THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN MATHEMATICS OF STUDENTS IN PSHN IN

RELATION TO THEIR PREFERRED LEARNING STYLE

I - Proponent:

NANCY T. ATENTAR
                         Teacher - III
                         Paaralang Sekundarya ng Henral Nakar
Gen. Nakar , Quezon

I.Context and Rationale

       

The teaching method was influenced by the widespread prevalence of the COVID-19

pandemic. Students are losing social contact due to the sudden closing of schools, which is

crucial for better learning and mentoring, while Quezon schools have begun Modular distance

learning in general. This has become a daunting routine for parents to help respond to the module

as an urgent resource at home.

As an experienced teacher, the researcher considers that effective teachers know the

pedagogy on how to determine if their students learn in modular distance learning especially

during this pandemic, and what are the methods or style that students used to learn. The effective

modular approach, therefore, requires the implementation of creative and innovative learning

strategies to meet students' individual needs but it is difficult to know which approach will work

best with the students.

Base on the teaching experience of the researcher in both public and private schools the

researcher considers that the factors that can affect student's performances are their study

techniques or learning style and the strategies of the teachers.

 To help the students, the teachers decide to investigate the individual learning style and

their level of performance.

To investigate the level of performance, the researcher will get the report of the GWA

General Weighted Average in mathematics of each participant from the respective class

advisers and conduct the questionnaire called learning style inventory ( LSI ) to investigate

the preferred learning style of the students. By using those two instruments the teachers will

group the learners according to their level of performance and preferred learning style towards

mathematics.

After identifying the level of performance and the individual learning styles then the teacher will
create an action plan to make additional activities in the modular approach correspond to the
student’s learning style and also suggest to Adapt the Learning Styles Inventory test
as a New Learning Tool
 

According to Neil Fleming, teachers can plan and manage learning activities better if they

can discover students preferred learning styles. They can also conduct seminars and training for

students to enhance students' learning styles towards mathematics after the teacher categorizes

the students according to VARK Model which are visual, audio, and kinesthetic learners, then

they can easily keep their students engaged with the lesson and increase student motivation in

math.

The key purpose of this research is to find out the learning style used by the students in

the modular approach and the effects of this style on their mathematics performance.

The learning style of the students will identify through quantitative which is descriptive

– evaluative -correlational method by conducting surveys and getting the GWA of 350

participants from 8 sections of grade 11 from PSHN Main.

 The study will help the researcher to develop an action plan on how to improve the

module or create new additional activities as an intervention program of the mathematics

department in General Nakar District.

Parents also need to know the LS of their child, especially this time of pandemic when

the students are required to stay at home but need to continue their education at home. This time

parents act as classroom teachers in the modular learning approach or modular distance learning.

In identifying the learning style of their child they can easily keep their child engaged with the

lesson.

The researcher believes that this intervention program will be effective and enjoyable to

the students and most of all it might be the solution to the teacher's problem regarding the low

Mean Percentage Score and student's below-average performance in mathematics.

Therefore, the result of this study may serve as a springboard for the improvements of the

mathematics performance of the students and create guidelines on adaptation of LSI test as a new

learning tool.

II Research question

The main question in this study is, What is the relation between the mathematics

performance and preferred learning style of secondary students in PSHN Main?

This required the investigation of the following specific research questions,

1. What are the profile of the academic performance in mathematics of Grade 11 learners in

PSHN Main.

2. What is the preferred learning style of grade 11 students in terms of :

a. Visual Learning Style

b. Audio Learning Style

c. Kinesthetic Learning Style

3. What is the preferred learning styles for every level of performance in mathematics of grade

11 students in PSHN Main ?

4. Is there a significant difference in preferred learning styles and mathematics performance?

III. Propose innovation intervention & strategy

The study aimed to assess mathematics performance then investigate the preferred

learning styles of grade 11 students in Paaralang Sekundarya ng Heneral Nakar,General Nakar,

Quezon.

The result of this study will help the teachers to group the learners according to their level

of performance and determine the dominant learning style of each level.

After grouping, identifying the dominant learning style, and investigating the

mathematics performance of the students then the teacher will create and provide well-planned

activities that correspond or appropriate to students learning styles.

Students. The main beneficiaries of this study are the students studying at Paaralang

Sekundarya ng Heneral Nakar, General Nakar, Quezon.

 After getting the results of the study the researchers believe that this will encourage the

students to pay close attention to learning mathematics by using different methods that fit their

learning style.

Math Teachers. The study can provide mathematics teachers with the necessary

information on how to determine the students' learning styles.

This may further be a motivating factor to adopt measures and new strategies for

improvement of the modular approach of the school and adopt the learning styles inventory

questionnaire as a new learning tool in teaching mathematics and other learning areas. Then, the

teacher will develop an action plan for the enhancement of activities on the module to lessen the

number of students who are struggling in mathematics.

Parents. Parents will be able to determine and attend to the needs of their children

helping them to perform better in mathematics by figuring out their child's learning style.

School Administrators and Supervisors. Results of this investigation may encourage

administrators and supervisors to help the 21st-century teachers by upgrading their teaching

performance in improving teaching-learning strategy through closer supervision, faculty

development, and training programs that are related to developing new intervention programs

which appropriate to the student's different learning styles.

          Department of Education General Nakar District. With the use of the results of the
study, any educational upliftment will benefit  the municipality of General Nakar as it may
improve the quality of working force  of the municipality or the quality of life of their respective
constituents.

          
V- Scope of the Study

This study focuses on the student's academic performance in Mathematics in modular

distance learning or modular approach during the pandemic and their preferred learning style.

               The researcher -made VAK Learning Style Questionnaire will be used to

determine the individual learning style but instead of 4 categories ( VARK ), the researcher will

use only 3 sections ( VAK ) not because the researcher wants to lessen the questions but also the

reading and Writing category in this LSI is already included to visual and kinesthetic category.

The researcher refers to the VARK learning style inventory of Neil Fleming.

The data collection will be conducted to the assigned 60 participants from 243 total

population. The total population is from the grade 11 students in PSHM Main Gen. Nakar who

are presently enrolled this school year (SY 2020-2021).

  

VI - Research Design

                   A. Methodology
                 

                   B. Sampling Design

The total enrollment of grade 11 PSHM Main in General Nakar for the school year 2020-

2021 is 243 where divided into six sections or class.

The researcher uses the slovin formula to determine the 349.70 or 350 sample size which

is 12.59 % of the population and will participate in the study. This number of respondents are

big enough to give accurate result.

 Below is the slovin formula.

n= ___N
( 1+Ne2 ).

where as: 
n = no. of samples
N = total population
e = error margin / margin of error

The computed 350 are 12.58% of the given population. To get the number of

participants from each class and the number of student participants grade 11 and grade 12

students of the school . The researcher also uses 12.73% of the total number of students of each

class of senior high school.

Therefore the respondent of each school will be 26 students from grade 11 and 50

students from grade 12 to get the total of 434 students.

The sampling technique that will be used is the probability Stratified random sampling

this is a method in which the population will divide into smaller groups known as strata. In this

sampling technique, every individual has an equal opportunity for selection.

The method that has been used is picking strips of paper with names of students written

on them from the given result of the generating random number

                   

C. Description of Instrument Data and Gathering Form.

                   This study will use the researcher-made Learning Style Inventory which she

refers to as the VARK learning style Model of Neil Fleming. VARK is considered one the most

popular LSI and suited to the Filipino educational setting.

The instrument is consists of 2 main sections : the first section requested the learners’

biographical details, namely age, gender, grade level and GWA in the second quarter.

In the second section are the five-point Likert scale response items were used, ranging

from 1 (‘never’) to 3 (‘ always’). This section consisted of 30 items that measured 3 learning

styles .

The instruments mentioned above will help the researcher to assess and to determine the

preferred learning style of secondary students in Gen. Nakar.

Validation of the Instrument

The researcher constructed the LSI as her instrument. She refers to the online Learning

Style Inventory from VARK Model which was developed by Neil Fleming. The researcher

rephrases the questions and translates them into Tagalog to easily understand the participants.

The 30 items LSI was validated by the Head Teacher of the Mathematics Department

and 4 teachers ( 2 English and 2 Filipino teachers ) with a Masters Degree.

 The 5 validators used a rating tool with 5 given criteria. So that they can give the exact

interpretation of Validity where the questionnaire is it exceeds, successful, meet the criteria, or

resubmit.

For the copy of GWA of the students , the department head of the participating school

will counter-check the computed GWA in the mathematics of each students-participants.

Study Procedure

In gathering the data , the researcher will ask permission from the school heads of 5

secondary schools in General Nakar, Quezon.

After the validation of the instruments and seeking the approval of school heads , the

researcher will administer the LSI to the 350 student-participants of the said secondary schools

in General Nakar District .

Since this school year are pandemic and we need to obey and observed government

protocol , the researcher will create a google form and send the link to the class adviser then the

class adviser will forward the link to their advisory class who can answer online. For those who

cannot use google forms, the researcher will send the picture of the questionnaire through

messenger.

The hard copy of the questionnaire is also provided for those who cannot answer through

google forms and messenger account because of a low signal area or for those who cannot

afford to have an internet connection at home.

 To avoid physical contact with the students, The hard copy will distribute upon

distribution of modules and weekly home learning plan. Their answer will collect by inserting

the answer sheet during retrieval of student's outputs.

For those who answer through a messenger, the answer will collect by sending back the

picture of their answers sheet and from google forms the answer will collect by harvesting their

answers through google sheets.

The participants were also instructed that the results of the test will be kept

confidentiality.

VI - Work Plan

AREA OF OBJECTIVE ACTIVITIES RESOURCE TIME FRAME ESTIMATE

FOCUS S S D COST
STRATEGIE
S

COPY OF TO PHOTO
PRODUCE COPY OF
LSI A COPY OF LSI MOOE A WEEK 2 pages x
LSI BEFORE 300 x .75
DISTRIBUTIO cents = Php
N OF SELF 500
LEARNING
MODULE
 To disbuted
the
Distribution quastionnare Insert the LSI Teachers
of LSI to the to the
students Module will March 22-29 , Transportatio
be given to 2021 n / Fuel
the students
Php 500

Retrieval Transportatio
of n / Fuel
Questionnar To collect the Collecting Teachers / April 1 , 2021
e questionnaire the LSI by Parents Php 500
from home
participants visitation

PHASE OBJECTIVES STRATEGIES/   PERSON EXPECTED

  /TARGETS ACTIVITIES TIME INVOLVED OUTPUT
FRAME
  Use the teacher-        
made Learning 1 Week Teachers A copy of LSI
PLANNING Style Inventory Produce the before to be given to
copy of LSI Class the
Opening students
  Determine the      Call  Categorized
learning Style of Conduct a 1st Week Adviser / the students
the students learning Style of Classes Parents / according to
Inventory Students their learning
Style.
IMPLIMENTATIO  Create an Search an    Teacher Compilations
N activity or activities During Head Teacher of activities
learning task which suited to INSET on Visual .
which visual , Audio Audio and
 appropriate with and Kinesthetic Kinesthetics
the students Learners.
learning style .
   Choose the  Gather the     A
appropriate data , and After Teachers transparency
activities will be summary conducting   reports on
given to the report on the LSI individual
students . students Learning
Learning Style. Style .
 
  Inform the        
  parents about the Home 1st Teachers / Active
Monitoring learning style of visitation Quarterly Parents / participation
the students Students of parents
& Evaluation Conduct a survey        
through home   Quarterly Teachers/ The students
visitation if the Home Students will enjoy in
students enjoy visitation doing school
and easily answer activities or l
the activities earning task.
according to their
LS.
 

Cost Estimate

Printing / Photo Copying of LSI = 3,000.00

Transportation ( distributing / retrieving the questionnaire ) = 500.00

Total = 4,500.00

Plan for Dissemination / Technique

                                                                                                Prepared by:
                                        
                                                  NANCY T. ATENTAR
                                                                                                             Teacher III

    Noted:
           RIZA L. SOSA
                               Head Teacher

Recommending Approval:

             
FELIX M. ALEGRE
Principal IV