EFFECTS OF STUDY TECHNOLOGY LEARNING STRATEGIES ON SENIOR SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENT IN ECOLOGY IN ILORIN, NIGERIA

Rihanat Aduke AHMED; Isaac Olakanmi ABIMBOLA & Mulkah Adebisi AHMED

Abstract

Study Technology is an activity-based strategy that could be used as panacea for any learning difficulties in any subject because it can enhance efficient learning with full mastery. Studies have established that senior school students experience difficulties in learning some basic concepts in Biology. Such concepts are Genetics, Embryology, Evolution and Ecology among many others. This study, therefore, investigated the effects of Study Technology Learning Strategies on Senior School Students’ Achievement in Ecology in Ilorin, Nigeria. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design involving pre-test, post-test control groups, with a 3x3 matrix. The sample was made up of purposively selected 399 Senior School 1 Students, comprising 171 males and 228 females from three schools. Content validated Teacher Training Package; Systematic Lesson Plans and Ecology Achievement Test were used as instruments. A reliability coefficient of 0.71 was obtained for EAT with Pearson Product-moment Correlation involving SPSS Statistical package of version 22. Three hypotheses were tested with ANCOVA at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study were that: learning with Demo kit combined with learning on a gradient had a significant effect on the students’ achievement (F (1,175) =50.30, p<0.05); (ii) learning with Demo kit combined with word clearing had a significant effect on the students’ achievement (F (1,140) = 92, 98, p<0.05; there was a significant effect of the combined variables on students’ achievement in Ecology based on score level (F (1,157)=  8.308, p<0.05). The study concluded that when students learnt with Demo kit combined with learning on a gradient and word clearing, they achieved better. It was therefore recommended that Biology students should be assisted to learn Ecology by using many Study Technology learning strategies to improve their achievement.