Concrete, Pictorial and Abstract (CPA) Learning Approach for Developing Students’ Engagement in Learning Mensuration: An Action Research

Abstract

The innovative method of Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (CPA) approach in mathematics education has opened the way of new possibilities for scaffolding students with an abstract concept more clearly. This action research investigates how this CPA approach can enhance Grade 10 student’s conceptual understanding in mensuration topic. The study took place over a period of 15 days in a private English medium school in Kathmandu valley, involving students, with six key participants selected for detailed observation and interviews. The motivation for the research stemmed from the continuous decline in students’ math scores in Nepal’s Secondary Education Examination (SEE) 2024, as reported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST, 2024). The study included interactive demonstrations, exploratory experiments, visual clarification and collaborative problem-solving skills. The findings show significant improvement in student’s understanding in mensuration when CPA approach was applied. Students showed better performance in explaining and identifying geometric nets, and reasoning about cross-sections and slant heights. The class what I found is more engaging, and more enjoyable compared to traditional, lecture-based methods.