Effect of Guided Discovery Method on Secondary School Students’ Academic Performance in Biology in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria (Published)
This study investigated the effect of Guided Discovery method on Senior Secondary School students’ academic performance in Biology in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Two research questions were raised and two null hypotheses were formulated. The study employed a quasi-experimental design. The population comprised of 8,670 Students in all the public Secondary Schools in Makurdi Metropolis. Two schools were randomly selected using simple random sampling technique from among the public Secondary Schools in Makurdi and a sample size of 47 Senior Secondary two (SS2) students were used for the study. The instrument used for data collection was Biology Academic Performance Test (BAPT). Biology Academic Performance Test (BAPT) was validated by 3 experts in science education. The BAPT was pilot tested on intact class and a reliability coefficient of 0.79 was obtained using Kuder Richardson Formula-21 (K-R21). The research questions were answered using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation. The null hypotheses formulated were tested at 0.05 level of significance using inferential statistics of independent t-test. The findings showed that, there was a significant difference between the mean academic performance scores of students taught Biology using Guided Discovery method and those taught using Lecture method in favour of those students taught using Guided Discovery method. There was no significant difference between the mean academic performance scores of male and female students taught Biology using Guided Discovery method. It was recommended among others that; Biology teachers should use Guided Discovery method for teaching Biology at the secondary school level.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Biology, Gender, Science, guided discovery method
Effect of Guided Discovery Method on Secondary School Students’ Academic Performance in Biology in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria (Published)
Citation: Msuur Tofi; Emmanuel E. Achor and Victoria I. Eje (2022) Effect of Guided Discovery Method on Secondary School Students’ Academic Performance in Biology in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria, European Journal of Training and Development Studies, Vol.9 No.1, pp.32-40
Abstract: This study investigated the effect of Guided Discovery method on Senior Secondary School students’ academic performance in Biology in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Two research questions were raised and two null hypotheses were formulated. The study employed a quasi-experimental design. The population comprised of 8,670 Students in all the public Secondary Schools in Makurdi Metropolis. Two schools were randomly selected using simple random sampling technique from among the public Secondary Schools in Makurdi and a sample size of 47 Senior Secondary two (SS2) students were used for the study. The instrument used for data collection was Biology Academic Performance Test (BAPT). Biology Academic Performance Test (BAPT) was validated by 3 experts in science education. The BAPT was pilot tested on intact class and a reliability coefficient of 0.79 was obtained using Kuder Richardson Formula-21 (K-R21). The research questions were answered using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation. The null hypotheses formulated were tested at 0.05 level of significance using inferential statistics of independent t-test. The findings showed that, there was a significant difference between the mean academic performance scores of students taught Biology using Guided Discovery method and those taught using Lecture method in favour of those students taught using Guided Discovery method. There was no significant difference between the mean academic performance scores of male and female students taught Biology using Guided Discovery method. It was recommended among others that; Biology teachers should use Guided Discovery method for teaching Biology at the secondary school level.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Biology, Gender, Science, guided discovery method
Engagement in Mobile Learning As a Correlate of Academic Performance among Science Education Students in Public Universities in Enugu State, Nigeria (Published)
This study determined engagement in mobile learning as a correlate of academic performance among science education students. The correlation survey research design was employed. The population of the study comprised 83(34 males and 49 females) science education level 3 students of 2017/2018 academic session in the two public universities in Enugu State. The sample was all the eighty three (83) science education level 3 students since it is manageable. Two instruments; Students’ Engagement in Mobile Learning Questionnaire (SEMLQ) and Students’ Academic Performance Proforma (SAPP) developed by the researchers were used to collect data. The SEMLQ was subjected to reliability analysis using Cronbach Alpha Method. Data collected were analyzed using multiple regression analysis to answer the research questions and test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The result showed that: the regression/beta coefficients (β) associated with each of the predictor variables in predicting students’ academic performance was significant. A coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.77 obtained indicated that 77% of variation in students’ academic performance was attributable to students’ engagement in mobile learning compositely; gender does not significantly moderate the prediction of students’ academic performance.
Citation: Agbo Lourita Princess, Nwafor, Stephen Chinedu, Odukwe, Ogochukwu Chinelo (2021) Engagement in Mobile Learning As a Correlate of Academic Performance among Science Education Students in Public Universities in Enugu State, Nigeria, European Journal of Training and Development Studies, Vol.8 No.2, pp.1-10
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Enugu State, Mobile Learning, Nigeria, science education students’ public universities
Junior High School Mathematics Teachers’ Beliefs and their Instructional Practices and Its Effects on Students’ Academic Performance (Published)
For over a decade now, students’ performance in mathematics at the Junior High School leaves much to be desired. The trend in performance by students at the said level has made researchers ascertain the indicators and factors responsible for this low performance. As a matter of fact, a number of studies conducted have mentioned teachers’ beliefs and their instructional practices as one of the major factors that determines students’ performance in mathematics. This study, however, focused on finding out the effect of Junior High School teachers’beliefs and their instructional practices on the academic performance of students in mathematics. The study was conducted in the Cape Coast Metropolis in the Central Region of Ghana and utilized the descriptive survey design to explore the phenomenon in question. A sample of 31 teachers and 306 students were involved in the study. Analysis of results revealed that teachers who were involved in the study hold constructivist beliefs, however, there were discrepancies in the practices they enact in their classroom. Furthermore, there was no statistically significant effect of teachers’ beliefs and instructional practices on students’ performance. Implications for these findings to the teaching and learning of mathematics and teachers’ professional development are discussed in the work.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Beliefs, Effects, instructional practices
The Impact of Social Networking on Academic Performance in Mathematics in Selected Secondary Schools in Edo State (Published)
This study was aimed at investigating the impact of social networking on the academic performance of secondary school students in mathematics using selected secondary schools in Edo State. The study was necessitated by the relative new culture of communication and connecting with friends via the internet in this part of the world. The work also seeks to find out what motivate students to study mathematics. The study adopted descriptive research design; simple random sampling procedure was used to select ten public and private secondary schools out of the lot in the area. The research instrument used for data collection was questionnaire. The data obtained from respondents were analyzed using simple percentage and the results were briefly discussed. The findings revealed that students disposition towards their teacher (mathematics teacher in this case) and their intended career can motivate them to study mathematics; students have access to phones, computers and other communication devices and the internet. Majority of the respondents indicate that social networking do not have negative effect on their study habits. It was recommended that students should be enlightened on the academic advantage in social networks and guided to avoid been distracted from their studies.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Mathematics, Nigeria, Social Networking
Study Habits and Academic Performance of Secondary School Students in Rivers-West Senatorial District of Rivers State, Nigeria (Published)
The study investigated Study Habits and Academic Performance of Secondary School Students in Rivers-West Senatorial District of Rivers State, Nigeria. The population of the study is 2,650 Senior Secondary Two (S.S.2) students in selected public schools in the Rivers-West Senatorial District. The sample size is 437 which was chosen through Taro Yemeni’s sample size selection formula. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire which dwelt on the extent of relationship between aspects of study habit such as regular reading, students-teacher consultation, regular involvement in doing class assignments, regular library patronage and regular engagement in doing take-home assignments and academic performance. Five research questions guided the study and were analysed using mean statistical tool. The findings revealed that there is high extent of relationship between study habit and academic performance. Consequently, recommendations were made which include: parents should provide books and encourage their wards to study hard; counselors should be employed to counsel students on how to develop study habit; students should be encouraged to do their class and take-home assignments.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Assignment, Study Habit, secondary school students