Effectiveness of Mathetics in Achievement in Chemistry at Higher Secondary Level
Author: Elias, Jijish
Date: 2009-04-00
Type: Dissertations/Theses
Subjects: Feedback (Response),Achievement Tests,Chemistry,Program Effectiveness,Learning Modules,Programming,Teaching Methods,Mastery Learning,Science Instruction,Secondary School Science,Instructional Effectiveness,Science Achievement,Program Evaluation,Active Learning,Homogeneous Grouping,Foreign Countries,Reinforcement,Behavior Modification,Intelligence Tests,Educational Technology,Computer Uses in Education

The application of psychology and technology are used in the learning process while we use programmed learning modules. In programmed learning we use the small steps of learning resulting in mastery. The modules helps to respond the learners activity and to give immediate feedback. The learners will get their own timing to go through the lessons and evaluate themselves. Linear programming, branched programming and mathetics are the three basic programmed learning methods. In this work, Mathetics programming which was introduced by Guilford is implementing in Chemistry topics. A program is that in which the frames of instruction are presented to a student in a fixed order. Every student must go through each and every frame in the same sequence, but individual students complete the program at different rates according to their respective abilities. In mathetic style, an overall idea was given to the learner and he achieves mastery through mall steps latter. The Objectives were To prepare a mathetic programmed learning package on the topic IUPAC naming of alkanes, To validate the mathetic learning package according to norms and To evaluate the effectiveness of mathetic learning package. Programmed instruction is based on a series of very small steps, called frames. Each frame contains some information and a statement with a blank that the student fills in. The student then uncovers the correct answer before going on to the next frame. If the student's answer was correct it is positively reinforced by progress to the next frame; if not, the student immediately sees the correct answer. Each frame may introduce either a new idea or repeat material covered earlier. The lessons start from the student's initial knowledge and in small steps proceed to a final learning goal. Because of active student participation, small steps, immediate feedback and reinforcement, programmed learning can be very effective. The answer to the question in a frame will be given in the following frame. In this study linear sequencing can be employed. After completing the instruction through programmed learning and conventional method, we should conduct the post test in the topics we have instructed to get the achievement of the students. Both the test can be checked for their validity by experts and the reliability can be checked by test retest method or split half method. A pretest should be conducted to classify the students into two homogeneous groups. For this, a test on the related topic can be used, after the classification, the students should undergo a test to check their knowledge in the field of naming of hydrocarbons. The experiment group will be instructed through the programmed frames and control group through the conventional method by an expert. After completing the instruction through programmed learning and conventional method, we should conduct the post test in the topics we have instructed to get the achievement of the students. The students showed great interest towards the programmed learning method. The scores achieved by pupils learning chemistry through programmed learning approach showed that it is superior to the conventional methods. The following are appended: (1) IQ test for students; (2) Answer sheet-test 1; (3) Achievement test for XI standard--draft; (4) Answer sheet-test 2; (5) Lesson plan 1; (6) Lesson plan 2; (7) Mathetic learning package--hard copy; (8) Mathetic learning package- computer shots of soft ware version; (9) Achievement test for XI standard; (10) Answer sheet-test 3; and (11) Scores of control and experimental group in pre test and post test. A 51-item bibliography is included. (Contains 9 tables and 11 figures.)