Learning Trajectories in Mathematics and Chemistry on Secondary School Students’ Understanding of Word Problems in Rivers State, Nigeria (Published)
The study investigated the effects of using Learning Trajectories (LT) in Mathematics and Chemistry on secondary students’ understanding of word problems in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study used a quasi-experimental pre-test /post- test control design. A sample of 84 (54 male :30 female) senior secondary two (SS2) students was purposively selected from Federal College of Education (Technical) Demonstration secondary school Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area. Four research questions were answered and four research hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Data was obtained through a Test of Basic Skills on Word Problems (TBSWP) designed by the researchers. The reliability coefficient index r=0.82.Mean scores were used in analyzing the research questions while z-test was employed in testing the hypotheses. The findings revealed that learning trajectories (LT) [rigid operational, flexible operational, basic operational levels etc] enhanced students’ academic achievements in mathematics. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the use of learning trajectories to teach mathematics should be encouraged in senior secondary schools.
Keywords: Learning Trajectories, Mathematics, Word problems., students’ understanding