Abstract:
Science education has remained one of the top priority issues of
developing countries for the last few decades. In this age of science and
technology, the developing countries face
an increasing demand for scientific
and technical manpower due to the increased awareness and emphasis on rapid
industrialization as well as agricultural development on the national level. It Is
now well recognized that science education has a direct and very significant
influence on numerous activities in the daily life and environment of both rural
and urban communities.
It is in this context that the natural and physical sciences, study and use
of environment and local resources has been recognized as one of the basic
areas of school curriculum in many developing countries including Pakistan.
Keeping in view the significance, study In hand is selected to design low cost
activities based on low cost materials (equipment, glassware, chemicals) in
teaching chemistry at secondary school level in Pakistan.
The nature of the study is experimental. Two semi standardized
academic achievement tests In the selected content areas of chemistry for IX
(vli)class
were
prepared and administered to 9th class
as
pretest and posttest.
Sample was selected randomly. Experimental and Control Groups were
formulated from the sample. Experiments were conducted to experimental
group with low cost materials and to control group with high cost materials.
Data was collected through pretest and posttest, tabulated accordingly and
statistical analysis was carried out. On the basis of the analysis, findings,
conclusions are being quoted. Recommendations have also been suggested to
popularize the
use of low cost materials in science education at secondary
school level.
