Effectiveness of Handheld Calculator usage on Students' Performance in the learning of algebra, Speed and Accuracy Factors

Abstract

The main purpose of the paper was to investigate the effectiveness of handheld calculators on students’ performance in the learning of algebra and to construct a correlation analysis on calculator usage and performance in the Edinaman SHS in Ghana. The descriptive and quantitative research designs were used to examine whether there are differences in the means of the post-test and the pre-test after conducting the two tests for the students without and with the used of the handheld calculators. The data was collected in the form of test scores obtained by students from the pre-test and post-test. The student population of Edinaman Senior High School is about 2400. The school is a mixed school with girls more than boys. The school runs five programs for all the three year levels. As a representative of the whole municipal schools, a random sampling technique under the probability method was used. This technique was used in order to conduct and record accurate study of the problem. Test and observation for collecting data for the paper. The researcher employed software called Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software version 17.0. The researcher analysed the data under pair sample t-test to compare the means between the two tests. Appropriate tables, charts, frequencies were generated for analysis and interpretation using the correlation model. From the analysis, the two means were different. The mean for the pre-test is 13.56 and the post-test mean is 25.23. Though, there are differences one cannot determine whether it is significant or not. But from table 4, the significant figure in column 4 is 0.000 and also table 6, column 9 is 0.000. These figures implied that the difference between the pre-test and the post-test is significant. Since the p-value 0.05 is greater than the significant value 0.000, Researcher, therefore reject the null hypotheses that there is no difference in the means between the pre-test and post-test. The researcher accept the alternative hypotheses that there is indeed difference between the pre-test and post-test. However, handheld calculators are the most effective technological instrument for better performance in the study of algebraic mathematics in the Edinaman Senior High School in the Central region of Ghana.