Cooperation and Problem-Based Teaching Methods and Students Psychomotor Skill Performance in Motor Vehicle Mechanics Works in Akwa Ibom State Technical Colleges

Abstract

The study determined the effects of cooperative and problem-based teaching methods on students’ skills performance in Motor Vehicle Mechanics Works in Technical Colleges in Akwa Ibom State. The quasi-experimental research design was used. The population of the study consisted of 177 Senior Technical Two (ST 2) students offering Motor Vehicle Mechanics Works from the nine-state owned Technical Colleges in Akwa Ibom State during the 2023/2024 academic session from which a sample of 68 students was selected from two intact classes in two Technical Colleges. A researcher made instrument titled “Motor Vehicle Mechanics Works Psychomotor Skills Rating Scale was used for data collection in the study. Face validation of the instrument was done by three validators and its reliability determined using test-retest method was 0.88. Students in the two groups were first subjected to the pre-test before the treatment which lasted for five weeks. Students in the experimental group (n=50) were taught using cooperative teaching method lesson plans while those in the control group  (n=18) were taught using Problem-based teaching method lesson plans.  After the treatment, students in the two groups were subjected to a practical test using the Motor Vehicle Mechanics Works Psychomotor Skills Rating Scale.  The scores of each student in each group was recorded and analysed using mean to answer the research questions while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. It was found that there is no significant difference between students’ psychomotor skill performance in engine oil change when taught using cooperative and problem-based teaching methods; However, there is significant difference between students’ psychomotor skill performance in flushing of water-cooling system as well as in testing of automobile battery when taught using cooperative and problem-based teaching methods in favour of those in the experimental group. It is concluded that cooperative teaching method is more effective in improving students’ psychomotor skills performance in Motor Vehicle Mechanics Works than problem-based teaching method. The researcher recommended, among others, that teachers and instructors of Motor Vehicle Mechanics Works in all public and private Technical Colleges in Akwa Ibom State should henceforth adopt cooperative and problem-based teaching methods alongside demonstration method in teaching their students