Effect of Mathematics Laboratory on Senior Secondary School Students' Academic Performance in Mathematics in Dekina Local Government Area

Abstract

Laboratory Method is an essential way teaching and learning mathematics. It provides a hands-on approach to learning mathematical concepts, making it easier for students to understand and apply them. The use of mathematics laboratory has become increasingly popular in recent years, as it has been proven to be an effective way of teaching mathematics. The study focused on the effect of the laboratory apparatus on junior secondary students’ academic achievement in mathematics in Ankpa local government area in kogi state. A total of 100 JSS 2 Mathematics students were involved in the study. A quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test control group design was adopted, involving 100 selected students. The participants were divided into experimental (n = 50) and control (n = 50) groups. The experimental group was taught mathematics concepts using the laboratory method, while the control group received instruction through the conventional method. Data were collected using the Mathematics Performance Test (MPT), validated by experts in the department. Results were analyzed using mean, standard deviation and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Finding of this study revealed that the use of mathematics laboratory enhanced achievement in mathematics. The results also showed that no significant difference exists in the achievement of male and female mathematics students taught with mathematics laboratory. The study recommended that teachers should be encouraged to use mathematics laboratory in teaching fraction, geometry and set theory and mathematics student teachers should be trained on its use in their methodology class.