Effect of Computer Assisted Instruction on Secondary School Students’ Achievement and Problem-Solving Skills in Biology

ABSTRACT: Biology has been taught and learnt in the Nigerian school system for several decades, but students’ poor performance and problem-solving skills have been a serious concern. This study investigated the effect of Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI), as an alternative mode of instruction, on senior secondary school students’ achievement and problem-solving skills in biology. The research was a quasi experimental with a nonrandomized pre-test-post-test control group in which intact classes were assigned to experimental and control groups. A sample of 100 students were purposively selected from two state-owned secondary schools. The students’ pre-test and post-test scores were subjected to Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The findings of the study revealed that the students exposed to CAI performed better than their counterparts taught with the lecture method. However, there was no discrimination along gender. Based on the research findings, recommendations were made on the need for teachers to develop and use CAI packages for teaching biology in Nigerian secondary schools.
KEYWORDS: Computer Assisted Instruction, problem-solving skills, senior secondary students, students’
academic achievement.