DETERMINATION OF THE EFFECT OF COLLABORATIVE AND INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING STRATEGIES ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN CHEMISTRY CLASSES

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DETERMINATION OF THE EFFECT OF COLLABORATIVE AND INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING STRATEGIES ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN CHEMISTRY CLASSES

ABSTRACT

The study aimed to investigate the effect of using cooperative learning strategy on graduate students’ academic performance and  gender differences  in educational statistics and eduactional research methoud courses. The convenience sample used consisted (23) master’s students’ (18 female and 14 male) who study the educational statistics course, and (24) master’s students’ (13 female and 11 male) who study educational research method course from faculty of education at King Saud University. This study employed a quasi-experimental – nonequivalent control-group design with pretest, posttest and delyead posttest  In this study, educational statistics performance test (ESPT) and educational  research method test  was used to measure the students’  performance. The both tests consisted of 30 multiple choice questions to collect the relevant data. The data collected was analyzed using independent samples t-test statistical methods. Findings of this study revealed that there was no significant difference in academic performance of male and female students at the pretest, posttest, and delayed posttest levels respectively. However,  further investigations and analysis could be beneficial to

obtain a complete vision of cooperative learning strategy for graduate students’ and invest more empirical research studies about teaching and learning strategies. 

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background of the Study

Science and technology are important tools for development and productivity in any nation.Science is a necessity for every nation that wants to maintain its independence, sovereignty, self reliance, ensure growth, and have its head held high among civilized nations. This is because science and technology provide the basic tools for industrialization and economic development in the areas of communication, transport, energy, information, pollution and waste control, among others. In Nigeria, the study of science is so great importance,that a lot of emphasis had been laid on the teaching and learning of science, as contained in the National Policy of Education (FME, 2004). This can be achieved by the inculcation in the learners the necessary scientific skills and attitudes.

The inculcation of scientific skills and attitudes in students can only be achieved through the proper teaching of various science subjects. These include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Health Science, Agriculture, etc. Chemistry as one of the science subjects, when property taught, will help the students to solve personal and societal problems. Knowledge of chemistry helps to understand the world around us, why leaves changes colour in the fall, why plants are green, and what is in soap and how it cleans. The importance of chemistry as a secondary school subject can be further illustrated by the fact that a candidate must obtain a credit pass in it, for admission into any Nigerian University to study such important science-based courses as Medicine, Pharmacy, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Food technology, etc.

Despite the importance of the subject chemistry, students still perform poorly in subject. The low performance as reported in various science tests is evident in most science subjects in general. This is pointed out by the report of the registrar, joint Admission and Matriculation Board (2008) who indicated that the performance of candidates in the University Matriculation Examination (UME) over the last three years has shown a steady decline. This is an indication of low retention of what is taught and subsequently poor achievement.

The centre of science and technology culture is chemistry, because chemistry is the foundation upon which industrial growth and economic prosperity is rooted. In the same way, the question, what on earth is not chemistry? as reported in International Charter Chemistry of Nigeria (ICCON, 2008), has remained an enigma since 1998. Koku (2003) noted that chemistry and chemical technology are among the disciplines essential for national development. He further asserts that nations must on continuous basis ensure the production of required number of adequately trained and properly oriented chemists, chemical engineers, chemical laboratory technologists and technicians to assure the responsibility of creating a viable chemical industry as well as supplying the chemical manpower expertise required by other industries. According to Hill, chemistry is so inclusive that it serves as a pre-requisite to the study of all science based disciplines. No wonder the Federal Ministry of Education in the national curriculum of 2009 and in line with the National Policy on Education FRN (2004) gave prominence to science subjects like chemistry, physics, Mathematics and Computer Sciences.

Chemistry is one of the science subjects taught at the senior secondary school levels of our educational system. Chemistry teachers must employ all means and utilize effective teaching strategies to increase the interest of students in chemistry, which will subsequently improve their performance in chemistry examinations such as the senior secondary school examination (SSCE). However, to buttress the above argument, a situational report on how student have been academically performing in the SSCE especially the West African Examination Council (WAEC) will really be highlighted.

DETERMINATION OF THE EFFECT OF COLLABORATIVE AND INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING STRATEGIES ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN CHEMISTRY CLASSES

DETERMINATION OF THE EFFECT OF COLLABORATIVE AND INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING STRATEGIES ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN CHEMISTRY CLASSES