Instructional Strategies Applied by Mathematics Teachers and Their Influence on Performance in Probability in Secondary Schools, Nairobi City County, Kenya
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2023-06-10
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Education Practice
Abstract
This study sought to evaluate the instructional strategies applied by Mathematics teachers in teaching
Probability in secondary schools in Nairobi City County. The study was guided by the four (4) objectives; to
identify the types of instructional strategies used by Mathematics teachers in teaching Probability; to investigate
the extent to which instructional strategies used by Mathematics teachers enhance learners’ performance in
Probability; to assess learners’ performance in Probability by gender; and to investigate the considerations
that teachers make when selecting instructional strategies for teaching Probability. The study adopted the
descriptive survey research design. Purposive and simple random sampling was employed to select the sample.
The sample size was 140 Form three students. Key informants were 14 Mathematics teachers and seven heads
of departments. The study instruments were: questionnaires, unstructured interviews for teachers, Observation
checklist and a Probability achievement test for students. A pilot study was done in a school with similar
characteristics as those in the sample. The results from the pilot study were used to determine the validity and
reliability of the data collection instruments. The data from the pilot study was coded and entered into the
computer and reliability results with the help of the SPSS produced a coefficient of α =0.7767. The data
collection was in two phases. In the first phase the researcher distributed questionnaires to the teachers. In the
second phase the researcher observed the teachers in the classroom teaching Probability, conducted an
interview with the Heads of Mathematics Departments and administered a test on Probability to learners. Data
from the actual study was analyzed by use of both qualitative and quantitative methods. Quantitative data
collected was analyzed and presented in percentages, pie charts, and frequency distribution tables. The study
findings indicated that Mathematics teachers use different instructional strategies while teaching Probability.
The performance outcome from the test on Probability showed that different instructional strategies used by the
teachers influence the students’ performance in the Probability. The study concluded that teachers’
instructional strategies determine learners’ performance in Probability. The findings of the study indicated that
Mathematics teachers have to choose their instructional strategies carefully while preparing to teach the
Probability in order to enhance performance. The results of this study would be useful to Mathematics teachers,
leaders in education, and curriculum developers
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Citation
Mutua, J. M., Miheso_O’connor, M. K., & Ondigi, S. R. (2023). Instructional strategies applied by mathematics teachers and their influence on performance in probability in secondary schools, Nairobi City County, Kenya. Reviewed Journal of Education Practice, 4 (1), 32 – 55