Effectiveness of Science Writing Heuristic (SWH) Approach in Increasing the Academic Achievement in General Chemistry 1 of Grade 11 STEM Students

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The main purpose of the study was to determine the Effectiveness of Science Writing Heuristic Approach (SWH) on the academic achievement of STEM students in General Chemistry. Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions: 1) Is there a significant difference between the academic achievement of the control group and the experimental group in the pre-test and post-test? 2) Is there a significant difference between the academic achievement of the control group and the experimental group in terms of their gain score?

METHODS

The study was conducted at the Trece Martires City Senior High School in San Agustin Trece Martires City, Cavite during the second semester of the school year 2017-2018. The samples of the study involved 108 grade 11 STEM students. The study tested for three weeks. This study utilized the quasi-experimental research design. Quantitative as well as qualitative data analyses were employed. The 20 item science test and science activities with Science Writing Heuristic Approach (SWH) activity sheets were used as instruments of the study. The t-test was used to determine the significant difference between the means of the students' pretest and post test scores in General Chemistry.

RESULTS

The results of the t-test at 0.05 level of significance revealed that there is no significant difference on the academic achievement of the students in two groups in the pretest but has a significant difference in post test scores in General Chemistry . The results revealed that the academic achievement of the students who were subjected to Science Writing Heuristic Approach achieved significantly higher with a mean gain score of 10.71.

DISCUSSIONS

The study was limited to its testing period of three weeks. The 20 item science test and science activities with Science Writing Heuristic Approach (SWH) activity sheets were used as instruments of the study. The contributions of the study determined the significant difference between the means of the students' pretest and post test scores in General Chemistry; and sought the general effectiveness of Science Writing Heuristic (SWH) Approach in Increasing their academic achievement.