International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews

Abstract

The study assessed the use of mathematical software packages (msp) in the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics in Government Colleges of Education in South Eastern Nigeria, particularly Anambra and Enugu. The research design was descriptive survey research design. The study was guided by five research questions and two null hypotheses. The population of the study was 337, which consisted of both lecturers and students from all the government colleges of Education in Anambra and Enugu; 41 from Enugu state college of Education Technical (Escet), 80 from Federal college of Education, Eha-Amufu, 116 from Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze and 100 from Nwafor Orizu College of Education Nsugbe. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 200 students and lecturers for the study. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire. To ensure the validity of the instrument the researcher submitted the questionnaire to two experts in mathematics and measurement and evaluation, in Nsugbe and Eha-amufu. The reliability coefficient was established as 0.72 using test-retest method. Mean and standard deviation was used to answer the five research questions, while chi-square was used to answer the two null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of this study among others showed that the use of msp in the teaching and learning of mathematics in colleges of education enhances/improves the understanding and study of mathematics. Also the improvement of the computer laboratories in mathematics department improves the use of msp in teaching and learning of mathematics. Recommendations made among others is that enough time should be allocated for the use of msp in mathematics time table.