Using Reward Mechanism to Test the level of Intelligence of Students in a Local Secondary School

The above video shows me in a classroom, doing a pop quiz for 9 minutes in a local private school. In Uyo basically, almost every corner is used to establish a school. Schools availability is now competing with the number of stores and business places because people feel there's actually money in doing such. My team and I went to carry out charitable program in this school known as Remis Academy.

On arriving the school, we noticed it's not really popular a school and mostly built for those in the neighborhood as their fees aren't exorbitant. Corps members are also found there which serves as a training program for them. There's this particular question I usually ask myself.

If a child performs well in school, is it the school's making or the child in question?.

If a child performs poorly in school, do we blame the school for their inability to teach or we blame the child for his inability to learn and absorb teachings?

These two questions have different answers each if you're to look at situations hip. A child may be going to school for going sake but within him, he's teaching himself without relying on the teachers. Another may go to school, receive teachings from qualified teachers but may not have an improved learning ability. I know of someone who takes his studies seriously, is always punctual in classes, ask questions but fails examinations. Why is this so?

I decided to carry out an experiment as a scientific teacher. As a teacher, you get to learn about your students so as to know how and where to help them. Some teachers feel it's a waste of time as long as they receive their salary on a monthly basis, they are least interested either their students gets a sense of what they are teaching or not.

I took permission from their teachers to merge both Ss1 and SS2 together. After merging, I started by asking their names and how they are faring. I observed that learning environment first isn't really conducive. I wouldn't learn in such an environment but they can't help it. Environment where learning occurs affects the learning process even though the teacher may not be directly affected. Now, let's go to the business of the day.

Subject: Quiz on science subjects
Class: SS1 and SS2
Claas size: 11
Gender: Both male and Female [Mixed]
Science students: 6
Art students: 5

I started by asking them series of questions. The first was the 9th element in the periodic table which is Fluorine. I just wrote the symbol of Fluorine on the blackboard and told them to identify the element. They were so eager to produce the answer with the periodic table song in their head. They started off but then, some said oxygen, nitrogen, neon etc..._

It's actually good to see how they attempted to answer the question but someone else rose up and gave the correct answer and its spelling...She must be the most brilliant in class because I didn't expect her to give the correct spelling of that element. We do flaw in spelling Fluorine as Flourine.

But I didn't judge her because that topic may be her speciality. I moved to the next question. This question is bent on physics science subject. I asked the question.....Some that weren't responsive are art students

• The S.I unit of Force, Mass or Temperature

A boy stood up and gave a reply for Temperature, saying the S.I unit is degree Celsius. I actually gave him an applause but also told him he's wrong because it was slightly close to the answer. No other person was able to provide the answer. So I have the answer as Temperature with Kelvin as it symbol or degree Celsius.

He then answered that of Mass as Kilogramme by saying KG. I moved to the next question which was a mathematical problem. It was the simplest so far. I just wanted to test their thinking ability. I observed it's just two people that were actually active. I didn't want to give them the chance that's why I delayed for other who felt they don't know to speak up. **In the teaching process, you can't just overlook those who don't know and focus on those who meets your standards and level of intelligence. You need to carry everyone along.

After waiting for some minutes, I just had to give the opportunity to the same guy that answered the physics question as there were no other hands. The question was 9 multiplied by 7 gives?? He said 63 and that's correct. Moving on.....

I moved to English language which is general for both art and science subject. I wasn't using this to test them because even when I was in SS3, I couldn't get the correct answer. I was using this to teach them. The question came with options.

• The cat wags............tail.
  A. Its
  B. It's
  C. Its'
  D. I'ts

This question is very much confusing if you don't look at it critically. The first answer I heard was option B which I expected. I knew everyone would chorus that option as the answer. Even when I asked again, everyone in the class agreed that the answer was option B. I then gave them a second chance and promised anyone who got the correct answer and award. I didn't make it Known to them that option B was wrong. Just wanted to see if there'll be any contrary.

Someone rose up and said C while another said A. I asked them the reasons and they gave me. The girl who choose option A got it but on trial, that's after several attempts. I then explained to them why option A was the answer and why they should expect such question in their West African Examination Council Exams..

Time wasn't on my side anymore. I left them with a word of advice and then told all of them to applaud themselves for trying. For you to be outspoken when a class is ongoing shows you're interested in what you're learning even when you don't know the current answer to the question.

What I observed is that both the teachers and the students are the problem. Why? There were actually a few who stood up and gave correct answers while others couldn't. Is it because they are not intelligent? I won't say so. Maybe there are factors that contributes. Since there are people that could actually answer the questions, I won't blame it on the teacher alone. Student factor affects learning as well. One may not be so good at answering verbal questions but is good at written. Another may not be able to think fast since it's verbal and needs a quick response. Still, others may have forgotten the answer even when taught by their teachers.

The only place the teacher factor may come in is in developing the learning process if students. Some teachers may focus on those that are intelligent and leave the dull ones to face fate. This attitude by teachers discourage learners and make them feel, afterward, I'm not the smartest in class. Let the smartest answer the questions.

So the above is what I've concluded in this school from my experience and observation. I'm planning on doing a 1 week educational change programme in local schools with the approval of the Head of Department in my school as a student teacher. The aim of this 1 week educational change programme is to see if I can impact students in secondary school for one week and also enhance their understanding on certain things. I'll be sharing videos and reports on my progress and how effective this can be.