Effects of Whole Brain Teaching on Mathematics Achievement of Grade 8 Students

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Poor classroom strategies and instruction have always been one of the many problems of the Department of Education.

Recommendations from brain research might be a solution to this problem. Hence, this action research investigated the use of Whole Brain Teaching (WBT) and whether this method will have positive effects on students' achievement in Mathematics 8.

METHODS

Quasi-experimental, specifically Pretest Posttest Design with a control group was used in the study. The design compared the experimental groups taught using WBT method with the control groups taught using conventional teaching methods in light of three major phases: (1) pretest was given to two experimental and two control groups; (2) the teacher taught the two experimental groups using WBT method while the two control groups were taught using conventional teaching method; and (3) posttest was given to thetwo experimental and two control groups after the topics were discussed. Achievement was measured using a 30-item test taken from the periodical tests during the School Year 2013 to 2015.

RESULTS

The results revealed that Whole Brain Teaching and conventional teaching method are both effective. However, the findings indicate that there was a greater retention of the topics learned among the students taught using Whole Brain Teaching method for both higher and heterogeneous classes than the students taught via conventional teaching method. Hence, Whole Brain Teaching method can boost learning among students of any class. The findings also showed that students learned better using Whole Brain Teaching Method than conventional teaching method. Thus, Whole Brain Teaching has positive effects on achievement of Grade 8 students in Mathematics.

DISCUSSIONS

Conventional teaching method can be used regularly with integration of WBT techniques as these methods are both effective in increasing the Mathematics achievement of the students. However, the study proves that WBT method does improve the achievement of the students more than the conventional teaching method. School administrators should provide the teachers different seminars on teaching pedagogy like Whole Brain Teaching that could enhance the teaching and learning process. Similar studies can be conducted in the elementary and tertiary levels, in other subjects, as well as in other variables to further prove the effectiveness of Whole BrainTeaching Method.