Impact of Laboratory Method on Students’ Motivation of Mathematics in Secondary Schools of Kapseret Sub County Kenya

Abstract

Mathematics is compulsory for all learners in secondary schools, as recommended by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (2010). The performance of mathematics has been consistently low and one of the reasons is insufficient Mathematics laboratory. The study sought to determine Mathematics performance among secondary school students. The study instruments that were used included a pre-test, post-test, non-equivalent group experimental design, questionnaires, and an interview schedule. The researcher sampled 298 students and 26 teachers who took part in the study. The Form two students were selected to participate in the study. A sample size that represented the study population was selected using simple random sampling and purposive sampling while stratified sampling was used to select the schools. The study used the Solomon Four-Group design where two groups were formed, one experimental and one control group. The experimental group entered laboratory instructional strategy method while the control group entered conventional instructional strategy method. The respondents were assigned in their complete classes to four groups; experimental groups 1 and 3, and control groups 2 and 4. All the groups were taught the same content of the reflection and congruence. However, groups 1 and 3 were taught using laboratory method while groups 2 and 4 were taught by conventional methods. Groups 1 and 3 were pre-tested prior to the implementation of the laboratory method treatment. Teachers who took part in the study were inducted prior to the study by the researcher for period of three weeks. Mathematics Achievement Test 1 and Mathematics Achievement Test 2, questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data. SPSS was used to aid in data analysis. Chi-square tests were used to establish relationships. The study findings indicated that the laboratory method arouse the learners’ interest, increased learner participation, boosted the performance, enabled learners to develop the necessary skills for more advanced study research and promoted the development of scientific thinking. The study recommends that there is need for teachers to use laboratory method, which ensures that learners are more involved and engaged more in doing Mathematics activities and teachers have to be trained on the use of such pedagogy.