Abstract:
This research study examined the extent of application of instructional methods and strategies by business teachers in Technical Schools in Taraba State. The study was undertaking to address the problem of application of instructional methods and strategies in the teaching of business studies. Consequently, the nature of the content of business subjects requires that business teachers effect learning through the use of diverse instructional methods and strategies. This study therefore identified certain instructional methods and strategies required in the teaching of Business Studies. The study adopted a survey research design in which six research questions were posed and three null hypotheses tested. The population of the study comprised of all the 92 business teachers from all the Technical Schools in Taraba State. An instrument titled “Application of Instructional Methods and Strategies” (AIMS) was developed by the researcher to guide the study. 20 items were trial-tested on a sample of 20 business teachers in secondary schools in Enugu state. The data obtained were computed using Crombach Alpha method. This gave an overall score of 0.89. The six research questions were analyzed using mean and Standard Deviation, while t-test statistics was used to test null hypotheses one while ANOVA was used to test null hypothesis two and three at 0.05 level of significance. An overview of the overall results showed that the instructional methods and strategies were rarely applied in teaching all the five components of business studies (Office Practice, Commerce, Book Keeping, Shorthand and typewriting). The study also revealed the instructional methods and strategies that are highly preferred by business teachers in teaching Business Studies. The problems encountered by business teachers include: inadequate provision of equipment and facilities; the absence of special incentives such as in-service training; allocation of insufficient periods. Considering the findings of the study, the researcher recommends that: the government, technical schools and ministries should provide machines and equipment to aid in teaching and learning of business studies. Special incentives such as in-service training, conferences, workshops and seminars should be organized for business teachers to sensitize them on the application of instructional methods and strategies in the teaching of business studies. Equally; principals and proprietors in cooperation with business teachers should take students on field trips/excursions to business offices and organizations to show them modern machines and equipment used in businesses. In the same vein, guest speakers should be invited to enlighten students on most modern office technologies that are not easily accessible to students.
