Abstract

EFFECT OF MATHEMATICS SCRABBLE GAME ON JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS? ACHIEVEMENT IN MATHEMATICAL COMPUTATIONAL SKILL

1ALIO B.C. AND 2ANIBUEZE C.O.

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Abstract This study aimed to determine effect of Mathematics Scrabble Game on Junior Secondary School Students? Achievement in Mathematical Computational Skill. This study was guided by two research questions and three research hypotheses. The design of this study was non-equivalent quasi-experimental research. This study was conducted in secondary schools in Enugu Education zone of Enugu State. The population of the study was six thousand, six hundred and fifty-seven (6657) Junior Secondary School Students One (JSS 1) in the thirty (30) secondary schools. The sample size of the study was three hundred and seventy-eight (378) Junior Secondary School Students One (JSS 1) in the four (4) sampled coeducational secondary schools in Enugu Education zone. Simple random sampling technique through balloting was used to pick the four coeducational secondary schools. In each of the schools sampled, simple random method through balloting was used to sample an intact class for the Control group and another intact class for Experimental group. Hence, the researcher sampled one hundred and ninety-two (192) students in Experimental group and one hundred and eighty-six (186) students in Control group. Mathematical Computational Skill Test (MCST) was the instrument used for data collection. Mathematical Computational Skill Test (MCST) underwent face and content validation. The reliability estimate for Mathematical Computational Skill Test (MCST) was determined using Kuder-Richardson formula method (K-R 20) which gave a reliability coefficient of 0.96. The study made use of two teachers as research assistants from each school sampled; one for experimental group and one for control group. The experiment lasted for five weeks. Mean ( ) and standard deviations ( ) were used in answering the research questions. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used in testing the research hypotheses at 0.05 alpha levels. The study discovered that students that were taught with Mathematics Scrabble game performed better in achievement scores than their counterparts taught with expository method. In addition, the study discovered that the female students performed better both in achievement scores than their male counterparts in experimental group. Hence, the study recommended among others that the serving teachers of mathematics in Junior Secondary Schools should adopt the use of well structured Mathematics Scrabble game in Mathematical computational lessons and that the Federal/State governments and other relevant professional bodies should sponsor seminars, conferences, workshops, refresher courses on the use of this method in teaching Mathematical Computational Skills, since the use of Mathematics Scrabble game has proven effective.

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