Paper presented on National Conference on regional Development 2011 at South Eastern University of Sri Lanka 10th & 11th December 2011

1. IMPROVING STUDENTS’
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
IN BIOLOGY SUBJECT
A.Nithlavarnan
&
T.Mukunthan

2. Introduction
• In today’s climate of school accountability, it is of
paramount importance for educators to search for
ways to improve student achievement.
• Jaffna Hindu College is a leading National school
in the Jaffna district.
• There are 2315 students in this school. Students
are selected to this school on merit. Most of the
students have passed the Grade-5 examination.

3.  Students’ G.C.E (O/L) achievement is also
satisfactory. In last two years this school obtained
100% pass in G.C.E (O/L).
 But the G.C.E (A/L) performance is degreasing in
recent years. 65 students did not passed any one of
the subjects in last year. So, due to the above
reason this project has become predominant.
 The following graph illustrates the “Percentage of
failures in all three subjects in G.C.E(A/L) in Bio-
stream”

4. Percentage of Failures in all three
subjects in G.C.E (A/L)in Bio
stream
25
percentage of failures
20
15
10
5
0
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Year

5. Problem of the study
 The purpose of this action research was to improve
the academic achievement of a group of G.C.E(A/L)
students Biology.
 Twenty two students from a J/Hindu College and their
parents participated in this study .
 There are 61 students studying bio – stream in Grade
- 13 (batch of 2012). Out of 61 students only 22 weak
students were selected for this study.
 The performance in Biology during last three terms
degreased. (The following graph illustrates their
performance.

6. 1st ,2nd and 3rd term marks of the students in the Biology subject
90
80
70
60
50
First Term marks
2nd Term Marks
40
3rd term
30
20
10
0
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V

7. Objectives of the Research
• To identify the problems faced by students
regarding learning of Biology in the school.
• To identify the problems faced by students
regarding learning of Biology at home and
private tuitions.
• To increase the academic achievement level of
each student in Biology by 10%.

8. Data collection methods
To collect data a variety of techniques were used
1. Pre-survey for students
2. Post-survey for students
3. Interviews with parents
4. Conducted parent-teacher conferences
5. Pre test in Biology
6. Post test in Biology
7. Data got from documents(Marks
schedule, Attendance Register)

9. Problems faced by students regarding learning of
biology in their home(based of student’s responses)
• Laziness
• Duration of learning is less at home
• No self learning at home
• Often sleepy in class
• There is no proper place for study at home
• There is no hard work
• Memorization is difficult
• There is no freedom at home
• Loss of Memory

10. Methods which were used to improve the
students’ academic achievement
 Conducted extra classes (morning & evening classes)
 Conducted more practical sessions
 Organized and arranged local fieldtrip within Jaffna
 Encouraged Biology related group activities
 Conducted remedial teaching
 Enhancing Biology instruction via Multimedia
presentations
 Established “Nature Appreciation Club”(NAC) in school
in and encouraged students to be involved biology related
activities through this club.
 Conducted parent-teacher meeting regularly.
 Encouraged students participating in biology
seminar, conducted by Professor. Sarath Gottagama

11. Enhancing Biology instruction via Multimedia
presentations

12. Encouraged students to involve Biology
related group activities(Group projects)

13. Established “Nature Appreciation Club”(NAC)
in the School

14. Conducted more practical sessions to the
students

15. Conducted local fieldtrip within Jaffna

16. Data Analysis
• Students’ background information
Fathers' occupation
Electrician
Hindu priest 5%
5%
Driver
4%
Businessmen
23%
Gov.jobs
36%
Farmer
27%

17. Mothers’ Occupations
• Only one student’s mother is Nurse
• Other Students’ mothers are house wives.

18. Students’ background biology knowledge
determined through G.C.E(O/L) result
G.C.E(O/L) result in Science subject
F
0%
S A
0% 0%
B
45%
C
55%

19. Comparison of students’ pre-test and post-test marks
Student Pre-test Post-Test Student Pre-test Post-test
marks marks marks marks
A 62 69 M 16 32
B 42 50 N 36 40
C 50 55 O 43 52
D 66 73 P 33 40
E 54 63 Q 35 41
F 54 56 R 35 45
G 42 50 S 48 55
H 38 45 T 59 52
I 58 64 U 54 60
J 56 63 V 39 45
K 44 50
L 59 65

20. Conclusions
• Post test marks of the students are higher than
the pre-test marks.
• Regular attendance to the school is also
increase the students’ academic achievement.
(Pearson’s product movement correlation
between average attendance and pre-test
marks is 0.6198462)
• The incorporation of IT into the biology
classroom can be accomplished by approaching
a variety avenues. The complexity of the
biology topics introduced can be overcome by
connecting the biological principles to the
students’ “real-world” experiences.

21. Conclusions(cont..)
• Part of the solution to improve biology education is to help
ensure that students are taught by teachers with expertise
in their subject areas.
• Parents often with their child’s teachers not to disturb but
to receive feedback as how your child is doing in science
courses and to uplift the child’s performance.
• Parent – teacher corporation help to improve the students’
achievement.

22. Recommendations for future research
The researcher recommended that this study be;
o Replicated to include other factors
o Replicated for other subjects and other
G.C.E(A/L) streams to generate longitudinal
data.
o Expanded to a larger population

23. References
1. Moza Ali Essa Alboainain(2008), Improving students’
achievement through parent communication
2. Styron,R.&Peasant , E.(2010), Improving Student Achievement:
can 9th Grade Academies Make a Difference? International
Journal of Education Policy and Leadership 5(3).
Retrived[DATE] from http://www.ijepl.org.
3. Cheryl Berg(2008), Academic Emotions in student achievement:
Promoting Engagement and Critical Thinking through Lessons
in Bioethical Dilemmas.
4. Karla B.Duvall, Increasing student achievement through the use
of reading strategy: Accelerated Reader
5. De.Fonseka,P&N (2007), Teaching the science of life at G.C.E
(A/L), Daily News,06/11/2007.
6. Vinobaba,P , Importance of Science education to students and
society.

24. THANK YOU