CONSTRAINTS IN THE USE OF GROUP LEARNING STRATEGIES IN JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN INTEGRATED SCIENCE

ABSTRACT

The study examined the Constraints In The Use Of Group Learning Strategies In Junior Secondary Schools In Integrated Science. Four research questions were raised; What are the major constraints faced by teachers in implementing group learning strategies in Integrated Science classes at the Junior Secondary School level. How do these constraints impact the effectiveness of group learning strategies in enhancing students' understanding of Integrated Science concepts. What are the perceptions of students and teachers regarding the use of group learning strategies in Integrated Science. What strategies can be employed to overcome the identified constraints and improve the implementation of group learning in Integrated Science.

The population of the study consist of two thousand seven hundred and sixty (2760) JSSII students from the 14 Secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. (Edo State Ministry of Education, Student Enrolment Record, 2023. The sample size selected for this study is one hundred and twenty five (125) JSSII Integrated science students, selected randomly using simple random sampling technique.

This Study Was Conducted to Assess. The Constraints in The Use Of Group Learning Strategies In Junior Secondary Schools In Integrated Science. Four research questions were raised. This study made use of the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consist of two thousand seven hundred and sixty (2760) JSSII students from the 14 Secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.  The instrument for data collection for this study was a self-constructed close-ended questionnaire titled “The Constraints in The Use Of Group Learning Strategies In Junior Secondary Schools In Integrated Science The test-retest reliability method was used to determine the reliability of the instrument and the process yielded an index of 0.81 Data obtained from the study were analysed using mean and standard deviation. The following recommendations have been made; There should be adequate teacher training to equip educators with skills in effectively implementing group learning strategies. Workshops and professional development sessions can help teachers manage groups, facilitate discussions, and provide constructive feedback. There should be a manageable class size to allow teachers to monitor each group effectively. Reducing the number of students in each class can improve student engagement and make it easier for teachers to supervise and support each group. There should be sufficient resources and materials to ensure each group has the necessary tools to conduct experiments and engage in hands-on learning. Science kits, lab equipment, and instructional materials should be readily available to enhance practical learning.