ASSESSING IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIVE LEARNING APPROACH USED IN TEACHING MATHEMATICS: THE CASE OF BERKUMIE GEMECHIS SECONDARY SCHOOL IN GEMECHIS WOREDA, WEST HARARGHE ZONE OF OROMIA REGIONAL

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the implementation of Active Learning Approach used in Teaching Mathematics class in Berkumie Gemechis Secondary School. To conduct the study a mixed method, quantitative supported by qualitative approach was employed. The study was conducted in Berkumie Gemechis Secondary School and the data were collected from 4 teachers and 2 principals, and from 271 students which were selected by using availability and simple random sampling respectively. The main instruments of data collection were questionnaire, observation and interview. The quantitative data were analyzed using percentage, frequency and mean. The data gathered through interviews were analyzed qualitatively through narration for the purpose of triangulation. The findings of the study revealed that the level of implementing varieties of teaching approaches by mathematics teachers were low. Lecture method was found to be the most commonly employed method of teaching followed by group discussion, problem solving and co-operative learning methods. The findings also revealed that mathematics curricula materials were not prepared in a way that they help to facilitate active learning approach as expected. Specially, different strategies of active learning method were not fully performed in the school. mathematics teachers lack skills and capability in proper implementation of active learning approach in mathematics classroom. Shortage of time to practice active learning in mathematics classroom, large class size and lack of training, were rated as the most serious problems among the factors that hindered the implementation of active learning method. It has been recommended that mathematics teachers should implement varieties of active learning approaches, mathematics curricula materials should be prepared in a way that they help to facilitate active learning approach, teachers should apply different active learning Strategies in mathematics classrooms, in-service training should be offered for teachers about the practice of active learning and different strategies of active learning to improve their instructional practice to overcome the challenges of implementation of active learning. Besides, to alleviate or solve the factors that hinder the proper implementations of active learning, Berkumie Gemechis mathematics teachers should manage and use effectively their time as intended and the school should build additional classrooms to reduce problem of large class size that hinder the implementation of active learning approach in mathematics classrooms.