INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN LEARNING AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN IKA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF DELTA STATE

ABSTRACT: This study looked at how social media affects the way Agricultural Science is taught and learned by students in secondary schools. The study looked closely at extent students use social media when learning Agricultural Science, also, the extent social media affects their school performance, the good things about using social media in teaching and learning Agricultural Science, and the problems or difficulties that come with using it. The study used a descriptive survey research design. The group included 323 students, with 123 boys and 200 girls. Data was gathered through a structured questionnaire and then looked at using averages, standard deviations, and a test called independent samples t-test. The hypotheses were checked at a significance level of 0.05, and the critical t-value used was 1.96. The study found that students use social media a lot for learning Agricultural Science, with an average score of 3.08. The study also found that social media affects how well students do in Agricultural Science, with an average score of 3.12. Moreover, social media was found to offer several advantages, such as making learning more engaging, giving students access to learning materials, helping them understand better, introducing them to modern farming methods, and improving communication between teachers and students, with an overall average of 3.19. However, challenges like too much use of social media, difficulty focusing, putting things off, getting unreliable information, and bad internet connection were found, with an average score of 3.23. The hypotheses found no major difference in how male and female students answered the questions. The study found that social media can be a helpful tool for learning as long as it is used in a smart and responsible way. It suggested better internet access, clear advice on using social media, and more use of social media tools in teaching Agricultural Science.