Concept mapping strategy and senior school students’ acquisition of entrepreneurial skills in constructing standard-variable resistors in Ilorin, Kwara State

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of concept mapping as a learning strategy for acquiring entrepreneurial skills in constructing standard-variable resistors in Ilorin, Kwara State. The research adopted a quasi-experimental design with 124 participants. Data were collected with the instruments Physics Creative Ability Test (PCAT) and the Physics Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition Test (PESAT). The reliability test of the instruments was carried out using a test-retest method and analysed using Pearson's product-moment correlation, the reliability indices of PCAT and PESAT are 0.89 and 0.94 respectively. The data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed a significant positive effect of concept mapping on students' entrepreneurial skills acquisition. Interestingly, students with low creative ability showed the greatest improvement compared to their high and moderate counterparts. Additionally, a gender difference emerged, with male students demonstrating a greater advantage in concept mapping compared to females. These results suggest that concept mapping can be a valuable tool for fostering entrepreneurial skills, particularly for students with lower initial creative abilities. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms behind these findings and to determine if concept mapping can mitigate gender disparities in this domain.