A Study of The Availability and Use of Instructional Media in the Teaching and Learning of Primary Mathematics in Kuja Educational Division, South Nyanza, Kenya.

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Date
2012-06-12
Authors
Omwono, J. O.
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Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate the availability and use of instructional media in the teaching and learning of Primary Mathematics in Kuja Educational Division, South Nyanza, Kenya. The South Nyanza leaders had identified lack of enough facilities as the cause of poor performance in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. This study was a necessary follow up to reveal whether the parents and the leaders have made a worthwhile improvement to the state of facilities. The study was restricted to facilities relevant for the teaching and learning of Mathematics. The main objectives of the study were the following: (a) Determine of the available relevant resources for pupils and teachers in Mathematics lessons. (b) To investigate improvisation of resources by teachers and pupils to meet some requirements in Mathematics. (c) To study the utility of the available resources. (d) To investigate the convenience in the mode of replacement of consumable resources. (e) To investigate the frequency of in-service programmes for teachers in the use and organization of instructional resources. (f) To suggest ways of increasing resources and their utility to help improve performance. The populations of the study were primary school head teachers and the Mathematics teachers for classes one to six. The head teachers had to complete a checklist to indicate the available resources and their adequacy. The Mathematics teachers were to complete a questionnaire structured to meet the objectives of the study. For their details see Appendices II and III. The study found out that there is still an acute shortage of pupils' resources and the case is the same for some teachers' resources and the physical facilities. The teachers were found to be generally innovative as they improvised aids and were willing to use the available resources. On in-service programmes related to instructional media, the study confirmed their existence as about 50 percent of the teachers were found to have participated. It was the financing of the resources, which was found to be chaotic as there was no particular body responsible for these, leaving the responsibility for different groups like donors, parents, and even teachers themselves. It is recommended that each primary school needs to have a library at least for the teachers. It is also felt that finances for a year's budget be arranged for before the beginning of the academic year and that a Mathematics workshop is a necessity for all schools, the study concludes.
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The QA 135.5.O45
Keywords
Mathematics -- study and teaching (elementary)
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