EFFECTS OF BLENDED LEARNING METHOD WITH FREE WRITING TECHNIQUE ON STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE IN ESSAY WRITING IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN EKITI STATE

Abstract

Recognizing the pivotal role of effective communication in education, particularly through writing. This research addresses the persistent challenges students face in mastering essay writing: a skill crucial for academic success and standardized testing, such as the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) in Nigeria. This study investigates the effects of a blended learning method combined with a free-writing technique on students’ performance in essay writing within public secondary schools in Ekiti State. The study employed an experimental design with a sample of 108 students selected from a population of 24,342. Participants were divided into an experimental group which received instruction through blended learning combined with free-writing techniques, and a control group, which was taught using conventional methods. Data were collected using the Students’ Performance in Essay Writing (SPEW) instrument. The results reveal a significant improvement in essay writing performance among students exposed to the blended learning method with free writing techniques. The experimental group’s mean score increased from 53.17 (SD = 10.64) in the pre-test to 82.95 (SD = 5.02) in the post-test, whereas the control group’s mean score increased from 53.69 (SD = 8.99) to 64.86 (SD = 10.19).The Statistical analyses revealed a significant difference between the groupswith the experimental group outperforming the control group in essay writing. These findings showed that blending traditional teaching with digital technology and incorporating free-writing techniques effectively enhances students' writing skills. It was recommended among others that educational institutions should consider integrating blended learning approaches that combine digital and traditional teaching methods. This can provide students with a more flexible, interactive, and personalized learning experience, enhancing their engagements and understanding of essay writing techniques, thereby enhancing students' better competence and proficiency in essay writing.