Table 4.7 presents errors noted in solutions of items 44, 45 and 43, associated misconceptions and causes. Table 4.7: Student Failure Rates (%) By Work, Errors, Causes of Errors and Misconceptions on Estimating Length, Time and Weight % Student’s work Errors Associated Failure misconceptions Noted Causes rate errors 76.9 Sample answers: They were used to: Did not know of answers given i. instruments the range or i. 2cm to 7cm (scale) width of a ii ii. 12cm to 18cm for measuring ‘unit Too low iii. 30cm to 38 cm length centimeter’ estimates iv.100cm to 120cm ii. instruments with standard lengths like a metre v. 1000cm rule and the cm ‘30 Too high ruler’ estimates Did not know the 74.7 Sample answers Very low They were not duration of a 25sec estimates used to measure second or a 48sec time duration when minute. doing something. 5min Very high 10min estimates 50min 70.7 Sample answers Were not used to Had 1.5gm, describe how much unrealistic Very low 2gms to 10gms, is there in a estimates 100gms to 600gms, substance. heavier a Very high unit 5kg to 9kg, estimates 10kg to 25kg is. Respondents were physically sitting in the classroom looking at the classroom door. The lengths of doors in their classrooms were normal, slightly more than the height of an adult person. This means that, by knowing their physical heights, which is
Table 4.7 presents errors noted in solutions of items 44, 45 and 43, associated misconceptions and causes. Table 4.7: Student Failure Rates (%) By Work, Errors, Causes of Errors and Misconceptions on Estimating Length, Time and Weight % Failure rate Student’s work Errors Associated misconceptions Noted errors Causes 76.9 Sample answers: of answers given i. 2cm to 7cm ii ii. 12cm to 18cm iii. 30cm to 38 cm iv.100cm to 120cm v. 1000cm Too low estimates Too high estimates They were used to: i. instruments (scale) for measuring length ii. instruments with standard lengths like a metre rule and the ‘30 cm ruler’ Did not know the range or width of a ‘unit centimeter’ 74.7 Sample answers 25sec 48sec 5min 10min 50min Very low estimates Very high estimates They were not used to measure time duration when doing something. Did not know the duration of a second or a minute. 70.7 Sample answers 1.5gm, 2gms to 10gms, 100gms to 600gms, 5kg to 9kg, 10kg to 25kg Very low estimates Very high estimates Were not used to describe how much is there in a substance. Had unrealistic heavier a unit is. Respondents were physically sitting in the classroom looking at the classroom door. The lengths of doors in their classrooms were normal, slightly more than the height of an adult person. This means that, by knowing their physical heights, which is
Victor_Mwesiga_%2D_PhD.docx