Effectiveness of outdoor mathematics in developing grade 7 students’ ability on measurement

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of outdoor mathematics instruction as an alternative to the conventional classroom-based approach, specifically focusing on grade 7 measurement concepts. Students’ perception on outdoor activities in mathematics was also measured. A two-group quasi-experimental design was utilized, involving two selected classes from a public high school in Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. One class engaged in outdoor mathematics activities, while the other used the conventional lecture approach. The study utilized a 40-item researcher-made test, a perception checklist, and outdoor mathematics activities, which were presented to a panel of experts for validation and underwent reliability testing. Statistical tools such as mean, standard deviation, and t-test were used to analyze the performance of the two groups. Results indicated that students exposed to outdoor mathematics activities showed significant improvement in understanding and applying basic measurement concepts compared to their peers in conventional settings. Similarly, the students reported positive perceptions of outdoor activities. This study highlighted the potential benefits of incorporating outdoor mathematics instruction into school curricula as an innovative teaching strategy to enhance students’ learning and engagement.