INFLUENCE OF GAME-BASED LEARNING ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN MATHEMATICS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ONDO STATE
Keywords:
Games, Game-based, Learning, Academic Performance, MathematicsAbstract
The study investigated the influence of game-based learning on the academic performance of secondary school students in mathematics within Ondo State. Utilizing a descriptive survey research design, the study focused on students within the Ondo West Local Government Area. A sample of 250 secondary school students was randomly selected to participate in the study. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire developed by the researchers, and both descriptive and inferential statistical tools were employed for analysis to include frequency counts and mean scores were used to address research questions, while a t-test was conducted to test the hypotheses at a significance level of .05. The findings of the study revealed the availability of various types of games used in teaching mathematics, including puzzle games for logic, sports games for algebra, role-playing games for simultaneous equations, action games for trigonometry, and adventure games for indices and logarithms. Significantly, the study indicated a positive influence of game-based learning on students' academic performance in mathematics within secondary schools. Furthermore, it found no significant difference between male and female students regarding the influence of game-based learning on academic performance in mathematics. Based on these findings, several recommendations were proposed, including the adoption of game-based learning as a teaching strategy across secondary schools, the organization of seminars and workshops to train teachers on effective teaching strategies, and the inclusion of game-based learning in the curriculum of trainee teachers. These recommendations aim to leverage the benefits of game-based learning to enhance mathematics education in secondary schools.
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