IMPACT OF REALIA INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY STUDENTS IN LAPAI METROPOLIS OF NIGER STATE

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of Realia Instructional Material on academic achievement among secondary school biology students in Lapai metropolis of Niger State. Quasi experimental research design was used for the study. A total of 160 (SS II) biology students from two randomly selected government owned secondary schools in Lapai metropolis were Used for the study. One school was assigned to experimental group and taught the concept of pollination in plant using realia instructional material while the other school was used as control group and taught the same concept using conventional lecture method. The test instrument used for data collection was a 30-item test questions drawn from West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) past questions and modified and used for this study. The test instrument was validated by relevant experts, pilot tested and its reliability coefficient determined to be 0.81. Two null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 significant level. t-test statistic was used to analyze the data obtained. Findings of this study revealed that the use of realia instructional material enhanced students' academic achievement on the concept of pollination in plant. It was therefore recommended amongst others that, government should organize seminars, workshops and conferences on the use of realia instructional material as an instructional strategy for teachers at secondary school level to enhance effective teaching and learning of biology in particular and sciences in general.