COLLABORATIVE LEARNING STRATEGY AND STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN BIOLOGY IN UYO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    Background to the study

        In teaching and learning process, there are some teaching strategies adopted by the teacher to enhance effective learning, which one of them is collaborative learning strategy. Collaborative learning involves a group of people or students to work on a particular topic assigned by their teacher.

        According to a collaborative learning study conducted by Lee and Bonk (2014), there are still many issues that are being resolved when dealing with collaborative learning is used as an umbrella term for a variety of approaches in education that involve combine intellectual effort by students or students and teachers by engaging individuals in interdependent learning activities. The study of Biology is essential for the nation’s scientific and technological development. Nwagbo and Okoro (2012) asserted that without sound knowledge and wholesome attitude towards Biology, the much needed and vouched technological breakthroughs may not be achieved.

        For instance, the knowledge of Biology is brought to play in areas of manufacturing and processing industries, medicines, food production, and pharmaceuticals among others. If our Nigerian educational institutions can produce sound Biology graduates, the transformation agenda of Government on education, health, job creation, labour and productivity could be actualized.

        Many have found this to be beneficial in helping students’ learn effectively than if the students were to learn independently. Students retain mare information from thoughtful discussion, and students have a more positive attitude towards learning by working together.

        Encouraging collaborative learning may also help improve the learning environment in higher education as well. The social interactions possible in a collaborative learning environment enhance learning. Thus, an instructor (teacher) has to devise create on enabling environment that supports the learners as they progresses in activities of a given course (Grossman and wagner, 2000). Nwagbo and Okoro (2012), opined that the interactions between the teacher and students, students  and students, and students and learning materials; respectively, during the teaching and learning process, modify behavior, help students to socialize, develop desirable attitude and interests, help in identification of process and create an atmosphere to develop problem solving skills. Certain researcher in addition to the ones cited above (Ellsworth, 2003 and Bailey and cotlar, 2004) asserted that a teaching method which encapsulates collaboration and interaction would improve performance.

        As a matter of fact, collaborative learning strategy (CLS) has been found to yield positive outcomes in other fields of study as proved by the findings of the works of the researchers cited above, but it is yet to be adopted in the teaching and learning of Biology. Would the use of collaborative learning strategy enhanced student academic performance in Biology in Uyo local Government Area? Hence, this study.

1.2    Statement of the Problem

        Due to the growing number of failures in Biology in public examinations like WACE, NECO and GCE in recent times among our secondary school students has become a cause of concern. Again, many educationists tend to lay the blame on the teaching methodology adopted by the Biology teachers and lack of fund from the government to provide quality text book.

        However, these might not be the only reason why students perform poorly in Biology examination. It is true that many factors contributes to poor academic performance of students generally, but this study south to find out to what extend do collaborative learning strategy affects students’ academic performance in Biology in Uyo Local Government Area.

1.3    Purpose of the Study

        The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of collaborative learning strategy on student’s academic performance in Biology in Uyo Local Government Area.

Specifically, the study sought to:

(1)         To determine the mean achievement scores of students exposed to collaborative learning strategy and those exposed to lecture method.

(2)        To determine the mean achievement scores of male and female students exposed to collaborative learning strategy and those exposed to lecture method.

1.4    Research Questions

        For the purpose of this study, the researcher raised the following questions:

(1)        What difference exist in the mean achievement scores of students exposed to collaborative learning strategy and those expose to lecture learning strategy in Biology?

(2)        What difference exists in the mean achievement scores of male and female students exposed to collaborative learning strategy in Biology?

1.5   Research Hypotheses

        The following null hypotheses were formulated for the study:

(1)        There is no significant difference in the mean achievement scores of students exposed to collaborative learning strategy and those expose to lecture learning strategy in Biology?

(2)        There is no significant difference in the mean achievement scores of male and female students exposed to collaborative learning strategy in Biology in Uyo.

1.6    Significance of the Study

        The result of the study will be of immense benefit to different stakeholders of education if the recommended method is effectively adopted by teachers there by enhancing students learning.

        Secondly, the result will guide the government in the provision of suitable Biology apparatus, materials and equipment that would aid students learning because the effectiveness Biology education depends on this.

        Finally, this study would go further to stimulate student’s interest in Biology irrespective of their gender through their participation in the learning process. However, the result of the study would enable educationist to derive new method of this subject. The recommendations in this study will provide basic facts for further researchers.

1.7    Limitation of the Study

        These are limited to a number of factors such as time, finance and geographical factors that is the study will be limited to the learning strategy and academic performance of students in Biology in Uyo Local Government Area.

1.8    Definition of Terms

        Since every concept is usually defined to suit the purpose for which it is meant. Thus, terms defined below are specifically for the purpose of this study.

Collaborative:  this refers to work in partnership.

Learning: this refers to act of gaining knowledge of or skill in  by study. It also refers to practice or being taught.

Strategy: This refers to a skill in managing any affair.

Student:  This refers to a person who is studying at a school especially from secondary school up to the University level.

Academic Performance:   This is defined as the grade/scores a student obtains in an achievement test or examination. It is also the outcome of education, the extent to which a student’s teacher achieved.

Biology:   This refers to the branch of science that deal with the study of natural processes of living things.