This study examined the effects of the team-pair-solo, computer simulation, and guided discovery teaching approaches on students’ academic performance in Biology in secondary schools in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Two research questions and two corresponding hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A quasi-experimental, pretest–posttest, non-randomized design was adopted for the study. The study population comprised 1,964 Biology students enrolled in the 16 public secondary schools in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area during the 2023/2024 academic session. A sample of 267 Senior Secondary One students, from three intact classes, was selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was the Biology Performance Test on Cell Structure. The reliability of the instrument was determined using the Kuder–Richardson formula–20, with a coefficient of 0.81. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, while analysis of covariance was used to test the hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance.The findings showed a statistically significant difference in the mean performance scores of students taught the concept of cell structure across the three teaching approaches, with the team-pair-solo and computer simulation teaching approaches proving significantly more effective than guided discovery teaching approach. There was no significant difference in the performance mean scores between male and female students taught the concept of cell structure using team-pair-solo, computer simulation and guided discovery teaching approaches. Based on the findings, it is concluded that computer simulation teaching approach is the most effective in improving students’ academic performance on the concept of cell structure in Biology, followed by the team-pair-solo and guided discovery teaching approaches. It is recommended, among others that Biology teachers should adopt computer simulation as well as team-pair-solo approaches in teaching the concept of cell structure in Biology in secondary schools.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Team-pair-solo teaching approach, cell structure, computer simulation teaching approach, guided discovery teaching approach
