Effects of Sequence-Chart Strategy on Retention in Nutrient-Cycling in Nature and Pollution among Secondary School Students in Nassarawa Education Zone, Kano-State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of Sequence-Chart (SQC) teaching strategy on secondary school students’ retention in Nutrient Cycling in Nature and Pollution in Kano State, Nigeria. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design involving pre-test, post-test and post-post-test equivalent group. Population of the study consists of 11,290 SS11 students and a sample of 340 SSII students were taught using SQC strategy, while another group was taught using conventional teaching method. The instrument for data collection was a validated Nutrient Cycling in Nature and Pollution Achievement Test (NPAT). Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and ANCOVA at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that students taught with SQC strategy had higher mean retention scores than those taught with the conventional method. ANCOVA results showed a significant difference between the two groups in favour of the experimental group. The study also found significant effects of gender and a significant interaction effect between instructional strategy and gender. The R² value indicated that a substantial proportion of variation in students’ retention was explained by the instructional strategy. The study concluded that Sequence-Chart teaching strategy is more effective than conventional teaching method in improving students’ retention in Nutrient Cycling in Nature and Pollution. It was recommended that Biology teachers should adopt SQC strategy to enhance students’ understanding and retention of complex biological concepts.