The Learning Styles Of Biology Student And Its Effect On Their Academic Performance. A Case Study In Salaga Municipality

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the learning styles of biology students and their influence on students' academic performance. The population for the study comprised of all first year Home Economics students. A purposive sampling method was used to select one intact first year (SH$ 1) Home Economics class with a class size of 50 as the sample a for the study. Four research instruments were used in the data collection process for this study to obtain the scores necessary to perform the indicated statistical analyses. The processes were lesson plans, learning packages, observational check-list and learning style inventory. Three research questions offered the framework for presenting the findings Descriptive and correlation statıstıcs were used in the analysis of the data collected. To determine the dominant learning style preferences of students, descriptive statistics was used to substantiate findings. The findings revealed that students in SHS1 had diversity of learning styles. Fifty-six percent of the learners being Global, thirty percent Analoglobal and only fourteen percent being Analytical. The findings also indicated that there was slightly difference between students learning styles and their academic performance with respect to learning biology. Conclusions drawn from the study showed that students in 1 Home Economic1 had diversity of learning styles. Based on the findings of the study it is recommended among theirs that innovative and more effective learner-centered instructional strategies, such as ICT integration instructional activities as well as other multimedia strategies should be used by biology teachers to promote meaningful learning of difficult concepts to enhance