Effects of learning mathematics in and beyond the classroom on students’ performance in senior secondary schools in rivers state, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of learning mathematics in and beyond the classroom on students` performance in senior secondary schools in Rivers` state. The research design is quasi-experimental. The population of this study consists of all government senior secondary schools in Rivers State. The sample of 80 ss1 students was drawn from the population of four schools out of 14 government senior secondary schools in Obio/Akpo L.G.A of Rivers State, by random sampling techniques. The instrument used was Mathematics Achievement Test developed by the researcher. The reliability of the instrument was determined through test-retest method. The initial and retest scores of the sample were correlated using Pearson product moment. The reliability score was found to be 0.88. Data were analysed using mean and t-test. The results showed that extending mathematics lessons beyond the classroom helps students to improve in their performance and learning beyond the classroom was interactive to students. It was recommended that mathematics teachers should give students learning tasks that will extend learning of mathematics beyond the classroom. Parents should relate activities at home with mathematics learnt at school. Curriculum planners and mathematics educators should integrate the strategies which will extend mathematics beyond the classroom in the mathematics curriculum.

Key words: Mathematics, beyond the classroom, performance and learning tasks.