Development and Validation of GenEduKit as a Supplementary Instructional Material for Teaching Genetics

Genetics remains a challenging topic in Biology because it involves abstract concepts, symbolic representations, and problem-solving tasks that learners often find difficult to understand. This study aimed to develop and validate the Genetics Educational Kit, or GenEduKit, as a hands-on instructional material for teaching introductory genetics among Grade 8 learners in a rural public-school context. Using a developmental research design with quantitative and qualitative evaluation approaches, the study was based on preliminary needs assessment results, in-service science teachers’ insights and curriculum alignment. Results showed that Heredity: Inheritance and Variations obtained 39%, indicating that genetics-related concepts remained difficult for learners. The teachers’ responses revealed that learners had difficulty understanding abstract genetics concepts, distinguishing genotype and phenotype, identifying dominant and recessive traits, solving Punnett square problems, predicting offspring traits, and interpreting genetic outcomes. In response, the GenEduKit was developed as a printed and manipulative instructional material composed of a learner’s worksheet/manual, teacher’s guide, Punnett square board, parent genotype cards, trait cards, trait discs, activity worksheets, and assessment materials. Validators’ comments were used to improve the clarity, durability, usability, visual consistency, assessment, and critical-thinking component of the kit. Overall, the developed GenEduKit may serve as an accessible, low-technology, reusable, and learner-centered supplementary material for genetics instruction. However, since the study primarily focused on the development and validation of the GenEduKit, further classroom implementation and experimental testing are needed to determine its effectiveness in improving learners’ genetics learning outcomes.

GenEduKit, genetics education, hands-on learning, instructional material, rural school, developmental research

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