Exploring the effect of chess games to improve performance of Senior Phase learners in Mathematics

Abstract

Studies have been carried out on the influence of chess games on the performance of learners in mathematics. This study aimed to explore the impact of chess games on learners' mathematics understanding in the Senior Phase, learners’ engagement in chess lessons and how knowledge gained in these games helps them to transfer to solving mathematics problems. The participants in this study were the Senior Phase mathematics learners. This study was informed by the phenological research design. The literature revealed that learners’ engagement in chess games led to an improvement in developing problem-solving skills with mathematics problems, which is more prevalent in those grades. The researcher adopted the constructivist theory and interpretivism research paradigm.

Data were collected from 17 Grade 7 learners using semi-structured interviews, video recordings and observation sheets. Interview forms were distributed to the learners to determine their engagement during chess games. The research specifically explored how learners compete against one another as they engage in chess games. The learners were observed on how they move chess pieces. The qualitative research was utilised, and data was analysed using thematic analysis. The research findings revealed a positive influence of chess games on the transferability of knowledge gained by learners in solving mathematics problems. Recommendation is that chess games should be used to enhance the teaching of mathematical concepts such as number patterns. Chess games have patterns which learners can also apply in understanding number patterns in mathematics as stipulated in CAPS document.