Students’ Performance and ICT Capabilities in Quadratic Functions Using GeoGebra

The study explored the relationship between information and communication technology (ICT) self-efficacies and students’ mathematics performance using the GeoGebra software in teaching quadratic functions to senior high school (SHS) students in the West Gonja Municipality of the savannah region. ICT capabilities were defined as the functionalities offered by ICT in mathematics education that students identify and utilize to address their learning needs, including computational and graphing capabilities. The pre-test/post-test non-equivalent control group design with a quantitative research approach were employed for data collection. A sample of 120 participants were selected from three Senior High Schools in the West Gonja Municipality via the stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected through performance tests and students survey questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test and correlation analysis. Notably, the study observed that there was comparable/significant difference between the posttest mean scores of students taught using GeoGebra and students taught without it. The results also indicated GeoGebra as an effective technological tool for improving students’ computational and graphing competencies, both of which revealed significant and positive association with mathematics performance. Analysis of the responses of students' opinions/perceptions of GeoGebra as an ICT tool in teaching quadratic functions revealed an overwhelming majority of students had positive perceptions of GeoGebra, considering it an effective tool for teaching and learning quadratic functions, enhancing their understanding, computational skills, and motivation. They also expressed willingness to recommend it to their peers, indicating strong support for its integration into mathematics education. As a result, the study proposed the full integration of ICT into the SHSs’ curriculum. Additionally, it recommended focusing on enhancing the ICT competencies of SHS students to effectively leverage ICT in their educational endeavors.&nbsp

Cooperative Learning with Manipulatives and Students’ Performance in Mathematics Problem Solving

The use of manipulatives in teaching mathematics has been identified to have a significant improvement on students’ understanding of mathematical concepts as well as their interest in their studies and subsequently their performance. Studies have examined the impact of this method on students’ performance in mathematics in general little data is available on how cooperative learning with manipulatives learning affects learners’ performance in mathematics problem-solving skills. Hence this study was to assess the effect of cooperative learning (CPL) with manipulatives on students’ performance in mathematics problem-solving skills. The study employed a quasi-experimental research design. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select eighty Junior High School students from a public school in Asikuma Odoben Brakwa District in the Central Region of Ghana. Mathematics Non-Routine Achievement Test (MNRAT) and an interview guide were used to gather primary data from the participants. Descriptive statistics and an independent t-test at P≤ 0.05 level of significance were used to analyzed the data gathered from the field. The findings of the study indicated that students taught cooperatively with or without manipulatives outperformed students taught utilizing the lecture technique with or without manipulatives and no discernible differences were found between males and females in their performance (with and without the use of manipulatives).  The study therefore recommends that, the use of cooperative teaching and learning strategies integrated with manipulatives should be encouraged and adopted in schools by educational bodies, mathematics educators and teachers through workshops, seminars, in-service training and conferences on the importance and how to employ cooperative teaching and learning strategies with manipulatives to enhance Junior High School learners’ social and interactive participation, critical thinking, logical reasoning, effective communication and problem-solving skills in mathematics Keywords: Cooperative teaching and learning strategy, manipulatives, lecture method, mathematics problem-solving skills, students’ performance in mathematics DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-19-01 Publication date:July 31st 202

School Physical Resources and Senior High School Students’ Mathematics Performance in Sagnarigu Municipality of Northern Region, Ghana.

While factors that affect students’ academic performance have been well investigated, the extent to which school physical resources determine students’ performance in Mathematics, to the best knowledge of the researchers, has received less academic attention within the Sagnarigu Municipality and hence the need to delve into the area to determine whether there is a relation between school physical resources and students’ academic performance in mathematics. The study adopted a quantitative approach with a survey design involving 372 students and teachers who were selected through Simple Random sampling technique to participate. Questionnaire was used to gather primary data which was complemented by extensive literature review. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data that was collected from the field. An Ordinary Least Square regression model was used to test the predictive power of school infrastructure, school facilities and teaching and learning materials over students’ performance in mathematics after a correlation statistical test indicated that there were multi-collinearity issues. The analysis revealed that students’ performance in mathematics was closely associated with school infrastructure, school facilities and teaching and learning materials. It was, therefore, recommended that stakeholders in education should ensure that Senior High Schools in Sagnarigu Municipal are given the needed infrastructure, facilities and instructional materials so as to improve instructional quality and raise students’ performance in Mathematics. Keywords: School Physical resources, Teaching and Learning Materials, Infrastructure, Facilities, Performance DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-30-10 Publication date:October 31st 202

An Investigation of Students’ Perception of Assessment for Learning in Integrated Science: A Case Study of Potsin T. I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School

This study sought to investigate students’ perceptions of assessment for learning and the teaching strategies teachers employ in teaching integrated science. The students were sampled using stratified sampling techniques The sample for this study consisted of 215 senior high school third-year students.   Students’ perceptions about assessment for learning were checked using Assessments Experience Questionnaires. The questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study found that students have a positive perception of assessment for learning. However, it emerged from the study that students are not assessed adequately in integrated science as prescribed in the science syllabus. Per the responses from the students, the teacher-centered approach seemed to dominate the teaching of integrated science instead of the student-centered approach as prescribed in the science syllabus. It is recommended that there should be proper supervision to ensure that students are well-assessed during the teaching and learning of integrated science.  Again, this study for teaching integrated science implies that a specific teaching method (student-centered) or approach should be prescribed in the integrated science curriculum for teachers to use to improve students’ academic success in integrated science

Teachers’ Geometry Vocabulary Competence and Students’ Academic Performance in Circle Theorem

Ghana's mathematics curriculum places less emphasis on geometry terminology and vocabulary instruction. Hence each instructor chooses his/her own strategy, some of which may be incorrect, because there are no explicit guidelines in the Ghanaian mathematics curriculum on how students should be introduced to mathematical language and vocabulary. A number of research findings however, have suggested that, mathematics vocabulary education has a big impact on how well students do in geometry in general; but little data is available on the impact of the teacher’s language proficiency and vocabulary knowledge on students’ performance in Circle Theorem, an area in which students continue to demonstrate inadequate understanding and poor academic performance as reported on several occasions by WAEC Chief Examiners. As a result, it became necessary to carry out further research in the current location to ascertain whether teacher’s language proficiency and vocabulary knowledge relates significantly to students’ performance in Circles Theorem. This study used a mixed-methods research approach and a sequential explanatory design with 210 students selected through the probability systematic sampling technique. A thorough literature study was conducted in addition to the primary data collection that involved the use of a Questionnaire, an Achievement Test, and an Interview guide.  The data that was gathered in the field was analysed using, regression tool, and deductive manual thematic analysis, which was used for only the qualitative data collected from the interviews. The study found a significant relationship between the independent variable teacher’s language proficiency and vocabulary knowledge and the dependent variable students’ academic performance in Circle’s Theorem. This implies that that students’ performance in circles theorem depends on the circle theorem language proficiency and vocabulary knowledge of the teacher.Therefore, it is recommended that the Ghana Education Service organise training conferences and workshops aimed at improving teachers’ teacher’s circle theorem language proficiency and vocabulary knowledge as well as include guidelines in the Mathematics Syllabus as to how students should be introduced to mathematics vocabulary and terminologies. Keywords: Teacher vocabulary Knowledge, language proficiency, Circle Theorem, Students’ Performance DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-19-02 Publication date:July 31st 202