The impact of using multimedia on students' academic performance in genetics in the Brong Ahafo region

Abstract

The study investigated the impact of using multimedia (computer simulation) in improving students' performance in genetics in Senior High School in Brong Ahafo. The main objective of the study was to establish if there is significant difference in academic performance in genetics between students' who were taught with multimedia method and students' who were not taught with multimedia method. The specific objectives were to find out whether there will be significant difference in the academic performance in genetics between the experimental group and the control group, to assess students' views on the use of multimedia method of teaching and whether there is significant difference in the performance of male students' and female students' of the experimental group at post-test measurement. Questionnaires, interviews and students achievement test were administered. Independent t-test was used to test the statistical significance between post-test scores of experimental and control groups at 0.05 level of significance. There was significant difference between the experimental group and the control group at post-test measure of students' performance in genetics. There was significant difference between male and female students' performance at post-test of the experimental group. The findings implied that, the use of multimedia teaching method has significant influence in the performance of genetics of the Senior High School. The following recommendations were made: Biology teachers should be encouraged to employ the use of multimedia method of teaching in the delivery of their lesson so that students can perform better.