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Development and validation of competency-based instrument for assessing mechanical metalwork technology operations of technical colleges


P.I. Obe
A.O. Ezeama
T.C. Ogbuanya
E.O. Ede

Abstract

It is important to develop and validate a competency-based instrument for assessing mechanical metalwork technology students in technical colleges in Enugu and Ebonyi states Nigeria. The study was guided by three specific purposes, three research questions and one null hypotheses that was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted instrumentation research design. The study was carried out in the Technical Colleges in Enugu and Ebonyi states Nigeria. The population for the study was 134, made up of the year two students of metalwork technology from the six Government approved technical colleges in Enugu and Ebonyi States. The sample size was 80, made up of year two students of metalwork from the three purposive sampled technical colleges in the states. The instrument for data collection were the Competency-based Instrument for Assessing Metalwork Student’s cognitive knowledge on machine operations, Competency-based Instrument for Assessing Metalwork Student’s psychomotor (manipulative) skills and Competency-based Instrument for Assessing Metalwork Student’s Attitude (affective) skills on machine operations. These make up the competency –based instrument for assessing Metalwork students on Machine Operations (CBIAMSMO). The instruments were developed based on the NBTE curriculum for metalwork technology and the reviewed literature. The instruments passed through factor analysis, face, content and construct validations in order to obtain all the relevant items for the study. The data were analyzed using factor analysis, and Analysis of variance (ANOVA) to answer the research questions and the hypothesis respectively. The findings of the study revealed that the competency-based instrument for assessing metalwork students in machine operations in Technical Colleges should involve the test of cognitive (knowledge), manipulative skills (process and product skills) and attitudinal skills (affective) to make the assessment to be valid and reliable. Based on the findings, it was recommended that National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) and Metalwork Teachers should include the competency-based assessment instrument in the assessment of metalwork students of Technical Colleges to obtain a valid and reliable assessment for proper acquisition of skills and sustainable employment thereafter.

Keywords: Mechanical, metalwork technology, competency –based assessment


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eISSN: 2467-8821
print ISSN: 0331-8443