EFFECTS OF USING ROLE PLAY METHOD IN THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF HISTORY IN JOS NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF PLATEAU STATE

ABSTRACT There is a perceived trend of poor teaching and learning achievement of students in history studies in secondary schools today. This situation has been attributed to many factors one of which is poor method of teaching. This study sought to assess the relevance of role play as a method of teaching and learning in history studies in junior secondary schools in North L.G.A. of plateau state. The study adopted the survey design. Three research questions guided the study. The population of the study comprises of five secondary schools and 125 students in North L.G.A of Plateau State. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 25 students each from the five different schools. The instrument for data collection was the questionnaire. The simple percentage was use to answer the research questions. The findings revealed that the use of role play method has not been frequently used in the teaching and learning process in the senior schools in North L.G.A of Plateau State, though role play method is found out to be suitable for the teaching and learning of history studies in senior secondary school in that it makes learning easier and promote long retention of lesson. The major challenge of role play method is the interest of student in this method of teaching and learning and also the time allocated to history studies as a subject. Hence students should be given awareness on the relevance of role play method in their learning of history studies so as to boost their interest in participation when they are been assigned roles to play during the teaching and learning process of history studies. Adequate timing should also be allocated to history studies class so as to encourage history studies teachers to use role play method in teaching.