IMPACTS OF SCAFFOLDING- ENRICHED COLLABORATIVE STRATEGY ON TEST –ANXIETY, PERFORMANCE AND RETENTION IN GEOMETRY AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

THE PROBLEM

1.1 Introduction

Mathematics as one of the science subjects taught in the primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria, deals with the study of numbers, shapes and space which involve problem-solving activities and a very powerful way of communication. Benjamin (2007) describes mathematics as the science of pattern and relationship which can be expressed in symbols. It involves clarification of the problem, reduction of consequence and formulation of alternative as well as development of appropriate tools as part of the modern mathematicians‟ craft (Tisha, 2008). He further gives a full description of mathematics as context of reasoning analytically about particular types of quantitative and spatial phenomena. Mathematics consists of thinking in a logical manner, formulating and testing conjectures, making senses of things, forming and justifying judgments, inferences and conclusions. Mathematics is done when recognizing and describing patterns, constructing physical and/or conceptual models of phenomena. It is also creating a symbol system to assist in representing, manipulating, and reflecting on ideas and inventing procedures to solve problems. Mathematics concepts taught at the secondary school level in Nigeria are in seven major areas namely: Number and Numeration, Algebra, Mensuration, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics and Probability.

Geometry is an aspect of mathematics which deals with the study of different shapes. The shapes can either be plane or solid shapes. A plane shape is in geometrical form such that the straight line that joins any two points on it wholly lies

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on the surface. A solid shape on the other hand is bounded by surfaces which may not wholly be represented on a plane surface. Examples of plane shapes are: triangle, rectangle, square, rhombus, circle and trapezium. Examples of solid shapes are cubes, cuboids, cone, pyramid, cylinder and sphere.

IMPACTS OF SCAFFOLDING- ENRICHED COLLABORATIVE STRATEGY ON TEST –ANXIETY, PERFORMANCE AND RETENTION IN GEOMETRY AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA