MEMBANGUN SIKAP POSITIF UNTUK MENGHINDARI SIKAP PHOBIA MATEMATIKA

Math phobias are anxiety on math skills that happen to most learners. Anxiety is demonstrated by the existence of continuous fear against the object of mathematics and its learning situation. To avoid this, the facilitator must create a situation that allows the learners to build their confidence in math tasks. Math is characterized by abstract ideas in the form of abstract symbols that require delivery within a less abstract language to avoid understanding the idea. A positive attitude towards mathematics appears closely related to the previous experience in both the mathematical object and the classroom situation. Therefore, developing a positive attitude against math phobia requires the content to be delivered in an attractive manner in every learning process. The presentation of mathematical formulas should be adjusted according to the learning basic ability and sometimes accompanied by an inductive approach. As the facilitator of learning, the teacher must seek a learning environment that can encourage learners to behave positively and passionately in learning mathematics.

SELF-EFFICACY AND ATTITUDE AS PREDICTORS OF MATHEMATICS PERFORMANCE OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

This study determined the relationship of self-efficacy, attitude, and performance in mathematics of senior high school students. Specifically, the study (a) described the level of mathematics self-efficacy of studentrespondents in terms of mastery experience, vicarious experience-peers, vicarious experience-adults, social persuasions, and physiological state, (b) characterized the attitude of the student-respondents towards mathematics in terms of anxiety, confidence, enjoyment, and benefits/value, (c) described the mathematics performance of the respondents, (d) determined the significant relationship between self-efficacy, attitude, and mathematics performance of the respondents, and (e) determined the predictors of students mathematics performance. Simple random sampling was used in identifying the 229 samples from three (3) public secondary schools offering senior high school in the Tablas Island. The researchers used the validated Self-Efficacy and Attitude towards Mathematics questionnaire. It was found out that the student-respondents have moderate mathematics self-efficacy in mastery experience, vicarious experience-peers, vicarious experience-adults, social persuasions, and physiological state. It was also found out that there was a high level of attitude towards mathematics in terms of benefits/value and moderate level of attitude towards mathematics in terms of anxiety, confidence, and enjoyment. Majority of the student-respondents did not meet the expectations in terms of mathematics performance, but a significant percentage of the group was average in the acceptable range of rating as significant relationship exists between self-efficacy, attitude and mathematics performance. The study revealed that the mathematics performance was predicted by variables such as vicarious experience-adults, benefits/value, anxiety, and vicarious experience-peers.

THE ROLE OF COMPUTER GAMES IN ENHANCING PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTITUDE TOWARDS MATHEMATICS

Numerous research findings have applauded the integration of technology in the classroom especially in mathematic to develops positive attitudes. The advancements in technology may provide a better opportunity to impact mathematical literacy and skills on young learners. Perhaps, attitudes towards mathematics are declining in recent years. The study aimed to enhance the students attitude toward learning mathematics by using games app embedded in computer software used as an instrument to teach the subject. A total of ninety-one primary school students drawn from different primary schools in the Kogi state participated in the study. The study adopted a quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test study design. The result revealed that the computer game influenced the respondents attitude towards mathematics at MD = 13.65 (95% CI, 8.91 to 16.17), t (88) = 6.328, p = .001. Thus, the study concludes that computer game is an indispensable tool in impacting positive attitudes towards mathematics, especially among the primary school students. The recommendations are discussed.

A Look at the Processes of Developing Math Activities: Pre-service Primary Teachers

Activities, which are defined as activities that support students’ mathematical learning and increase their levels of mathematic learning, enable the individual to be active by mentally and physically engaging in an action, to establish a cause-effect relationship, and to satisfy his/her curiosity. In this respect, activities have an important effect on the attitude towards mathematics. For this reason, it was aimed to examine the math activity preparation processes of pre-school primary teachers in the current study. To this end, the study was designed in accordance with the case study design, one of the qualitative research methods. In the analysis of the collected data, content analysis was employed. As a result of the study, it was found that the pre-service teachers prepared the activities themselves, they used books and the internet during the development process, and they prepared the activities for the introduction and ending sections of the lesson. In addition, it was observed that while preparing the activity, they considered its suitability for the level of the students and for the purpose of the lesson, they did not take into account individual differences while preparing the activities, and they made use of daily life examples in the activities. The pre-service teachers stated that they had difficulties in preparing activities suitable for the level of the students and stated that they did not consider themselves adequate in preparing activities. Therefore, more emphasis should be placed on improving the skills of developing activities suitable for primary school mathematics lessons in teacher training faculties.

INTEGRASI “RAHMAT” DALAM PEMBELAJARAN MATEMATIKA

This research aimed at describing the improvement of the students’ attitude towards mathematics lesson after following the lesson using mathematics history. This was a best practice research implemented in two phases: preparation and implementation. The subjects of this research were the students of class XII MIA 2 of SMA N 1 Kubu in the first semester of academic year 2019/2020. There were 25 students consisting of 10 male students and 15 female students. The data of students’ attitude were collected through attitude questionnaires. The collected data were then analyzed descriptively. This research showed that the students’ attitude of class XII MIA 2 of SMA N 1 Kubu in the first semester of academic year 2019/2020 towards mathematics lesson after following the lesson using mathematics history improved. The students’ attitude improved from pre-learning to post-learning using mathematics history. The average of students’ attitude was 48.21 before learning and in the fair category, meanwhile after learning, the average of students’ attitude towards mathematics lesson improved to 74.00 with good category. The improving students’ attitude had positive effect towards the improvement of mathematics learning achievement. The average of students’ daily test improved from 75.48 with learning mastery 92% at the first daily test to 78.72 with learning mastery 100% at the second daily test.

the effect of Needham’s Constructive Model on the achievement of the 2nd year intermediate students in Mathematics and their attitudes towards it

The study aims to identify the effect of Needham’s Constructive Model on the achievement of the 2nd year intermediate students in Mathematics and their attitudes towards it. The researchers used the experimental design of partial control for the control and experimental groups. The study sample is 68 students, where the experimental group is 34 students, and the control group is (34) students. The researchers prepared two scales as achievement test, which include (30) multiple choice items. Items psychometric properties and statistical analysis have been got, and a scale of attitudes towards mathematics that includes (30) items with three alternatives. Items reliability, validity, discrimination coefficients are got. The two groups were rewarded in the variables of age and previous achievement in mathematics, IQ test and attitudes scale. After applying the experiment and the two study tools on the study sample, the results showed that there were statistically significant differences at the level (0.05) in favour of the experimental group in achievement and attitude towards mathematics. Key words: Needham’s model attitudes toword mathematics

A Look at the Processes of Developing Math Activities: Pre-service Primary Teachers

Activities, which are defined as activities that support students’ mathematical learning and increase their levels of mathematic learning, enable the individual to be active by mentally and physically engaging in an action, to establish a cause-effect relationship, and to satisfy his/her curiosity. In this respect, activities have an important effect on the attitude towards mathematics. For this reason, it was aimed to examine the math activity preparation processes of pre-school primary teachers in the current study. To this end, the study was designed in accordance with the case study design, one of the qualitative research methods. In the analysis of the collected data, content analysis was employed. As a result of the study, it was found that the pre-service teachers prepared the activities themselves, they used books and the internet during the development process, and they prepared the activities for the introduction and ending sections of the lesson. In addition, it was observed that while preparing the activity, they considered its suitability for the level of the students and for the purpose of the lesson, they did not take into account individual differences while preparing the activities, and they made use of daily life examples in the activities. The pre-service teachers stated that they had difficulties in preparing activities suitable for the level of the students and stated that they did not consider themselves adequate in preparing activities. Therefore, more emphasis should be placed on improving the skills of developing activities suitable for primary school mathematics lessons in teacher training faculties.

A STUDY OF PARENTAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS MATHEMATICS EDUCATION AND STUDENTS MATH HOMEWORK BEHAVIOR

Homework is an essential component of teaching used by teachers to enhance levels of students commitment and engagement in learning. However, parental attitude is crucial in the homework and engagement behavior of the children. The present study investigates parental attitude towards mathematics and how it affects students math homework behavior. Ninety-six parents participated in the study. They completed a Parents Attitude Towards Mathematics scale and the Mathematics Homework Behavior Scale (MHBS). The result found that parents attitudes towards mathematics predicted math homework behavior. It is concluded that parental attitude towards mathematics is essential in increasing students math homework behavior.

ROLE OF MATH GAME APPS ON ATTITUDE TOWARDS MATHEMATICS AMONG PRIMARY STUDENTS IN KOGI STATE

Mathematics is an essential part of the Nigerian education vision. Mathematics is widely perceived as a tedious and challenging subject to learn. Thus, math avoidance behavior is a trend that cuts across culture and is pervasive among young learners. Research has pointed the relevance of computer games in learning mathematics. Therefore, the current study is aimed to examine the role of math game apps on the attitude of primary school students in Kogi State of Nigeria towards mathematics. A quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-tests and two groups (experimental and control) were adopted. Primary school students in Kogi State made up the population of the study. Eighty-three (n = 83) students comprising males and females within the age range of 7 – 11 years and mean age of (M=9.12) and (SD= 1.22) were randomly pooled from selected public primary schools in Kogi State as the study participants. The students were assigned to groups, with group A as the experimental group, while group B represents the control group. Before the main studys commencement, students attitude towards mathematics was established (pre-test) using an attitude towards mathematics questionnaire. In the post-test study, the treatment group student (group A) was exposed to a math game app (Prodigy Math). The result showed that the gaming app significantly influenced the experimental groups attitude towards mathematics (M = 43.81, SD = 9.54) compared to the control group (M = 32.15, SD = 5.27). An independent t-test conducted to determine the group differences in attitude towards mathematics established that math gaming apps influenced the participants attitude towards mathematics at MD = 11.66 (95% CI, 7.92 to 15.16), t (81) = 6.317, p = .001. The study recommends that the use of gaming app should be embedded in the school curriculum.