scholarly journals Using language as a transparent resource in the teaching and learning of mathematics in a Grade 11 multilingual classroom 

Pythagoras ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 0 (67) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mamokgethi Setati ◽  
Terence Molefe ◽  
Mampho Langa

In this paper, we draw on a study conducted in Grade 11 classrooms to explore how the learners’ home languages can be used for teaching and learning mathematics in multilingual classrooms in South Africa. This report is part of a wider study that is still in progress. Based on an analysis of data collected through lesson observations in a Grade 11 class and learner interviews we argue for the deliberate, proactive and strategic use of the learners’ home languages as a transparent resource in the teaching and learning of mathematics in multilingual classrooms. Such use of the languages will ensure that learners gain access to mathematical knowledge without losing access to English, which many parents, teachers and learners presently see as a necessary condition for gaining access to social goods such as higher education and employment.

Author(s):  
Fabiana Fiorezi de Marco

ABSTRACTThis  article  is  the  result  of  a  survey  conducted  in a Federal University  of State  of  Minas  Gerais,  Brazil,  degree course in Mathematics. Emphasizes the importance  of  the  use  of  computing  environments and reports the production of a learning activity designed by future mathematics teachers exploring the concept of area. The written productions, reports of activities and  discussions  taped interviews comprised  the  scenario of our  anlyzes  having  as  main goal is to analyze the implications that didactic production computational activities education developed by licensees can bring to the training of future  teachers  of  mathematics, having as theoretical perspective the historical-cultural  knowledge  and  Activity  Theory points out that computing environments, when carefully planned activities, are educational resources effective for the cons-truction of mathematical knowledge. This research is characterized as an intervention research with interpretive analysis of the information  produced. As a result, the analyzes indicate that  the  protagonists of the research developed a process of reflection on the activity of teaching, conceiving it as a surce of the need and reason for teaching and learning mathematics. In addition, there are some implications that didactic teaching activities intentionally planned and mediated by the teacher, can provide for the training of future teachers.RESUMENEste artigo resultou de uma pesquisa realizada em uma Universidade Federal do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil, curso de Licenciatura em Matemática. Enfatiza a importância do uso de ambientes computacionais e relata a produção de uma atividade de ensino idealizada por futuros professores de Matemática explorando o conceito de área. As produções escritas, relatórios de atividades desenvolvidas e depoimentos audiogravados compuseram o cenário de nossas análises, tendo como objetivo principal analisar as implicações didáticas que a produção de atividades computacionais de ensino elaboradas por licenciandos podem trazer para a formação do futuro professor de matemática, tendo como fundamentação teórica a perspectiva histórico-cultural de conhecimento e a Teoria da Atividade. Destaca que ambientes computacionais, quando cuidadosamente planejadas as atividades, são recursos pedagógicos eficazes para a construção do conhecimento matemático. Esta pesquisa caracteriza-se como uma pesquisa de intervenção, com análise interpretativa das informações nela produzidas. Como resultados, as análises indicam que os protagonistas da pesquisa desenvolveram um processo de reflexão sobre a atividade de ensino, concebendo-a como geradora da necessidade e do motivo para ensinar e aprender matemática. Além disso, percebem-se algumas implicações didáticas que atividades de ensino, intencionalmente planejadas e mediadas pelo professor, podem propiciar para a formação de futuros professores.


2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 636-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Garrison Wilhelm

This study sought to understand how aspects of middle school mathematics teachers' knowledge and conceptions are related to their enactment of cognitively demanding tasks. The author found that teachers' mathematical knowledge for teaching and conceptions of teaching and learning mathematics were contingent on one another and significantly related to teachers' enactment of cognitively demanding tasks.


Author(s):  
Yeping Li ◽  
Alan H. Schoenfeld

AbstractMathematics is fundamental for many professions, especially science, technology, and engineering. Yet, mathematics is often perceived as difficult and many students leave disciplines in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as a result, closing doors to scientific, engineering, and technological careers. In this editorial, we argue that how mathematics is traditionally viewed as “given” or “fixed” for students’ expected acquisition alienates many students and needs to be problematized. We propose an alternative approach to changes in mathematics education and show how the alternative also applies to STEM education.


1987 ◽  
Vol 71 (458) ◽  
pp. 314
Author(s):  
Paul Ernest ◽  
Peter G. Dean

SAGE Open ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 215824401667137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judah Paul Makonye ◽  
Josiah Fakude

The study focused on the errors and misconceptions that learners manifest in the addition and subtraction of directed numbers. Skemp’s notions of relational and instrumental understanding of mathematics and Sfard’s participation and acquisition metaphors of learning mathematics informed the study. Data were collected from 35 Grade 8 learners’ exercise book responses to directed numbers tasks as well as through interviews. Content analysis was based on Kilpatrick et al.’s strands of mathematical proficiency. The findings were as follows: 83.3% of learners have misconceptions, 16.7% have procedural errors, 67% have strategic errors, and 28.6% have logical errors on addition and subtraction of directed numbers. The sources of the errors seemed to be lack of reference to mediating artifacts such as number lines or other real contextual situations when learning to deal with directed numbers. Learners seemed obsessed with positive numbers and addition operation frames—the first number ideas they encountered in school. They could not easily accommodate negative numbers or the subtraction operation involving negative integers. Another stumbling block seemed to be poor proficiency in English, which is the language of teaching and learning mathematics. The study recommends that building conceptual understanding on directed numbers and operations on them must be encouraged through use of multirepresentations and other contexts meaningful to learners. For that reason, we urge delayed use of calculators.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragana Glogovac ◽  
◽  
Marina Milošević ◽  
Bojan Lazić ◽  

Modern primary education, especially mathematics, requires constant innovation of teaching practice in order to modernize, rationalize, and efficiently the teaching process. Teaching mathematics should be experienced as a process that promotes learning with understanding, stimulates motivation, active learning, research, critical thinking, analysis, problem solving, drawing conclusions, exchange of experiences. The tendency to improve the quality of mathematics education has resulted in many studies pointing to the benefits of research-based mathematics (IN) teaching, known as inquiry-based learning (IBL), recognized as an essential way of organizing the teaching process to develop key competencies, abilities and skills in 21st century. Тhe aim of this paper is to see, based on a comprehensive theoretical analysis and the results of previous research. The created model of teaching mathematics based on research represents a useful framework for improving the quality of the process of teaching and learning mathematics, and empowers teachers in its application and affirmation, gaining insight into the way of organizing research learning.


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