Article Gold Open Access 2022

Exploring Assessment Techniques that Integrate Soft Skills in Teaching Mathematics in Secondary Schools in Zambia

International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research
Journal · Vol. 21 · Issue 8 · pp. 144-162
Abstract

This study investigated the assessment techniques mathematics teachers use that integrate soft skills in secondary schools in Mazabuka District in Zambia. A total of 91 teachers, who were purposively selected, took part in the study, of which 81 completed a questionnaire and four observers evaluated 124 video-recorded lessons which were taken of 31 teachers. A sequential multi-phase design was used to collect data. The data were analyzed using frequencies, means, standard deviations and chi-square statistics. The findings revealed that the assessment techniques mathematics teachers used did not assess soft skills. In addition, mathematics teachers' gender was not found to have influenced teachers' choice of assessment techniques in the teaching and learning process but the type of schools where teachers were teaching, though the effect size was weaker. The consequence of this may be that secondary school leavers may not be good communicators, innovators, creators and critical thinkers. Therefore, it is recommended that mathematics teachers be upskilled on how to assess soft skills in the teaching and learning of Mathematics if the integration of soft skills is to be realized as espoused in the Zambia Education Curriculum Framework of 2013. © 2022 Society for Research and Knowledge Management. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Author Keywords

soft skills mathematics Mixed methods Integration assessment techniques

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
University of Rwanda, Butare, Rwanda
University of Dar es Salaam, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Rwanda Polytechnic, Huye, Rwanda
Funding & Acknowledgements
University of Rwanda, UR
The authors would like to thank the African Centre of Excellence for Innovative Teaching and Learning Mathematics and Science (ACEITLMS), the University of Rwanda, for financial support, and Opanga David (Lecturer) at St. John's University of Tanzania for proofreading the manuscript.
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