Reducing anxiety and promoting meaningful learning of biology concepts through a culturally sensitive and context-specific instructional method

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to examine the influence of a culturally adapted and context-specific technique of instruction called the culturo-techno-contextual approach (CTCA) on lowering student anxiety and fostering meaningful learning in difficult biology concepts. A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test non-equivalent group design was used for this study. Data collected from 88 senior secondary school II (11th grade) biology students in education district V, Lagos State, Nigeria on the biology concept of variation and evolution that was perceived to be highly difficult showed that: (a) those students who were taught variation and evolution using the culturo-techno-contextual approach (experimental group; N = 45) had a significantly lower level of anxiety than the comparison group (N = 43); and (b) the students in the experimental group that employed the culturo-techno-contextual approach in the teaching process performed significantly better on the test of meaningful learning in variation and evolution Overall, the findings validated CTCA's efficacy as a treatment for anxiety and fostering meaningful learning of variation and evolution – a historically feared subject in biology. The ramifications of these findings for education and future research are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Culturo-techno-contextual approach
• CTCA
• anxiety
• meaningful learning
• biology

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical consideration

Before the start of the study, the authorisation of the appropriate authorities of the schools engaged in our study was obtained for permission to conduct the study in their schools. In addition, the research team verified that all participants signed a consent form on the response booklet, indicating their written agreement to participate in the study. The study's aims were explicitly stated to the participants, who guaranteed that their replies would be kept anonymous and used solely for research reasons. We reaffirm to participants and school officials that their involvement in the research is voluntary and that they can withdraw from the study at any time and for any reason. Aside from the preceding, no respondents were physically or mentally mistreated or abused throughout the research.