Problem-based Learning and Higher Cognitive Skills Performance: Problem-based Learning Higher-cognitive Thinking Skill Cooperative Learning Self-directed Learning Motivation

This is a dissertation on 'The Effect of Problem-Based Learning Strategy on Higher Cognitive Skills Performance in Biology at Secondary School Level'. A total of eight-hundred and ten (810) SSS2 students from four schools were used. Instruments for data collection were teacher-made achievement test and questionnaire. It was an experimental study that involved the Solomon four-group design. Through the SPSS software, t-test was used to calculate the differences between two means. Six hypotheses were formulated and tested. The significance level was set at alpha 0.05 and this determined the tenability of each hypothesis. The major findings indicate that: PBL motivates students to learn more than the traditional methods do; students taught by PBL are more inclined to taking responsibility of their own learning than those taught by the conventional strategy; and male students are more motivated to engage in self-directed learning than their female folks in PBL environment. These findings implied that PBL strategy is applicable to secondary school students. It is therefore recommended that teachers infuse it at secondary school level to promote motivation for creative learning.