A computer mediated simulation module for teaching cell division in secondary school biology

Abstract

This paper describes the design and development of a valid, reliable and flexible instrument, a Computer-Mediated Simulation (CMS) module for teaching cell division topic in secondary school biology. The design was based on the generic instructional approach of Plan, Do, See and Improve (PDSI). Each step has an outcome that feeds the subsequent step or results in modification of the prior step. The design and development of a CMS module is aimed at bringing out the dynamics of the process of cell division to facilitate students understanding of the topic better. The process of cell division specifically involved the aspects of meiosis and mitosis. The module was also developed to fill, in some way, the special need for media and technology in biology teaching at secondary school level in Kenya and perhaps elsewhere. Evaluation of the CMS results of the actual implementation in test schools provide improvement highlights of the strengths of the module geared towards shifting the point set presently to a more desirable outcome