Abstract

Thisstudyfocusedon effect ofperformance assessmentdriven instruction on the attitude and achievement of seniorsecondary schoolstudents inAgriculturalscience using guided discovery method in Umuahia North L.G.A, Abia State. It adopted quasi-experimental research design. Thepopulationforthe study was 1459, made up ofall the 2017/2018yeartwo seniorsecondary (SS11) Agriculturalscience students in Umuahia North L.G.A, Abia State. A sample of65 Agricultural science students were chosen by purposive sampling technique from two selectedsecondary schools. It comprised of16 male and 15female assigned to experimentalgroup and 16female and 18 male assigned to control group. Two intact classes were used for the study. Two research questions andtwo null hypotheses guidedthe study. Two instruments were used for data collection titled: Performance Based Assessment Agricultural Science Tests (PBAAST) and Students Attitudinal Scale (SAS). PBAAST was subjected to face and content validation while SAS was subject to construct validation. A reliability index of0.77forPBAASTwas obtained using Kuder-Richardson K.-R20 while reliability index of0.87 ofthe SAS was obtained using Cronbach Alpha which guaranteed the use of the instrument for the study. The data collected were analyzed using Mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions while ANCOVA and t testfor dependent means was usedto test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that PA-driven instruction with guided discovery improved performance abilities and increased students' confidence in learning Agricultural Science, that students' attitudes toward Agricultural Science were generally positive. It was recommended that governmentshould organise in-service training for Agricultural Science teachers on the use of guided discovery method with PA-driven instructions and Agricultural Science teachers should also integrate performance assessment-based strategy with guided discovery Method for effective teachingandlearning. Keywords: Performance, Assessment-Driven Instruction, Attitude, Agricultural Science, Guided Discovery