Advanced Journal of Education Research ISSN 2053-2105 Vol. 2 (2), pp. 019-022, December, 2015. © Advanced Scholars Journals

Full length Research paper

Effect of Cuisenaire Rods’ loom on some Nigeria primary pupils’ attainment in decimal fractions

James  Karume*  and Andy MoMoh**

¹Statistics  Education , Department of Mathematics Bauchi State University, Bauchi, State, Nigeria.

²Applied Mathematics Education , Department of Mathematics Bauchi State University, Bauchi, State, Nigeria.

E-mail: [email protected] 

Accepted 20 October, 2015

Abstract

This study determined the result of Cuisenaire Rods’ loom on some Nigeria primary pupils’ attainment in decimal fractions. Three hypotheses guided the study. A total of 200 Primary six pupils (that is, 6^th grade) from randomly selected schools in Bauchi metropolis of Bauchi State of Nigeria served as the sample for the study. A Mathematics Attainment Test on Decimal Fractions (MATDF) developed by the researchers and validated by three experts with a reliability coefficient of 0.89 using K-R _21, was used for data collection. Two way Analysis of Covariance was used for analyzing the data. The results revealed that there was a significant difference between pupils taught fractions using Cuisenaire Rods’ loom and those taught fractions using conventional loom with Cuisenaire rod loom being more facilitative (F_{1, 199} = 12.231; p < 0.05). Secondly, there was no significant difference between male and female pupils taught using Cuisenaire Rods loom (F_{1, 199} = 3.453; p >.05). However, there was no significant interaction effect of method and gender on achievement (F_{1, 199} = 1.424; p > 0.05) It was therefore recommended among others that teachers of mathematics should adopt Cuisenaire Rods loom in teaching mathematics in primary schools in the study area to ensure hands-on-activities and thereby contributing to enhanced understanding.

Key words: Cuisenaire Rods loom, pupils’ attainment in mathematics, manipulative activities, hands-on, concrete materials, abstract materials, decimal fractions.