Constructivist-Based Approach in Teaching Mathematics: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

The development of Mathematics skills has been one of the major aims of the school curriculum. To achieve this goal, progressive new ideas on teaching and learning strategies in Mathematics are constantly emerging. One of these strategies is the constructivist-based approach which views learners as active participants in the learning process. In this approach, the students’ prior knowledge is carefully considered during instruction and the goal of instruction is to build ideas based on these prior knowledge. Students actively construct meanings as they interact with the environment and understand rather than recall, and analyze rather than memorize. This study focused on the effectiveness of constructivist-based approach in teaching Mathematics particularly in Calculus among second year college students using a quasi-experimental research design. Constructivist-based approach was used on the experimental group while the traditional lecture method was used on the control group. Pretest and post-test results were analyzed using ANCOVA and t-test for dependent samples. Journal writing was also undertaken to determine students’ perception of the subject after being exposed to constructivist-based approach. Results of the study showed that both the constructivist based approach and the lecture method are effective in teaching Calculus based on the difference between the pretest and post-test scores. However, students who used the constructivist-based approach got significantly higher post-test scores than those taught using the lecture method, and some had improved perception and attitude towards Calculus based on the written journals. This led to the conclusion that constructivist-based approach is more effective than the lecture method and it is therefore recommended that this approach be utilized in the teaching of Mathematics and other Mathematics-related subjects.

Keywords: Constructivist-Based Approach, Lecture Method, Effectiveness