EFFECT OF SPIDER-CONCEPT-MAPPING ON STUDENTS’ MOTIVATION AND ACHIEVEMENT IN ECOLOGY IN PANKSHIN, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of Spider-Concept-Mapping on students’ motivation and achievement in Ecology in Pankshin Plateau State, Nigeria. Quasi-experimental research design was adopted for the study. three research questions with corresponding research hypothesis were formulated. The population comprised all the 665 (354 males and 311 females) senior secondary school two biology students in Pankshin. The sample of 120(62 males and 58 females) students were used. Two intact classes of SS II students were involved in the study. The instruments for data collection were Students Ecology Achievement Test (SEAT) and Students Motivation Ecology Scale (SMES). Mean and standard deviation was used to answer research questions, while Analysis of Co-variance (ANCOVA) statistical tool was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The results of the study showed that students taught biology using spider-concept-mapping performed better than their counterparts taught using lecture method. The experimental group performed better than the control group that is: Spider-concept-mapping affects students' achievement and motivation; and there was no gender influence on students’ achievement. Based on results, it recommended among others that teachers should be encouraged to adopt the use of Spider-concept mapping instructional strategy in teaching senior school biology.