EFFECT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN BIOLOGY

Abstract

This work focused on the effect of Information and Communication Technology on the academic achievement of senior school Biology students in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study sought to, examine the mean achievement score of secondary school students taught Biology using ICT compared to those taught using the traditional method and to examine the mean achievement score of male and female students taught Biology using the ICT among others. A sample of 90 students was drawn for the study using the purposive random sampling technique to select two secondary schools whose intact classes were used. The availability of ICT gadgets necessitated the selection of the schools used. An instrument titled Biology Achievement Test (BAT) was designed and used for data collection. The reliability coefficient of 0.84 was ensured using Kudar Richardson 21 (K-R21) formula for the

instrument. The result of the study revealed that a significant difference exists between the mean achievement score of secondary school students taught Biology using the ICT and those taught using the traditional method (F(1,85)= 133.062, p<0.05). Also, there was a significant difference in the mean achievement scores of male and female students taught Biology using the ICT (t = 5.173; df = 43; P < 0.05). Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that using ICTbased instructional methods has a substantial positive impact on improving students' academic performance in Biology. The findings also indicate that there are differences in achievement between male and female students when they are taught with ICT-based approaches. The study recommends that the school administrators should encourage the use of ICT in the teaching and learning of Biology by making ICT gadgets available for use in schools. Furthermore, a special programme should be put in place by governmental and non-governmental organizations to provide free ICT learning gadgets for female students to encourage them to use ICT and bridge the gap gender has created on the use of ICT.