Effects of Punnett square and beads instructional resources on the academic performance of secondary school students in Uyo, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of Punnett square and Beads instructional resources on the academic performance of Secondary  Schools students in Genetics in Uyo, Nigeria. The study was a quassi-experimental research with non- randomized pre-test post-test design. One research question and four null hypotheses gave direction to the study. The study population comprised all the 2,296 Senior  Secondary Two (SS2) Biology students in all the fourteen (14) coeducational secondary schools in Uyo Local Government Area for 2022/2023 school session. The study sampled comprised 192 SS2 Biology students in four intact classes in four co-educational secondary  schools in the study area selected using Criterion sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a researcher –developed  50-item multiple choice test tagged: Genetics Performance Test (GPT) with a reliability index of 0.93, determined using Kuder  Richardson's formula - 21. The data collected from all the tests were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Regression.  The result showed that there was a significant difference in the academic performance of students in Genetics when taught using  Punnett square and beads, in favour of those taught using Beads. Also, gender had no significant influence on the students'  performance. With respect to interaction effects of treatment and gender on students' performance, the findings showed no statistically  significant effect. However, the joint effect of treatment and gender on students' performance was statistically significant, accounting for  67.00 percent of the observed variation in students' performance. Consequently, it was recommended that Biology teachers should make  use of Beads in teaching Genetics.