Comparative Effectiveness of Virtual Field Trip and Real Field Trip on Students’ Academic Performance in Social Studies in Osun State Secondary Schools

Abstract

This study compared the effectiveness of virtual field trip and real field trip on students’ knowledge and retention ability in Social Studies in Osun State secondary schools. The sample consist of 127 JSS I students. Two public schools were randomly selected for the study. From each of the two schools, one intact JSS1 class was randomly assigned to either virtual field trip or real field trip group. One instrument was used for this study. Data collected were subjected to analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The result showed that there is a significant difference in the effectiveness of virtual field trip and real field trip on students’ knowledge in Social Studies (F = 433.108) in favour of virtual field trip at p = 0.000 . The results also indicated significant effectiveness of virtual field trip and real field trip on students retention ability (F = 470.020) in favour of real field trip at p = 0.000. Based on the findings of this study it was concluded that virtual field trip strategy is more effective in enhancing students learning in Social Studies than the real field trip strategy. Whereas real field trip strategy can help students to retain knowledge better and longer than virtual field trip strategy. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n1p467