The teaching
and learning facilities or materials cover whatever the teacher uses that
involves all the five senses of light, learning sight, smell and taste while
presenting his lesson. Uche (1998), these are very vital in our secondary
schools because they facilitate the direct associations of sound and symbols
and also awards and the object they present. The use of aids reduces to minimum,
the problems of interference and translation. They also help to vividly
illustrate meanings of things; because they are associated with materials used
by the teachers to improve the quality of the teaching.
Uche (1998) opines that facilities
have been found to be the very tools every teacher must use in teaching and
learning process in secondary school. Hoban et al (1949) outlined the
value of instructional materials as follows.
They
supply a basis for conceptional thinking and word responses of student.
1. They make learning more permanent
2. They develop a continuity of thought, this is especially true of motion
pictures
3. They contribute to the growth of meaning and hence to
vocabulary development.
The above outcome of the use of teaching aids without
doubt, make resource materials more indispensable tools in teaching. It is
therefore imperative that teachers should always make use of facilities in
their everyday class activities, be it in the presentation of a new topic, in
the review of previous lesson or in the clarification of prints etc.
Uche (1998) outlined three (3) broad types of grouping
of instructional materials namely visual, audial, audio- visual.
Visual – these are material resources that appeal to
the sense of bright and touch as well as sense of smell.
They consist of
* Non projected
* Pictorial aids
* Mobiles
* Three dimensional aids
* Laboratory equipment
* Books
* Project aid filmstrips and slides and slides project
Aurial Aids: These aurial aids are instructional materials that
appeal to the senses of learning and touch too, they are
* Tapes and tape recorder
* Records and record players
* Language laboratories
* Radio
Audio-Visual: Learning facilities that fall under audio –visual
aids appeal to the senses of touch and sight. they are:
* Cinema and sound film
* Sound strip projector
* Television
* Video tape recorder and tapes
The above instructional facilities are essential in
our secondary schools to the achievement of learning objectives. They provide
the basic information required and considered important, but which is not
contained in the prescribed text books. They also encourage and promote
self-instruction, enrich learning and aid teachers presentation of his/her
lesson.
Finally, they explain on facilities teaching and
learning activities, as well as arouse interest of students and motivate the
learners. However no matter how essential they may be a teaching and learning
process, instructional aids should not be made to present the teacher. They
should remain what they are designed to be - a helping part of the teacher and
learners for the ultimate attainment of both instructional and curriculum
objectives.