bedrock of all scientific and technological breakthrough and advancement for all the activities of human development. According to Arokoyu and Charles-Ogan (2017) Mathematics is not just a core science subject but a precision tool employed by all scientists in their search for a clear understanding of the physical world as well as for the development of any science-based discipline. It is the language, as well as a tool of science and engineering. According to Udousoro in Nwoke, Ugwuegbulam, Duru, and Best-Njoku (2018) Mathematics has generally been accepted as the foundation of science and technology and it is a very important subject in the secondary school curriculum, therefore, every nation needs it for sustained scientific and technological development. Mathematics occupies a crucial and unique role in the human societies and represents a strategic key in the development of the whole mankind. The ability to compute, related to the power of technology and to the ability of social organization, and the geometrical understanding of space time, that is the physical world and its natural patterns, show the role of Mathematics in the development of a Society (Fatima, n.d).
Mathematics as a discipline
Mathematics is used as a filter in employment and placement because it is associated with clear thinking and ability to solve problems in everyday life (Orton & Frobisher, 1996). Mathematics as a discipline is applied to all other disciplines such as military, research, applied science and commerce. According to Cockroft (1982) quoted in Saitoti (2000), mathematics is a dispensable tool in the development of science and technology. It is also a fact that without advances in sciences and technology no country can make meaningful progress in improving the quality of life of its people. Mathematics equips students with a uniquely powerful set of tools to understand and change the world. These tools include logical reasoning, problem-solving skills, and the ability to think. Despite the important role mathematics play in society, there has been persistent poor performance in the subject globally. For instance, the United States of America (U.S.A) is viewed as a global leader in many aspects, including finance. medical research, higher education, sports and scientific fields; yet, according to Programme for International Student Achievement (PISA) and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), the U.S.A is still very far from being world class in k-12 mathematics and science education. In Africa the poor performance is still registered in mathematics for instance, South Africa participated in TIMSS in 1995 and South Africa learners came last with a mean score of 351 which was lower than the international benchmark of 513.
Concept of Teaching
According to Smith 1997 cited in Adekola, 2018, teaching is a system of action involving an agent, an end in view, and a situation including two sets of factors-those over which the agent has no control (such as class size, size of classroom, physical characteristics of student) and those that the teacher can modify (such as ways of asking questions or ideas gleaned). Smith therefore defines teaching as undertaking certain ethical tasks or activities, the intention of which is to induce learning.
Tamakloe, Amedahe and Atta 2005 cited in (Onyeozu, A.M. 2018), have defined teaching as directing knowledge towards the learner. To Kochhar 2004 cited in (Salandanan, 2015), teaching is not a mechanical process but a rather intricate, exacting and challenging job. Though teaching is poorly paid, Kochhar explains that its riches are of a different order, less tangible but more lasting - that is satisfaction of personal fulfillment. Farrant 1996 cited in (Qureshi, 2018) explains teaching as a “process that facilitates learning”. Teaching and learning are therefore described as the two sides of a coin because teaching does not happen without a learner (Amissah, Sam-Tagoe, Amoah and Mereku, 2002 cited in Livumbaze, (2017). Some other definitions given to teaching by Amissah et al are as follows:
Teaching is the means whereby an experienced member of a group guides and directs students in their total growth and development.
It is also the activity that the teachers demonstrate to reflect their philosophy of education.
Teaching is an interpersonal influence aimed at changing the way or behaviour in which other persons can or will behave.
It is a system of actions intended to induce learning.
It is an activity aimed at the achievement of learning and practiced in such a way as to respect the learners’ intellectual integrity and capacity.
The above definitions show how teaching has been subjected to a variety of descriptions and definitions. While some authors describe teaching as an art because it gives the teacher an opportunity to do something creative like molding personalities and the mind, others describe teaching as a science because it hinges on a specified
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