Effectiveness of Song, Drill and Game Strategy in Improving Mathematical Performance

This study examined the effectiveness of SoDriGa strategy in teaching mathematics among 4th-grade pupils of Batangas State University ARASOF- Nasugbu Laboratory School. The data from the results of TIMSS (2003) and PISA (2018) revealed that there were poor mathematical performances among Filipino learners. On the need to address this issue on enhancing mathematics instruction, it is imperative that relevant efforts to be conducted to improve performance among Filipino learners. The aforementioned innovation in teaching is consonant to the provisions of Section 10.2 paragraph (a), (d), and (k) of Republic Act 10533, Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, that the curriculum shall be learner- centered, contextualized, and flexible enough to enable and allow schools to localize and indigenize instructional materials. Using multiple pre- and post-tests design, the findings revealed that respondents consistently performed well in their post-test. The result suggested that SoDriGa was a helpful study tool as it increased cognitive gains, motivation and built positive attitude towards learning mathematics while pupils’ mastery and retention of concepts being taught were improved. Thus, SoDriGa as an effective strategy may be adapted and implemented in schools to enhance mathematics’ instruction and further improve pupils’ performance.

Determining Gender Differential Item Functioning for Mathematics in Coeducational School Culture

Purpose - In an attempt to explore item characteristics that behave differently between boys and girls, this comparative study examines gender Differential Item Functioning in a school culture that is noted to be ‘thriving’ mathematically. Methodology - Some 24 grade eight mathematics items from TIMSS 2003 and TIMSS 2007 released items, with equal number of computation and word problem items were administered on 460 boys and 445 girls studying in Grade Eight from three secondary Chinese-medium coeducational schools. Word problem items were defined as items set in a real-world context. Content validity was established by constructing a table of specifications. By employing the software WINSTEPS version 3.67.0 that is based on the Rasch Model for dichotomous responses, Differential Item Functioning analysis was conducted by using Mantel-Haenszel Chi-square method. DIF items were flagged when the Mantel-Haenszel probability value was less than 0.05 and classified as negligible, moderate or large DIF based on the DIF size suggested by Educational Testing Service DIF category. The focal and reference groups were girls and boys respectively. The main delimitation was substantive analysis by using expert judgment was not conducted to identify biased items. Findings - Using Mantel-Haenszel chi-square, two moderate DIF items that assess subtraction favoured girls. They assessed Knowing from topics Whole Number and Fraction. Sources of DIF are linguistics density and item presentation style. The findings suggest that with only two moderate DIF mathematics items, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that the mathematics items functioned differently between boys and girls in school culture noted for successful mathematics learning, even though linguistics complexities of the test language cannot be ignored. Significance - While constructing Mathematics multiple choice items, careful considerations need to be given in selecting suitable numbers in composing the content of the item so that, only the correct algorithm would produce the correct answer ‘if and only if’ those numbers are used. The modest results of detecting two moderate DIF items nevertheless inform national testing agencies and teacher educators on the principles of building fair items as a part of their test improvement practice in the 21st Century. The novelty of this study is that gender Differential Item Functioning was studied in the context of school culture, which is notable for successful mathematics learning.

Problem Possing Dalam Pembelajaran Matematika

Di Indonesia, nilai matematika berdasarkan hasil tes Trends in international Mathematics and science studi (TIMSS) 2003 yang dikoordinir oleh The international for Evaluation of Education Achievement (IEA) menempatkan mahasiswa Indonesia di peringkat 34 penguasaan matematika dan peringkat 36 penguasaan sains. Dibandingkan dengan dua Negara tetangga, Singapura dan Malaysia, posisi ini jauh tertinggal. Singapura berada pada peringkat, pertama, baik matematika maupun Sains, Malaysia peringkat 10 Matematika dan peringkat 23 bidang sains (Balitbang Depdiknas, 2004). Menurut hasil studi yang dilakukan oleh Suryanto dan Soemerset terhadap 16 SLTP pada beberapa propinsi di Indonesia juga menemukan bahwa hasil tes mata pelajaran matematika mahasiswa sangat rendah, utamanya pada soal cerita matematika. Problem Posing merupakan salah satu pendekatan pembelajaran non-konvensional yang dalam proses kegiatannya membangun struktur kognitif mahasiswa. Proses ini dilakukan mahasiswa dengan cara mengaitkan skemata yang dimilikinya. Bahkan beberapa hasil penelitian memberikan gambaran, bahwa problem posing merupakan salah satu bentuk kegiatan dalam pembelajaran matematika yang dapat mengaktifkan mahasiswa, mengembangkan kemampuan berpikir mahasiswa dalam menyelesaikan masalah, dan menimbulkan sikap positif terhadap matematika

Bilingual Test as a Test Accommodation to Determine the Mathematics Achievement of Mainstream Students With Limited English Proficiency

Purpose – This study aims to investigate the validity of using bilingual test to measure the mathematics achievement of students who have limited English proficiency (LEP). The bilingual test and the English-only test consist of 20 computation and 20 word problem multiple-choice questions (from TIMSS 2003 and 2007 released items. The bilingual test consists of items in Malay and English languages. The English teachers classified their students into LEP and non-LEP groups. Methodology – A total of 2,021 LEP and 2,747 non-LEP students from 34 schools were identified. Spiral administration was employed. A total of 2,399 students sat for the bilingual test and 2,369 for the English-only test. The scores were linked using RAGE-RGEQUATE version 3.22. Findings – Findings revealed that in the word problem testlet, the bilingual test was one unit easier for LEP students, probably indicating that the Malay language adaptation assisted them. For the non-LEP students, the bilingual version did not provide any added advantage to them as they did not show elevated achievement score. Significance – This study indicates bilingual test can be an appropriate test accommodation that validly measures both LEP and non-LEP students’ mathematics achievement in countries where English is not the native language but is used as the instructional language.

Alignment between South African mathematics assessment standards and the TIMSS assessment frameworks

South Africa’s performance in international benchmark tests is a major cause for concern amongst educators and policymakers, raising questions about the effectiveness of the curriculum reform efforts of the democratic era. The purpose of the study reported in this article was to investigate the degree of alignment between the TIMSS 2003 Grade 8 Mathematics assessment frameworks and the Revised National Curriculum Statements (RNCS) assessment standards for Grade 8 Mathematics, later revised to become the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS). Such an investigation could help to partly shed light on why South African learners do not perform well and point out discrepancies that need to be attended to. The methodology of document analysis was adopted for the study, with the RNCS and the TIMSS 2003 Grade 8 Mathematics frameworks forming the principal documents. Porter’s moderately complex index of alignment was adopted for its simplicity. The computed index of 0.751 for the alignment between the RNCS assessment standards and the TIMSS assessment objectives was found to be significantly statistically low, at the alpha level of 0.05, according to Fulmer’s critical values for 20 cells and 90 or 120 standard points. The study suggests that inadequate attention has been paid to the alignment of the South African mathematics curriculum to the successive TIMSS assessment frameworks in terms of the cognitive level descriptions. The study recommends that participation in TIMSS should rigorously and critically inform ongoing curriculum reform efforts.