Greener Journal of Educational Research

Greener Journal of  Educational Research Vol. 3(8), pp. 402-410, October 2013

 ISSN: 2276-7789 

Research Paper

Manuscript Number: 051513614

 

Secondary School Students’ Attitudes towards their Learning of Geometry: A Survey of Bindura Urban Secondary Schools

 

*Sunzuma G., Masocha M. and Zezekwa N.

 

Bindura University of Science Education, Education Department, P Bag 1020 Bindura

Zimbabwe.

 

*Corresponding Author’s Email: gsunzuma @ gmail. com, Tel: +263773401557

Abstract:

This study explores secondary school student’s attitudes towards their learning of geometry. The study adopted a quantitative descriptive survey design using simple frequency and percentages in analyzing the data as part of descriptive statistics. A sample of 100 ‘O’ level pupils were drawn, using stratified random sampling, from three urban high schools. The research was done quantitatively using a questionnaire that comprised of 15 closed questions which were adapted and then modified from Fennema-Shermann Mathematics Scale (1977). The study revealed that the students’ attitudes towards the usefulness of geometry were positive and that many of them believed that geometry is a valuable and necessary topic which can help them in their future careers. The result also showed that the majority of the students in Bindura urban, (80%) did not like solving geometrical problems. It also emerged that geometry is not a difficult topic to both male and female students and that though most students did not like solving geometry; they considered geometry to be useful.
 
 Keywords: Mathematics, geometry, attitudes, learning.

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