Effects of learning together on senior school students’ achievement in photosynthesis and students’ gender in Offa, Nigeria

Abstract

The poor performance of students in Biology is a concern of every teacher and has evoked research interests into learning strategies that can be used to improve the performance of students in Biology curriculum and other field of sciences. One of the fundamental qualities of a curriculum is dynamism, therefore there is need to investigate the activities that could promote Biology teaching in the secondary schools. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effects of learning together strategy on students’ academic achievement in photosynthesis and students’ gender. The study employs quasi-experimental design with control group for the collection of data. The population for the study composed of SSI students from Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State. The sample consisted of one hundred and seven-three students (173) that were purposely selected from four secondary schools. Data was collected through Biology Achievement Test on Photosynthesis. The researcher designed lesson plan and learning modules serves as guide for both the teachers and the students. The dependent samples t-test was used to analyze the data collected. The findings of the study revealed that learning together form of cooperative learning strategy enhanced better performance of students in Biology than the students taught using conventional method of teaching. In addition, learners expressed an increased interest, motivation and self-efficacy after exposure to learning together strategy. The study concluded that learning together form of cooperative learning strategy enhanced better performance of students in Biology. One of the recommendations therefore, is that students should be taught using learning together teaching strategy.