Exploring teachers’ conceptions of representations in mathematics through the lens of positive deliberative interaction

Pythagoras ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deonarain Brijlall ◽  
Sarah Bansilal ◽  
Deborah Moore-Russo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
High School ◽  
South African ◽  
Mathematics Teachers ◽  
Classroom Environments ◽  
High School Mathematics ◽  
Teacher Conceptions ◽  
Written Responses ◽  
Mathematical Representations ◽  
Cooperation Model

This article reports on an exploration of teachers’ views on the meaning of mathematical representations in a democratic South Africa. We explored teachers’ conceptions of ‘mathematical representations’ as a means to promote dialogue and negotiation. These conceptions helped us to gauge how these teachers viewed representations in mathematics. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 76 high school mathematics teachers who were registered for an upgrading mathematics education qualification at a South African university. Common themes in teacher conceptions of representations were investigated as part of an inductive analysis of the written responses, which were considered in terms of practices that support dialogue and negotiation. Findings suggest that these conceptions are in line with progressive notions of classroom interactions such as the inquiry cooperation model. Furthermore, the findings suggest that teachers can support the development of classroom environments that promote democratic values.

Identifying Barriers to Integration of Technology into Traditional Approach of Teaching: A Case Study of Mathematics Teachers in Former Transkei in the Eastern Cape

10.31355/12 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 063-071
Author(s):  
Agyei Fosu
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Mathematics Teachers ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
High School Education ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
High School Mathematics ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Past ◽  
Integration Of Technology ◽  
Teaching Of Mathematics

NOTE: THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED WITH THE INFORMING SCIENCE INSTITUTE. Aim/Purpose................................................................................................................................................................................................. The main aim of the study is to identify some of the barriers to the integration of technology into the teaching of mathematics in high schools. Background................................................................................................................................................................................................. Writing on chalkboards as a method of transferring knowledge is a key feature of traditional approach to teaching may have been successful in the past, but the minds of the current generation vary from those of the previous generation. Today’s students are immersed in technology. They are much more up-to-date on the latest technology and gadgets. Technology has certainly changed how students access and integrate information, so it plausible that technology has also changed the way students thinks. Growing up with cutting-edge technologies has left them thinking differently than students of past generations. This call for new innovative approaches to teaching that will cater to the students of today. Of course it is not wise to discard the traditional way of teaching that the past teachers have painstakingly created because of its past and some current success. This is why it is recommended to use this approach as a base for the new ones. Thus, if there is a way to transfer the advantages of this approach of teaching to new innovative approach then teachers should do everything in their power to merge the past and the present into one innovative teaching approach. Methodology................................................................................................................................................................................................. Purposeful sampling was used to survey a total of 116 high school mathematics teachers in the former Transkei Homelands. But only 97 questionnaires were deemed usable because of the way they have answered the questions. Microsoft excel was used in the descriptive statistics Contribution................................................................................................................................................................................................. To identify some barriers that need to be addressed by stakeholders, policy makers in high school education so that high school mathematics teachers will be able to integrate technology into their classroom teaching to meet today students’ learning needs. Findings...................................................................................................................................................................................................... The results indicated that the participating teachers need to be trained and supported in the use of the new technologies applicable to teaching mathematics. Recommendations for Practitioners.......................................................................................................................................................... The Eastern Cape department of education needs to consider the lacked of technology training as a barrier to the integration of technology into the teaching of mathematics and take necessary steps to address it. Recommendation for Researchers........................................................................................................................................................... There is the need to explore in depth whether the factors of gender and age also act as barriers. Impact on Society....................................................................................................................................................................................... The research will assist stakeholders, policy makers of high school education to identify the needs of mathematics teachers. That is to say, the skill sets, experience and expertise, as well as teaching equipment and classroom design and environment required by mathematics teachers. Future Research........................................................................................................................................................................................... More work needs to be done to check whether gender, age of the teachers have some effects on their attitude towards technology integration as well as evaluate the role played by choice of teaching methodology and teaching objectives.

scholarly journals Teaching Mathematics during the COVID-19 Lockdown in a Context of Historical Disadvantage

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 177
Author(s):  
Brantina Chirinda ◽  
Mdutshekelwa Ndlovu ◽  
Erica Spangenberg
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Mathematics Teachers ◽  
Education System ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Education Community ◽  
South African Education

The COVID-19 global pandemic widely affected education across the world and engendered unprecedented scenarios that required expeditious responses. In South Africa, the pandemic came on top of pre-existing inequalities in the education system. Using a qualitative research method of exploratory and descriptive nature, this study engaged a social justice framework to explore the teaching and learning of mathematics during the COVID-19 lockdown in a context of historical disadvantage. A sample of twenty-three Grade 12 mathematics teachers at various public secondary schools in Gauteng, South Africa was used in the study. The teachers were selected through purposive sampling. A Google-generated open-ended questionnaire and follow-up telephonic interviews were used to collect data. Data were analysed thematically in five steps. The findings revealed that the WhatsApp platform is a valuable tool that can support the teaching and learning of mathematics beyond the classroom in the contexts of historical disadvantage. The findings also provided insights into how mathematics teachers became learners themselves during emergency remote teaching (ERT) as they had to adapt to digital teaching, find solutions to unfamiliar problems and acquire knowledge from a larger mathematics education community around the globe. The article discusses these findings and teachers’ challenges of transitioning from traditional face-to-face classrooms to ERT and how they were addressed. At the time of publishing the article, most learners in South Africa had started going to school on a rotational basis. Nonetheless, the study reported in this article is of importance as ERT in the context of historical disadvantage has foregrounded issues of inequality in the South African education system that must be dealt with urgently.

scholarly journals Gender factors associated with sexual abstinent behaviour of rural South African high school going youth in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 450-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Dlamini ◽  
M. Taylor ◽  
N. Mkhize ◽  
R. Huver ◽  
R. Sathiparsad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
High School ◽  
South African ◽  
Rural South ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Kwazulu Natal

scholarly journals Junior high school mathematics teachers’ knowledge in calculators

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-93
Author(s):  
Isaac Bengre Taley ◽  
Matilda Sarpong Adusei
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Mathematics Teachers ◽  
Junior High School ◽  
Junior High ◽  
Real Life ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
High School Mathematics ◽  
School Students ◽  
High School Mathematics Teachers

Helping junior high school students to use calculators and computers for problem solving and investigating real-life situations is an objective of the junior high school mathematics curriculum in Ghana. Ironically, there is a technological drought in junior high school mathematics instruction in Ghana, with a suspicion that mathematics teachers’ competency in the use of calculators for teaching may be the source of this lack of use. This study sought to establish a correlation between junior high school mathematics teachers’ competence and the motivation supporting the use of calculators in teaching.  A descriptive survey comprising of a test and questionnaire was used to collect data from junior high school mathematics teachers in an educational district in Ghana. Teacher characteristics such as educational attainment, age, and gender in relation to teachers’ competency in the use of calculators were discussed in the study. The results showed that about 70% of the teachers exhibited a low level of calculator competence. Besides, novice teachers outperformed expert teachers in the calculator competency-based test. Additionally, mathematics teachers’ enthusiasm for using calculators in teaching was directly associated with the teachers’ level of competency. The findings may send a signal to stakeholders in their efforts to revising the Ghana JHS curriculum in order to actualize the curriculum desire for the integration of technology in the teaching and learning of JHS mathematics.

The perspective of public schools mathematics teachers on their knowledge and teaching practice in connection with the BNCC

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 93-120
Author(s):  
Gilsimar Francisco de Souza ◽  
Paulo Tadeu Campos Lopes
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Mathematics Teachers ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
Test Results ◽  
High School Mathematics ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Municipal Networks ◽  
Curricular Structure

Background: The curricular structure of Brazilian basic education has changed in recent years. With the promulgation of the National Common Curricular Base (BNCC) for elementary and high school education, there is a need to change the curricula of state and municipal networks, which takes place precisely with the actual implementation in schools. Objective: To understand the view of mathematics teachers on capacity and knowledge they must have for the effective application of the BNCC in the classroom considering all the requirements, especially the skills and competencies that contemplate the curricular base. Design: Applied work, with quantitative bias, as the work presents statistical analyses. Setting and participants: Twenty-four high school mathematics teachers of the state network of the municipality of Itumbiara-GO. Data collection and analysis: Questionnaire applied to mathematics teachers, with percentage and inferential analyses such as Cronbach’s Alpha and correlation test. Results: The teachers believe that they know well the specific competencies and skills required in mathematics and its technologies, but they do not know well other areas of the BNCC and feel very insecure about applying these concepts in class. Conclusions: We noticed that the teachers play a fundamental role in implementing the BNCC in schools successfully, requiring pedagogical support such as formative courses and teaching materials to help correct the knowledge gaps they have for that task.

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