Effectiveness of Computer-Based Instruction on Academic Performance of Pre-Degree Students in Biology, Abdullahi, Shuaibu

Abstract

This study determined the effectiveness of computer-based instruction on the academic performance of pre-degree students in Biology in Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola. One research question and three null hypotheses tested at 0.05 level of significance guided the study. The researchers studied the entire population of 220 students. The design of the study was quasi-experimental, specifically the non-equivalent control group design. The instrument for data collection was a Biology Achievement Test composed of 50 objective test items. The instrument was both face and content validated and test-retest method was used to estimate the reliability. The Pearson product moment correlation method was used to calculate the reliability coefficient of first and second administration of the test which gave a coefficient of stability of 0.76. The t-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Result shows that the students taught with computer-based instruction performed better than those taught with conventional lecture method (p>0.05) because there was significant difference between the performance of the two groups. It was recommended among others that computer-based instruction be used to teach biology because it enhanced students’ academic performance.