GASPRO International Journal of Eminent Scholars

ABSTRACT

This study was to assess play space and learning materials: a critical analysis of the psychomotor skill development in nursery school. Correlational research design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted in Uyo Education Zone of Akwa Ibom State. The population of the study consisted of the all the nursery 2 pupils and their teachers in all the public pre-primary schools in Uyo Education Zone. Stratified and simple random sampling technique was used in selecting 400 nurseries 2 pupils and 80 teachers which was drawn from Uyo Education Zone as at the time of the study. This gave a total of 480 sample size used for the study. The instrument used in this study for data collection was a questionnaire titled " Play Space and Learning Materials Questionnaire (PSLMQ)". Face and content validation of the instrument was carried out by an expert in testing, measurement, and evaluation to ensure that the instrument has the accuracy, appropriateness, and completeness for the study under consideration. The reliability coefficient obtained was 0.80, and this was high enough to justify the use of the instrument. The researcher subjected the data generated for this study to appropriate statistical techniques such as percentage analysis. The test for significance was done at 0.05 alpha levels. The study concluded that each of the variables, such as, play facilities/equipment, and teachers use of play-way method of instructions that nursery school pupils are exposed to significantly relate to the development of psychomotor skills of nursery school pupils in Uyo Education Zone. One of the recommendations made was that teachers should also adopt the use of play-way method of instruction as main method of instruction for nursery school as this will help in the development of psychomotor skills of nursery school pupils.

KEYWORDS: Play Space, Learning Materials, Psychomotor Skill and Development