Awareness and Use of Teaching Skills among Primary School Social Studies Teachers

Abstract

During teaching/learning situations at the primary school level, the classrooms tend to look rowdy and children appear uncontrollable. This situation makes one wonder if their teachers know of teaching skills and their uses, especially when performing their teaching tasks. This study tries to investigate into the awareness and use of teaching skills among primary school teachers of social studies in Ondo State of Nigeria. Three hundred and forty-four teachers (344) randomly chosen from twenty (20) Primary Schools were involved in the study. Data were collected through the use of questionnaire and observatory teaching. Data analysis involved the use of percentages and one-way analysis of variance. The result revealed that the teachers had knowledge of teaching skills, but they rarely used them. Recommendations include, amongst others, the organization of on-the-job training or teaching workshops with emphasis on the frequent use of teaching skills for teachers, especially in the teaching of Social Studies.