It has long been recognised that successful mathematical learning comprises much more than just knowledge of skills and procedures. For example, Skemp (1976) identified the advantages of teaching mathematics for what he referred to as "relational" rather than "instrumental" understanding. More recently, Kilpatrick, Swafford and Findell (2001)…

Mathematical modelling is increasingly becoming part of an instructional approach deemed to develop students with competencies to function as 21st century learners and problem solvers. As mathematical modelling is a relatively new domain in the Singapore primary school mathematics curriculum, many teachers may not be aware of the learning outcomes…

The objective of the present study is to describe how students discover rules underlying a certain phenomenon under question and the process in which they mathematically justify such discovery by way of utilizing tables and graphs in the use of the cell reference function of spreadsheets when a problem is not easily solved through simple symbol…

The newly revised mathematics curriculum in Singapore has recently factored Applications and Modelling to be part of the teaching and learning of mathematics. Its implication is that even children should now be involved in works of mathematical modelling. However, to be able to implement modelling activities in the primary mathematics classroom,…

This study focuses on the confidence level of mathematics education students in teaching school mathematics. Respondents were 165 final year students from four Malaysian universities. It was found that the respondents showed a strong foundation in mathematics upon entrance to the university. In spite of their strong background in school…

This paper describes an activity which attempts to change the discourse of a mathematics classroom with the specific intent to help children who may have difficulties with mathematics and ways of communicating. Ten 8-year old children in the Learning Support Programme were engaged in an open-ended geometric task. In this paper a brief description…

What do pre-service teachers learn from their observation stint during school experience attachment? This paper will present insights into the cognitive contents of the pre-service teachers' reflection log. Preliminary analyses revealed that different cultures and pedagogical practices were observed to be in operation in different school contexts.…

The following article gives a brief account of some empirical research done in the 1980s in the UK by the present author with his colleague, Ibrahim Abdel-Ghany of Minia University, Egypt. At the time both researchers were working at the University of East Anglia at Norwich, England. This work is partly based on empirical arguments, and on…

Discusses the possible impact of the electronic calculator on mathematics teaching. A short account of the use of calculators at present in the United Kingdom (UK) and a list of references are also included. (HM)

Discusses the need for curriculum evaluation in mathematics as well as in other disciplines. Also discusses methods and techniques of curriculum evaluation, some of which are particularly relevant to evaluating mathematics curricula. (Author/JN)

Discusses reform in mathematics education in Malaysia since the late sixties until early 1982, highlighting important features of the reform and main factors, including educational background and contributions to the shaping of these features. Educational problems/issues likely to influence a forthcoming reform in the wider context of educational…

Summarizes a pilot project which investigated how elementary school children in Southeast Asia learn science and mathematics concepts at different cognitive levels using the modified clinical method and group task approach. Includes the Concept Learning Project's basis, goals, phases, methodology, activities, and a summary of the findings. (DS)

Synthesized are a number of learning theories (those of Piaget, Bruner, Gagne, Dienes and Skemp) to form one composite teaching-learning model. This model is then applied to mathematics teaching. An example is provided to illustrate how the model may be used to elaborate a teaching-learning scheme for solving quadratic equations. (Author/DS)

The main objective of the Regional Centre for Education in Science and Mathematics (RECSAM) is to help improve science and mathematics teaching for meeting the scientific and technical manpower needs of Southeast Asia. The role of RECSAM in the 80s is discussed. (DS)

Discussed are the problems of teaching and learning fractions in the upper primary and lower secondary schools. Recommendations for teaching fractions are made and defects in various methods of fraction instruction are identified. It is suggested that fractions not be taught in upper primary and lower secondary schools. (Author/DS)