Effects of Predict-Observe-Explain Strategy on Conceptual Change and Achievement of Junior Secondary II Students in Basic Science and Technology in Jos, Nigeria
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of the Predict–Observe–Explain strategy on the achievement and conceptual change of Junior Secondary School II students in Basic Science and Technology in Jos South Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria. The study was motivated by persistent poor achievement and misconceptions among students in science-related concepts. Specifically, it examined the effects of the POE strategy on students’ achievement and conceptual change, as well as the influence of gender. A quasi-experimental research design, using a non- equivalent pre-test and post-test control group design, was adopted. The population comprised 1,628 JS II students from 20 co-educational public secondary schools in Jos South. A sample of 61 students (24 males and 37 females) from two randomly selected public junior secondary schools was used. One school served as the experimental group with 33 students (11 males and 22 females), while the other served as the control group with 28 students (13 males and 15 females). Intact classes were used for both groups. Data were collected using the Conceptual Change Diagnostic Test and the Basic Science and Technology Achievement Test . The instruments were validated by experts and yielded reliability coefficients of 0.899 and 0.863, respectively. Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and Analysis of Covariance at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that students taught using the POE strategy achieved significantly higher achievement scores and demonstrated greater conceptual change than those taught using the conventional teaching method. ANCOVA results showed significant differences in achievement and conceptual change in favour of the experimental group. The findings further indicated that both male and female students benefited from the POE strategy. Although female students recorded slightly higher achievement gains and male students showed slightly higher conceptual change gains, these differences were not statistically significant. Similarly, no significant interaction effects were found between treatment and gender on either achievement or conceptual change. The study concluded that the Predict– Observe–Explain strategy is an effective learner-centred instructional approach for improving students’ achievement and promoting conceptual change in Basic Science and Technology, regardless of gender. It was recommended that teachers adopt the POE strategy in classroom instruction, that teacher education programmes provide training in constructivist teaching approaches, and that schools supply the instructional resources necessary for effective implementation.
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