EFFECTS OF CONSTRUCTIVIST INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCEAND RETENTION OFAUTOMECHANICS STUDENTS INTECHNICALCOLLEGES.

Abstract

The inability of automechanics students to perform excellently well in examinations has
been attributed to use of inappropriate instructional method. Hence, the study
investigated the effect of constructivist instructional method on academic performance
and retention of automechanics students in technical colleges in Anambra State. Two
research questions guided the study and two hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of
significance. The study was a non randomized quasi experimental research design. The
population was 121 National Technical College II (NTC II) students offering automechanics
trade. Purposive sampling technique was used to select four intact classes in technical
colleges from different Local Government Areas of the State. A sample size of 88 was
studied. The instrument for data collection was Automechanics Performance Test (APT)
which contained 40 objective questions. Three experts validated the instrument. The
reliability of the instrument was established through test-retest method using Pearson
Product Moment Correlation, which yielded 0.75 reliability coefficient. Mean was used to
analyze data relating to research questions while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was
used to test the null hypotheses at
0.05 level of significance. Both experimental and control groups were pre-tested and
taught by their regular teachers for four weeks using the lesson plans prepared by the
researcher. A post-test was administered immediately after teaching, followed by a
delayed post-test after two weeks to ascertain the retention level of the students.
Findings revealed that students taught automechanics using constructivist instructional
method performed better with higher post-test scores than those taught with lecture
method. Based on the findings, it was concluded that constructivist instructional method
could enhance students' academic performance and retention in automechanics. Hence, it
was recommended among others that automechanics teachers should use constructivist
instructional method to enable students learn and retain conceptsfor improved academic
performance.