EFFECTS OF GUIDED DISCOVERY AND COMPUTER-ASSISTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES ON BASIC SCIENCE CONCEPTUAL CHANGE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study determined the effects of Guided Discovery (GD) and Computer-Assisted Instructional (CAI) strategies on Basic Science conceptual change of secondary school students in Osun State. This was with a view to improving students' conceptual change and retention of the changed concepts in Basic Science in junior secondary schools in Osun State. The study adopted the pre-test, post-test control group quasi-experimental research design. The population of the study comprised all junior secondary school class two students in Basic Science in Osun State. The study sample comprised 180 Junior Secondary two students. Six schools were randomly selected through simple random sampling technique (three urban & and three rural). An intact class of JSII was selected using simple random sampling technique from each school. The selected intact classes were assigned to two experimental groups and one control group in both urban and rural areas. Two instruments used for data collection are: Basic Science Concept Test (BSCT) and Basic Science Achievement Test (BSAT). Data collected were analyzed using mean, standard deviation and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The results showed a significant effect of the instructional strategies on students' conceptual change (F = 18.048: p<0.05) with CAI having the highest significant effect on students' conceptual change (x=17.8667) The results further revealed a significant effect of the instructional strategies on retention ability of learned concepts in Basic Science (F= 108.034: p < 0.05). The students taught with CAI having a higher retention ability. The results finally showed a significant interaction effects of school location and methods on conceptual change of secondary school students (F = 10.929: p<0.05) with urban learners performing better (x = 17.8667) than the rural learners in BSCT and BSAT. The study concluded that GD and CAI are effective and innovative teaching methods in improving students' conceptual change and retention of the changed concepts in Basic Science in junior secondary schools in Osun State.