EFFECTS OF COMPUTER SIMULATION MODEL ON SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ UNDERSTANDING OF THE PARTICULATE NATURE OF MATTER
Abstract
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the effects of computer simulation model on secondary school students’ understanding of the particulate nature of matter. Four research questions and four hypotheses guided the study The study adopted the pre – test, post – test control group quasi – experimental design. Forty – two thousand, eight hundred and eight students made up the population for this study. Two hundred and thirty-six SS II students were the sample for this study. The sampled schools were selected using simple random sampling technique. Scholastic Ability Test in Chemistry (SATIC) and Chemistry Achievement Test (CAT) were the instruments used for data collection. CAT has a reliability coefficient value of 0.77 obtained using Kuder Richardson formula 21. The data obtained was analyzed using mean, standard deviation, t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The result of the study showed that: students taught Chemistry with computer simulation performed significantly better than their counterparts taught with lecture method; there was no significant difference in the performance of male and female students taught chemistry with computer simulation model; there was a significant difference in the mean retention scores of students taught chemistry using computer simulation model and those taught with lecture method, in favour of computer simulation model; there was no significant effect of interaction of sex and ability on students’ achievement in chemistry; there was no significant effect of interaction of sex and teaching method (computer simulation model and lecture method) on students’ retention of chemistry. The study further found that there was no significant effect of interaction among method, sex and ability on students’ retention towards chemistry. The study recommends that chemistry teachers should adopt the use of computer simulation model in teaching chemistry at the secondary school level; to enhance students’ active participation and interaction of chemistry concept.
Key words: Computer simulation model, secondary school students, particulate nature, matter.