EFFECTS OF DEMONSTRATION AND DISCUSSION METHODS OF TEACHING ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE IN GWAGWALADA AREA COUNCIL

This study investigated the effects of demonstration and discussion methods of teaching on the academic performance of secondary school students in Agricultural Science in Gwagwalada Area Council. The study adopted a quasi-experimental research design involving pre-test and post-test control groups. The population comprised all senior secondary school students offering Agricultural Science in the study area, from which a representative sample was selected using purposive sampling technique. Two instructional methods—demonstration and discussion—were employed as treatment variables, while students’ academic performance served as the dependent variable. Data were collected using a validated Agricultural Science Achievement Test (ASAT), and the reliability of the instrument was established using appropriate statistical techniques. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer research questions, while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings from related empirical studies indicate that demonstration method tends to enhance students’ academic performance more effectively than conventional or discussion-based approaches, due to its practical and activity-oriented nature . However, both methods contribute significantly to improved learning outcomes when properly applied. The study therefore concluded that the integration of demonstration and discussion methods can significantly improve students’ understanding and performance in Agricultural Science. It was recommended that teachers should adopt more learner-centered instructional strategies, particularly demonstration and guided discussion, to enhance effective teaching and learning of Agricultural Science in secondary schools.