What is spoken in a junior college mathematics lecture?
The dissertation English in Mathematics Discourse highlights for mathematics educators a body of practical knowledge about Junior College mathematics lecture discourse from the linguistic perspective. Although this dissertation is found among the collection of the dissertations done by postgraduate students of linguistic studies, it is of value to mathematics educators, particularly, mathematics teachers at the Junior College level.
A framework for designing comics-based mathematics instructional materials
Purpose and Research Question - In this paper we propose a PATH framework for designing comicsbased
instructional material for classroom lesson enactment through conducting a literature review in mathematics education.
Methodology – Systematic review was made with a focus on the potential benefits of comics for education, in particular, on developing students’ motivation for learning and facilitating their knowledge retention.
Findings – We further demonstrate with an exemplar the use of the framework in designing one set of comics-based instructional material for lower secondary mathematics lessons on mensuration.
Significance and Contribution in Line with Philosophy of LSM Journal – An exemplar of a comics-based instructional material designed according to the PATH-CoHANa framework.
Use of dynamic geometry software in the teaching of matrix and transformation: An exemplar of a classroom enactment
Purpose and Research Question - In this paper, we propose a SCCG framework for using a dynamic geometry software (DGS) to enact a lesson on “Matrix and Transformation” based on intuitive-experimental approach. Methodology - A systematic literature review was conducted focusing on the impact of DGS on students’ learning, drawing on various learning theories, including Skemp’s relational understanding, social dimensional constructivism, and discovery learning. Findings - We demonstrate with an exemplar the use of SC2G framework in designing one lesson on “Matrix and Reflection” for senior high school students.
On in-service mathematics teachers’ content knowledge on kinematics
This paper reports a preliminary study on in-service Additional mathematics teachers' knowledge of kinematics concepts. A survey consisting of TRUE/FALSE questions was issued to the participating teachers. The questions were collations of the common misconceptions identified by some local Physics teachers among the local Physics students. The participants were asked to supply the answers to the questionnaire with their answers substantiated with reasons. In this paper, we discuss the results of the survey done on a group of twenty six in-service Additional mathematics teachers and classify the teachers' misconceptions of kinematics concepts. The finding of this initial survey could be useful to spur further research on Mathematics teachers' subject content knowledge on kinematics. Pragmatically it would also be useful for any agency which is planning for any content upgrading workshops for in-service teachers.
Comics for mathematics instruction for future-ready learners
In this paper we present the views that the roles of comics for mathematics instruction extend beyond the role of addressing the affective needs of students, in particular the lower achieving students. We argue that within the broader framework of contextualization, comics have the potential to reach out to the entire spectrum of students to develop their higher order thinking skills and even raise their cognizance to environmental issues. Two exemplars based on the research carried out by us are presented.
Infusing problem solving into mathematics content course for pre-service secondary school mathematics teachers
This paper presents a re-design of an undergraduate mathematics content course on Introductory Differential Equations for pre-service secondary school mathematics teachers. Based on the science practical paradigm, mathematics practical lessons emphasizing problem-solving processes via the undergraduate content knowledge were embedded within the curriculum delivered through the traditional lecture-tutorial system. The pre-service teachers' performance in six mathematics practical lessons and the mathematics practical test was examined. They were able to respond to the requirements of the mathematics practical to go through the entire process of problem solving and to carry out "Look Back" at their solution: checking the correctness of their solution, offering alternative solutions, and expanding on the given problem. The use of Mathematics Practical has altered the pre-service teachers’ approach in tackling mathematics problems in a positive direction.
Fallacies about the derivative of the trigonometric sine function
In this paper, several fallacies about the extension of the formula 𝑑/𝑑𝑥 (sin 𝑥) = cos 𝑥 to the erroneous formula 𝑑/𝑑𝑥 (sin 𝑥°) = cos 𝑥° are discussed. In a Commognitive Theory Framework, misconceptions by ‘newcomers’ can be traced to the use of the word “unit”.
Pre-university students’ errors in integration of rational functions and implications for classroom teaching
This paper reports on students’ errors in performing integration of rational functions, a topic of calculus in the pre-university mathematics classrooms. Generally the errors could be classified as those due to the students’ weak algebraic concepts and their lack of understanding of the concept of integration. With the students’ inability to link integration to differentiation, these errors could not be detected or rectified. From a deeper perspective, these errors were due to a lack of deep mathematical thinking when the students learnt calculus. This paper also presents the implications of the findings of this study in relation to the classroom teaching of mathematics. It is hoped that the articulation of students’ errors and the implications could provide guidance for classroom teachers and prompt further research into students’ errors and misconceptions in calculus concepts.