Title: SELF INSTRUCTIONAL PACKAGE FOR PROMOTING QUALITY AGRICULTURAL SKILLS ACQUISITION AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ENUGU STATE

Authors:
Okadi, A. O., Ezebuiro, F. N. & Onah, F. C.

Abstract: Abstract This study was designed to determine the effect of Self Instructional Package (SIP) on students‟ academic achievement and interest in agricultural science in Senior Secondary Schools. Two specific purposes, research questions and related null hypotheses were formulated for this study. The pretest, post test, non – equivalent control group, quasi experimental design which involved groups of students in their intact classes assigned to experimental and control groups was adopted for the study. The population for the study was 6,014 Senior Secondary One (SS1) students in Nsukka Education Zone of Enugu State, out of which 378 students were sampled using purposive sampling technique. The instruments used for data collection were Agricultural Science Achievement Test (ASAT) and Agricultural Science Interest Inventory (ASII). To ensure content validity of the ASAT, a table of specification was developed for the test. The lesson plans, ASAT and ASII were subjected to face and content validation by five experts. The ASAT and ASII were trial tested on 20 SS1 students to determine their reliability. The trial test for determining coefficient of stability of the ASAT was carried out using test re-test reliability method. Pearson product moment correlation coefficient of the ASAT was found to be 0.80, while the agricultural science interest inventory was also trial tested and a reliability coefficient of 0.76 was obtained, meaning that the instrument was reliable. The ASAT and ASII were administered to the subjects before and after the treatment. Data generated were analyzed using mean to answer the research questions, while Analysis of Covariance was used to test the null hypotheses. The findings of the study revealed that self instructional package is more effective in improving students‟ achievement and interest in Agricultural science than conventional lecture method. Based on the findings and discussion of the findings, it is concluded that self instructional package has a more positive effects on academic achievement than conventional lecture. It was also found that self instructional package stimulates and retains interest in agricultural science among senior secondary school students. It was recommended that: Teachers should be trained by proprietors, ministry of education and education based nongovernmental organizations on the utilization of self instructional package and other individualized and interactive methods of teaching; while Curriculum planners should integrate self instructional package as instructional delivery method in the curriculum of secondary schools. Key Words: Self Instructional Package, Agricultural Skills Acquisition, Academic Achievement, Conventional Teaching Methods

Publication Date: 2018-06-09