Effects of K-W-L Instructional Strategy on Academic Performance of Pupils in Primary Mathematics and English in Owerri North Lga of Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find out if learners taught algebraic expression/elementary statistics in Mathematics and parts of speech in English Language using K-W-L instructional strategy will have better academic performance than those taught with the conventional Teacher method at 0.05 alpha levels. The researchers used quasi-experimental design which adopted the pretest, post-test Experimental group method. The area of study was Owerri North LGA Imo State, Nigeria. The population of the study was all Primary 5 learners in Owerri North Public schools. Purposive sampling technique was used to select three primary schools and simple random sampling technique was used to select classes in each of the schools. The sample of the study was 120 primary learners. The data collection instruments for the study were treatment 1 (K-W-L instructional strategies), treatment 2, (TCM [Teacher conventional method), Treatment 3 (combined TCM & K-W-L), multiple-choice questions for each subject chosen from past FSLCE and Common entrance questions. Two research questions and one null hypothesis guided the study. Mean, standard deviation and ANCOVA were the statistical tools used to analyze the data. The findings of the study revealed that the group taught with combined TCM & K-W-L achieved higher academically than the group taught with only TCM or K-W-L. The study also discovered that K-W-L instructional strategy is gender friendly. It was recommended that primary school teachers should be encouraged to use K-W-L instructional strategy to facilitate learners’ performance in algebraic expression, elementary statistics and parts of speech. Furthermore Basic Education Stake holders should organize regular workshops and seminars to train and retrain teachers on the use of 21st century teaching strategies.