Developing Mastery in Addition and Subtraction of Integers through Math-A-Battlefield Technique

Authors

  • Jerson Sebastian
  • Queeny Joyce Flores-Sebastian

Keywords:

integers, addition, subtraction, manipulatives

Abstract

Introduction

Performing operations in signed numbers are one of the least mastered skills by students. This is crucial since most of the concepts in higher mathematics rely on this concept. It is observed that students struggle to perform operations in signed numbers because they fail to recall the rules. It is for this reason that the researchers thought of designing a technique that simplifies the addition and subtraction of integers using manipulatives (called the "Math-a-Battlefield Technique"). This study investigated the effectiveness of the said technique in developing mastery in addition and subtraction of integers.

 

Methods

The one-group pre-test-post-test experimental design was used. The population included all Grade 7 learners of Batac National High School enrolled for the school year 2018 –2019. Of the 139 Grade 7 learners, 99 were taken as subjects. Learners who failed to undergo the intervention were excluded from the study. The study lasted for 6 weeks. The primary gathering tools were two sets of test questionnaires (pretest and posttest). These were validated by a panel of experts. Both were paper-and-pencil tests, relatively of the same level of difficulty, and composed of problems in addition and subtraction of integers. Data obtained were subjected to quantitative analysis.

 

Results

Results showed that the performance of the subjects in the posttest was higher compared to that of the pretest. In the pretest, the subjects posted an average score of 9.48 out of a maximum score of 25, while in the posttest, they obtained an average of 19.05. The t-test for dependent samples was used to determine whether the performance of the subjects in the pretest and the posttest were significantly different. Statistical analysis revealed that the difference is highly significant with a t-value of 28.03. When the learners were asked regarding their feedback on the intervention, they affirmed that it indeed helped them understand the addition and subtraction of integers. According to them, the technique is easy to follow and remember, and they find it interesting.

 

Discussions

The results suggest that the "Math-A-Battlefield Technique" is an effective approach in teaching the addition and subtraction of integers since it makes use of manipulatives that appeal to the senses, thus motivates the learners to learn better. Hence, it is highly recommended that this strategy be used to teach the said concept.

Published

2019-12-18