scholarly journals Communicating Mathematics and Science in the Classroom: Exploring the Interactive Route

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-43
Author(s):  
Landa Nhlanhla ◽  
◽  
Sindiso Zhou ◽  

Communicating mathematical problems and scientific concepts is considered as a complex and difficult endeavour. Teaching, whether of complex mathematical problems and scientific concepts or of 'straightforward and clear' ideas in the humanities, is a process of communication. This paper argues that communication skills are an integral part of the teaching of Science and Mathematics. Communicating Science and Mathematics in the classroom involves thorough explanations and, because the concepts dealt with are in themselves complex, this may involve going over the concepts repeatedly. This ability to put across the mathematical or scientific message is the ability by the teacher to communicate. Research has insisted that the ability to communicate and to pose questions are central attributes of an effective teacher. This paper argues that more than being able to communicate and ask questions, for effective teaching of Mathematics and Science the teacher needs to employ interactive teaching techniques to involve learners; this way the teacher actively involves learners in communication and therefore in both the teaching and learning process. The teacher and learner roles in the contemporary classroom need not be distinctively outlined as this creates an obstacle to understanding. This allows both the teacher and student to understand concepts from each other's perspective. Through interaction between teacher and student, the teacher is able to explain the mathematical problem to the student from the student's perspective. Through a semi-structured interview and observation the study involves a sample of 32 students from four secondary schools in the two provinces of Midlands and Bulawayo.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 852-859
Author(s):  
Clement Ayarebilla Ali ◽  

The study compared exhaustively the Successive Approximation Model (SAM) and Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement and Evaluate (ADDIE) model on the teaching and learning of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics subjects in Ghana. We selected a sample of 30 student-teachers who offered Mathematics and Science in the distance mode of the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana in the 2018/2019 academic year. The first stage of the analysis compared the models separately within the Vygotskian framework using pre-post experiemtal design. The second stage made comparisons between and within the two models. The results of both stages showed that student-teachers preferred mostly SAM to ADDIE instructional models. There were not only consistently higher mean gains in the latter model, but the group averages of student-teachers in the post-treatment results also demonstrated clear improvements. Again, student-teachers showed tremendous improvements in the conceptual understanding of both models. However, the Successive Approximation Model recorded much more improvements in both pre-treatment and post-treatment results. It was therefore imperative to conclude that the Successive Approximation Model was more properly situated in the context of teaching and learning Mathematics and Science. We, therefore, recommended experimental explorations of SAM for STEM.


Mathematics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (19) ◽  
pp. 2496
Author(s):  
Genaro de Gamboa ◽  
Edelmira Badillo ◽  
Digna Couso ◽  
Conxita Márquez

In this research, we explored the potential of using a research-based teaching and learning sequence to promote pupils’ engagement in practices that are coherent with those of real world mathematical and scientific activity. This STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematis) sequence was designed and implemented by pre-service teachers and science and mathematics education researchers with the aim of modeling the growth of a real population of rabbits. Results show explicit evidence of pupils’ engagement in relevant mathematical and scientific practices, as well as detailed descriptions of mathematical connections that emerged from those practices. We discuss how these practices and connections allowed the progressive construction of models, and the implications that this proposal may have for STEM task design and for the analysis of extra-mathematical connections.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 289
Author(s):  
La Sunra - La Sunra ◽  
Haryanto Haryanto ◽  
Sahril Nur

This study investigated the EFL teachers’ perception and practices of reflection in teaching. The study was conducted through qualitative method by purposive sampling technique. The data were collected through semi-structured interview, and documentation from seven EFL Junior High School teachers in Makassar. The results of the study showed that the EFL teachers perceived reflective practice mainly as an evaluative process to their teaching experience. They all believed that reflective practice was one of the effective teacher characteristics and useful for increasing the quality of teaching and learning. Their reflections were mostly at descriptive and dialogic level. Inadequate knowledge and workload were identified by the EFL teachers as the challenges to reflection.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Belinda Petersen ◽  
Sharon McAuliffe ◽  
Cornelis Vermeulen

This article looks at writing tasks as a methodology to support learners’ mathematical problemsolving strategies in the South African Foundation Phase context. It is a qualitative case study and explores the relation between the use of writing in mathematics and development of learners’ problem-solving strategies and conceptual understanding. The research was conducted in a suburban Foundation Phase school in Cape Town with a class of Grade 3 learners involved in a writing and mathematics intervention. Writing tasks were modelled to learners and implemented by them while they were engaged in mathematical problem solving. Data were gathered from a sample of eight learners of different abilities and included written work, interviews, field notes and audio recordings of ability group discussions. The results revealed an improvement in the strategies and explanations learners used when solving mathematical problems compared to before the writing tasks were implemented. Learners were able to reflect critically on their thinking through their written strategies and explanations. The writing tasks appeared to support learners in providing opportunities to construct and apply mathematical knowledge and skills in their development of problem-solving strategies.


Author(s):  
Virginia Furlanetto ◽  
Maria Madalena Dullius

ResumoO ensino e aprendizagem da Matemática tem sido alvo de recorrente preocupação por parte de professores e gestores, pois os resultados alcançados pelos estudantes tem se demonstrado pouco satisfatórios no cenário nacional, como um todo, salvo algumas exceções. Na área da educação Matemática, faz-se necessário melhorar a qualidade do ensino e aprendizagem dos alunos e visando contribuir nesse aspecto, desenvolvemos uma pesquisa com o objetivo de explorar o uso de diferentes estratégias de resolução de problemas matemáticos com estudantes da Educação Básica e verificar como estas interferem nesse processo. Iniciamos o trabalho com um estudo bibliográfico sobre as estratégias de resolução de problemas e investigamos quais delas são utilizadas pelos alunos da Educação Básica. Considerando os dados coletados, desenvolvemos uma intervenção pedagógica com alunos de 7ª e 8ª séries do Ensino Fundamental, em que exploramos problemas de livros didáticos, Olimpíadas Matemáticas e outras fontes, incentivando a utilização de estratégias alternativas ao Cálculo formal e compartilhando-as por meio de discussões para validação das mesmas. Ao final deste período, foram propostas uma nova seleção de problemas e a participação em uma entrevista semiestruturada, por meio das quais foram obtidos indícios de eficácia da proposta. Os participantes passaram a utilizar com maior frequência e eficácia estratégias alternativas ao Cálculo formal e manifestaram preferência por estas formas de resolução. Apresentamos, portanto, uma possibilidade para o trabalho com resolução de problemas, capaz de auxiliar os estudantes a obterem êxito no processo, de forma autônoma.Palavras-chave: Estratégias. Resolução. Problemas. Matemática. Aprendizagem.AbstractMathematics teaching and learning have been a permanent concern for teachers and managers since the results that students achieved have not been completely satisfactory nationally. Regarding to Mathematics education improving students’ education quality and learning is essential. As a contribution a survey aiming to explore the use of different strategies for solving mathematical problems with students of Elementary School and how they interfere in the process was carried out. It was initially carried out a bibliographical study about problem resolution strategies followed by the investigation on which strategies were used by Elementary school students. Taking into consideration data collected a pedagogical intervention was developed with 7thand 8th grade students of Elementary school aiming to explore textbook problems, Mathematical Olympics and other sources, encouraging the use of alternative strategies to formal calculation and exchanging them to assure their validation. Finally a new problem selection and the participation in a semi-structured interview were proposed and the indication of an effective proposal was carried out. Participants started to use alternative strategies more frequently and more effectively. Therefore we present the possibility for problem resolution development which may help the students to autonomously succeed in the process.Keywords: Strategies. Resolution. Problems. Mathematics. Learning.


1997 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-143
Author(s):  
Catherine A. Brown ◽  
Margaret S. Smith

In the Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics (NCTM 1991), the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has explicated what a teacher needs to know and be able to do to teach mathematics in the spirit of reform. Teachers' current knowledge of mathematics and mathematics pedagogy may not be adequate to meet the new instructional goals. Toward this end, the Professional Teaching Standards document includes six standards that are intended to guide the preparation, support, and career development of teachers. This article focuses on one of these standards—Standard 4: Knowing Mathematical Pedagogy—which is integral to the effective teaching of mathematics.


Author(s):  
Olivier Denis

Some fundamental mathematical researches have been carried out about mathematical certainties based on ancient Egyptian mathematical sources and their problems following ancient Egyptian Wisdom set of knowledge building the new scientific paradigm following the rediscovery of the true value of PI and following the new approach of Global Dimensional Mathematics [1]. Some fundamental mathematical researches on the foundations of Egyptian mathematics covering the mathematical problem of The Akhmin wooden tablets [2], the tenth and the fourteenth problem of The Moscow Mathematical Papyrus [3] as well as the forty-first and fiftieth problem from The Rhind Mathematical Papyrus [3] have been carried out, without forgotten, the resolution of the fundamental question of the quadrature of the circle which is now effective. In the disclosure of Egyptian mathematics, the new approach to fundamental mathematical notions is established, adding the cornerstone to building the core of the new approach to Egyptian mathematics, mathematics and science in general. The Egyptian mathematics disclosure solves, following the Egyptian approach to mathematics and following ancient Egyptian Wisdom set of knowledge, unsolved ancient Egyptian mathematical problems, such as finding the complete solution and decoding the glyph of the eye of Horus, as well as the problem of the truncated pyramid which has found a solution like the half basket problem found one. The question of the quadrature of the circle shatters the mathematical conceptions with all the consequences that we can only begin to understand. The Egyptian mathematics disclosure forms the basis for building the new scientific approach based on ancestral Egyptian mathematical problems, the true rediscovered value of PI and the new original Global Dimensional Mathematics opening up a still unknown perspective on the world of science in general.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (SI3) ◽  
pp. 211-216
Author(s):  
Nurul Sofia Ahmad Fuad ◽  
Nabilah Abdullah ◽  
Shireena Basree Abdul Rahman

The Education Ministry has introduced two initiatives - English in the Teaching of Mathematics and Science (ETeMS) and Dual Language Programme (DLP) - to enhance mathematics and science learning using English as the medium of instruction.  Numerous discontentment on ETeMS were reported but were not addressed before the DLP introduction in 2016. This qualitative research narrates teachers’ views on both ETeMS and DLP, focusing on the coordinators’ and implementers’ challenges. Eleven mathematics and science school teachers have participated in this case study. Findings reveal that student-, resource- and teacher-related factors remained key reasons impeding effective learning of the two subjects. Keywords: national policy; teaching and learning; science and mathematics; English. eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI3.2554


2014 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-9
Author(s):  
Paolo Bussotti

In some previous contributions of mine written for Scientia Educologica’s journals (Bussotti 2012; Bussotti, 2013; Bussotti, 2014) I dealt with the possible use of history of mathematics and science inside mathematics and science education. There is an abundant literature on this subject and I only tried to offer some ideas on possible educative itineraries in which history of mathematics and science could play a role. I had no claim to supply elements for a general theory on the relations history of mathematics-mathematics education and history of science-science education. In this editorial, I would like to deal with a possible interdisciplinary link between philosophical education and mathematics. This link is given by the infinity. The following considerations are valid for all those countries in which some high schools exist where philosophy is taught and, in general, for every course at a philosophical faculty in which the problem of the infinity is faced. Furthermore, they can also be useful in the teaching of mathematics at the high school when the concepts of infinity and infinitesimal (typically while dealing with calculus) are introduced.


2017 ◽  
pp. 54-60
Author(s):  
Rosa Virginia Hernández ◽  
Luis Fernando Mariño ◽  
Mauricio Penagos

La resolución de problemas y modelación matemáticas son áreas críticas en la enseñanza y aprendizaje de la matemática. Allí se deben poner en juego, conceptos, habilidades y procedimientos provenientes de la experiencia matemática en cursos anteriores. La mayoría de los estudiantes tienen dificultades para llegar a entender el lenguaje de las matemáticas; relacionadas con el conocimiento inadecuado del lenguaje especializado que incluye palabras técnicas, no técnicas, y notación simbólica, específicamente en la formulación de modelos matemáticos. El propósito del estudio estuvo centrado en analizar los resultados sobre el conocimiento semántico que un grupo de estudiantes de la Facultad de Ingeniería de la Universidad Francisco de Paula Santander evidencia en la representación de ecuaciones diferenciales lineales de segundo orden como modelos matemáticos. Los fundamentos teóricos de que dieron soporte a la investigación fueron: La teoría de dos etapas propuesta por (Mayer, 1986), el ciclo de modelación bajo la perspectiva cognitiva de (Ferri, 2006) y las representaciones externas de (Goldin & Kaput, 1996). El trabajo fue cuantitativo de tipo exploratorio y descriptivo. La investigación se fundamentó en la teoría de dos etapas propuesta por Mayer R para la resolución de problemas matemáticos, el ciclo de modelación según Ferri y la teoría de las representaciones de Goldin y Kaput. Para recolectar la información, se diseñó y aplicó un cuestionario de 17 reactivos con respuestas cerradas y abiertas. Los hallazgos muestran que cada participante hace su propia representación interna y externa a conceptos como: sistema masa-resorte, peso, masa, punto de equilibrio, Ley de Hooke, fuerzo amortiguadora, fuerza externa, Ley de Newton inmersos en la situación mediante un problema de palabra. Es necesario realizar trabajos a profundidad sobre el conocimiento con el propósito de buscar explicaciones y contribuir en la enseñanza y aprendizaje hacia la resolución de problemas matemáticos. Palabras clave: Ciclo de modelación, modelación matemática, problemas matemáticos, representaciones externas.   Abstract   The resolution of problems and mathematics modeling are critic areas in learning and teaching of mathematics. Is there where it must to put on game concepts, skills and procedures originating from the mathematic experience in previous courses. Most of the students have difficulties to understand the mathematic language, related with the inadequate knowledge of specialized language that includes technique words, non-technique words and symbolic notations, specifically in the formulation of mathematic models. The purpose of this research was focused to analyze the results about the semantic knowledge that a group of students of Engineering Faculty of Francisco of Paula Santander University evidence in the representation of lineal differential equations of second order as mathematic models. The theory fundaments that gave support the research was: The theory of two phases by (Mayer, 1986), the modeling cycle under the cognitive perspective of (Ferry, 2006) and the extern representations of (Goldin & Kaput, 1996). The project was quantitative of exploratory and descriptive type. The research was based in the theory of two phases purposed by Mayer R for the resolution of mathematic problems, the modeling cycle according Ferry and the Representations theory of Goldin and Kaput. To recollect the information it was designed and applied a questionary of 17 reactive with opened and closed answers. The discoveries showed that each participant does its own intern an extern representation to concepts as: spring-mass system, weight, mass, balance point, Hooke’s Law, buffering strong, extern strong, Newtown’s Law immersed in a situation through a problem of word. It is necessary to execute deep jobs about the knowledge with the purpose of to look for explanations and aid in teaching and learning through the resolution of mathematic problems. Key words: Modeling cycle, Mathematic Modeling, Mathematic problems, extern representations.   Resumo   Resolução de problemas e modelagem matemática são áreas críticas no ensino e aprendizagem da matemática. Deve ser colocado em jogo, conceitos, habilidades e procedimentos a partir da experiência matemática em cursos anteriores. A maioria dos alunos tem dificuldade em entender a linguagem da matemática; relacionado ao conhecimento inadequado de linguagem especializada que inclui palavras técnicas, não técnicas, e notação simbólica, especificamente na formulação de modelos matemáticos. O objetivo do estudo incidiu sobre a análise dos resultados sobre o conhecimento semântico que um grupo de estudantes da Faculdade de Engenharia da evidência Universidade Francisco de Paula Santander na representação de equações diferenciais lineares de segunda ordem como modelos matemáticos. Os fundamentos teóricos que deram apoio à pesquisa foram: A teoria de dois estágios proposto por (Mayer, 1986), o ciclo de modelagem sob a perspectiva cognitiva (Ferri, 2006) e representações externas (Goldin & Kaput de 1996 ). O trabalho foi quantitativo de tipo exploratório e descritivo. A pesquisa foi baseada na teoria de dois estágios proposta por Mayer R para resolver problemas matemáticos, o ciclo de modelagem de acordo com Ferri e a teoria das representações de Goldin e Kaput. Para coletar as informações, foi elaborado e aplicado um questionário de 17 itens com respostas fechadas e abertas. Os resultados mostram que cada participante faz sua própria representação interna e externa para conceitos tais como o sistema massa-mola, peso, massa, equilíbrio, a Lei de Hooke, força de amortecimento mim, força externa, Act imerso Newton na situação através de um problema da palavra. É necessário realizar um trabalho aprofundado sobre conhecimento com o objetivo de buscar explicações e contribuir para o ensino e a aprendizagem para a solução de problemas matemáticos.   Palavras-chave: Ciclo de modelagem, modelagem matemática, problemas matemáticos, representações externas.


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