Effect of Calculator Use in Mathematics Computation by Junior Secondary School Form Two Pupils: A Case Study in the Cape Coast Municipality in Ghana

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to find out whether the use of calculators in the computation of mathematics would enhance pupils\' achievement in the subject. A sample of 160 pupils, randomly selected from three junior secondary schools, were involved in the study. In one school, 60 pupils were selected while in the other two schools, 50 pupils were randomly selected from each school. In each school, the selected pupils were put into experimental and control groups. A pretest was administered and the results showed no significant difference in pupils\' performances in all the schools. Selected topics from pupils\' mathematics syllabus were taught to each group. In addition to the teaching, the experimental groups, in each school, were exposed to the use of the calculator in mathematical computations. A posttest results, after the treatment period, showed significant differences in performances in each school. When all the results from the three schools were put together the results still showed significant difference in performance between the two groups. A number of recommendations had been made. Keywords: calculator, mathematical computationsMathematics Connection Vol. 6 2007: pp. 33-40