FISHING TOOLS INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACH AND STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENT, RETENTION AND INTEREST IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL GEOMETRY
ABSTRACT
This study was designed to determine the efficacy of fishing tools instructional approach and students’ achievement, retention and interest in Senior Secondary One (SS I) geometry. Six research questions and nine hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study employed a quasi-experimental-non-equivalent control group design and was restricted to Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Four public and co-educational secondary schools were drawn for the study using purposive sampling technique. Out of the four selected schools, two were randomly assigned to Fishing Tools Instructional Approach (FTIA) – the experimental group, while the other two to the control group (CG). A sample of 200 SS I students was involved (104 male and 96 female students) for the study. The instruments for data collection were geometry achievement test (GAT) and geometry interest scale (GIS). Data collected were analyzed using mean, standard deviation and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The result of the study revealed that the use of Fishing Tools Instructional Approach in teaching geometry of two-and three-dimensional objects to senior secondary one (SS I) students enhanced their achievements, retention and interest in geometry. The study also revealed that the use of fishing tools instructional approach had no statistically significant difference on male and female students’ achievement, retention and interest. Furthermore, there was significant interaction between gender and fishing tools instructional approach and students’ achievements, retention and interest. Based on the findings, the researcher recommended that the Fishing Tools Instructional Approach should be adopted in the teaching of geometry (mathematics) in primary and secondary school levels of education system. It was also recommended that seminars, workshops, and conferences should be mounted by professional bodies, federal and state ministries of education on the use of Fishing Tools Instructional Approach for mathematics teachers, students and others. This will enable the mathematics educators, serving teachers, students and all to benefit from such an approach.