Background: Problem-based learning (PBL) has been identified as an effective instructional strategy, particularly in enhancing student outcomes in various subjects, including mathematics. However, its impact on senior secondary school students' mathematics achievement and attitudes in Ogun State, Nigeria, remains underexplored.Aims: This study aims to investigate the effects of PBL on the mathematics achievement and attitudes of senior secondary school students in the Ijebu Ode area of Ogun State, Nigeria. Additionally, it examines the influence of gender on students' attitudes towards mathematics.Method: A sample of 100 students was randomly selected from two senior secondary schools, divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received instruction through PBL, while the control group followed traditional teaching methods. Six hypotheses were tested at a significance level of 0.05. Data were collected using a teaching guide on PBL, the Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT), and the Mathematics Attitude Scale, with reliabilities of 0.82 and 0.88, respectively. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analyze the data.Results: The findings revealed a significant positive effect of PBL on both the achievement and attitudes towards mathematics among the senior secondary school students. Additionally, gender was found to significantly influence students' attitudes towards mathematics.Conclusion: The study concludes that PBL significantly enhances both mathematics achievement and attitudes among senior secondary school students in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria. It recommends that schools integrate student-centered teaching methods, including PBL, into their curricula and encourage teachers to adopt these strategies.

Background: Mathematics holds a critical position within educational systems worldwide due to its extensive applications. At Dadieso Senior High School in Ghana, students consistently demonstrate low performance in mathematics, necessitating an investigation into potential determinants of academic achievement.Aim: This study aims to examine the impact of students' attitudes towards mathematics and the self-efficacy of mathematics teachers on students' mathematical achievements.Method: A descriptive-correlational research design was adopted, employing quantitative methods to analyze the relationships between students' attitudes, teachers' self-efficacy, and students' academic performance. The study sampled 218 students and 7 teachers, utilizing the Attitude towards Mathematics Inventory (ATMI), the Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale (TSES), and a Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT) for data collection.Results: The analysis revealed a moderate positive correlation between students' attitudes towards mathematics and their academic performance, indicating that positive attitudes are linked to better outcomes. Furthermore, a significant, albeit smaller, positive correlation was identified between teachers' self-efficacy and student achievement, highlighting the impact of teacher confidence on student success.Conclusion: Fostering positive attitudes towards mathematics among students is essential for improving academic performance. Likewise, enhancing teachers' self-efficacy substantially influences student achievement. These factors should be the focus of interventions aimed at enhancing mathematical outcomes in educational settings.

Background: One of the primary challenges confronting African mathematics educators and students is the wholesale adoption of external methods, approaches, and ideas in the teaching and learning of mathematics. In response to this challenge, the concept of ethnomathematics has emerged, although it remains largely unadopted across many African countries. Recently, Social Justice Mathematics has been developed, a concept closely aligned with the principles of Ubuntu, which emphasizes equality and justice in all aspects of human life. Aim: This paper aims to highlight the ubuntulisation of mathematics classrooms. Instead of fully adopting Social Justice Mathematics as a contemporary solution to enhance students' interest and achievement in mathematics, this paper proposes an Africanized approach by integrating Ubuntu as a foundational element of ethnomathematics. This approach is posited to achieve greater success among learners. Methods: The study involves a comprehensive review of existing literature on ethnomathematics, Social Justice Mathematics, the benefits of Social Justice Mathematics in learning, Ubuntu pedagogy, and the ubuntulisation of mathematics classrooms.Results: The paper presents relevant examples that emphasize the need for mathematics educators to incorporate African cultural contexts in the planning and teaching of mathematics.Conclusion: The study concludes by recommending the ubuntulisation of mathematics classrooms as an effective alternative to Social Justice Mathematics for enhancing students' interest and achievement in mathematics.

Background: Online examinations are increasingly prevalent in educational settings, offering innovative assessment methods. Understanding student perceptions and experiences with such systems is essential for enhancing their effectiveness and acceptance in educational practice.Aims: This pilot study aimed to examine the impact of STACK-based online exams on various facets such as student comfort, perceived value for learning and exam preparation, preferences between pen-and-paper versus STACK formats, confidence in online math tests, readiness to adopt online assessment platforms, and overall perspectives on online evaluations.Method: An experimental within-subjects design and convenience sampling were used to involve 117 first-year biology students enrolled in a Probability and Statistics course, who were already familiar with the STACK system. Data were collected using pre- and post-exam online surveys featuring five-point Likert scale questions and an open-ended query.Results: The findings indicate that students felt more comfortable using the STACK system after the study and preferred it over traditional exams. Nevertheless, some students expressed uncertainty about using STACK content for final exams due to concerns about its effectiveness in evaluating critical thinking and potential technical difficulties. However, concerns regarding technical challenges decreased significantly post-exam, with no technical issues reported during the exam. Positive feedback highlighted STACK's benefits for formative assessment, easier learning, immediate feedback, and its practicality and innovation. Some students even suggested incorporating STACK into final exams for convenience and advocated for further investment in the STACK system, possibly with improved content. Conclusion: In summary, students preferred using STACK for exams, though concerns about technical glitches and the need to refine content for assessing critical thinking persist. Future efforts should focus on enhancing content quality, starting this summer.

Background: The integration of culturally-based mathematics education is vital for making learning meaningful and relevant. The VillageMath platform was developed as a web-based ethnomathematics instructional content repository to address this need.Aims: This study aims to evaluate the structural quality of the VillageMath educational intervention, focusing on its navigation, structure, and appearance.Method: The study employed a developmental research design, involving 341 pre-service and in-service mathematics teachers in Benue State, Nigeria. The VillageMath platform was developed using WordPress Version 5.4, hosted online at https://VillageMath.net, on a Linux OS server with cPanel v80.p (Build 20), Apache Version 2.4.39, PHP Version 5.6.40, and MySQL Version 5.7.26. The Web-based Ethnomathematics Instructional Content Repository Assessment Questionnaire (WEICRAQ) was used as the research instrument. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer three research questions regarding the quality assessment of the web tool.Results: The analysis revealed that both pre-service and in-service mathematics teachers rated the VillageMath platform highly in terms of navigation, structure, and appearance.Conclusion: The findings indicate that VillageMath is a structurally sound platform that can be utilized by mathematics teacher educators in higher education institutions. The platform serves as a reliable tool for promoting narratives in ethnomathematics and provides a forum for experts to share and develop innovative pedagogical strategies, particularly those highlighting African indigenous knowledge systems.

Background: Education on disaster mitigation remains critically underemphasized, with existing pedagogical approaches often falling short in adequately preparing children for the realities of natural disasters. This gap underscores the urgent need for innovative educational tools that can effectively enhance disaster literacy among younger populations.Aim: This study aims to develop and assess an Earthquake E-Book designed to elevate the disaster literacy levels among children, focusing on its validity, practicality, and effectiveness as educational media.Method: Employing a Research and Development (RD) framework, the study navigated through stages of problem identification, design formulation, and implementation, excluding the evaluation phase to concentrate on the developmental process. The implementation employed a One-Group Pretest-Posttest design, involving pretesting, intervention (treatment), and posttesting phases. The e-book's validity was appraised by three expert validators, while its practicality was gauged through student questionnaires, and its effectiveness was measured using the N-Gain test on student learning outcomes.Results: The Earthquake E-Book garnered an average validation score of 85.4%, positioning it within the valid category. Practicality assessments reflected an 85.4% efficiency rating from student feedback. Furthermore, the effectiveness, as indicated by an N-Gain score of 0.74, was classified within the high category, signifying substantial improvements in children's disaster literacy post-intervention.Conclusions: The findings affirm that the Earthquake E-Book stands as a valid, practical, and effective educational tool in bolstering disaster literacy among children. By integrating this digital resource into disaster mitigation education, it is anticipated to significantly contribute to enhancing children's understanding and preparedness for earthquake disasters.

Aim: This study aims to elevate the modelling skills of Grade 10 students in understanding the circulatory system, using model-based learning, to a level where they can achieve at least a 70% passing score on a relevant unit test.Method: The study involved 23 students and implemented a model-based learning approach. Research tools included a design for model-based learning, assessments of the modelling process, a modelling ability exam, structural interviews, and student diaries. Data analysis was conducted using percentages and averages, and the action research was structured into two iterative rounds.Results: Initial findings from the first cycle revealed an average modelling ability score of 18.21 out of 24 (75.87%), with 14 students surpassing the 70% threshold. The second cycle showed marked improvement, with an average score of 19.94 out of 24, translating to an 83.09% success rate. Notably, all 23 students exceeded the 70% benchmark in this cycle.Conclusion: The implementation of model-based learning significantly enhanced the students' modelling skills in understanding the circulatory system. The method proved effective in not only achieving but surpassing the targeted 70% success threshold, demonstrating its potential as a valuable educational tool in biology.

Background: In the evolving landscape of education, student-centered learning approaches and formative assessments have gained prominence as key to enhancing the quality of higher education. This is particularly pertinent in Bangladesh, where traditional teaching methods are still prevalent, underscoring the significance of these strategies.Aim: This research aims to explore the impact of implementing student-centered learning and formative assessment on first-year university students at a non-governmental university in Bangladesh, highlighting how these methods influence the learning process.Method: Employing a qualitative approach, data was gathered through surveys conducted among fifteen first-year political science students at a non-governmental higher education institution in Bangladesh.Results: The study revealed increased student engagement in understanding material and improved academic performance in classes that adopted student-centered approaches and formative assessments.Conclusion: This research confirms that student-centered learning combined with formative assessment contributes positively to enhancing the quality of learning at the higher education level. It underscores the need for pedagogical improvements in Bangladesh to encourage broader implementation of these methods, which in turn could enrich the learning process and educational outcomes for students.

Background: Problem-based learning fosters critical thinking by requiring students to analyze information, evaluate solutions, and make well-judged decisions, thereby enhancing their problem-solving skills.Aim: The study aims to assess the impact of the RICOSRE learning model, which is based on socioscientific issues, on students' problem-solving and collaboration skills.Method: Quasi-experimental research was used in this research involving students in classes XI MIPA 2 and XI MIPA 3. Purposive random sampling was used to select participants. Data were collected using test and non-test instruments: essay questions assessed problem solving skills, while questionnaires measured collaboration skills. Hypothesis testing was carried out using Multivariate of Variance (MANOVA).Results: The RICOSRE learning model based on socioscientific issues can influence the problem-solving ability and collaboration skills of students, as evidenced by the MANOVA test's significant value (0.000). It was also observed that students with higher levels of collaboration tend to have stronger problem-solving capabilities, suggesting a proportional relationship between these two skills. Notably, students in the experimental class who exhibited outstanding collaborative abilities also showed a high problem-solving rate of 80.67%.Conclusion: The study concludes that the RICOSRE learning model, when combined with the Discovery Learning model and a scientific approach, positively influences students' problem-solving and collaboration skills. This model provides an effective learning strategy, enhancing students' ability to apply theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios, thereby making learning more engaging and relevant. Additionally, it prepares students for teamwork, improving their communication and interpersonal skills.

Background: Augmented Reality (AR) integrates virtual objects with the real world on smartphone screens, creating a seemingly seamless blend of both. Aim: This research aimed to explore the use of AR in teaching geometric solids to final-year elementary school students. An interactive tool, RA Solids, was employed, originating from a 2023 research experience in a 6th-grade class. Method: The study was conducted in a public school with students mostly classified as digital immigrants. The Didactic Engineering methodology was utilized for research. Result: The outcomes were positive, showing that the school environment was conducive to implementing the teaching and learning process of geometric solids using digital technology. Conclusion: The use of AR in education, specifically in teaching mathematics, demonstrates promising results in enhancing student engagement and understanding, particularly in the context of geometric solids.