Effectiveness of the lecture and modular methods in teaching three selected topics in Plane Trigonometry

Abstract

Mathematics had played and still playing a vital role in this world’s advancement. The different branches of mathematics are in one way or another related to the daily functions of man. Trigonometry for instance find its application in engineering and physical sciences. This then leads to the dire need to learn the subject. The teachers are to equip themselves with the effective methods in teacher the subject. This descriptive-experimental study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the lecture method and the modular method in teaching three selected topics in plane trigonometry among the students of the University of Baguio during the summer of school year 2000-2001. Specifically, this study intended to answer the following questions: 1. To what extent has the control group treated with the lecture method and the experimental group treated with the modular method performed in the achievement test? 2. How do the performance of both groups relate to their attitudes towards mathematics? 3. What is the level of effectiveness of the module as perceived by the students? 4. What is the perception of the teachers on the module as an instructional tool? To answer these specific problems, the following statistical tools were used: mean, Pearson product moment of correlation, and t-test. The following are the salient findings of the study: 1. Both groups obtained a very satisfactory performance in the achievement test in plane trigonometry. Although the control groups’ mean score of 37.19 is higher than the experimental groups’ mean score of 33.38, the difference between the means is not significant. 2. There is exists a significant relationship between the performance and attitudes of towards mathematics of both groups. 3. The module as perceived by the students is effective. They evaluated the module with a mean rating of 4.38. 4. The trigonometry teachers perceived the module as an instructional tool with a mean rating of 4.48. In the light of the findings of the study the following are the conclusions: 1. The very satisfactory performance of the plane and experimental groups in the achievement test in plane trigonometry attests to the effectiveness of the lecture and modular methods. Since there was no significant difference between the means, then the lecture method is just as effective as the modular method. 2. The students’ performance in the plane trigonometry is significantly related to their attitudes towards mathematics. 3. The module is an effective material in learning the topics in plane trigonometry which are trigonometric functions on an acute angle, radian measure and graphs of trigonometric functions. 4. The module is an appropriate instructional tool in teaching the topics in plane trigonometry which are trigonometric functions on an acute angle, radian measure and graphs of trigonometric functions. Based on the findings and conclusions of the study, the following are recommended: 1. Since the lecture and modular methods are both proven to be effective in teaching the three selected topics in plane trigonometry, the teachers are encouraged to use them but with special attention to its efficient presentation to the students. 2. Teachers should help the students develop or maintain positive attitudes towards the mathematics by presenting the lesson in an interesting way and by giving activities that are within their abilities through the use of audio-visual aids, games and simulations. 3. Teachers in mathematics trainings/ seminars on module preparation and how to conduct the modular method in the class. 4. With the module being evaluated as effective in this study, the plane trigonometry teachers are encouraged to use it. 5. Researchers could undertake a study on the construction of a module on the other topics in plane trigonometry. In the experimentation, the use of the lecture and modular methods in the control experimental groups should be conducted at the start of the course.