Using Instructional Materials to Overcome Students’ Difficulties in Solving Problems Related to Pyramids
Awudu Obeng *
Department of Mathematics and ICT, Wesley College of Education, Kumasi, Ghana. and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Godwin Onwona- Agyeman
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Collin Fordjour Nkrumah
Department of Mathematics and ICT, Wesley College of Education, Kumasi, Ghana.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This paper remedies the inability of visual Art 2 students of Komfo Anokye Senior High School, Kumasi in calculating the perpendicular height correctly in a given pyramid and further use it to find the volume of the pyramid. Designed instructional materials were used to review the basic concepts like Pythagoras theorem before using activity method in teaching the actual topic- volume of a pyramid.
A pre-test was conducted to identify the specific areas for development and a post-test to assess the effectiveness of the intervention scheme. A sample of fifty students was selected from visual Art 2 of the school. The study concluded with suggestions and recommendations for the effective use of appropriate teaching and learning materials for positive results in teaching of mensuration especially, pyramids.
Keywords: Pythagoras theorem, pyramid, volume.