Cognition Of Secondary Students In Using Multimedia To Learn Science (Biology) And Its Impact

Abstract

The use of multimedia in education has proven its importance due to its positive impact on the teaching and learning process. The rationale of the study is to explore the cognition of secondary school students in using multimedia to acquire knowledge, comprehension, and constraints in learning biological science. Exploratory method was adopted. A survey was conducted among 379 students studying in 7 government schools, 3 government aided schools and 5 private schools in Coimbatore district (from sixth to ninth standard) under the age group of eleven, twelve & thirteen years. A self-developed questionnaire consisting of three domains, a) knowledge of using multimedia in learning science, b) understanding the concepts of science by using multimedia, and c) constraints in using multimedia in learning science concepts was used to collect data. Data collected was analyzed quantitatively using descriptives and ANOVA. Findings revealed that the government and government-aided school students faced more constraints in learning the biological concept using multimedia compared to private school students. Also, it was found that higher the age better the knowledge of using Multimedia, and higher the class better the use of Multimedia in learning.  Multimedia Assisted Instruction can be used in teaching of biology at secondary school to improve students’ learning outcomes. If intervention is given at the earlier part of life better the cognition to use multimedia in acquisition of knowledge and understanding of any concept.  The comparison to the age group, type of school, and class of the students is discussed in this study.