Effects of gowin’s vee heuristic teaching strategy on secondary school students’ conceptual understanding and metacognition in the topic of moments in physics, in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Abstract

Physics is a science subject that has contributed immensely to the technological advancement of the world. In the Kenyan 8-4-4 curriculum, it is optional at form three. However, various studies show that physics in Kenya has been faced with poor performance. Consequently, many students drop out of the subject. Educational researchers have partially attributed the cause to be poor instructional methods. This study attempts to change this trend in the topic of moments in physics. Data were collected on the effects of Gowin’s Vee heuristic strategy on secondary school students’ conceptual understanding and metacognition in the topic of moments in physics in Uasin Gishu County Kenya. Solomon four nonequivalent control group design was used. Two experimental groups were taught using Gowin’s Vee and two control groups were taught using conventional methods. The target population was 3735 form two students in 83 mixed secondary schools. Purposive sampling was used to select 134 students. The instruments used were Physics Metacognitive Activity Inventory Questionnaire (PMCAIQ) and Physics Conceptual Understanding Achievement Test (PCUAT). Their validities were determined by supervisors and science education experts of Egerton University and physics teachers. Estimations of reliabilities using Chronbach coefficient of alpha gave 0.75 and 0.78 for PCUAT and PMCAIQ respectively. Analysis using means and standard deviations was done. Also sample t-test, one way ANOVA and post hoc analysis were done at coefficient of alpha (α) equal to 0.05 level of test of significance using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences. Gowin’s Vee had statistically significant improvement on students’ conceptual understanding and metacognition in the topic of moments in physics hence it improved students’ conceptual understanding and metacognition. Therefore teachers should use it in teaching this topic and other topics in physics. This study is important in enhancing performance and quality of teaching in the topic of moments in physics and sciences in general.