INFLUENCE OF TEACHING STRATEGIES ON SKILLS ACQUISITION AMONG SECRETARIAL ADMINISTRATION STUDENTS IN TAI SOLARIN UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, IJEBU ODE.

Abstract

Despite the importance of secretarial administration, graduates often lack practical skills for workforce demands, limiting contributions to skills acquisition of the students The study examined influence of teaching strategies on skills acquisition among secretarial administration students in Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode.   To achieve the main objective of the study, four specific objectives, three  hypotheses were highlighted.  The study employed a quasi experimental design of pretest, posttest control group design with 3x2x2 factorial matrixes.  The population includes 340 third year secretarial administration students at Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode. A sample random techniques was used to select One hundred and twenty (120) students which were divided into three groups (40 each) were selected.  The instrument on the Teaching Strategies on Skills Acquisition was developed  and validated for data collection.   The reliability of the instrument was obtained using Cronbach Alpha technique which yielded a coefficient of  0.84 while ANCOVA was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance.  The result showed a significant composite effect on teaching strategies with gender differences in self-efficacy observed between students taught using demonstration and lecture methods.  Effective teaching strategies, including hands-on training, project-based learning and soft skills development  were established to be vital for job readiness and workplace success among secretarial administration students.    The study therefore concluded that  integrating technology  to enhance skills acquisition, implementing project-based learning, developing mentorship programs, designing a sustainability-focused curriculum promoting collaborative learning to build teamwork and critical thinking were lcritical to the success of secretarial administration students.   It was recommended among others that secretarial administration educators should adopt appropriate teaching strategies to promote skills acquisition among university students.

Keywords: Secretarial Administration, Skills Acquisition, Students, Teaching Strategies