Instructional Methods and Students’ End of Term Achievement in Biology in Selected Secondary Schools in Sokoto Metropolis, Sokoto State Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the Correlation between instructional methods and students end of term achievement in Biology in selected secondary schools in Sokoto Metropolis, Sokoto State Nigeria. The study addressed three Specific objectives. To examine the relationship between; Cooperative learning methods, guided discovery, Simulation Method and students end of term achievement in Biology. Cross-sectional survey design was used in the study and questionnaires were used to collect responses. A sample of 381 respondents from both students and Biology teachers in Nagarta College Sokoto and Sultan Bello Secondary School was used. The findings of the study established statistically significant relationship between instructional methods and students’ academic achievement with Co-operative learning method (r =.86, and p. < .05) very strong positive Correlation, Guided Discovery method (r =.57, and p. < .05) moderate positive Correlation and Simulation method(r =.89, and p. < .05) very strong positive Correlation. This implies that the use of different instructional methods by Biology teachers was not put to waste. Based on conclusions, more emphasis is needed in active engagement of students in hands-on experience and use of hypermedia tools in order to reduce students’ imagination in understanding Biological concepts were recommended.

Keywords: cooperative learning, simulation, guided discovery, instructional methods, academic achievement