Effect of a Simulation Package on Students’ Performance in Star-Delta Starter Installation in Tertiary Institutions in Rivers State

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to investigate star/delta simulation skills development for academic achievement in tertiary institutions in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study was guided by two specific objectives, two research questions and two null hypotheses. The study adopted a pretest-posttest, Quasi nonrandomized experimental design.  The sample for the study was the entire 250 electrical/electronic engineering students of three tertiary institutions in Rivers State. Two schools out of the three were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. Instrument for data collection for the study was an achievement test which was used as pretest and posttest to collect data on students’ ability to connect different sub-circuits that make up the star-delta starter. The achievement test was validated by three experts and with a reliability coefficient of 0.87 obtained through internal consistency and calculated using Cronbach Alpha. The test was administered to the students before and after treatment. The data gathered were analysed using mean for the research questions and Analysis of Covariance for the hypotheses. The result of the study showed that students taught with the simulation module performed significantly higher than their counterparts taught using lecture methods in direct online starter and star delta circuit connection. Based on the result, it was recommended among others that simulation module should be employed in teaching and learning of direct online circuit connection for star-delta starter installation in polytechnics and other institutions that engage in teaching and learning of star-delta starter. It was also recommended that the simulation module should be employed in teaching and learning of star circuit connection for star-delta starter installation in polytechnics and other institutions that engage in teaching and learning of star-delta starter.