ABSTRACT

 This study assessed teachers' use of games and simulations in the teaching of lower basic education social studies in Abia State. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A total sample of 385 respondents which consisted of 20 head teachers and 365 teachers were sampled from the entire population of 10,356 respondents (854 head teachers and 9,502 teachers) in Abia state, using multistage sampling technique. The sample represented 5% of the entire population. Four research questions and hypotheses respectively, guided the study. A 40 — item researcher — developed questionnaire titled Use of Games and Simulations in Teaching Lower Basic Education Questionnaire (UGSTLBEQ) was used for data collection. The questionnaire was validated by three experts, one from Measurement and Evaluation and two from Curriculum Studies, all from College of Education, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Test-retest reliability procedure was used in testing the reliability which yielded a stability reliability coefficient of 0.76. Two research assistants helped in the data collection. The data collected were analyzed using mean standard deviation, 4 point likert scale to answer the research questions while t-test statistic was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The results showed among others that teachers use games and simulations in teaching lower basic Education social studies to a low extent. On that, it was recommended that teachers should be encouraged to effectively and regularly use games and simulations in the teaching of social studies and other related subjects at the lower basic Education, their should be regular and periodic training of teachers on the best ways of using games and simulations in teaching social studies at the lower basic Education and the government should make available the materials such as video computer, text-book and expert that knows how to handle the material in teaching lower basic education social studies. There should be seminars and workshops for teachers teaching lower basic education social studies in Abia State.