Abstract:
This study investigated the effect of circuit simulation on achievement and interest of technical college electronics students in Benue State. The study was a quasi-non-equivalent control group design with a population of 132 students drawn from four technical colleges that offer electronics in the state. The students were divided into control and experimental groups of 66 students each. The experimental group used circuit simulation instructional technique while the control group used the lecture demonstration method. The achievement and the interest of the two groups were determined using an electronic circuit and devices achievement test (ECDAT) and an interest inventory. Mean, standard deviation and the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were computed using SPSS. The findings of the study revealed that there was no significant difference between the pre-test mean score of the control and the experimental groups; there was a significant difference between the post-test mean scores of the control and the experimental groups in favour of the later; there was a significant difference between the interest levels of the control and the experimental groups in favour of the later. These results suggested that the treatment had a positive effect on electronics students’ achievement and interest thus leading to the conclusion that, circuit simulation instructional technique is more effective than the lecture demonstration method. Based on these findings, the researcher suggested that, technical teachers should be encouraged to employ Circuit Simulation instructional strategy in delivering their lessons, since it enhances academic achievement and interest; tertiary institutions that train teachers should include circuit simulation instruction in the technical education courses in order to impart its usage to student teachers; curriculum planners should include the use of circuit simulation in the electronics curriculum considering its benefits in the teaching and learning of electronics; circuit simulation should be used in the laboratories to reduce the waste of materials.
