Virtual Learning and Undergraduate Students’ Academic Achievement in Mathematics During Covid-19 Lockdown in Ibadan, Oyo State

Virtual Learning and Undergraduate Students’ Academic Achievement in Mathematics During Covid-19 Lockdown in Ibadan, Oyo State

 SAM-KAYODE, Christianah Olajumoke (Ph.D.)
Department of Science Education, Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2023.10506

Received: 30 April 2023; Revised: 08 May 2023; Accepted: 11 May 2023; Published: 09 June 2023

Abstract: This paper investigated Virtual Learning and Undergraduate Students’ Academic Achievement in Mathematics during Covid-19 Lockdown in Ibadan, Oyo State. The study adopted One-group pretest-posttest Quasi-Experimental design. The population for this study was two hundred and eighty (280) First-year students in the faculty of Basic Medical and Applied Science, Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria. Sample for the study comprised Fifty (50) students who participated in the virtual learning in Applied Mathematics coded MTH 112 during COVID-19 Lockdown. The instrument for the study was Forty (40) objective questions optioned A to D on Applied Mathematics Achievement Test (AMAT). The instrument was validated and tested for reliability with reliability coefficients of 0.71. Student t-test statistics was used to test the Hypotheses generated at 0.05 level of significance. Hypothesis one revealed a significant difference in the achievement of students in Applied Mathematics when exposed to virtual learning, t-calculated (21.328) was greater than t-table (1.985). Hence hypothesis one was rejected. Hypothesis two also revealed a significant difference in the achievement of male and female students in Applied Mathematics in favour of male students, t-calculated (20.050) was higher than t-table (2.011). This infers that the male students achieved better than female students in AMAT when exposed to virtual learning. Hence, hypothesis two was also rejected. The study concluded that, Virtual learning encourages students’ achievement in Applied Mathematics and recommended virtual learning to be adopted especially where physical classroom is constrained.

Keywords: Virtual Learning, Academic Achievement, Applied Mathematics, Undergraduates, COVID-19 Lockdown

I. Introduction

One of the most important functions of an educational system is to produce the manpower which a nation needs to grow significantly and economically. The level of development of any nation has to do with the level of her technological advancement which hinges on Mathematics. In a developing country like Nigeria, emphasis on Mathematics cannot be overlooked for the purpose of technological developments. The knowledge of Mathematics is very crucial and important for a meaningful technological development in the society. The acquisition of such knowledge starts from the elementary schools through secondary schools and colleges up to institutions of higher learning. It is however important to note that Mathematics is vital for Nigeria to attain the level of self-reliance both technologically and economically due to its roles as a fundamental subject and basis for Science and Technology. In recognition of the importance of Mathematics, students’ achievements in Mathematics at all levels of education must be a priority in order to uphold its importance in numeracy as it is being spelt out as one of the cardinal points of the National Policy on Education prepared by the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN, 2013).

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