Effect of Using History of Mathematics on Elementary 4th Grade Students

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of teaching decimals subject through which
using history of mathematics on fourth grade students’ academic achievement, retention and motivation
level. This quantitative study was designed as a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control
group. The study had been conducted with a total of 52 fourth grade students of which 26 is experimental
and 26 is control group in two public elementary schools in the city of Aydin in the second semester of 2014-
2015 academic year. In the experimental group mathematics was instructed using history of mathematics,
as for the control group, it was instructed without using history of mathematics. AToDtest (Achievement
Test on Decimals) along with PSMMS (Primary School Mathematics Motivation Scale) were implemented in
both classes before and after the given lecture as pretest and posttest. AToD test was implemented again in
both groups after 8 weeks of the study as a posttest to figure out retention level of students. Results revealed
that History of Mathematics as a means of instruction considerably increased the fourth grade student
academic success, retention level on decimals and motivation level towards learning mathematics.