Understanding the Concepts of Digestive System in Biology Using Computer Simulation

Abstract

This study examined understanding the concept of the digestive system in biology using computer simulation. It also determined whether the performance of the students would vary with gender when exposed to a computer simulation package (CSP) and biology instructional model (BIM). Participants were 60 senior secondary II (SSII) biology students drawn from three schools in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. The schools were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group I was taught the concept of the digestive system using CSP, experimental group II was exposed to BIM and the conventional method was used for the control group. A 20-item Biology Achievement Test (BAT) was validated and its reliability determined as 0.78 using Kuder-Richardson (KR-21). The data collected were analysed with t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe’s post-hoc test. The results revealed that there was significant difference in the mean performance scores of students in experimental groups (I & II) and control group. There was no significant difference between the mean scores of male and female students taught biology using computer simulation package, implying that the package is gender-friendly. Also, no significant difference was found between the mean scores of male and female students taught biology using biology instructional model. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the use of the computer simulation package was more effective than the biology instructional model and conventional method of teaching respectively. Therefore, it was recommended that use of computer simulation for teaching the concept of digestive system should be encouraged