The expansion of sociocultural theory-oriented mathematical learning model

The research aim was to obtain a Sociocultural Theory-oriented Mathematics Learning Model with Tri Hita Karana insight that is valid, practical, and effective in developing the good character of students in learning mathematics. This research was a research and development with reference to the development of Plomp. The data collection techniques used tests and questionnaires. The results showed that: (1) the Sociocultural Theory-oriented Mathematics Learning Model with Tri Hita Karana insight is valid, practical, and effective to use to develop the good character of students; (2) there was an increase in the good character of students from the category ‘sometimes shows good behavior according to the Tri Hita Karana aspect and often behaves not in accordance with the Tri Hita Karana aspect’ to the category ‘often and consistently shows good behavior according to the Tri Hita Karana aspect’; and (3) positive student responses to learning. Keywords: Mathematical learning, sociocultural theory, tri hita karana, pawongan, tri pramana

The Effects of Collaborative Writing to Learners’ Text in terms of Writing Accuracy from Sociocultural Theory Perspective

Collaborative Writing (CW) has stimulated scholars for years in order to shed light on the effects of this kind of activity, and in terms of writing fluency, some researchers succeeded in stating that writing in groups affects the quality of learners' texts. Nevertheless, the previous studies have not provided fully spotlight on the field of utilizing grammar and vocabulary correctly when students compose text with peers. The purpose of this study was to review the effects of CW to the learners’ work in terms of accuracy from the perspective of Sociocultural Theory (SCT).

Children’s digitally mediated perezhivanie/enchantment in backyard excursions to “nature”

We examine children’s digitally mediated excursions to “nature” in their backyards when Covid-19 prevented environmental excursions. The data consists of young children’s accounts of their backyard excursions recorded on digital devices and posted online to Seesaw. We use sociocultural theory to analyse the co-agency of child and the digital device, the unit of analysis being “a child-using-a-digital-device”. To theorise experience, we deploy Vygotsky’s concept of perezhivanie and Bennett’s notion of enchantment. The analysis of posts to Seesaw revealed children’s experience of vivid, emotionally engaging moments with “nature”, and evidence of an ethic of care. We conclude that emotionally engaging pedagogies based on perezhivanie/enchantment are important in addressing current environmental crises.

Children's reception of critical concepts in animated movies

The purpose of this study is to reveal how children interpret animated movies that include critical concepts. The study investigates the mechanism of 20 Iranian children's interpretation aged 9–12 of animations that contain critical concepts and challenging ideas. Participants were interviewed by an ethnographic approach immediately after watching three animated movies, Zootopia, Kung Fu Panda 3, and Inside Out. The collected data were interpreted based on reception theory, sociocultural theory, and frame theory. Three categorizations emerged from the data collected from interviews with children: framegroup, different framegroup, and incomplete framegroup. The variables most influencing children's interpretation of animations were their schemas or frames and the conceptual tools to interpret the animated movies. Some of the results show that the selected animations were not influential enough to change children's schemas and improve their critical thinking. However, if they were equipped with critical conceptual tools, they would grasp and interpret critical concepts featured in the animations.

THE USE OF FIRST LANGUAGE IN ENGLISH AS FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSROOM

Discussions of the second language (L2) pedagogy have been studied not only in the language and education fields. Experts working in the psychology field also propose theories on applied linguistics because L2 acquisitions involve external and internal processes. However, despite numerous studies on the field, it appears that an issue regarding the use of first language (L1) still creates continuous debates. Although arguments opposing the use of first L1 present compelling theories as to their rationale, they appear to overlook the context in which teaching and learning process takes place. The studies were either conducted in English as a Second Language (ESL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL), where teachers are native speakers who do not share the same L1 with students. Considering the uniqueness in classroom contexts, this paper is not going to argue or take sides on the conflicting views on the use of L1. Instead, it attempts to acknowledge the gap of the context in language teaching used in previous studies. Using a sociocultural theory, this article will describe the beneficial use of L1 with a focus on its use by teachers in an EFL context where teachers share the same L1 with students. Keywords: first language, English as a Foreign Language, sociocultural theory

Learning Chinese Mandarin characters in an English-speaking country: The development of a child’s symbolic mind

This qualitative research explores the development of the symbolic mind in children through learning Chinese Mandarin characters. Navigated through the lens of relational developmental system metatheory and guided by Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, findings present the analysis of the developmental processes in children’s recognition of symbols and use of known symbols to make and share meaning. This study also offers an explanation of the effect of changes in the sociocultural environment on children's symbolic development. Further, cultural differences toward symbolic representation are discussed with the recommendation of focusing on recognition followed by writing when learning Chinese Mandarin characters.