Effects Of Advance Organizers On Students\' Achievement In Biology: A Case Study Of Bureti District, Kenya

Abstract

Science Education is emphasized in school curriculum in order to meet the country\'s socioeconomic needs by producing a scientifically literate populace and professionals in science and technology based careers. Biology as a science subject is expected to make a contribution towards these objective. However, the overall achievement of students in biology in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (K.C.S.E) has not been impressive over the last one decade. Approaches used in the instructional process have been identified as among the factors contributing to the problem of poor performance. This study investigated the effects of using advance organizers on students\' achievement in biology. The sample comprised of 166 form three students in Bureti District, Kenya. Data was collected by use of a Biology Achievement Test (BAT). A t-test and One-Way ANOVA statistical techniques were used to analyse the data. Results were accepted at an alpha level of 0.05. The findings indicate that students taught using advance organizers achieved significantly higher than those taught using conventional teaching methods. This paper concludes by discussing the implications and recommendations of the findings.

Keywords: Advance organizers, students' achievement, Kenya

Journal of Technology and Education in Nigeria Vol. 10 (2) 2005: pp. 1-9