International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue VI, June 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186
Peter Haruna
St. Joseph’s College Of Education, Bechem
Abstract: Instructional materials (IM) play an essential role in the teaching and learning process. This study aimed at assessing Mentors’ assessment of the design and utilization of instructional materials by Student Teachers of St. Joseph’s College of Education, Bechem who were on a four months teaching practice in selected Basic Schools in the Tano North and South Municipalities of the Ahafo regions as well as the Ahafo-Ano South-East District and Ahafo-Ano North Municipality of the Ashanti region. The study adopted the survey research design. 150 mentors in 50 partner (Junior High) schools were used for the study. Three mentors were randomly selected from each school for the study. The research instrument was a five-point scale questionnaire with 9 items adopted from the PatternonPrince Edward Island Evaluation and Selection of Learning Resources survey form. The instrument had three domains; Instructional Design, Extent of Use and Usefulness. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics including mean, standard deviation and simple percentages. The analysis indicated that instructional materials prepared by the Student Teachers were Very Useful (Mean = 3.73), effective, engaging and well designed. They strongly agreed that the Student Teachers Very Often (Mean = 3.77) used instructional materials in their lesson delivery.
Key words: Mentors’ Assessment, Student Teachers, Instructional materials, Design, Utilization, Usefulness
I.INTRODUCTION
Learning is the process of gaining new information, ideas, skills, beliefs, and experiences that enable an individual to change and/or adapt his behaviour (NTI Manual, 2006). Learning is a long process, and each learning concept must be presented in such a way that it appeals to learners of various interests and abilities, progressing from the familiar to the unfamiliar, and promoting active class involvement. The teacher cannot claim to have met his teaching goals until the desired change in the student’s behaviour has occurred. Effective teaching and learning necessitates the use of instructional materials and practical activities by the teacher in order to make learning more vivid, rational, realistic, and pragmatic (Amadioha, 2009). As a result, the teacher is required to use everything at his or her disposal to help the student learn through the use of instructional resources/materials. Instructional materials, according to Abdu-Raheem (2016), are “important and crucial instruments needed for teaching and learning of school subjects in order to improve teachers’ efficiency and students’ performance.” This definition aligns with that of Abiodun-Oyebanji and Adu