The Predictive Influence of Interest in Online Learning of Pharmacy Students’ Achievement in General Biology

Abstract

Objectives: This study determined the prediction of students` interest in online learning on their academic achievement in general biology among the first-year undergraduate pharmacy students in Nigeria. Design: A correlational research design was adopted for the study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Nigeria between 2020/2021 academic session. Methodology: The study participants comprised of 370 undergraduate students drawn from faculty of pharmacy using multistage sampling procedure. Interest in online rating scale (IORS) and general biology achievement test (GBAT) were research instruments used for the study. The internal consistency reliability indices of the instruments were established using Cronbach alpha and Kudder-Richardson formula 20 (K-R20) to be 0.79 and 0.71 respectively. Results: The findings of the study showed that students` interest in online learning significantly predicted their academic achievement in general biology. It was also found that the influence of gender on the amount of prediction of interest in online learning on students` academic achievement in general biology was not significant. The study showed that the regression model for predicting students` academic achievement in general biology from their interest in online learning is: BAA = 17.145 + 0.235(SLA) -0.505(SSA) + 0.305(SCA) -1.0143 (ARA) -0.012(ORA). Conclusion: Interactive online learning platforms and forums where students can have access to question and answers on previous examinations as well as interact with instructors in solving examination problems should be made available. Students should make relentless efforts to engage in online related activities that will stimulate their interest and that teachers and parents should make online learning tools available to students so as to engage them in online learning often.