Browsing by Author "Jaggernauth, Sharon"

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    Exploring Gamification for Reinforcing Geometrical Concepts and Skills at the Primary Level in Trinidad: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study
    (School of Education, UWI, 2018) Jaggernauth, Sharon; Ramsawak - Jodha, Nalini; Kamalodeen, Vimala Judy; Dedovets, Zhanna; Barrow, Dorian; Figaro-Henry, Sandra
    Though games have had popular use in primary schools over time, there is increased interest in using elements of gaming in the classroom to promote motivation and thinking skills. This paper reports on a mixed methods intervention pilot study in one primary school in Trinidad that explored the effects of a gamified classroom on reinforcing geometric concepts and skills. Familiar learning tools, like tangrams and origami, were used. A non-equivalent control group mixed method design was used with both groups taking the pre- and post-tests. Only the experimental group used the gamified activities. Qualitative data were obtained from the experimental group teacher’s interview and observational notes, and analysed to reveal three interpretive themes about students’ perspectives: favourable, unfavourable and change. Overall, students reported that games made mathematics easier to remember. The teacher reported high student engagement, collaborative problem solving, and respectful competition among teams. Quantitative data were obtained from a pre/post achievement test. Analyses reveal significant differences in the experimental group’s pre-test and post-test scores. Results from the pilot study were instrumental in developing the gamification approach for the larger study of 10 primary schools.
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    In-service teacher efficacy [PowerPoint presentation]
    (2013-07-02) Jameson-Charles, Madgerie; Jaggernauth, Sharon
    This study investigated efficacy perceptions of untrained in-service Diploma in Education teachers. Two cohorts of students (2011/2012 and 2012/2013) were studied to determine whether there were differences in perceptions among students studied. The study investigated whether perceptions of efficacy for n = 326 in-service teachers differed among (a) gender, (b) curriculum concentration, (c) age, and (d) years of service. Part two investigated whether initial perception of efficacy among student teachers changed at the end of their teacher training. Teacher Efficacy scale (Long form) (Tschannen-Moran and Woolfolk-Hoy, 2001) was the data gathering instrument. The first set of questionnaires was administered the first week of training after the lecture on teacher efficacy. The second set was administered at the end of the training. Preliminary results suggested no significant gender differences for perceptions of efficacy. There were statistically significant differences of perceptions of efficacy among curriculum concentration where Mathematics and Science teachers' efficacy was lower than their peers. The data also yield differences for perception of efficacy for years of service. There were statistically significant differences of perception of efficacy based on the age of the students: the younger students' (20 to 30 years) perceptions of efficacy were significantly lower than older students (41 to 59 years). There were also statistically significant differences of perceptions of efficacy based on years of services (0 to 10 years were significantly lower than students with 21 to 30 years of service). Results are discussed in terms of the factors that that may affect teaching efficacy and how to maximize the efficacy of teachers
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    Mathematics anxiety and the primary school teacher [PowerPoint presentation]
    (2013-06-24) Jaggernauth, Sharon
    This study sought to explore the relationship between mathematics teaching anxiety, and mathematics teacher efficacy and mathematics avoidance, among a small group of primary school teachers in Trinidad, by gender, age, and years of teaching experience. Data were collected from 68 participants who were selected using criterion-based selection. It was found that: 1) mathematics anxiety was not evident among participants; 2) higher anxiety was associated with lower efficacy and higher avoidance, 3) teacher variables did not significantly influence anxiety, avoidance, and efficacy, 4) older and more experienced teachers reported marginally higher anxiety and avoidance, but lower efficacy than younger and less experienced ones., and 5) female teachers reported marginally lower anxiety and avoidance, but higher efficacy than males