Utilizing Salazar's Grouping Method in Improving Learners' Performance on the Applications of Right Triangle

Abstract

This quantitative study aimed to utilize Salazar’s Grouping Method in improving grade 9 learners’ performance on the applications of right triangles. The researcher adapted and validated a solving real-life problems from a variety of sources that was originally created using a two-way Table of Specification (TOS) that was aligned with the DepEd-MELC Curriculum. Ninety-six (96) learners from one of the branches of Mindanao State University External Units in Lanao del Sur, Philippines, forty-eight (48) learners were assigned to the control group and forty-eight (48) to the experimental group, who participated in the study in two weeks of intervention. Learners’ performance refers to the problem-solving test that was rated with a validated rubric. A problem-solving test was used, which consisted of five problem-solving problems. The hypothesis was evaluated at the 0.05 level of significance, and the data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and intraclass coefficients. The findings of the study revealed both groups made improvements; however, the experimental group showed significant differences in the posttest results with a mean of 17.57 (SD = 4.64), categorized as very satisfactory improvement, and higher than the control group's mean of 12.92 (SD = 4.86), categorized as satisfactory improvement. This implies that utilizing Salazar’s Grouping Method was effective to improve learners’ performance, particularly on the applications of right triangles. Learners’ performance was found to have improved from no improvement to very satisfactory, with a mean gained score of 14.65.   Based on the results, learners require additional exposure, practice, and collaborative activity that will boost their confidence and communication skills, such as the Salazar’s Grouping Method, and to fully learn the applications of right triangles and apply them to problem solving. Thus, integrating interviews and student reflections will help to further explore performance and understand more deeply the effects of the Salazar’s Grouping Method.