Assessing the usage of multimedia resources in teaching and learning of social studies concepts in junior high schools in Ghana

Abstract

The study assessed the usage of multimedia resources in the teaching of Social Studies concepts in Presbyterian College of Education Demonstration JHS, Akropong – Akuapem. The study was anchored on the Richard Mayer‟s Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning. The targeted population for the study encompassed seven Social Studies teachers in the Presby University College of Education Demonstration JHS in the Akuapem North Municipality. Under qualitative research design, case study was adopted and semi-structured interviews and lesson observations were used in gathering data. The sample of this study was purposive technique. The study found out among others that, though, Social Studies teachers appreciate the benefits of multimedia resource usage in the classroom such as students enjoying lessons which aids comprehension of concepts than the traditional method, allows student-centered teaching where students construct their own knowledge with the teacher as a facilitator, improves teacher efficiency of the content, they often find smooth and effective use in Social Studies instructions challenging which make them develop unfavourable attitude towards the usage. From the findings, the study recommends inservice training, enactment of school-based ICT policies to support the teacher for effective utilization of multimedia resource, provision of resources and adoption of maintenance culture of the resources to improve learning outcomes.