The influence of computer assisted instruction on students’ academic performance and attitudes towards biology in Wakiso District

Abstract

DISSERTATION:

This dissertation examines a variable that affects students’ academic performance and attitudes towards biology. The total number of students who participated in this study was 100, 53, females and 47 males. These students were got from two schools that were purposively chosen. The schools were: Bweyogerere UMEA S.S and Balibaseka S.S and Senior Three class was preferred from these schools because they are not too busy like the S.4 and were more mature and easily available than S.1s and S.2s. in this regard the subjects were divided into two groups randomly, that is - Computer Assisted instruction (CAI) group and Traditional method group each group consisted of 50 students. However, the researcher was only able to use 48 students for CAI and 49 students for the traditional group during the research period because the rest were absent. A true experimental research design was used in the study. Both were given pre- and post-test of short answer-type. A questionnaire which was close-ended was also given to the CAI group to test students’ attitudes towards biology. The results were tested at significance level of .05 by applying ANOVA analysis and the analysis of data revealed that CAI students performed better than Traditional method students. The academic performance for female students was not significantly different from that of males. The CAI student also showed a positive attitude towards the subject as compared to the control group. It was concluded that CAI positively influenced the students’ academic performance and attitude towards biology.