scholarly journals THE ISSUES AND CHALLENGES OF MATHEMATICS TEACHING AND LEARNING IN MALAYSIA ORANG ASLI PRIMARY SCHOOLS FROM TEACHERS' PERSPECTIVES

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (No.2) ◽  
pp. 129-160
Author(s):  
Ruzlan Md-Ali ◽  
Arsaythamby Veloo ◽  
S. Kanageswari Suppiah Shanmugam ◽  
Yus'aiman Jusoh @ Yusoff ◽  
Rosna Awang Hashim

Purpose - The Malaysian government has allocated a large budget for Orang Asli primary school education via the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) to help improve Orang Asli pupils’ academic performance including mathematics. Teachers face challenges in ensuring that Orang Asli pupils become competent learners of mathematics. Hence, this study examined the teachers’ perspectives on the issues and challenges in the teaching and learning of mathematics at Orang Asli primary schools in Malaysia. Methodology - In this qualitative study, Two Orang Asli primary schools were randomly selected from eight primary schools within an Orang Asli Settlement in the District of Sungai Siput. The data were collected via focus group discussions and interviews, which were carried out during enculturation visits and were fully transcribed and thematically analysed. The research participants were purposively selected and comprised the schools’ administrators and mathematics teachers. Findings - The results of the data analysis showed that there were two main themes, namely classroom challenges and school challenges, in determining mathematics competence among Orang Asli pupils. Classroom challenges consisted of five sub-themes namely coverage of mathematics syllabus, mathematics teaching and learning resources, pupil engagement, language barrier, and mathematics learning culture. School challenges consisted of two sub-themes namely school attendance and discipline. To enhance mathematics competence among Orang Asli pupils, it is deemed important to conduct programmes and community engagement. Significance - This study contributes to the knowledge of the teaching and learning of mathematics at Orang Asli primary schools. It is recommended that teachers allow Orang Asli pupils to take home their mathematics textbooks so that they can complete their homework at home. Teachers are highly encouraged to conduct mathematics teaching and learning activities in groups to develop meaningful and engaging lessons.

Libri ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mega M. Subramaniam ◽  
Ann Ryu Edwards

AbstractWith the unveiling in the United States of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics that value inquiry, cross-curricular connections, and the use of technology in instruction, school librarians may be best positioned to collaborate with mathematics teachers to instill these practices into mathematics teaching and learning. However, the mathematics curriculum is often perceived as challenging or even impossible for librarians to connect with. Consequently, such collaboration is often not pursued by either party. This paper examines the factors that shape or hinder collaboration between school librarians and mathematics teachers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with mathematics teachers, school librarians, and school leaders in four middle schools in a highly resourced school district in the mid Atlantic region of the United States. We find several factors that influence the nature and opportunities for collaboration, including: perception; comfort with technology; institutional structures; testing pressure; and knowledge about mathematics teaching and learning. Our analysis reveals pivotal transformations that need to take place in order to strengthen the collaborative relationship between these two domains: (1) changes in the perceptions mathematics teachers and school librarians have of each other, and of various aspects of technology integration in mathematics teaching and learning and collaborative relationships; (2) enhanced structural support at the school district level; and (3) enhanced structural support at the school level to support collaboration. By examining the connections and contexts of these emerging themes from our study, we reveal the impact that school librarians can have in mathematics learning in middle schools.


2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 373-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvia Celedón-Pattichis ◽  
Lunney Lisa Borden ◽  
Stephen J. Pape ◽  
Douglas H. Clements ◽  
Susan A. Peters ◽  
...  

In July 2017, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) released a new mission statement that shifts the organization's primary focus to supporting and advocating for the highest quality mathematics teaching and learning for all students. A key strategy for achieving this goal is to advance “a culture of equity where each and every person has access to high quality teaching and is empowered as a learner and doer of mathematics” (NCTM, 2017, “Strategic Framework,” para. 2). Increasing equity and ensuring the highest quality mathematics teaching and learning for all students requires systemic change (National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics [NCSM] & TODOS: Mathematics for ALL, 2016). As educators are called to enact NCTM's new mission, we acknowledge that such change is complex. We also acknowledge that our own experiences conducting equity work that is grounded in an asset-based approach are at different stages of development, ranging from beginning levels to lived experiences as diverse mathematics learners and mathematics education researchers. We see this change in mission as a call to both act politically (Aguirre et al., 2017) and to change story lines (i.e., “broad, culturally shared narrative[s]”; Herbel-Eisenmann et al., 2016, p. 104) that dominate the public perception of mathematics learning and teaching. We acknowledge that systemic barriers are part of a larger educational issue, but for the purposes of this commentary, we focus on mathematics.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Kimura Patar Tamba ◽  
Wiputra Cendana

<div><p>This study aims to examine the relationship between epistemological beliefs, teaching-learning beliefs and assessment beliefs in mathematics education. This research is a quantitative study with a correlational study. Data collection using the survey method with a cross-sectional design. The participants were 71 pre-service elementary school  , mathematics teachers. The data on beliefs were collected through means of a questionnaire. The data collected from the questionnaire were then analyzed quantitatively through descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics utilizes the mean value, maximum value, and standard deviation values. Inferential statistics use the product-moment correlation as well as path analysis. The research results show that there is a positive and significant correlation between static and dynamic beliefs on epistemology of mathematics, and the constructivist beliefs on mathematics teaching and learning, with the productive beliefs on mathematics assessment. In addition, there is seen to be a functional influence between both epistimological beliefs (both static and dynamic), as well as beliefs on teaching and learning (constructivist) and beliefs about mathematic assessment (productive). The results of this research signify the importance of considering one’s beliefs about the epistemology of mathematics and mathematics teaching and learning when constructing their beliefs regarding mathematics assessment.</p></div>


Warta LPM ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-124
Author(s):  
Sri Rejeki

kill about using LEGO in mathematics teaching and learning to mathematics teachers. This conducted into three stages of training and two stages of real teaching. The stages of the training were introducing the use of LEGO in mathematics teaching and learning, designing sets of teaching and learning activities using LEGO as the media, and peer teaching. The real teaching conducted in two stages of three meetings for each stages. Twelve mathematics teachers from five schools of Muhammadiyah in Surakarta were participated in this training. The teachers have technically trained with new experiences using LEGO as media in mathematics learning and have developed five sets of lesson plans for the topics of fractions, sets, proportion, linear equation with one variable, and statistics. The real teaching for the topic of fractions was conducted in two of those five schools. The results indicate the learning activities designed support students understanding and attitude in mathematics.   


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Brenda Mary Sherley

<p>A difference between the beliefs and practices about mathematics learning and teaching held by teachers in kindergartens and teachers in new entrant classrooms may lead to problems as teachers and children manage the transition from kindergarten to school. The New Zealand education system is governed by various curriculum documents underpinned by similar philosophies to support teacher practice. These documents are based on an expectation that teachers build from children’s existing knowledge and experiences. The system is based on expectations relating to knowledge that are loosely linked to the year level and age of children. Evidence about teachers’ practices and beliefs was gathered using a case study approach. Five primary schools and their neighbouring kindergartens were purposively selected for this study. Fourteen kindergarten and five new entrant teachers were observed and interviewed and completed questionnaires about their beliefs and practices in mathematics teaching and learning over a two year period. Mathematical events were analysed to document teachers’ practices. Kindergarten teachers’ practice most commonly mirrored their stated beliefs about how children best learned mathematics. New entrant teachers, although possessing similar stated beliefs to kindergarten teachers, did not necessarily follow these beliefs in their classroom practice. The beliefs of kindergarten and new entrant teachers in mathematics teaching and learning were similar, but their practices differed in several dimensions. Kindergarten teachers believed children best learned mathematics through free play and exploration of the world around them. These teachers encouraged children to follow their own interests and supported children as they developed their ideas and became active problem solvers. These beliefs arose from teachers’ personal experiences combined with the primarily sociocultural focus of the early childhood curriculum, Te Whariki. New entrant teachers’ beliefs about mathematics learning and teaching were similar to those of kindergarten teachers – children learned through having fun, solving problems, and doing things in a real-life context. However, new entrant teachers also had clear expectations of the skills five-year-olds needed to know on their entry to school. When children did not appear to possess these skills, teachers focused on remediation of the perceived deficits. In practice, new entrant teachers directed children’s learning based on their beliefs about what children needed to know to be successful at school. This approach lead to structured and managed environments with little regard for children’s prior-to-school knowledge and experiences. These inconsistencies in mathematics teaching and learning between schools and kindergartens could be minimised with professional development for teachers that focused on developing the relationships between teachers in both settings.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Brenda Mary Sherley

<p>A difference between the beliefs and practices about mathematics learning and teaching held by teachers in kindergartens and teachers in new entrant classrooms may lead to problems as teachers and children manage the transition from kindergarten to school. The New Zealand education system is governed by various curriculum documents underpinned by similar philosophies to support teacher practice. These documents are based on an expectation that teachers build from children’s existing knowledge and experiences. The system is based on expectations relating to knowledge that are loosely linked to the year level and age of children. Evidence about teachers’ practices and beliefs was gathered using a case study approach. Five primary schools and their neighbouring kindergartens were purposively selected for this study. Fourteen kindergarten and five new entrant teachers were observed and interviewed and completed questionnaires about their beliefs and practices in mathematics teaching and learning over a two year period. Mathematical events were analysed to document teachers’ practices. Kindergarten teachers’ practice most commonly mirrored their stated beliefs about how children best learned mathematics. New entrant teachers, although possessing similar stated beliefs to kindergarten teachers, did not necessarily follow these beliefs in their classroom practice. The beliefs of kindergarten and new entrant teachers in mathematics teaching and learning were similar, but their practices differed in several dimensions. Kindergarten teachers believed children best learned mathematics through free play and exploration of the world around them. These teachers encouraged children to follow their own interests and supported children as they developed their ideas and became active problem solvers. These beliefs arose from teachers’ personal experiences combined with the primarily sociocultural focus of the early childhood curriculum, Te Whariki. New entrant teachers’ beliefs about mathematics learning and teaching were similar to those of kindergarten teachers – children learned through having fun, solving problems, and doing things in a real-life context. However, new entrant teachers also had clear expectations of the skills five-year-olds needed to know on their entry to school. When children did not appear to possess these skills, teachers focused on remediation of the perceived deficits. In practice, new entrant teachers directed children’s learning based on their beliefs about what children needed to know to be successful at school. This approach lead to structured and managed environments with little regard for children’s prior-to-school knowledge and experiences. These inconsistencies in mathematics teaching and learning between schools and kindergartens could be minimised with professional development for teachers that focused on developing the relationships between teachers in both settings.</p>


Author(s):  
Nimer Baya'a ◽  
Wajeeh Daher

In this chapter, the authors describe four successful experiments in using social networking sites (Facebook and Edmodo) in mathematics teaching and learning, where this use depended on populating the sites with historical mathematicians and/or mathematical phenomena. They describe two models of using social networking sites in mathematics education, as well as the phases of working mathematically with students when implementing each model. The authors emphasize the use of social talk as the first step to involve students with the learning of mathematics, as well as moving to cultural talk as a bridge between the social talk and the mathematical discourse. The experience in the four experiments indicates that social networking sites invite student collaboration, as well as encourage their learning actions and interactions. Teacher's or moderator's sensitivity is a very important factor for the success of the experiment, especially when young students are involved. Other factors which influenced the success of students' learning in social networking sites were the features of the social networking site, the properties of the inter-disciplinary phenomenon or the mathematics produced by the historical mathematicians, the background of the learners, and the activities of the moderator.


Author(s):  
Monika Dockendorff

As digital technology becomes more ubiquitous in society and education, mathematics teachers are expected to design and integrate technology-enriched learning environments effectively. This task encompasses many challenges, but primarily, it entails the identification of how technology may produce insights. This study examines several categories of core mathematical processes that can be enhanced by the integration of dynamic interactive software such as identifying properties, connecting multiple representations, and solving problems, among others. The process of visualization appears at the center of dynamic and interactive mathematics learning environments. Evidence of its functionality and the benefits it reports to the teaching and learning process for each category is presented. Further discussion on the challenges that mathematics teacher education programs and teachers face—not only in their digital competences but also in the role they play—are outlined.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-74
Author(s):  
Mohamad Ariffin Abu Bakar ◽  
Norulhuda Ismail

Purpose of the study: This study is a survey of teachers’ and students' perceptions of mathematics teaching and learning practices. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of learning practice based on metacognitive regulation strategies and student interactions to increase student achievement. Methodology: A quantitative survey of 45 mathematics teachers and 52 Form 2 students using questionnaires was conducted to look at the level of mathematics teaching and learning practices and to obtain agreement on the need for learning metacognitive regulation strategies and student interactions. Findings: The findings show that teachers' level of knowledge about metacognitive regulation strategies, level of teaching and learning based on metacognitive regulation and student interaction strategies, and level of mastery and application of student mathematics skills are moderate. Implications: Furthermore, teachers and students agree that teaching and learning practices based on metacognitive regulation strategies and student interaction need to be implemented as a mathematics learning intervention to enhance students’ mastery in mathematics. Implications of this study led to the suggestion that metacognitive regulation strategies be used as a best practice and guide to transform teaching and learning methods. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study is an extension of the study of aspects of metacognitive skills by looking at both the view of the teacher and the student. Results show that students' metacognitive skills and interactions are related to and influence learning.


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