Does Decoding Increase Word Problem Solving Skills?

In this action research study of my classroom of 7th grade mathematics, I investigated whether the use of decoding would increase the students’ ability to problem solve. I discovered that knowing how to decode a word problem is only one facet of being a successful problem solver. I also discovered that confidence, effective instruction, and practice have an impact on improving problem solving skills. Because of this research, I plan to alter my problem solving guide that will enable it to be used by any classroom teacher. I also plan to keep adding to my math problem solving clue words and share with others. My hope is that I will be able to explain my project to math teachers in my district to make them aware of the importance of knowing the steps to solve a word problem.

“Let’s Review.” A Look at the Effects of Re-teaching Basic Mathematic Skills

In this action research study of my classroom of 8th grade mathematics, I investigated the effect of reviewing basic fraction and decimal skills on student achievement and student readiness for freshman Algebra. I also investigated the effect on the quality of student work, with regards to legibility by having students grade each other’s work anonymously. I discovered that students need basic skill review with fractions and decimals, and by the end of the research their scores improved. However, their handwriting had not. At the end of the research, a majority of the students felt the review was important, and they were ready to take math next year in high school. As a result of this research, I plan to implement weekly fraction and decimal review assignments in all middle school grades: 6th, 7th, and 8th. In addition, fraction and decimals must be incorporated into daily assignments, where appropriate, in order to encourage students to retain these skills.

Impact of the Internet on Final Year Students' Research: A Case Study of Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria

The 21st century is characterized by advancements in information and communication technology (ICT), including the Internet. Final year students of Covenant University implore the use of the Internet in writing their projects. This paper examines the extent of accessibility and use of the Internet by these students and the impact the Internet has on their projects. A questionnaire was used for data collection. A total of 150 questionaires were distributed to students from each of the three colleges in the university. The results show that all respondents used the Internet for their project work. Nearly all indicated that the Internet has an impact on their projects, especially in the areas of quality of work, speed, time economy, and recency of materials. Recommendations for improvement include provision of wireless Internet access points and training and retraining of students to acquire computer and Internet search skills.