Improving Senior Secondary Students’ Retention in Electrolysis Using Collaborative Concept Mapping Instructional Strategy (CCMIS)

Abstract

In this study, improving senior secondary students' retention in electrolysis using Collaborative Concept Mapping Instructional Strategy (CCMIS) was examined. A sample of 189 students from six selected secondary schools out of a population of 5,114 Senior Secondary I students from Ardo-Kola Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria was used for the study. Non-equivalent quasi-experimental research design was adopted. The instrument used for data collection was Electrolysis Retention Test (ERT) with the reliability value of 0.78 using Kuder-Richardson. Two research questions and three null hypotheses guided the study. Mean and Standard Deviation scores were used to answer the research questions while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the null hypotheses. The study revealed that there is significant difference in the mean retention scores between students taught electrolysis using CCMIS and discussion method in favour of CCMIS; [F(1,97) =6.300, P<0.050]. No significant difference was found in the mean retention scores between male and female students taught electrolysis using CCMIS; [F(1,97) =6.300, P>0.050]. It also found no significant interaction effect between methods and gender on the mean retention scores of students in electrolysis; [F(1,197) =.318, P>0.050]. It was recommended among others that CCMIS should be adopted while teaching electrolysis since it has been proved to be a viable option in enhancing students' retention capacity regardless of their gender.