Utilization of Bar Model Method in Solving Word Problems: An Intervention

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The main purpose of mathematics teaching is to enable students to solve problems in daily life. According to the latest national test results, most students lack mathematical problem solving skills. The result of the recently conducted item analysis during the first grading periodical tests in mathematics for the school year 2018 -2019 revealed that more pupils on Grade II got "low mastery" on problem solving competency. The result indicated that pupils have difficulty in comprehending and solving the word problem. These events led the researcher to utilize the Bar Model Method as an intervention program to enhance the problem solving skills of the pupils.

METHODS

The researcher administered the pre-test on Grade II-Yakal and Grade II-Acacia and got the mean, SD, and MPS of the results. II-Yakal was the experimental group which was given intervention on the use of bar model method, while II-Acacia was not exposed to the use of bar model method which was the controlled group. Then, post-test was also administered using the same set of test and get the mean, SD and MPS of the post test result. To assess the effectiveness of Bar Model Method as an intervention program in the performance level of Grade II pupils in Mathematics, the researcher used the Numeracy Test in Mathematics and the Bar Model Method.

RESULTS

The study revealed that there is a significant difference in the pre-test and post-test scores of the controlled group. The scores of the pupils in the experimental group showed great improvement after giving the Bar Model Method intervention. In addition, the result of the study rejected the null hypothesis which implied that there is a significant difference between the means of the controlled and experimental group. Therefore, the mean scores of the controlled and experimental group is statistically significant. Furthermore, the scores of both groups showed improvement in the post-test. However, the results revealed that the scores of the group which was given the Bar Model Method intervention was higher than the controlled group.

DISCUSSIONS

Utilization of the Bar Model as problem solving skill intervention program had high implication on the learning of Grade II pupils because the findings showed that the scores of the experimental group had improved a lot in their post-test compared to their pre-test scores. The results also implied that learners liked fun and enjoyable activities where they can manipulate objects as they discover the different mathematical facts and skills.