Abstract

EFFECTIVENESS OF POLYA & WOODS PROBLEM SOLVING MODELS ON STUDENTS? ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SIMPLE LINEAR EQUATION IN ONE VARIABLE

George, Nchelem Rosemary And Enefu, Justina Anthony

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Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Polya and Woods problem solving models on students? academic performance in simple linear equation in one variable among junior secondary school students in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. The study adopted a pre test post test quasi-experimental design. The study was guided by three (3) research questions and three (3) hypotheses which were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The population of the study was 6,045 students and a sample of two hundred (200) students was selected using the simple random sampling technique. The instrument used for data collection was titled ?Simple Linear Equation Performance Test (SLEPT). Research questions were answered using the mean and standard deviation while the hypotheses were tested using t-test statistic. The result revealed that students who were taught linear equation in one variable using Polya problem solving model out-performed their counterpart who were taught with Woods problem solving model. The findings also revealed that there was significant difference in the performance of the male and female students who were taught simple linear equation in one variable using Polya problem solving model.A significant difference was found between the performance of low and high achieving students in the experimental group. To this end it was recommended that polya problem solving model should be used by Mathematics teachers most especially when teaching simple linear equation. The teachers should also be trained on how to use the model to teach different topics in Mathematics. Keywords: Problem Solving Models, Performance, Linear Equation, Polya, Woods.

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