Enhancing Students‟ Performance in Senior High School Mathematics through the Learner-centered Approach: A Case in T. I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School, WA, Ghana

Abstract

The study was about enhancing students' performance in mathematics through the learner-centered method of teaching, with T. I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School, Wa as a case study. This led to the formulation of three specific objectives which were; to assess the performance of individual students through written class quizzesbefore and aftertaking lectures and demonstrations on a topic, to assess the performance of students through class quizzes before and aftertaking learning tasks and activities through instructional groups discussions and individual learning, and also to assess the views of teachers and students on both teaching and learning methods.The first 80 students who reported to school to begin the first semester of the 2021 academic year, were selected to form the sample groups: 'Form 1 and Form 2'. After undertaking lessons, the findings which were based on the marks scored by individual students in various class quizzes showed that, students scored higher marks after undertaking lessons through group discussions and that of individual learning activities, but scored lower marks after taking lessons through the lecture and demonstration method of learning. Discussions between the researchersand the respondents (students and teachers)revealed that, the learner-centered method of teaching was most preferred and better to enhance the performance of students, as compared to that of the traditional method (teacher-centered) of imparting knowledge. Even though the traditional method enables larger coverage of study content within a short time, it is a disadvantage to slow learners, but however favours the smart ones. At some point, using the mixed method (both teacher-centered and learner-centered) could enhance better results other than strictly sticking to one method. The study therefore recommended that; similar studies be undertaken in different institution and different subjects of study.