Effects of Pascal Problem Solving Strategies on Technical College Students’ Achievement in Radio, Television and Electronics in Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study determined the effects of Pascal problem solving strategies on technical college students’ achievement in Radio, Television and Electronics (RTVE) in Niger State, Nigeria. Related literature was reviewed under appropriate headings. Specifically, the pre-test post-test non-equivalent control group experimental research design was used. The target population for the study consisted of 310 Technical College two (TC II) RTVE students in all the Niger state technical colleges. Two sets of lesson plans were prepared by the researcher and used to teach the experimental and control groups respectively. Radio, Television and Electronics Trade Achievement Test (RTVEAT) was used as instrument for data collection. The Radio, Television and Electronic Achievement Test (RTVEAT) was face and content validated by two experts in that field from Industrial and Technology Education Department, Federal University of Technology Minna .and one expert in Government Technical College Eyagi-Bida. The measure of reliability coefficient of the RTVEAT was established to be 0.87usingKuder Richardson 20 (K-R 20) formula. Data collected were analyzed using mean and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Mean was used to answer the research questions while ANCOVA was used to test the hypotheses at.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that students taught RTVE with Pascal problem solving strategies performed better as they had higher achievement scores than students taught with lecture method; 1) There was a significance difference in the mean achievement scores of students taught with Pascal problem solving strategies and those taught with lecture method; 2) There was no significance difference in the mean achievement scores of male and female students taught with Pascal problem solving strategies and those taught with lecture method. The findings imply that Pascal problem solving model is a suitable teaching method for improving students’ achievement in RTVE. It is therefore recommended that technical college teachers be trained and equipped with necessary pedagogical skills needed to effectively use Pascal problem solving model in the teaching RTVE.