INTRODUCTION
Importance of low cost or no
cost teaching materials: Importance of teaching material from other countries at a given level is a heavy financial burden for a developing country like Nigeria. Low-cost teaching material is that which produced by the factories of local areas of the country. Its spare parts are also easily approachable and its cost is always low than imported equipments from other countries. Low - cost teaching aids involve minimal or nil input costs as they are made from household waste and discarded items or from materials readily available in our immediate surroundings and natural environments.
Sometimes the standard teaching aids may remain out of reach – may be due to any reason. Look around, quit possible one gets something from the surrounding, which may serve as a better teaching aid for the topic. A step further, perhaps he who is innovative, may prepare such an aid for the available materials from here and there, low cost-no cost teaching material is the term that refers to an offhand construction of a teaching aid with simple available materials costing little or nil. No-cost teaching material is mater is that which a teacher can use by carrying it from local sources. It may waist things which a teacher can use as a teaching aid. Low cost teaching aids can be used in nursery, primary, middle, secondary and senior secondary schools.
Of course, the type as well as number of aids to be used in a given subject would vary from one class to another. But broadly speaking, primary and middle school students can be engaged in making simple items with rudimentary materials such as bits of paper, cardboard and thermocole using scissors, glue etc, whereas senior school students could develop teaching aids using metal, wood, plastic, rubber etc.
The major concerns of developing countries are food supply, livelihood, health, nutrition and growth and economy. At the level of the student and his family, food, health, and livelihood are primary concerns. In developing the need is great for self-reliance in (science) teaching at country level and more importantly at teacher level. The use of Low-cost/No-cost teaching material for science education has certain important advantages in developing countries like India.
i. Cheapness :-
Investments in equipment for all students at a given level are a heavy financial burden for a Developing country. Essential follow-up procedures like teacher training in the pedagogical and technical use of the equipment, provision of maintenance, and replenishment, etc., are sometimes not accomplished because of the lack of funds.
ii- No fear of loss :-
There is another risk in connection with the high cost of equipment. It is sometimes safely locked up in the school and not used at all, because the teacher is afraid that he/she or the students might break it and that he/she will have pay for it from his/her own pocket.
iii- Proper use:
The costs of locally produced equipment are often but no always, lower than the imported equipments. When calculating the cost of the equipment some factors should be kept in mind. They are durability of the equipment, additional installation costs, service costs, cost of teacher and technician training. We should also keep in mind that most expensive equipment is that which is never used.
iv- Same principles:
Low cost equipments illustrate the same principles as imported expensive equipments.
v- Maintenance and repair:
If equipment is simpler in design, teachers, laboratory technicians and local craftsmen are more likely to be able to carry out small repair.
vi- Relevance to the curriculum :
In practice, development of low cost equipment is often at the sometime involved in curriculum design. Higher school content :
Equipment made of parts and material familiar to the students is more likely to help the students.
vii- Self reliance:
It cultivates confidence and expertise to educator in developing country.
viii- Related to real life :
Teacher needs to realize the significance of practical work in science education as well as the use of social resources in laboratory activities.
Helpful for teacher :-Because of overcrowded classroom, teacher cannot provide individual attention to students.
ix- Strength:
Made of paper, wood, metal, string etc such equipments can be treated roughly with no damage. Hence pupils feel more at ease.
x- Economic:
It is very difficult to establish science laboratories and demonstration rooms due to financial constraints. Much science equipment for several experiments can be produced under their low cost variety.
xi- Active method, Group work, Fun :