Effect of the Use of Scale Models on Academic Achievement and Interest of Students in Map-Work

Map is geographers' main tool. However, studies have shown that Map-work poses the greatest difficulty to geography students. 'I'his has largely been blanled on the teaching methods. The purpose of this study is to investigate the erfect of the use of Scale Models on the academic achievement and interest of students in Map-work. The research also sought to find out the effect ofgender and ability level on academic achievement and interest of' students in Map-work. Six research questions and ten hypotheses were formulated for the study. 'lhe researcher reviewed the related literature. A cluasi-experimental design, specifically, the non-equivalent control group design was used. Four mixeel scllools were randomly selected from Awlta
Education Zone of Anambra State. The sample consisted of 197 senior seco~iclary two geography students. A stratified random sampling technique was used in drawing the sample. The regular geography tenthers of the chosen schools were trained and used for the study. The instruments used for data collection included: the Map-Work Achievement Test (MWA'I'), the Map-Work Interest Scale (MWlS) and three 'I'opographical Map sheets. The 'MWAT' with a reliability estinlate of 0.97 and the 'MWlS' wit11 an internal consistency estimate of 0.82 were developed and validated by the researcher. The Map sheets were adapted and modified by the researcher for the study. The data were analysed using the Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), means and Standard Deviation. 'I'he major results of the study werc as follows: (I) The use of Models I~ada significant effect on the academic achievement and interest of students in Map-work; (2) Gender was not a significant factor in the academic achievement and interest of students in Map-work when taught using scale models; (3) The students oS high acaclcmic ability taught using Models perrornled significantly better and showed greater interest in Map-work than their low-ability counterparts taught using the same method; (4) 'There were significant interacticm *II effect between method and gender, as well as method and ability levels on academic achievement and interest of students in Map-work. The implications of these findings with respect to teachers, students, educational administrators and planners as well as tertiary institutions were identified. Based on these, it was recommended that the procedures for the application of scale models for teaching concepts in Map-work sl~ouldb e incorporated into the school curriculum. Efforts s11oulcS be made to equip teachers with the requisite Itnowledge, sltills and competence on the production and use of scale models for teaching through seminars, worltshops, conferences, etc. The limitations of the study were identified. Some suggestions for f-usthe research were also made.