Effect of 5e’s Inquiry Instructional Technique on Chemistry Students’ Skill Acquisition in Delta State

This study sought to x-ray chemistry students’ skill acquisition in Delta State. The study was necessitated because of the need to equip future scientists especially chemistry students with the 21st century skills as specified in the curriculum needed to excel in the present day technology driven world. Two research questions and three hypotheses that were tested at 0.05 level of significance guided the study. Quasi- experimental design was used for the study because intact classes were used. The population of the study consisted of all the Senior Secondary School two (SS2) chemistry students in Asaba Educational Zone of Delta State numbering one thousand two hundred (1,200). The sample of the study consisted of two co-educational schools numbering two hundred and ten (210). The two schools were randomly assigned to 5E’s inquiry instructional technique and demonstration method of instruction using toss of coin. Hence, it became necessary to expose the male and female chemistry students to an inquiry based instructional technique in order to equip them for the task ahead. The Test of Critical Thinking (TOCT) developed by the researchers and found to be valid and reliable was used for data collection. The groups received pre-test and post-test independently. The research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the hypotheses. The findings revealed that 5E’s inquiry instructional technique was more efficacious than the demonstration method of instruction in making chemistry students’ to acquire critical thinking skills required in this 21st century amongst others. Based on the findings it was recommended amongst others that the government should incorporate 5E’s inquiry instructional technique in the senior secondary school curriculum for the teaching of science subjects especially chemistry.