INFLUENCE OF GROUP LABORATORY PRACTICAL WORK ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PHYSICS: COUNSELLING INTERVENTION IN IJUMU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KOGI STATE

Abstract

The study investigated Influence of group laboratory practical work on students’ academic performance in Physics: Counselling intervention in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State Descriptive design was adopted for the study.300 students ware .randomly sampled for the study which comprises of 100 students each from the three geographical districts of Gbede, Ijumu AArin and Ijumu Oke respectively. Self-structured questionnaire titled “Influence of Group Laboratory Work on Physics Students’ Academic Performance in Physics (IGLWSAPP) was used for the study. The questions were structured on modified four (4) liker scales of Strongly Agree (SA) Agree (A) Disagree (D) and Strongly Disagree (SD) and was validated by experts. Data collected was analysed by using descriptive statistics particularly the mean scores, tables and percentages with criterion mean a mid-point mean of 2.50 for acceptance and rejections of items. The study revealed among others as, students  perform  much more better  in  Physics group laboratory practical work than while working individually, the group laboratory practical work  proved to have effects on students’ academic  performance in physics, Group physic laboratory practical work makes the teachers work more easier and it enhance large coverage of syllabus within the shortest time. The study recommended among others as, Physic teachers should lay more emphasizes on group laboratory work  more than individual work, Physic practical work should be thoroughly supervised by the teachers, enough space must be provided in all the laboratories to ensure free movement of students while working as group, Both the students and teachers should be counsel on the use of group laboratory method of teaching