ABSTRACT

This study investigated the effect of Computer Assisted Instruction and Demonstration Methods on Government Technical College Students' Academic Achievement in Plumbing Craft in Enugu state, Nigeria. Six research questions and six hypotheses formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study which adopted a quasi-experimental, pretest posttest non-equivalent control group, research design was carried out in technical Colleges in Enugu State. Out of a population of 215 NTC students, a sample of 119 students (comprising 38 students in the Computer Assisted Instruction group, 40 in the Demonstration method group and 41 in the lecture group) that offered Plumbing craft in three Government technical colleges in Enugu state were selected for the study using purposive sampling technique. Two technical colleges were used for experimental group and one for control group respectively. Data were collected using a 40-item multiple choice Plumbing Craft Achievement Test (PCAT). The instrument was validated by three experts each from Educational Technology Department, Curriculum Study Department and Measurement and Evaluation all from the College of Education. The lesson notes and the table of specifications guided in the content validation of the instrument. The Instrument was trial tested to other similar students in technical colleges in another local government area in Enugu state that was not part of the study: Scores from the trial test was analyzed using Kuder Richardson (K-R₂₁) formula so as to determine the internal consistency which yielded an index of 0.72. Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, while the Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the null-hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The results among others showed that Computer Assisted Instruction and Demonstration methods had increased effect on the students' academic achievement in plumbing craft respectively, having recorded higher mean gain each than those in Control group. It also showed that Computer Assisted Instruction and Demonstration methods respectively had more increased effect on the male students' academic achievement in Plumbing craft than on the female students. It also showed that there is no significant interaction effect of gender and methods on students’ academic achievements in plumbing craft. Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made; that since computer assisted instruction had increase effect on the students' academic achievement in Plumbing Craft, teachers in plumbing craft in technical colleges should be encouraged to use Computer Assisted Instruction and Demonstration Methods regularly to teach plumbing craft to enhance students' academic achievement in Plumbing craft, that there is need for government to provide computer and computer accessories to enable teachers utilize them effectively to teach Plumbing craft and Demonstration Method to increase students' academic achievement in Plumbing Craft, also teachers training tertiary institutions should popularize the use of the computer assisted instruction and demonstration method in teaching different school subjects especially the plumbing craft so that teachers will be more abreast with skills needed to use in teaching and that teachers that teach plumbing craft should be encouraged to enhance students' academic achievements in plumbing craft.