Effect of Ethno-Mathematics Teaching Materials on Students’ Achievement in Mathematics in Enugu State

Abstract

The study was conducted to ascertain the effect of ethno-mathematics teaching materials on students’ achievement in mathematics. The sample for the study was 156 Senior Secondary Schools two (SSS 2) students, which were randomly selected from 16 Senior Secondary Schools in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State through multi-stage sampling technique. The instrument used for the study was ethno-mathematics achievement test (ETHNOMAT). The data obtained with the instrument were analyzed using mean and Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Mean was used to answer the research questions posed, while ANCOVA statistic was employed in testing the null hypothesis at 0.05 significant level. Findings of the study showed that the ethno-mathematic achievement test was effective in enhancing students’ achievement in mensuration with particular reference to volumes of cylinder and hemisphere. It was recommended among others that ethno-mathematics teaching materials should be incorporated in the Senior Secondary School mathematics curriculum as technique to be used by teachers in teaching the concepts of volumes of cylinders and hemispheres. More so, workshops/Seminars should be organized by professional bodies such as Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN), Mathematical Association of Nigeria (MAN), among other bodies, to popularize and sensitize mathematics teachers on the use of ethno-mathematics teaching materials as approach in teaching students the concepts of volumes of cylinders and hemispheres.

Keywords: Ethno-Mathematics, Native Calabash Cups, Native Calabash Plates, Volume of Cylinder, and Volume of Hemisphere