Effect of Microsoft Maths solver on the mathematics performance of senior high school students.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of Microsoft math solver on the Senior High School students’ performance in Quadratic Equation. The study employed mixed method design. A purposive, convenience and simple random was employed in selecting the sample for the study. A total sample of hundred and twenty (120) students were selected for the study from Bechem Senior High Schools (SHS) in Ahafo Region, Ghana. The participants were categorized as control group of fifty-eight (58) students and experimental group of fifty-eight (58) students. Three instruments were used to collect data on the effect of math solver on students’ performance in Quadratic equation. A test (pre-test and posttest) was conducted. Questionnaires were given to the experimental group. Four students were interviewed after the intervention. The analysis of data was done using independent t-test with alpha value (α) = 0.05. The experimental group received teaching instruction using the Microsoft math solver while traditional lecture method was used to teach the control group by another instructor. Results revealed that there were significant differences, calculated t-value of 11.446 with degree of freedom of 114. This value was statistically significant at 1% significant level. The mean difference between the two groups was -30.07. This outcome indicated that indeed there was effectiveness in the treatment administered showing performance between control and experimental. This suggested that mathematics teachers and curriculum or textbook developers should introduce the use of the computer assisted instruction in teaching and learning of Quadratic Equation to improve students’ performance in mathematics education.