The research departs from the realization that technological advancement, especially Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is greatly changing the process of teaching and learning, in higher institutions. While this process of change may not yet be so speedy in Nigeria, there is no doubt that the traditional or conventional teaching process is gradually giving way, and the ICT based teaching is setting into the fora of higher education. Using the quasi-experimental design involving pretest, posttest and non-randomized control and experimental groups, the study examined the achievement scores of students taught Use of English using computer-assisted instruction (CAI) and conventional method of teaching. The population of the study comprised all the year one students offering the Use of English. The sample of the study consisted of one thousand and eighteen students drawn from two Universities in Anambra State. Two research questions guided the study and three null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level significance. The instrument for data collection was Use of English Achievement Test (UEAT) made up of 30 multiple choice test items with four options (A-D) from GSS 101 curriculum. The instrument was validated by three experts and a reliability coefficient of 0.80 was obtained using Kuder-Richardson Formula 20. Data collected were analyzed using mean scores to answer the research questions and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) to test the null hypotheses. Findings revealed a significant difference in the post test scores of students in the control group and experimental group. Although, students in the experimental group (taught Use of English using CAI) had higher mean scores than their counterparts taught using the conventional method of teaching. Also there was no significant difference in the mean scores of male and female students taught Use of English using CAI. Based on the findings it was recommended that Computer-Assistant Instruction should be encouraged in the teaching and learning of Use of English.
Keywords: Academic Achievement, Conventional Teaching Method, Post-Test, Pre-Test, computer-aided instruction (CAI), interaction effect.
