Learning Exercises on Science Process Skills Development of Biological Science Students

Abstract

Science process skills are vital in science learning. This study aimed to determine the effect of learning exercises on the science process skills development of Biological Science class students. The pretest -posttest experimental design was utilized in this study. The research subjects of this study were the first year Biological science students of the Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology, Philippines. The data in this study were obtained using the Science Process Skills Performance Test. The instrument was content validated by panel of experts and was pilot tested. Frequency, means, t-test, Pearson-r, and Chi-Square Test were the statistical tools used in this study. Findings revealed that the level of science process skills of the biological science class students during the pre-test and posttest when taken as a whole was average. Experimental group pretest-posttest ranged from average to high, while control group ranged from average to average. Findings also revealed that there is a significant difference in the pretest and posttest in the basic and integrated science process skills of the experimental group. Student’s exposure to learning exercises enhanced and facilitated the acquisition of science process skills more than the lecture method. Learning exercises fosters acquisition of process skills when different variables in their profiles are considered. Keywords - Education, Learning exercises, science process skills, pre-test-posttest experimental control design, Philippines.