Northwestern Visayan Colleges

Graduate School MAEd Program

Kalibo, Aklan

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in

a year of conversation."

This quote, attributed to both Plato and Richard Lingard, a professor of divinity

from the 17th century, sums up what early childhood educators have known for decades.

Through play, children explore their world, learn at their own pace, and have ample

opportunities to practice literacy and language skills. Through play, children learn to

navigate difficult social situations and develop problem-solving skills. We are raising the

next generation of citizens, and we can raise them better through play. Quinn and Iverson

argued that students “need to be engaged more and to be put at the center of the learning

experience to change from ‘passive vessel’ to ‘active participant’” (as cited in

Pannesse&Carlesi, 2007).

Based on the observation of the researcher primary pupils in Dioscoro T. Tejada

Elementary School found solving the mathematical problem were the most difficult skill

to learn. As a teacher, we have struggled to know what educational strategies to use to

increase the performance level of learners towards Mathematics. So, instead of thinking

hard about what to use in motivating students, why not use games? This strategy was

proposed mainly to used game-based instructional activities to enhance learning in

Mathematics.
 Northwestern Visayan Colleges
Graduate School MAEd Program
Kalibo, Aklan

To meet the mandate in the DepEd Order No. 12, S. 2015 also known as the

Guidelines on the Early Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program: Professional

Development Component. The program will develop Filipino Children's literacy and

numeracy skills which will contribute to lifelong learning.

The researcher chooses to conduct this study to find out the effects of using game-

based instructional activities among the GradeTwo pupils in Dioscoro T. Tejada

Elementary School and how effective the approach on their mathematics performance.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to know the effectiveness of game-based instructional activity in

enhancing learners’ performance towards Mathematics in GradeTwo at Dioscoro T.

Tejada Elementary School, District of Makato for the School Year 2019-2020.

Specifically, it aimed to answer the following questions:

1. What is the level of performance based on test scores of the pupil-participants in

the pre-test in Mathematics 2 when they were grouped as to:

1.1 the conventional method of modular learning;

1.2 with the incorporation of game-based instructional activities?

2. What is the level of performance based on test scores of the pupil-participants in

the post-test in Mathematics 2 when they were grouped as to:

2.1 the conventional method of modular learning;

2.2 with the incorporation of game-based instructional activities?

 Northwestern Visayan Colleges
Graduate School MAEd Program
Kalibo, Aklan

3. Is there a significant difference in the level of performance based on test scores of

the pupil-participants in the pre-test in Mathematics 2 when they were grouped as

to:

3.1 the conventional method of modular learning;

3.2 with the incorporation of game-based instructional activities?

4. Is there a significant difference in the level of performance based on test scores of

the pupil-participants in the post-test in Mathematics 2 when they were grouped

as to:

4.1 the conventional method of modular learning;

4.2 with the incorporation of game-based instructional activities?

5. Is there a significant difference in the level of performance based on the pre-test

and post-test scores of the pupil-participants when they were exposed to the

conventional method of modular learning?

6. Is there a significant difference in the level of performance based on the pre-test

and post-test scores of the pupil-participants when they were exposed to lessons

incorporated with game-based instructional activities?

7. Is there a significant difference in the main gain to show which are effective?

Hypothesis

Based on the above-stated Statements of the Problem, the following hypotheses

are formulated:
 Northwestern Visayan Colleges
Graduate School MAEd Program
Kalibo, Aklan

1. There is no significant difference in the level of performance based on test scores

of the pupil-participants in the pre-test in Mathematics 2 when they were grouped

as to:

1.1 the conventional method of modular learning;

1.2 with the incorporation of game-based instructional activities.

2. There is no significant difference in the level of performance based on test scores

of the pupil-participants in the post-test in Mathematics 2 when they were

grouped as to:

2.1 the conventional method of modular learning;

2.2 with the incorporation of game-based instructional activities.

3. There is nosignificant difference in the level of performance based on the pre-test

and post-test scores of the pupil-participants when they were exposed to the

conventional method of modular learning.

4. There is nosignificant difference in the level of performance based on the pre-test

and post-test scores of the pupil-participants when they were exposed to lessons

incorporated with game-based instructional activities.

5. There is no significant difference in the main gain.

Theoretical Framework

Games are a form of play, amusement, or recreation. They have universal appeal.

These can be used for learners in all levels, from preschool to college; and these are an

important part of a teacher’s repertoire.

 Northwestern Visayan Colleges
Graduate School MAEd Program
Kalibo, Aklan

This study anchored on the schema of Social Constructivism by Vygotsky (1978)

that describes that play is considered as a leading activity for development in children, in

part becauseit provides an opportunity for players to construct meaning and reach beyond

the known and real into the possible and imagined. Constructivism is a learning theory

that emphasizes student agency through self-guided exploration, reflection, and

evaluation. Vygotsky also characterized play as being a “leading factor” in children’s

development and through that, a virtual role of play is to create a zone of proximal

development. (Vygotsky, 1978).

Conceptual Framework

The major concept of this study is focused on the effectiveness of game-based

instructional activity in enhancing the performance towards Mathematics of the

GradeTwo Pupils of Dioscoro T. Tejada Elementary School, District of Makato for the

School Year 2020 - 2021.

Figure 1 showed that 20 pupils were randomly selected from the population and

were matched-paired based on their second-quarterGradein Mathematics. One group was

assigned as the control group and the other as the experimental group. Before the

beginning of the experimentation, each group was administered a pretest. After then, the

modules were distributed to both groups and the game-based instructional activities were

introduced to the experimental group while the control group will only be focused on the

activities on the conventional method of modular learning. After the duration of the

experiment, a posttest was conducted. The results of the pretest on the two groups were

compared. The same thing in the posttest. Comparing their results, the difference in the
 Northwestern Visayan Colleges
Graduate School MAEd Program
Kalibo, Aklan

pretest-posttest, level of performance of pupil-participants exposed in the conventional

method of modular learning and to game-based instructional activities was determined.

Compare

Control Using Modular

Pretest Method Posttest
Group

Matched –
pairing of Compare Compare
the subjects
of the study Experi- Using Game-
mental Based
Pretest Posttest
Group Instructional
Activities

Compare

Figure 1: The Schematic Diagram of the Study

Significance of the Study

The findings of this study may give benefits to some groups of people involved in

the educational process, to wit:

Pupils. They will be the principal beneficiaries of the study. Through games, the

learning and teaching process of the students may lead to a more enjoyable and exciting

learning atmosphere.

Teachers. The results of the study may help teachers improve their methods of

instruction and techniques in helping learners to develop their performance not only in

Mathematics but in all subject areas.

 Northwestern Visayan Colleges
Graduate School MAEd Program
Kalibo, Aklan

School Administrators. The result of the study will guide the school

administrators in adopting policies and programs to improve the teaching and it may

serve also as a basis for curriculum improvement.

Parents. The parents will profit from this study because they will be aware of the

performance of their students towards mathematics. It would also help parents to become

aware of their children’s weaknesses and strengths and help them in the areas that need to

be improved since educating our children is a partnership of the home and the school.

Future Researcher. This study will serve as a basis for future researchers to

undergo similar studies so that the problem of low numeracy rate can be dealt with

properly.

Scope and Limitation of the Study

This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of game-based

instructional activity in enhancing learners’ performance towards Mathematics of Grade

Two pupils during the School Year 2020 – 2021.

The participants of the study were the 20 Grade, Two pupils of Dioscoro T.

Tejada Elementary School, as of the school year 2020-2021. The respondents were match

paired according to their academicperformance. Then (10) respondents for the

experimental group and 10 respondents for the control group. it covered two Mathematics

lessons in the third quarter which started on March 2021 to April 2021.

Thisstudy used a quasi-experimental design. The test question/assessment tool

was used as the main tool in gathering the data. Frequency, percentage, and mean were
 Northwestern Visayan Colleges
Graduate School MAEd Program
Kalibo, Aklan

used to describe the summation given by the participants, while a t-test was used to test

the difference among variables.

Definition of Terms

To have a better understanding of the study, the following terms used are defined

conceptually and operationally:

Game-Based Instructional Activities.This study refers to Fraction Games: Math

Games and Fraction for Kids. These were the games used by the experimental group.

Modular-Based Instruction. This refers to an alternative instructional design

that uses developed instructional materials which are based on the needs of the students.

Mathematics. In this study, “Mathematics” refers to the subject offered in Grade

Two Mathematics under the K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum.

Mathematics Performance. This refers to whatever accomplishment a student

may have in mathematics as indicated by the test scores in the mathematics performance

test.

Academic Achievement. In this study, academic achievement refers to the grades

of the students in the second quarter. It was used for match-pairing of the students in both

experimental and non-experimental groups and it was categorized as high and low.

Pre-test.This refers to 20-multiple choice test items administered to determine

pupil’s prior knowledge in mathematics.

 Northwestern Visayan Colleges
Graduate School MAEd Program
Kalibo, Aklan

Posttest.This refers to 20-multiple choice test items administered after the

treatmentwas conducted to test the achievement of the pupils in mathematics.