EFFECT OF THINKING MAPS ON PUPILS' ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN BASIC SCIENCE IN ILORIN SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KWARA STATE

Abstract

The low academic performance of pupils in basic Science, particularly in recent years, has not been encouraging. To improve the pupils' performance, this study investigated the effects of thinking maps on pupils' Basic Science academic performance in Ilorin south local government area, Kwara State. This study adopted the pretest-posttest quasi-experimental research design. Pupils' Basic Science Performance Test (PBSPT) was used to obtain pretest and posttest scores. The instrument was validated by the Basic Science teachers of the selected schools and some lecturers in the Early Childhood and Primary Education Department. Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to establish the reliability coefficient of the instruments at .75. Data collected were analysed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). All the hypotheses were tested at a 0.05 level of significance. It
was found, among others, that there was a significant effect of thinking Map on pupils' Basic science academic performance in Ilorin South Local Government Area Kwara State(F (1;58) = 4.275, P < 0.05). Also, the thinking map strategy pupils improved pupils academic performance, ideas, organisation and skills. Based on the findings, it was recommended that thinking map should be employed in teaching pupils in the classroom