Stimulating and sustaining Interest of students in secondary school mathematics for improved achievement through teaching - learning software packages in developing countries
Date
2019-08
Authors
Akor, Christiana D.
Omenka, Otor Donald
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
Stimulating and sustaining interest in the learning of a concept has become a key
component of quality achievement in the concept. It is much gain saying that learning
is meaningful with interest and the quality of learning is relative to the interest of
individual learner. This fact is most evident in the fields of science and technology,
especially mathematics where the rigors of learning activities require curiosity and
commitment. Hence, very few individuals with fewer girls are seen in the field of
substantiates the ugly trend reported in the existing literature that, on the average, in
science and technology (worse still, mathematics) for a career. Furthermore, the fact
the past ten years, results of secondary school students in mathematics, in both
examinations in developing countries such as in the West African sub-region, showed
that more than half of the students failed to obtain a credit level pass. This trend has
been blamed on poor teaching strategy and lack of suitable teaching-learning materials
capable of stimulating and sustaining students’ interest in the learning of mathematics.
It is therefore needful to introduce into the teaching and learning of mathematics a
Mathematics-Interest-Based-Software-Packages (MIBSPs) for improved
achievements in mathematics. This study adopts quasi-experimental design of a
randomized pretest/posttest control group type consisting of 380 students sampled from
six senior secondary schools in Oju local government area of Benue State. Using Circle
Geometry Software Package (CiGOSPAC) and Likert scale questionnaire instrument,
the study finds that the use of MIBSPs stimulates students’ interest in the study of
mathematics, which translates to higher achievement in mathematics. The study
therefore recommends that different MIBSPs should be designed and employed in the
teaching-learning of mathematics as it has ability to stimulate different levels of
students’ interest in the learning of mathematics.
Description
Paper presented at the 5th Strathmore International Mathematics Conference (SIMC 2019), 12 - 16 August 2019, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
Keywords
Stimulating and sustaining interest, Mathematics achievement