Influence of using scientific calculators on secondary school students' development of computational skills in Mathematics in Murang'a County, Kenya
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Date
2016-10
Authors
Ogeto, Fridah Masese
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of scientific' calculators on
mathematical computational skills development among learners in secondary schools in
Kandara Sub County, Muranga County, Kenya: The study was guided by four objectives;(a)
to investigate the extent to which scientific calculators are incorporated in teaching and
learning of Mathematics in secondary schools in Kandara Sub County, (b) to establish the
effect of teachers' and students' affective domain towards use of scientific calculators in
teaching and learning of mathematics in secondary schools in Kandara Sub County (c) to
determine the extent to which scientific calculators aid in computational skill development
among learners in secondary schools in Kandara Sub County and (d) to investigate the level
of influence of scientific calculators on student mathematics performance in Kandara Sub
County. The study employed causal-comparative research design. The entire population of
Form three students, mathematics teachers and Mathematics Heads of Departments were
targeted. A sample of 248 students, 9 Mathematics Heads of Departments and 32
Mathematics teachers were selected using both stratified and simple random sampling. Data
was collected through the use of students' questionnaire, HOD Mathematics Questionnaire
and Teacher's Questionnaire. Analysis of data was done using both descriptive and
inferential statistics. In descriptive statistics, frequency tables, means and standard deviations
were used to measure teachers' and students' attitudes towards Mathematics. Analysis of
variance (ANOYA), t- test and Chi- Square (X2) were employed for the inferential statistics
to determine significance difference of pre-test and post-test scores. It was established that
students' as well as teachers' attitudes towards Mathematics have greatly improved as a
result of scientific calculators. Although the scientific calculators had slightly improved
Mathematical performance of learners, they did not support computational skill development
of learners. There was no uniform policy on calculator use within the secondary school
mathematics education system. Therefore these findings will be useful to policymakers and
stakeholders in the education sector as concerns scientific calculator use in teaching and
learning of Mathematics in secondary schools in Kenya.
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of education (mathematics) in the department of education, communication and technology, school of education,
Kenyatta University. October, 2016