APPLICATION OF DEVELOPMENT MODEL AND CONCEPT MAPPING ON STUDENTS ACHIEVEMENT AND INTEREST IN CLIMATE CHANGE CONCEPTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN ZARIA.

Obeka, S. S.

The study investigates the application of development model and concept mapping strategies to students’ achievement and interest in climate change concepts of environmental education in Zaria. The objective of the study therefore is to determine the effectiveness of the application two of two instructional techniques (development model and concept mapping) on students achievement and interest in climate change concepts of environmental education in Zaria. Climate change in Nigeria, according to some researchers, has adversely affected the economy, hence the need for this study. The design is a quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group here 246 students used for the study were purposely selected from four senior secondary schools in Zaria Educational Zone. Two instruments namely Environmental Climate Change Instrument (ECCI) and Environmental Climate Change Interest Inventory (ECII) were developed and validated. The results of the study were analyzed using mean, standard deviation and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The findings of the study revealed that Development Model and Concept mapping have significant effects on students’ achievement and interest in climate change concepts of Environmental education. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended amongst others that seminars, conferences and workshops should be organized by professional bodies like STAN on the use of appropriate instructional techniques like development model and concept mapping. Hence, it was concluded that the study is effective in engendering academic achievement and students’ interest in climate change concepts of environmental education.

Key words: Development model, Concept mapping, Climate change, Environmental climate change instrument, Environmental climate change interest inventory.