THE IMPACT OF CHESS INSTRUCTION ON THE MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE

PERFORMANCE OF GRADE 7 LEARNERS: A BASIS FOR PROPOSED INTERVENTION

PROGRAM

I. Context and Rationale

In the field of education, every subject plays an important role to every student. Thus,

there is a need to develop among students great interest and skills toward all their subjects in

order to achieve good academic performance.

Nowadays, teachers face the problem of assessing the skills and knowledge of their

students to all their subjects. In one form, students experience lags due to unmastered learning

competencies. This may cause by students’ lack of abilities and skills, such as problem solving

and critical thinking, they need in learning such competencies. Teachers should consider various

interventions where it can cater the development of important skills in learning which the usual

classroom instruction cannot offer. Developing the skills of students is the key to increase

achievement in subjects specifically in Science and Mathematics.

As in the case in the past, most people today still believe that Science and Mathematics

is all about computation or problem solving. However, computation and problem solving, for

scientists and mathematicians, are merely for comprehending structures, relationships and

patterns of numerical concepts, and therefore producing solutions for complex real life problems.

The quality of teaching and learning in Mathematics is a major challenge for educators.

General concern about Mathematics achievement has been evident for the last 20 years. It was

also observed in Andabuen National High School that the academic performance of our students

in the Mathematics classes was deteriorating. This observation was supported by the National

Achievement Test (NAT) results and by the increasing number of students who failed in

Mathematics and Science due to their inability to cope up and/or maintain the passing grade in

the subject. While we teachers were doing our best to adapt to the changing characteristics of the
present generation, it was very difficult for us to identify the real causes of all these untoward

behaviours of the students to education.

It is undeniable that Mathematics and Science are perceived to be difficult areas of study.

Many students look on Mathematics and Science as a cross to bear rather than something which

is interesting or useful. It is along this concept that the researcher decided to conduct the study.

It looked into developing learning skills of the students toward Mathematics and Science and how

these developed skills affect their academic performance in the subjects.

Mathematics and Science have always been the waterloo of high school students whether

in public or private schools. It is implanted in their minds that Mathematics and Science are tough

one. They don’t like the subjects and are afraid of it.

Learning skills in Mathematics and Science seem to have an important influence for

achievement in the subjects. This action research was designed to develop and improve learning

skills of the students thru chess instructions which, in turn, could possibly affect the performance

and achievement level of the students in Mathematics and Science. It was supported by Palm’s

report in a study conducted in Marina, CA, an experiment with chess indicated that after only 20

days of instruction, students’ academic performance improved dramatically. George L.

Stephenson, chairman of the Marina JHS math department, reported that 55% of the students

showed significant improvement in academic performance after this brief smattering of chess

instruction (as cited by Kitsis)

At the end, we teachers would know what motivational approaches we would utilize to

develop great interest in Mathematics and Science among the students thereby, improving their

performance in the subject.

II. Action Research Questions

This study aims to improve the mathematics and science performance of grade 7 students

of Andabuen National High School by developing learning skills through integration of chess

instruction in the classroom.

Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What is the science and mathematics performance of the respondents before the

implementation of chess instructions?

2. What is the science and mathematics performance of the respondents after the

implementation of chess instructions?

3. Is there a significant difference on the performance of students before and after the

implementation of chess instructions?

4. What is the effect size of the performance of students?

III. Proposed Intervention

This action research aims to improve the mathematics and science performance of grade

7 students at Andabuen National High School by developing learning skills through chess

instructions. Further, the results of this study will be utilized to determine if the chess instruction

is recommended for its integration in the class program.

The respondents of this study who will attend the sessions of chess instruction are

scheduled in every Friday, in the afternoon, are the grade 7 students during the school year 2017-

2018. It was observed during the first and second quarter that these group of learners have

performed low and average in their subjects, specifically in science and mathematics. It was the

researcher’s idea that the reason behind this situation lies on the lack of students’ learning skills

which are mostly required on the aforementioned subjects. To provide solution to this

predicament, the proponent will employ a scheduled delivery of chess instruction this fourth

quarter. This will positively develop the learning skills of the students in a more engaged
instruction which the traditional lecture method cannot provide. After all of the sessions of chess

instruction, the students then take the quarterly examinations to assess if those learning skills

developed from the intervention significantly improve the students’ science and mathematics

performance.

The students’ performance progresses through the implementation of the chess

instruction not only in the two subjects but also towards all their subjects.

IV. Research Methods

A. Participants of the Study

This study will be conducted at Andabuen National High School. The respondents will

be the 50 grade 7 students of the S.Y. 2017-2018 who will be attending the chess instructions

scheduled every Friday in the afternoon (in their ICL time).

B. Data Gathering Method

This research proposal will make use of the experimental using paired-samples t-

test research design. Data will be generated from the third and fourth quarter grades of

the students in mathematics and science.

The conduct of chess instruction is guided by the following procedure:

1. Before the start of the chess instructions, the students’ third quarter grade

in science and mathematics will be identified.

2. The students regularly in the classroom assigned for the conduct of chess

of instruction.

3. The students then listen and participate on the chess instruction delivered

by an expert in chess.

4. After attending all of the chess instruction sessions, the students take the

scheduled Fourth Quarterly Examinations.

 5. After this, the students’ fourth quarter grade will also be identified and

compared to the previous quarter grade.

C. Data Analysis

This research proposal will make use of the following:

1. Third Quarter and Fourth Quarter Grades of students as basis for study;

2. Paired-samples t-test shall be used in determining the significant difference on the

third quarter grades and fourth quarter grades of grade 7 students?

3. The effect size or magnitude of the differences within the group will be computed

using the Eta squared.

The data will be tabulated and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science

(SPSS). Eta squared will also be interpreted using Cohen’s guideline:

0.20 – small effect

0.50 – moderate effect

0.80 and above – large effect

 V. Work Plan

Resources Timeline
Activities
Strategies Programs Physical Material Financial
Tasks
Increase Implementation of PREPARATION
Chess A. Manuscript Writing 11/22/2017
academic
Instructions  Write/prepare the research  Proponent
performance of proposal  Proponent
 Review process on how to  Bond
Grade 7 students
go about the chess Paper
in mathematics instructions ready for  Proponent  Folder
and science implementation  Principal with
 Submit the research fastene
through proposal to the Principal for r
implementation of critiquing and for  Proponent
endorsement  Principal
chess instructions B. Approval  Division
 Implement suggestions and Research 11/29/17
recommendations from the Committee
Division Research
Committee for approval

IMPLEMENTATION
 Prepare the classroom for  Proponent
chess instructions, learning  Bond P120.00 12/01/17
materials, and activity paper
sheets for the conduct of the (printin
research g of
 Weekly conduct of chess  Proponent learnin
instructions to develop  g 1st week of
Grade 7 December
learning skills students materia
(every Friday in the l) 2017 to 3rd
afternoon) week of
March 2018
ADMINISTRATION OF 4TH
QUARTER ASSESSMENT
 Conduct of summative  Proponent  Bond P 120.00 4th week of
assessment for the 4th  Grade 7 paper March 18
quarter in mathematics and students (printin
science after the g)
implementation of chess
instructions
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
OF RESULTS
 Teacher completes the
analysis of data and presents  Proponent  Bond P 599.00 1st week of
this to the School Basic  Principal paper April 2018
Education Research  Division  folder
Committee for verification Research (A4)
 The School Basic Education Committee  paper
Research Committee helps fastene
the researcher finalize the r
results of the study  CD
 The action research
undergoes revisions
COMPLETION & SUBMISSION OF
ACTION RESEARCH TO THE
SCHOOL & DIVISION BASIC
EDUCATION RESEARCH
COMMITTEE
 The teacher, with the help of  Proponent  Bond P3,655.00 2nd week to
the School Basic Education  Principal paper 3rd week of
Research Committee, forms  Division  Epson April 2018
action research’s conclusion Research inkjet
and recommendation Committee ink
 The teacher finalizes action  binding
research for submission expens
es
 CD
 RESULTS DISSEMINATION AND
UTILIZATION
 Dissemination of action  Proponent  Bond P1625.00 4th week of
research findings through the  Principal paper April 2018
proponent, school head,  Division  Epson to 3rd week
teachers and the School & Research inkjet of May
Division BERF Committees Committee ink 2018
 CD
TOTAL P 6,199.00

VI. COST ESTIMATES

ITEM DESCRIPTION/ TOTAL

ACTIVITY QUANTITY UNIT UNIT COST
PARTICULARS AMOUNT
Preparation the classroom for Reproduction of learning
chess instructions, learning materials
materials, and activity sheets for the -Printing 60 pages P2.00 P120.00
conduct of the research -Photocopying 30 sets P60.00 P1800.00
-Binding 30 sets P50.00 P1800.00

Conduct of summative assessment Reproduction of testing

for the 4th quarter in mathematics materials
P120.00
and science after the -printing 1 ream P120.00
implementation of chess
Submission of full blown of -Printing of full blown 5 sets P20.00 P100.00
research proposals to the Research Manuscript
Principal’s and to the Division -Ring binding of Completed 4 sets P50.00 P200.00
Office Research

Operational expenses -Dissemination of the research P1000

results to the Principal,
teachers, Division Office and
other secondary schools
TOTAL P 5,140
VII. ACTION PLAN

Strategies Programs Activities Tasks Resources Imple

Physical Materials Financial menta
tion
Date
Increase Implementation Results  Disseminate  Proponent 1 ream bond P250.00 4th
academic of Chess Disseminatio the result of the  Principal paper (for week
performance of Instruction n and action  Teachers reproduction of April
Grade 7 students Utilization research to of research 2018
in mathematics school manuscript) to 3rd
and science administrator week
through and other 2 pcs Epson P490.00 of May
implementation of teachers inkjet ink 2018
chess  Recommend
instructions the
implementatio
n of chess
instructions as
an intervention
to develop
important
learning skills
in all grade
levels  Proponent
 Disseminate  Division
the result of the Superintend
action ent
research to the  Secondary
Division Office SchoolsPrinc
and other ipal
Secondary  Secondary
Schools in the Teachers
Division
 Recommend
the
 implementatio
n of chess
instructions for
utilization

TOTAL ESTIMATED COST P 740.00

VIII. REFERENCES

Kitsis, A. Benefits of chess for academic perfomance and creative thinking. Retrieved from www.vivacityinc.com/chess

Prepared by:

FELIPE C. LUCENA JR

Andabuen National High School