Strategic Intervention Material (SIM): Improving Math Competence of Grade 7 Students in Solving Problems Involving Systems of Linear Equations with One Variable

Abstract

This quasi-experimental design with one group primarily focused on the use of Strategic Intervention Material (SIM) in solving word problems involving systems of linear equations in one variable. The respondents were Grade 7 students,currently enrolled at Florentino Torres High School in the school year 2018-2019. After the discussion of all the competencies in the whole chapter of the topic Systems of Linear Equations in One Variable, the group was given a 50-item summative test. From the result of the summative test, the least mastered skill was identified –solving systems of linear equations in one variable. After which, the group was given a Strategic Intervention Material (SIM) as a remediation tool which has been one of the winners in Division-wide SIM contest for teachers, to cope with the least mastered skill. All the quantitative data gathered throughout the study were analyzed, tallied and treated using mean, standard deviation, mean learning gain and dependent t-test using Statistical Package Social Sciences (SPSS). From the statistical method employed in the study, the summative and Strategic Intervention Material (SIM) mean scores of the group consisted of 43 respondents were 18.19 (fair performance level) and 36.60 (very good performance level) with a standard deviation of 7.08 and 7.38 respectively. At the 5% significance level, the computed t-value of 24.62 was much higher than the tabular t-value of 2.02; hence, the null hypothesis was rejected. Therefore, there was a significant difference existed between the summative and the SIM test performances of the group. The mean learning gains of the group was 42%, which indicates the effectiveness of the Strategic Intervention Material (SIM) in solving word problems involving systems of linear equations in one variable. Upon completion of the study, the research proponent discovered the following: (1) There was a significant difference existed between the summative and the SIM test performances of the group; and (2) Through the lens of meaningful learning gains of this study, it can be deduced that the utilization of Strategic Intervention Material (SIM) is an effective intervention/remediation tool in dealing with the least mastered skill in Mathematics 7.