An Investigation into the Effect of Active Learning Approach on Senior Secondary School Students’ Achievement in Physics in Makurdi Local Government Area

Abstract

A shift from the traditional to a progressive mode of education in the past years had led to an increased interest in learners’ individual differences. The new paradigm is Active Learning approach or student-centred, based on inclusiveness, collaborative learning, critical thinking, creativity, innovation and encourages diversity of reception and processing of information. Hence, this study investigated the effects of active learning approach on student’s achievement in the concept of fluid mechanism in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue in Nigerian Senior Secondary One Physics,  300 Senior Secondary one (SS1) Physics students were used for the study, 60 students each from five schools. A simple random sampling technique was used to select five schools from the population. A quasi-experimental design was adopted for the study; Physics Achievement Test (PAT) with multiple choice question type consisting of 20 questions on the topic fluid at rest and motion was the instruments used for gathering the data. Analysis of mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the data. The results showed that active learning approach/guided discovery is the most effective approach for physics students with sensing/intuitive learning method, demonstration is the most effective Active Learning Approach for physics students with sequential/Global Learning method while conventional approach is the most effective for physics students with visual/verbal learning method. The results also indicated that Active/Reflective learning method was placed first in the order of facilitating student’s achievement in physics when taught with guided discovery, demonstration and conventional learning strategies respectively. This implies that the three Active Learning Approaches can be used for the enhancement of the achievement of students with Active/Reflective learning methods in the concept of fluid at rest and in motion in physics. It is commended among others that teachers should find out the learning styles or method of their students and use appropriate active learning approach that will concise for effective teaching and learning to take place in physics classrooms.