Role of Practical Activity Method in Improving Understanding and Problem-Solving Skills of Physics Students

The objective of this study was to use the practical activity method to improve the understanding and problem-solving skills of physics students at School A in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The study used 29 students in the Form 1. Sc. 1 class, of which 27 were boys and two were girls. The instruments used to gather data were achievement tests and observations. Simple statistical methods such as pre-intervention lessons were designed and administered to find the reasons students had problems understanding physics concepts and their inability to solve problems in physics. Several activities were undertaken to enhance students’ understanding and problem-solving skills. This research revealed that the use of practical activity-based methods in the teaching and learning process of physics enhanced students’ performance remarkably. The findings from this research showed that students’ performance was elevated during the series of lessons administered. The students got a better understanding of concepts and were able to make real-life applications of concepts. This subsequently increased their contributions and participation during lessons. Conclusions were drawn and suggestions were made for teachers who are faced with similar problems of improving students’ performance in physics.