Needs Analysis of DoCtor WoRM’s Module in Improving Multiplication Skills among Year Four Low Achievers

Abstract

Mathematics is one of the major subjects in primary school education in Malaysia. Among the basic arithmetic skills, single-digit multiplication is important as it is the basis for other mathematics operations. Nevertheless, it had become a challenging task for pupils when they still unable to master the skills even by Year Four. This study investigates the needs and the elements that are needed for a proposed learning module of single-digit multiplication skills. The module will be known as DoCtor WoRM’s Module. Quantitative approaches were used in this study. The participants in the study were 50 teachers from National-Type Chinese Primary School (SJKC) in Manjung District, Perak State. Descriptive analysis of percentages was used to analyse the results of the needs analysis survey. There is 96 percent of the participants think that module as a teaching aid can enhance the multiplication skills among low achievers. All of the participants claimed that mastery of single-digit multiplication is an important skill in mathematics. In this survey, the participants had voted for the multiplication facts that they think the low achievers might face difficulty in, since the multiplication facts of one and two only reached 8 percent, so the researcher had decided to drop the multiplication facts of one and two. Subsequently, multiplication facts from three until nine will be focused in this module as their percentages range is between 30 percent until 96 percent. The results from the needs analysis survey showed that there is a need to develop a module for multiplication skills. This study implicates that a module needs to be developed in order to improve the multiplication skills among low achievers.