Effect of Frequent Practical Work on Secondary School Students' Achievement in Biology

JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, MATHEMATICS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION (JSTMEE) VOL. 1 NO. 1, PP 14-24

11 Pages Posted: 7 Apr 2016

See all articles by Emmanuel Edoja Achor

Emmanuel Edoja Achor

Benue State University

Samuel Agambar

College of Education, Oju, Benue State

Date Written: January 30, 2016

Abstract

The study examined the effect of frequency of practical work on achievement of senior secondary two (SS2) students in Biology. A sample of 228 SS2 Students from three government-approved schools in Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State Nigeria was used. Biology Achievement Test (BAT) with reliability coefficients of 0.89 was used to collect data from students in Biology. Mean and standard deviations were used to answer research questions while analysis of covariance was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. ANCOVA with the P-value of less than 0.05 for achievement (F2, 221 = 240.521, p<0.05) among the harmonized, intermediate and the control groups showed that there was significant difference in achievement. No significant difference was observed between boys and girls in the intermediate (F1, 278=0.015, p>0.05) and the harmonized (F1, 65 = 3.248, p>0.05) groups. It is recommended that teachers should endeavour to organize practical work for students as frequently as possible (at least once a week) so as to develop in the students the practical skills required of them for final examination. Also students should be advised to take every biology practical work very seriously. Finally laboratory technicians should be employed by school authorities to assist biology teacher(s) in the area of practical work so that workload, time management and frequent practical are realistic to enhance students’ achievement.

Keywords: Biology achievement, frequency of practical, practical biology, harmonized practical group, intermediate practical group, and biology laboratory

Suggested Citation

Achor, Emmanuel Edoja and Agambar, Samuel, Effect of Frequent Practical Work on Secondary School Students' Achievement in Biology (January 30, 2016). JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, MATHEMATICS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION (JSTMEE) VOL. 1 NO. 1, PP 14-24, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2758976

Emmanuel Edoja Achor (Contact Author)

Benue State University ( email )

Department of Science and Mathematics Education
Makurdi, 97001
Nigeria
+2348035157702 (Phone)

Samuel Agambar

College of Education, Oju, Benue State ( email )

Oju, Benue 234
Nigeria
+2348070819030 (Phone)

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