Effects of Two Modes of Blended Teaching Approach on Senior Secondary School Student’s Achievement in Biology

ABSTRACT The primary goal of this research study is to assess the effects of two modes of Blended Teaching Approach on Senior Secondary School student’s achievement in Biology. The research design used for the study was a descriptive designs of a survey type which allows the description of the participant of this research in an accurate way, and enables information to be obtained from a representative sample of the population. The sample size for the study consists of one hundred (100) students randomly drawn from five (5) schools in Ado Local Government Area of Ekiti State. The instrument for the collection of data was a self-designed questionnaire. The instrument has face and content validity. The data collected were analyzed and interpreted using frequency counts and simple percentage. The study revealed that Blended learning reduces anxiety by engaging students through interactive multimedia, fostering collaboration via online forums and group projects, and providing easy access to diverse resources. Immediate feedback from online assessments helps students identify strengths and weaknesses. However, some may experience increased anxiety due to the perceived difficulty of online exams. Blended learning enhances engagement through multimedia and interactive elements while allowing for differentiated instruction that caters to individual learning styles and paces. It offers flexibility, enabling students to access materials anytime and anywhere to manage their time effectively. Blended learning encourages collaboration through online discussion forums and group projects, fostering self-regulation and autonomy in students. Additionally, online assessments provide immediate feedback, helping students track their progress. This approach not only supports academic success but also develops essential digital skills, which are increasingly important for future job opportunities. Based on the findings of this research work, it was recommended that students‟ irrespective of their gender should show more interest towards the use of the online or blended learning method for their learning. Parent should support their wards by providing facilities needed to stay connected online with their lecturers and classmates in order to enable their wards to fully participate in the online class. Educator should create an online classroom for every course they are teaching using Google for students‟ and encourage their participation, so as to reduce over use of the new technology for only social interaction. Ministries of Education should ensure that textbook authors incorporate blended learning steps in accessing learning contents online for Colleges of Education. Ministry of Education should ensure that their teachers are trained regularly on the use of innovative instructional approaches for example blended learning method using different online packages like Facebook, Whatsap, Google classroom, blog. The curriculum planners should ensure that they incorporate blended learning methods in OTM curriculum, as it will help to promote students‟ achievement and interest in the courses. This can be achieved by reviewing the curriculum to stand the test of time.