Effect of Computer-Assisted Instruction on Students’ Performance in Selected Cell Division Topics: A Quasi-Experimental Study at Adisadel College, Ghana

Abstract

This quasi-experimental study explored the effectiveness of CAI in a Biology classroom at Adisadel College in Ghana. The study participants were 80 second-year Biology students who were conveniently sampled from the Green Track and the Gold Track of students in the school. The experimental group consisted of 40 students and was engaged in using CAI for five consecutive weeks. The students in the control group were taught by the conventional method. Students in both groups were exposed to the same content for the same period. The same pre-test and post-test were conducted on both groups, and the responses were analyzed using a t-test. A 10-item Likert-scale questionnaire was administered to the experimental group after the treatment to assess the impact of the CAI on their learning. The study’s findings revealed that students exposed to CAI performed significantly better than their counterparts taught with conventional instruction. The students also support the use of CAI in their classrooms. The Physics Education Technology (PhET) simulations used during the study improved students’ understanding of the concepts and thus reflected in their performance in the post-test. Science teachers are encouraged to employ PhET simulations in their teaching.