Teachers’ non-verbal behavioral instructional practice and students’ achievement in chemistry in Public Secondary Schools in Murang’a County, Kenya

Abstract

Although teachers’ non-verbal behavioral pedagogical technique may sound obvious to educational researchers and practitioners, there is insufficient information regarding its use during the instructional process. Additionally, research on non-verbal communication and self-efficacy have largely been conducted, with less focus directed towards teachers’ non-verbal behavioral approach as an instructional practice. To address the gap, the present study sought to investigate if teachers’ non-verbal behavior is an effective predictor variable of learners’ academic achievement in chemistry. Using a sample size of 384 Form three chemistry learners and 32 chemistry teachers from 32 public secondary schools, in Murang’a County, Kenya, a descriptive survey design was adopted for this study. Three instruments were used to collect data: an Observation Checklist, Students’ Questionnaire and Chemistry Achievement Test. Multiple observers were used to overcome the weakness or intrinsic biases and the problems emanating from a single-observer. A pilot study to validate the instruments, was conducted in three schools. Reliability of the instruments was calculated using Pearson Moment Correlation Coefficient. Data was coded using SPSS Version 20, and analyzed using one- way ANOVA, simple regression analysis, frequency tables, means and standard deviations. The study adhered to accepted ethical standards. From the findings, teachers’ non-verbal behavior was found to be a strong predictor of learners’ academic achievement in Chemistry and was found to offer support to other methods of instruction. The results of the study will support policy efforts to improve and promote teachers’ non-verbal behavior competencies. The study contributes to diversification of pedagogical practices and a support tool to the already existing conventional methods of teaching that are currently in use. Further studies should be carried out in several countries, using different designs, so that the results of the study can be broadly generalized