Chemistry topic-difficulties perceived by SHS students and how they are addressed by their teachers and the prescribed textbooks

Abstract

This study investigated chemistry topic difficulty perceived by SHS students and how the available textual materials and teachers help in addressing the difficulties. Five research questions guided the study. The study employed the descriptive survey design. The population comprised all SHS 3 chemistry students in eight schools selected from five administrative districts in Western Region. The sample size was 280 SHS 3 chemistry students and sixteen teachers. It was established that students perceived nine (9) out of the twenty carefully selected topics in the SHS curriculum to be difficult. According to the students, the most difficult topic in the SHS chemistry curriculum was ‘Redox Reactions’ followed by ‘Electrochemistry’ and ‘Nomenclature of Organic Compounds’. The respondents noted the abstract nature of the topics, lack of practical activities, unavailability of prescribed textbooks, and uninteresting lessons as some of the causes of topic difficulty. The study established no significant difference in the topics perceived to be difficult by both male and female students. Again, it was revealed that the chemistry teachers’ instructional strategies contributed to students’ perceived topic difficulty in the selected schools. Surprisingly, some of the available textual materials in use by both teachers and students did not meet the requirements of good textbooks. Specifically, the language level of some of the books was above the students, while some of the books did not provide topic summary and learning objectives. Additionally, there were inadequate exercises for students. It was recommended that as much as possible, simple language should be used in writing chemistry books and, more specifically, in explaining difficult concepts. It was recommended that books should be revised often and that worked examples and exercises should be provided after authors had treated the topics.