This study investigated the effect of microscope and microbes simulation kit on students’ academic performance in Biology in Uruan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Three research questions were raised and three null hypotheses were stated to guide the study. Quasi experimental research design was adopted in the study. Specifically, pre-test, posttest nonequivalent control group design consisting of two experimental groups and one control group was used. The study was conducted in six co-educational public schools in Uruan Local Government Area. A sample of 264 Senior Secondary I Biology students in their intact classes from a population of 3074 students. The intact classes were randomly assigned into two experimental groups and one control group respectively based on location of school. Students in experimental group 1 were taught the concept of microorganism using microscope; students in experimental group 2 were taught using microbes simulation kit while students in control group were taught without instructional material. A researcher-made instrument titled Biology Test on Microorganism with reliability coefficient of 0.87 was used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using mean, standard deviation and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Mean and standard Deviation were used to answer research questions while ANCOVA was used to test hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings showed that students taught microorganisms using microscope as well as microbes simulation kit had higher mean performance scores than those taught without instructional material. Gender was not a significant factor in determining Biology students’ performance and retention. Furthermore, there was a significant interaction effect of gender and instructional material on students’ performance. Based on the findings, it was concluded that although students taught using microscope performed slightly higher than those taught using microscopes simulation kit; both microscope and microbes simulation kit were effective in enhancing students’ performance in the concept of microorganisms in Biology irrespective of gender.
Keywords: : Academic Performance, Microbes Simulation Kit, Microscope
