RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF COOPERATIVE AND INQUIRY LEARNING METHODS ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND RETENTION IN BASIC ELECTRICITY

The study investigated the relative effectiveness of cooperative and inquiry learning methods on
students’ academic achievement and retention in Basic Electricity. Cooperative learning is an
active learning method where students are arranged in pairs or small groups to help each other
learn assigned material, while Inquiry learning is also a form of active learning method where
progress is assessed by howwell students develop experimental and analytical skills rather than
how much knowledge theypossess. Two research questions guided the study while two null
hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Quasi-experimental research design was
adopted for the study, specifically, non-equivalent experimental group design. The study was
carried out in Awka and Aguata Education Zones of Anambra State. The population consisted of
all the 413 NTC II students offering Basic Electricity in the 12 technical colleges in Anambra
State. The sample for the study comprised 60 National Technical College year II (NTC II)
students from two intact classes in two Technical Colleges in two Education Zones, drawn using
multi- stage sampling procedure. Basic Electricity Achievement Test (BEAT) was the instrument
used for data collection. The instrument was validated by the experts and reliability test was
conducted using Kuder- Richardson 21 formula. The reliability index was established at 0.80.
The experimental group1 were taught Basic Electricity using cooperative learning method,
while experimental group 2 was taught using inquiry learning method. The treatments lasted for
five weeks. Data collected were analysed using mean, standard deviation and Analysis of
Covariance (ANCOVA). The results revealed that cooperative learning method was more
effective than inquiry learning method in facilitating students’ academic achievement and
retention in Basic Electricity. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among
others, thatcooperative learning method should be formally adopted in technical colleges,
secondary and vocational schools for instruction in Basic Electricity to improve the academic
achievement and retention ability of students.

Cooperative learning method, Inquiry learning method, Basic Electricity, Academic achievement, retention.,

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