Evaluating the Effectiveness of Home Science Experiences as Mental Scaffold in the Teaching and Learning of Basic Science

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The study evaluated the effectiveness of children’s home experiences as mental scaffold in teaching and learning of Basic Science in Primary schools in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The research design was Quasi Experimental. A sample size of 458 primary five pupils from public and private schools was used. The instrument for data collection was the Basic Science Achievement Test (BSAT), which was trial tested and analyzed using Kuder Richardson 20 (Kr20) formula and a reliability co-efficient of 0.78 obtained. Twelve intact classes were used for data collection ; 6 from urban and 6 from rural schools; 6 private and 6 public. One of the classes sampled constituted the experimental group and the other one the control group. Pre-test was then administered to the two groups and after three weeks of treatment, a post-test administered. A retention test was further administered after two weeks. The scores obtained from pre-test, post-test and retention test were analyzed using mean, standard deviation and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The result revealed that children’s home experiences which served as mental scaffold significantly enhanced their ability to retain and recall scientific concepts. The result further revealed that school location had significant effect on the learning achievement of pupils in the study as subjects in rural schools performed significantly better than those in urban areas. Also, pupils in public schools outperformed their counterparts in private schools. It was then recommended among others that educational authorities and organizations should offer professional development through seminars and conferences to support the use of mental scaffold.