THE NATURE OF TEACHING/LEARNING FACILITIES AND PERSONNEL USED IN THE 6-3-3-4 SYSTEM

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.