The Effectiveness of Muddiest-Point Instructional Strategy on Pupils’ Performance in English Studies in Kaduna, Nigeria

Authors

  • Olusola Adenike Awoyemi Department of Primary Education, Federal University of Education, Nigeria
  • Olabisi Adedigba Department of Adult and Primary Education, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
  • Mayowa Olurotimi Ogunjimi Department of Social Sciences University of Ilorin, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60072/ijeissah.2026.v4i02.008

Abstract

In Nigerian schools, the English language plays a pivotal role in all teaching and learning activities. It serves both as a medium of communication and a gateway to understanding other subjects. However, studies have shown that many pupils face challenges in mastering the language because of poor instructional strategies used by the teachers. This study assessed the impact of the Muddiest‑Point Instructional Strategy on learners’ achievement in English Studies in Kaduna, Nigeria. A quasi‑experimental design was employed for the research. From a population of 12,494 pupils, 250 were selected to participate through a multistage sampling procedure. Data was collected via the English Performance Test, which yielded r = 0.76. Analysis of Covariance was used to test three hypotheses at a 0.05 significance threshold. Findings indicated that the intervention markedly enhanced pupils’ English Studies results. A significant interaction emerged between the strategy and school type, while no interaction was observed between the strategy and gender.  The paper recommends adopting the Muddiest‑Point Instructional Strategy to improve English proficiency. Curriculum developers are encouraged to embed it within instructional policies, and educators should be trained in its effective application. Also, inclusive methods must ensure gender equity, and implementation should consider differences across school types.

Keywords:

Conventional Strategy, English Studies, Innovative Instructional Strategies, Muddiest-point Instructional Strategy, Pupils’ Performance

References

Abdullahi, S., & Bichi, A. A. (2015). Gender issue in students’ academic achievement in English language. Kano Journal of Educational Studies, 4(1), 31-38.

Akanbi, S. T. (2010). Test anxiety as a correlate of academic achievement among senior secondary school students in Ogbomoso area of Oyo State. African Journal of Educational Research, 14(1-2), 89-97.

Adeyemi, S. B. (2014). Comparative Study of Pupils' Academic Performance between Private and Public Primary Schools. World Journal of Education, 4(4), 55-60.

Agarwal, P. K., & Roediger III, H. L. (2018). Lessons for learning: How cognitive psychology informs classroom practice. Phi Delta Kappan, 100(4), 8-12.

Agavekar, R., Bhore, P., Kadam, H., & Moharir, M. (2023). Effective application of one minute paper and muddiest point technique to enhance students' active engagement: A case study. Journal of Engineering Education Transformations, 01-10.

Agbofa, F. J. K. (2023). Exploring the difference in academic performance determinants between public and private junior high schools. Creative Education, 14(01), 182-196.

Akamatsu, D. (2017). Relation between high school students’ beliefs and learning strategies, and their academic achievement in learning English. The Japanese Journal of Educational Psychology. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5926/jjep.65.265

Akhtar, M., & Saeed, M. (2020). Assessing the Effect of Agree/Disagree Circles, Exit Ticket, and Think-Pair-Share on Students' Academic Achievement at Undergraduate Level. Bulletin of Education and Research, 42(2), 81-96.

Amadi, M. O. (2014). The role of language education in bridging the gap in education in Nigeria. Knowledge Review: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 31(2), 131-135.

Attah, R. F., & Ita, P. M. (2017). Gender as predictor of academic achievement in English among senior secondary school two students in Calabar metropolis, Cross river state. Global Journal of Educational Research, 16(2), 149-153.

Asonze, J. I. (2018). The impact of the synthetic phonics method on pupils’ reading achievement in English language in FCT. Multidisciplinary Journal of Academic Excellence, 12(1).

Babalola, J. O., & Agbaje, F. I. (2019). Collaborative Language Pedagogy and Students’ Academic Achievement In English Language In Ekiti State. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 6(11), 36-44.

Banditvilai, C., & Cullen, R. (2018). Problems and obstacles in learning English as a foreign language. International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, 8(12), 289-294.

Bibon, M. B. (2022). Teachers’ instructional practices and learners’ academic achievement in science. Contemporary mathematics and science education, 3(1), ep22007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30935/conmaths/11816

Baker, D. R., Carberry, A. R., Koretsky, M., Brooks, B. J., Gilbuena, D., Waters, C., ... & Krause, S. J. (2013, June). Muddiest point formative feedback in core materials classes with YouTube, Blackboard, class warm-ups and word clouds. In 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition (pp. 23-916).

Cadiz-Gabejan, A. M. (2022). A comparative study on the english proficiency of students from public and private schools. Journal of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, 4(3), 10-23.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32996/jeltal.2022.4.3.2

Cansız, M., Ozbaylanlı, B., & Çolakoğlu, M. H. (2019). Impact of school type on student academic achievement.

Deji-Afuye, O. O., & Obadare, F. T. (2014). Comparative Analysis of the English Language Usage of Pupils in Public and Private Primary Schools in Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Niger. J. Educ. Pract., 5(21), 73-77.

Dev, S., & Qiqieh, S. (2016). The relationship between English language proficiency, academic achievement and self-esteem of non-native-English-speaking students. International Education Studies, 9(5), 147-155.

Eysenck, M. W., & Keane, M. T. (2020). Cognitive psychology: A student's handbook. Psychology press.

Fakeye, D. O. (2010). Students’ personal variables as correlates of academic achievement in English as a second language in Nigeria. Journal of social sciences, 22(3), 205-211.

Federal Republic of Nigeria (2014) National Policy on Education. Abuja: Federal Ministry of Education. NERDC, Abuja. https://www.nerdc.gov.ng/

Glory, G. E., & Ihenko, S. (2017). Influence of gender on interest and academic achievement of students in integrated science in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. European Scientific Journal, 13(10), 211-219.

Gong, X., Ding, Y., & Tsang, M. C. (2014). Gender differences of academic performance in compulsory education in rural Southwestern China. International Journal of Educational Development, 39, 193-204.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2014.07.004

Halilu, S., & Lawal, L. (2025). Language Skills As Predictors Of Academic Performance In English Language Among The Students of The Department English, Isa Kaita College of Education Dutsinma Katsina State. International Journal of Innovative Language, Literature & Art Studies, 13(1), 15-20.

Iroegbu, V. I. (2017). Effects of strategy of teaching and school location on primary school pupils’ achievement in English language. Journal of Education & Social Policy, 4(2), 64-71.

Jelena, O. Z., & Jelena, M. (2022). Quasi-experimental research as an epistemological-methodological approach in education research. International Journal of Cognitive Research in Science, Engineering and Education, 10(3), 177-183.

Kaduna State Annual School Census Report (2020). Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics. https://kdbs.ng/home

Kisigot, C. K., Ogula, P. A., & Munyua, J. (2021). Effects of gender on students’ academic achievement in public secondary schools in Marakwet East Sub County, Kenya. International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education, 8(3), 1-10.

Musa, A. K., Dauda, B., & Umar, M. A. (2016). Gender Differences in Achievement Goals and Performances in English Language and Mathematics of Senior Secondary Schools Students in Borno State, Nigeria. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(27), 165-175.

Onwunyili, F. C., & Obi, I. O. (2023). Influence of Parenting Style on Academic Performance of Female Secondary School Students in Kabba, Kogi State of Nigeria. Shodh Sari.

Obijiofor, E. O., & Mabel, O. O. I. (2020). Effect of Role-Play Method on Primary School Pupils’ Academic Achievement and Interest in English Studies in Anambra State. International Journal of Multidisciplinary and Current Research, 8(1), 12-18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14741/ijmcr/v.8.1.3

Ofodu, G. O. (2012). Instructional Strategies and Resource Utility in Language Teaching among Basic Educators in 21st Century Nigeria. English Language Teaching, 5(5), 79-84.

Okenyi, E. C., & Ezema, V. S. (2022). Effects of mnemonics and prior knowledge instructional strategies on pupils’ academic achievement in English language in Enugu State, Nigeria. Sapienfia Foundafion Journal of Educafion, Sciences & Gender Studies, 4(1), 11-21.

Olanipekun, S. S. (2015). Analysis of students’ academic performance in general English in Kwara state College of Education (tech.), Lafiagi, Nigeria. Open Access Library Journal, 2(07), 1. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1101262

Oribabor, O. A. (2014). An evaluation of the current English language curriculum in Nigerian secondary schools. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 4(6), 295-300.

Osuorji, P. I. (2006). An empirical validation of beginning reading skills for Nigerian primary schools using three structured methodologies (Doctoral dissertation).

Perez, D., Zahedi, L., Ross, M., Zhu, J., Vinci-Cannava, T., Kramer, L., & Charters, M. (2020, October). WIP: An exploration into the muddiest points and self-efficacy of students in introductory computer science courses. In 2020 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE) (pp. 1-5). IEEE. DOI: 10.1109/FIE44824.2020.9273932

Rose, K. (2022). The Effects of Gender and Teaching Strategies on Senior Secondary School Learners’ Academic Achievement in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa. South Africa.

Simpson-Beck, V. (2011). Assessing classroom assessment techniques. Active Learning in Higher Education, 12(2), 125-132. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1469787411402482

SAADU, U. T., Fatimoh, O. R. E. A. G. B. A., & YUSUF, G. A. (2020). Effect Of Jolly Phonics On Pupils' Academic Performance Of In English Language In Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.

Sadiq, S. The Impact of the Muddiest-Point Technique on Teaching. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/27802715

Saleem, T., Kausar, F., & Mahmood, M. (2021). One-minute paper, muddiest point, and exit ticket formative evaluation methods used by teachers in daily classroom teaching. Journal of Critical Reviews, 8(2), 792-803.

Saleh, G. U. (2021). Assessment of the Problems of Teaching English Language at Junior Secondary Schools in Katsina State, Nigeria. International Journal of English Language Teaching, 9(3), 20-33.

Seneviratne, H. A., & Thenabadu, M. (2021). Evaluation of Student Perceptions on “Muddiest Point” Classroom Assessment Technique Implemented As A Formative Assessment Method'. International Journal of Humanities, Art and Social Studies (IJHAS), 6(1), 33-37.

Shoaga, O., Akintola, O. A., & Okpor, C. I. (2017). Nurturing Reading Proficiency of Pupils through Phonics: Entrepreneurial Opportunities for Early Childhood Educators in Nigeria. Journal of Education and Practice, 8(11), 103-108.

Ubulom, W. J., & Adoki, M. I. (2016). Academic performance of public and private primary school pupils in written English in Port Harcourt Metropolis. International Journal of Innovative Language, Literature & Art Studies, 4(2), 20-27.

Usman, H., Yew, W. T., & Saleh, S. (2020). Effects of Van Hiele’s Phase-based teaching strategy and gender on retention of achievement in geometry among pre-service mathematics teachers’ in Niger State, Nigeria. International Journal of Professional Development, Learners and Learning, 1(2), ep2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30935/ijpdll/9139

Wiklund-Hörnqvist, C., Stillesjö, S., Andersson, M., Jonsson, B., & Nyberg, L. (2022). Retrieval practice is effective regardless of self-reported need for cognition-behavioral and brain imaging evidence. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 797395. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.797395

Yusuf, M. A., & Adigun, J. T. (2010). The influence of school sex, location and type on students’ academic performance. International Journal of Educational Sciences, 2(2), 81-85.

Published

27-04-2026

How to Cite

Adenike Awoyemi, O., Adedigba, O., & Olurotimi Ogunjimi, M. (2026). The Effectiveness of Muddiest-Point Instructional Strategy on Pupils’ Performance in English Studies in Kaduna, Nigeria. International Journal of Emerging Issues in Social Science, Arts and Humanities ( IJEISSAH), 4(2), 73-83. https://doi.org/10.60072/ijeissah.2026.v4i02.008

Metrics