ERIC Number: EJ1105278
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2222-1735
EISSN: N/A
Project Based Learning on Students' Performance in the Concept of Classification of Organisms among Secondary Schools in Kenya
Wekesa, Noah Wafula; Ongunya, Raphael Odhiambo
Journal of Education and Practice, v7 n16 p25-31 2016
The concept of classification of organisms in Biology seems to pose a problem to Secondary School students in Kenya. Though, the topic is important for understanding of the basic elements of the subject. The Examinations Council in Kenya has identified teacher centred pedagogical techniques as one of the main causes for this. Project based learning technique has been successfully used as an instructional technique in countries like Japan and United States of America to improve students' academic achievement and positive attitude development among students in science practicals in Biology. The study therefore investigated the influence of project based learning technique on achievement of students in classification of organisms among Secondary Schools in Kenya with particular focus on academic achievement and attitude development. Quasi experimental design was employed. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select eight classes from four secondary schools with a total of 360 students. Students' Attitude Questionnaires and Classification Achievement Test were used as instruments. Analysis of Variance and t-test were employed in data analysis. The study revealed that project based learning technique enabled students to improve in academic achievement as well as developing positive attitude towards classification of organisms. The study recommends to the Ministry of Education and its agencies to adopt project based learning technique among other student centred instructional techniques for teaching of practical oriented concepts like Classification of Organisms.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Active Learning, Student Projects, Science Achievement, Scientific Concepts, Classification, Biology, Secondary School Science, Secondary School Students, Teaching Methods, Scientific Attitudes, Quasiexperimental Design, Student Attitudes, Attitude Measures, Questionnaires, Achievement Tests, Statistical Analysis, Positive Attitudes, Student Centered Learning, Attitude Change, Pretests Posttests
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Kenya
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A