IMPACT OF COOPERATIVE LEARNING STRATEGY ON SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN BALANCING CHEMICAL EQUATION IN DUTSIN-MA METROPOLIS. A RESEARCH PROJECT TOPIC ON SCIENCE EDUCATION

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the Impact of Cooperative Learning Strategy on Secondary School Students’ Academic Achievement in Balancing Chemical Equation in Dutsin-Ma Metropolis. A sample of one hundred and seventy-seven (177) SS I students was drawn using a purposive sampling technique from a population of six hundred and twenty four (624) SSI students in the study area. The study employed quasi-experimental design. The Experimental group was taught using Cooperative Learning Strategy while control group was taught using Lecture Method. An instrument titled: Balancing Chemical Equation Achievement Test (BCEAT) was employed for data collection. The instrument was duly validated by experts. The reliability Coefficients of the instrument was 0.76. Research questions raised were answered using Means and Standard Deviations while research hypotheses were tested using t-test, at 0.05 level of significant. Research findings revealed significant difference in the academic achievement of students taught balancing chemical equation concepts using Cooperative Learning Strategy and those taught the same concept using Lecture Method and there is no significant difference in academic achievement of male and female students taught balancing chemical equation concepts using Cooperative Learning Strategy. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended among others that Chemistry teachers in secondary schools should incorporate cooperative learning strategy in their teacher education programs, in-service courses and that the strategy to be practiced by teachers in chemistry classrooms as part of an overall strategy to reduce gender differences in chemistry achievement.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Chemistry is a branch of science that deals with the fundamental materials composing the entire physical world. Chemistry as an aspect of science, studies the composition, properties and uses of matter (Ababio, 2010). It probes into the changes that matter undergoes under different conditions. Our environment is made of matter; chemistry therefore deals with the study of our environment and explaining things that are happening. For examples rusting of iron nails, burning of substance, photosynthesis and many more. In addition, most of the things that can be touch, taste or smells are chemicals, such as laundry detergent and drugs, which are by product of chemistry.

Similarly, chemistry plays a vital role in other Scientific and technological disciplines such as agriculture, biochemistry, engineering, medicine, microbiology, and pharmacy among others. That is why it becomes compulsory for students to have sound background knowledge of chemistry up to secondary school certificate level before undertaking courses in any science related disciplines.

IMPACT OF COOPERATIVE LEARNING STRATEGY ON SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN BALANCING CHEMICAL EQUATION IN DUTSIN-MA METROPOLIS. A RESEARCH PROJECT TOPIC ON SCIENCE EDUCATION