FLASHCARDS AND MODELS INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ON BIOLOGY STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN UKANAFUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of flashcards and models instructional materials on biology students' academic performance in biology in Ukanafun Local Government Area. Three research questions and corresponding hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consisted of one thousand six hundred (1600) Senior Secondary Two (SS2) biology students in all the 8 public secondary schools in the study area. A sample size of 100 SS2 biology students was used for the study. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting two co -educational secondary schools and in each of the selected schools, intact class of SS2 biology students was used as sample. The instrument used for data collection was Biology Performance Test in Human Digestive System (BPTHDS). The reliability of the instrument was determined using Pearson Product Correlation Coefficient to ascertain the internal consistency. The data generated were analysed using mean, standard deviation and independent t-test. The result of findings indicated that there was a significant difference in the mean performance scores of Biology students taught the concept of digestive system using flashcards and those taught using models instructional learning strategies. It was indicated that there is no significant difference in the mean performance scores of male and female Biology students when taught concept of digestive system using flashcard learning strategy. It was also indicated that there is no significant difference in the mean performance scores of male and female Biology students when taught concept of digestive system using models learning strategy. Therefore, it was recommended among others that teachers should use flashcards teaching strategy in teaching of human digestive system and other concepts in biology to enhance students understanding and consequently higher performance in the subject. Furthermore, the government, educational administrators and Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) should organize workshops and seminars for biology teachers on the use of flashcards teaching strategy in teaching biology.