Organizing Project Method of Teaching for Effective Agricultural Knowledge and Skills Acquisition: Comparison of Individual and Group Student Projects

Abstract

Agricultural science curricula for Senior High Schools (SHSs) in Ghana is expected to be taught as both science and vocation in order to produce agricultural graduates with the requisite competency and skills to practice agriculture as a vocation or further their education in agricultural related programmes. In achieving this broad objective, several teaching methodologies have been tested and deployed in teaching agricultural science in Ghanaian SHSs. This paper report findings of an action research conducted in Awe Senior High School in the Navrongo Municipality of the Upper East Region of Ghana investigating the best way of deploying project teaching method for effective result. Through simple random sampling, 100 students were sampled and randomly assigned a project of raising tomatoes seedlings in a group of five or individually. Observations, personal interviews, focus group discussion and key informant interviews were employed in gathering data for the study.  Discourse analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in analysing the data gathered. Findings of the study showed that assigning agricultural practical project to students, either individually or in a group of not more than five students, generally contribute significantly in students’ knowledge and skills acquisition. However, the group method of organizing student’s project was found as most effective in improving students’ knowledge and skills. The group method was found to be cost effective and efficient in improving students’ knowledge and skills in nursery practices. It is recommended that the school authority and Ghana Education Service (GES) should equipped and encouraged SHSs to deploy project method of teaching in teaching agricultural skills.  Also to ensure cost effectiveness and effective knowledge and skills acquisition, project method of teaching should be organized in a group of not more than five students.

Keywords: Project teaching method, agricultural skills, knowledge, Individual projects and Group Projects