Effect of Laboratory Activity on Academic Achievement in Ecology Concepts among Secondary School Biology Students in Kaduna State

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of laboratory activity on Academic Achievement among Secondary School Biology Students in Sabon Gari LGA, Kaduna State. Two objectives, research Questions and Hypotheses guided the research. The population comprised all 1986 senior secondary school Biology students in Sabon Gari LGA. A sample comprised of 116 students randomly selected from two coeducation schools in Sabon Gari LGA was used for the study. Pretest and posttest, experimental and control group design was used for the study. One validated instrument called Biology performance Test (BPT) with r=0.76 was used to gather data. Data were collected by the researchers from the sample schools using BPT. The experimental group was taught Ecology concepts using the Laboratory method while the control group was exposed to the lecture method. Data collected were analyzed using t-test statistics. The hypotheses were tested at a p≤0.05 level of significance. The study results revealed that differences exist in performance when students have been exposed to laboratory and lecture teaching methods in favour of the experimental group. Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made; the use of laboratory instruction should be encouraged among teachers of Biology to improve students' performance The laboratory method should also be encouraged to promote the learning of Biology by both male and female students.