EFFECTS OF NOISE AND DISTRACTIONS ON TEACHING AND LEARNING OF HISTORY IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

Abstract

History is a subject or course that is dreaded by many students for its voluminous nature and dating patterns. At the post-secondary school level, the history curriculum departs from storytelling, pointing to a more demanding principle of chronology, narration and absolute dating. At this level therefore, the rapt attention of the student is required for easy comprehension and assimilation. This study finds that noise and distractions of the twenty-first century, especially emotional and physiological, resulting from peer pressure, use of satellite television, cell phones and consequences of poverty, have however acted as impediments to the teaching and learning of history as demanded by the curriculum. This study finds that awareness must be created for parents to reduce the access of their wards to satellite television channels; laws restricting the use of cell phones throughout the lecture day should be enacted; the government should do more to tackle the problem of poverty so as to allow full concentration by students. In terms of methodology, Quasi-experimental design was adopted for this study, a pre-test, post-test, non-equivalent group design which involves the use of non-randomized group and thus, an intact class was be used.