AN ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS PERCEPTION OF DIFFICULT CONCEPTS IN MATHEMATICS AND THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF PLATEAU STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, GARKAWA
AN ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS PERCEPTION OF
DIFFICULT CONCEPTS IN MATHEMATICS AND THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: A CASE STUDY
OF PLATEAU STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, GARKAWA
1Ajoro,
M. D. 1Mbwas, C. D., and 2Mbwas, Luka
1College
of Agriculture Garkawa, Plateau State, Nigeria.
2
Federal College of Education Pankshin, , Plateau State,
Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
An analysis of student’s perception
of difficult concepts in Mathematics and their academic achievements was
investigated among some selected students of Plateau State College of
Agriculture, Garkawa. A sample size of 50 Students was drawn from 457 students
who constitute the pre- national diploma of the college within the period
2010/2011 academic session. Two hypotheses were raised and tested at the 0.05
Level of significance.
The instrument used to gather data was structured
questionnaire and in some instance Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT). The
reliability coefficient of MAT was 0.74 using the test-retest method. The data
collected was analyzed using the Pearson r product moment. The results showed
that, there is significant difference in the level of difficulty between each
of the classes of concepts in Mathematics as experienced by the students.
Regardless of method of teaching Mathematics, there is no significant
relationship between student’s academic achievement and their conception of Mathematics
terms. Student’s who perform better at the end of the term were those who
really do not have problems with majority of the concepts. It was recommended
that curriculum planners, text book writers should simplify these areas of
concepts that are found to be problem areas. Teachers on their own part should
expedite enough effort by making available instructional materials while
presenting these categories of concepts that are found to be difficult to
students or rather organize field trip to help bring to focus abstract concepts
to concrete reality conforming to the adage that said ‘’ it is better to see
once than to hear a hundred times”
INTRODUCTION
Mathematics by its nature consists of many
abstract concepts and ideas that give problem to students. The teacher of Mathematics
in the secondary school is therefore, face with the daunting task of unraveling
this mystery. The first step is to make the subject appealing to students as a
prerequisite for effective teaching and learning of any subject Land (2003).
The role of Mathematics teacher is primarily to help students develop Mathematics
manipulation skills concept. The teacher himself must understand the nature of
such concepts and how it develops. Concepts hold that, students learn by
incorporating or adding new concepts into the pre-existing concepts.Read all >>>>
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