This paper reports an innovative approach to teaching problem solving in secondary school mathematics classrooms based on a specifically designed problem-solving module.This approach adopts the science practical paradigm and rides on the works of Polya and Schoenfeld in order to give greater emphasis to the problem solving processes. We report the…

The study involved evaluating the efficacy of a conceptual change instructional programme involving cognitive conflict in (1) facilitating form 2 (grade 8) students' understanding of algebra concepts, and (2) assessing changes in students' attitudes towards learning mathematics, in a mixed quantitative-qualitative research design. The…

Technology has become a major force in developing curricula and educational practice in mathematics education internationally. While many technologies are important in affluent developed countries, the hand-held calculator continues to be the technology most likely to be available to students when and where they need it. Modern calculators have…

In this paper we demonstrate that "lesson study" may be adapted from its primary use as a professional development strategy for use as a research strategy, especially to identify principles of good lesson design. We report on a project undertaken in two Australian secondary schools where lesson study research was used to investigate the design of…

For those who are committed to Lesson Study as a means of developing teacher capacity and bringing about innovation of mathematics teaching and learning, there is value in looking at related strategies, now widely in use in several countries, which aim to achieve similar goals. In this paper, three related strategies will be examined alongside…

Powerful geometric software has been available to education for around 20 years but has not had the impact on teaching and learning of mathematics, science and technology that might have been expected. This is in contrast to the widespread adoption of software tools in the world outside education which use geometric algorithms to produce visual…

This paper reports a causal-comparative study of science anxiety among Form Four students in Penang. The Wynstra's (1991) Science Anxiety Inventory (SAI), which consists of six factors (i.e., danger anxiety, science test anxiety, math and problem-solving anxiety, squeamish anxiety, performance anxiety, and science classroom anxiety), was…

This paper describes an in-service professional development course in introducing creative approaches to teach mathematics for teachers from the private-funded schools in Java, Indonesia. The course focused on introducing teachers to problem-solving processes and skills, and samples of activity-based worksheet on problem solving through secondary…

In this study, the researchers developed the Web-based Probability Explorer (WPE), a mathematical microworld and investigated the effectiveness of the microworld's constructivist learning environment in enhancing the learning of probability and improving students' attitudes toward mathematics. This study also determined the students' satisfaction…

Secondary-school systems throughout the world are preoccupied with technology integration in subject teaching and learning. Advocacy of the educational use of new technologies often seems to suggest that their value is evident, their adoption urgent, their implementation unproblematic, and their impact transformative. However, the recent…

Teachers tend to design worksheets to assist their students to develop their spatial skills. Many secondary schools students may not have sufficient concrete experiences to tackle abstract reasoning in geometrical concepts competently. In addition, students who are non-visual and spatial learners may have difficulties in learning geometrical…

The quality of knowledge underlying students' algebraic thinking is a major concern of K-12 mathematics teaching and reform-driven curriculum documents. In this paper the author examines this issue by characterizing a group of high school students' algebraic knowledge and patterns of use of that knowledge during the solution of selected problems.…

This exploratory study investigates the level of mathematics anxiety among 116 high ability Secondary Two students. These students were from the top 10% of the Secondary Two students in Singapore. Mathematics Anxiety was measured using the Fennema-Sherman Mathematics Anxiety Scale (MAS) (Fennema & Sherman, 1978) which consisted of twelve items…

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)

Presents suggestions, for secondary mathematics teachers, for simple geometric constructions. The suggested constructions use only a straightedge and a right-triangular rule and could be carried out in the classroom. (HM)