Abstract

This study was conducted to determine if the use of the Culturo-Techno-Contextual Approach (CTCA), a learning strategy that incorporates the use of cultural knowledge (indigenous knowledge), contextual drawing from the immediate environment to illustrate teaching, and the component of technology, can improve learning. What is the purpose of machine language? It is a difficult-to-learn concept in the computer studies curriculum of Nigeria, despite being the basis of computer programming. It is hypothesised that (i) there is no statistically significant difference in (a) academic achievement and (b) attitudes between males and females when taught in machine language. (ii) There are no statistically significant interaction effects of sex and training method on (a) academic achievement and (b) attitudes of students in machine language. A total of 207 computer studies students in senior secondary year two (SS2), comprising 106 females and 101 males, participated in the study. The instruments used to gather data were the machine language attitudes questionnaire (MLAQ) and machine language achievement test (MLAT), which had reliability coefficients of 0.71 and 0.70, respectively. The one-way MANCOVA multivariate F (Pillai’s Trace) was not significant [F = 0.49; P > 0.05]. Univariate tests on achievement [F (1, 203) = 0.72; P > 0.05] and attitude [F (1, 203) = 0.36; P > 0.05] failed to attain statistical significance. Hypothesis one was not rejected because there was no statistically significant effect of student gender on (a) academic achievement and (b) attitudes when taught using CTCA and the lecture method. The two-way MANCOVA multivariate F (Pillai’s Trace) was not significant [F = 2.26; p > 0.05]. The interaction effect between sex and training method on achievement [F (2, 199) =.90; P =.41] was not significant, but on attitude [F (2, 199) = 3.67; P =.03] attained statistical significance. The study concluded that educators are encouraged to use the CTCA and could demonstrate how it could be used as a pedagogical design for improving the achievement and attitude of students in computer studies and other subjects offered in senior secondary schools by capitalising on its assets. The strategies will assist both teachers and students in gaining respect for local activities and culture, its wisdom and ethics, indigenous science and technology, and the use of local resources, thereby enhancing sustainability, and they will encourage collaboration among students, resulting in improved academic achievement and attitude. Both males and females performed on neutral ground. Giving both male and female students the opportunity to excel on a neutral ground without having any influence over the other.

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