Dissertations / Theses: 'Secondary mathematics curriculum'

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Nivens, Ryan Andrew. "Using Script Coding in Secondary Mathematics Classes." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2017. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/2649.

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Hart, Brandon T. "The implementation of portfolio assessment into the secondary mathematics curriculum /." Electronic version (PDF), 2006. http://dl.uncw.edu/etd/2006/hartbt/brandonhart.pdf.

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Wang, Chih yoa. "Secondary School Teachers’ Conceptions of Mathematical Proofs and Their Role in the Learning of Mathematics." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/40462.

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Mathematical proofs are a part of mathematics that involves thinking and reasoning, rather than computation. The conceptions of Ontario high school mathematics teachers, of what they consider to be mathematical proofs and the role proofs have in their teaching practice, were examined through the use of individual interviews (60 minutes per participant) and a focus group discussion (one 90 minute session). The transcripts were each analyzed through emergent coding before themes were formed from comparing codes across transcripts. The interpretive lens included looking at teacher beliefs on the nature of mathematics, roles of proofs, and mathematical authority. The participants distinguished their university experiences with mathematical proofs from their high school teaching experiences. They saw proofs through the Mathematical Process Expectation, Reasoning and Proving, and they also used proof-related words when describing how they would enact Reasoning and Proving. The participants valued the development of argumentation and sense-making, based on logic and reasoning, as an enduring life-skill, and outcome of school mathematics. The perspectives of the participants provided insight on how teachers inform their teaching practice with the Ontario Mathematics Curriculum. It also revealed some thoughts, desires, values, and struggles teachers may face when teaching mathematics.

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Hon, Yuen-sing Vincent. "Effectiveness of the changes in the Hong Kong mathematics curriculum an analysis of the trends in international mathematics and science study data /." Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2005. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B35418072.

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Knott, Axanthe. "The process of mathematisation in mathematical modelling of number patterns in secondary school mathematics." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/96027.

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Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Research has confirmed the educational value of mathematical modelling for learners of all abilities. The development of modelling competencies is essential in the modelling approach. Little research has been done to identify and develop the mathematising modelling competency for specific sections of the mathematics curriculum. The study investigates the development of mathematising competencies during the modelling of number pattern problems. The RME theory has been selected as the theoretical framework for the study because of its focus on mathematisation. Mathematising competencies are identified from current literature and developed into models for horizontal and vertical (complete) mathematisation. The complete mathematising competencies were developed for number patterns and mapped on a continuum. They are internalising, interpreting, structuring, symbolising, adjusting, organising and generalising. The study investigates the formulation of a hypothetical trajectory for algebra and its associated local instruction theory to describe how effectively learning occurs when the mathematising competencies are applied in the learning process. Guided reinvention, didactical phenomenology and emergent modelling are the three RME design heuristics to form an instructional theory and were integrated throughout the study to comply with the design-based research’s outcome: to develop a learning trajectory and the means to support the learning thereof. The results support research findings, that modelling competencies develop when learners partake in mathematical modelling and that a heterogeneous group of learners develop complete mathematising competencies through the learning of the modelling process. Recommendations for additional studies include investigations to measure the influence of mathematical modelling on individualised learning in secondary school mathematics.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Navorsing steun die opvoedkundige waarde van modellering vir leerders met verskillende wiskundige vermoëns. Die ontwikkeling van modelleringsbevoegdhede is noodsaaklik in 'n modelleringsraamwerk. Daar is min navorsing wat die identifikasie en ontwikkeling van die bevoegdhede vir matematisering vir spesifieke afdelings van die wiskundekurrikulum beskryf. Die studie ondersoek die ontwikkeling van matematiseringsbevoegdhede tydens modellering van getalpatrone. Die Realistiese Wiskundeonderwysteorie is gekies as die teoretiese raamwerk vir die studie, omdat hierdie teorie die matematiseringsproses sentraal plaas. Matematiseringsbevoegdhede vanuit die bestaande literatuur is geïdentifiseer en ontwikkel tot modelle wat horisontale en vertikale (volledige) matematisering aandui. Hierdie matematiseringsbevoegdhede is spesifiek vir getalpatrone ontwikkel en op ‘n kontinuum geplaas. Hulle is internalisering, interpretasie, strukturering, simbolisering, aanpassing, organisering en veralgemening. Die studie lewer die formulering van ‘n hipotetiese leertrajek vir algebra, die gepaardgaande lokale onderrigteorie en beskryf hoe effektiewe leer plaasvind wanneer die ontwikkelde matematiseringsbevoegdhede volledig in die leerproses toegepas word. Die RME ontwikkellingsheuristieke, begeleidende herontdekking, didaktiese fenomenologie en ontluikende modellering, is geïntegreer in die studie sodat dit aan die uitkoms van ‘n ontwikkelingsondersoek voldoen. Die uitkoms is ‘n leertrajek en ‘n beskrywing hoe die leerproses ondersteun kan word. Die analise het tot die formulering van ‘n lokale-onderrig-teorie vir getalpatrone gelei. Die resultate van die studie kom ooreen met navorsingsbevindings dat modelleringsbevoegdhede ontwikkel wanneer leerders deelneem aan modelleringsaktiwiteite, en bewys dat ‘n groep leerders met gemengde vermoëns volledige matematiseringsbevoegdhede ontwikkel wanneer hulle deur die modelleringsproses werk. 'n Aanbeveling vir verdere navorsing is om die uitwerking van die modelleringsperspektief op individuele leer in hoërskool klaskamers te ondersoek.

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Mwakapenda, Willy Weston J., and mikewood@deakin edu au. "Using everyday experiences in teaching secondary mathematics in Malawi: Possibilities and constraints for change." Deakin University. School of Scientific and Developmental Studies, 2000. http://tux.lib.deakin.edu.au./adt-VDU/public/adt-VDU20051017.111732.

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Proponents of socially and culturally oriented mathematics education have argued that teaching approaches which value and connect with the learner's prior knowledge and everyday experience are more likely to promote active, meaningful, relevant and liberatory learning than approaches which rely on transmission and abstract presentation of mathematical content. In Malawi, proposals to reform the outdated secondary mathematics curriculum have been made with the aim of aligning mathematics instruction with the social and political changes in the current Malawian society. Using a case study approach, this study investigated the extent to which everyday experiences could be used as a vehicle for changing the learning and teaching of secondary mathematics in Malawi. The study was collaborative, taking place over a period of five months in severely overcrowded and poorly resourced classes in two schools. It involved three mathematics teachers in a cycle of planning and teaching mathematics lessons based on the use of everyday experiences, and observation of and reflection on these lessons, in order to document the effects of using everyday experiences on student learning and teachers' teaching practices. The data was collected through student questionnaires; classroom observations and fieldnotes; interviews and reflective meetings with teachers; and informal meetings with key education officials in Malawi. Mathematics examination results from students involved in this study and a corresponding group from the previous year were collected. A reflective and critical approach was adopted in the interpretation and discussion of the data. Teachers' participation in this study resulted in heightened awareness of their teaching roles and the value of linking school mathematics with everyday experience. The study also shows that students found mathematics interesting and important to learn despite their lack of success in it. In addition, the study documented a number of constraints to change in mathematics instruction such as teachers' focus on mathematics content and examination requirements, and students' resistance to inquiry learning. It also recorded possibilities and barriers to collaboration both between teachers and researchers, and teachers themselves. The findings of this study are timely since they could serve to inform the reform of the Malawian secondary mathematics curriculum currently being undertaken, which began without a critical examination of the classroom conditions necessary to accommodate a socio-politically relevant mathematics education.

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Alummoottil, Joseph Michael. "The spiral curriculum, integrated teaching and structured learning of mathematics at the secondary level." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003654.

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The investigator's experience of teaching mathematics at a college of education since 1983 has reinforced his conviction that trainee students come to college with significant gaps, weaknesses and faults in their (mathematical) conceptual structures, probably as a result of shortcomings in the mathematics teaching to which they have been exposed. The theme of this investigation is thus a natural choice that appeared to be of immediate relevance to secondary school mathematics teaching. The analysis of the issue leads to a unified perspective: the problem is placed in a theoretical framework where Bruner [spiral curriculum], Ausubel [structured learning] and Skemp [relational understanding] are brought together. How the curriculum, textbooks and examination influence school mathematics teaching is examined in some depth and the consequences investigated. Two specific topics, viz. the generalised Pythagorean relation and absolute value are investigated in relation to published work, curriculum and textbooks, and each (topic) is presented as a unifying theme in secondary mathematics to standard 9 pupils. The classroom exercise is assessed to test the hypothesis that structured, integrated presentation around a spiral curriculum promotes "relational understanding". Analysis of results supports the hypothesis.

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Er, S¿¿¿¿d¿¿¿¿ka Nihan. "Perceptions of High School Mathematics Teachers Regarding the 2005 Turkish Curriculum Reform and Its Effects on Students' Mathematical Proficiency and Their Success on National University Entrance Examinations." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1336507934.

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Zanzali, Noor Azlan Ahmad, Abdul Halim Abdullah, Norulhuda Ismail, Aziz Nordin, and Johari Surif. "Comprehensive indicators of mathematics understanding among secondary school students." Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden, 2012. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa-83216.

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Wong, Mau-wah. "Evaluation of a set of Hong Kong secondary school mathematics textbooks for form one and form two in light of the new curriculum." Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2003. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B31963560.

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Principato, Angela M. "Readin', Writin', an' 'Rithmetic| Literacy Strategies in High School Mathematics." Thesis, Wayne State University, 2017. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10257666.

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Stagnant growth on national standardized tests in mathematics and reading and a focus on disciplinary literacy in the Common Core State Standards in ELA, history/social studies, science, and technical subjects has prompted a resurgence in utilizing literacy strategies in the content areas in high school. While literacy standards in mathematics are not explicitly identified in the Common Core State Standards, there may be a place for the use of literacy strategies in high school mathematics. This study explored the relationships between students’ mathematics and reading achievement scores at a small, suburban high school and the implementation of a school wide literacy program to inform curriculum development and instructional strategies.

The reading and mathematics achievement of students in ninth through eleventh grade was retroactively analyzed to identify changes in student achievement over a two-year period. In the first year, the ninth grade cohort showed statistically significant improvement on both measures of mathematics achievement. Within this ninth grade cohort, students who qualified for free lunches also saw statistically significant improvement in mathematics. None of the other groups showed improvement on both measures of mathematics achievement or reading achievement. In the second year, both the ninth and tenth grade cohorts showed statistically significant increases on both mathematics and reading achievement. Within each of these grade level cohorts, females and white students also saw statistically significant increases in both mathematics and reading. The eleventh grade cohort did not have any significant increases on either measure. On the state top-to-bottom ranking, this high school has moved from the 4^th percentile to the 25^th percentile during the implementation of the school wide literacy program.

While national standardized tests have shown little to no improvement over the last several administrations, this small, suburban high school has seen continued growth over the last several years. Though the results of this study cannot be used to determine a causal relationship between the implementation of literacy strategies and the academic achievement of students in either mathematics or reading, it does provide a case for further investigation into such a relationship.

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Spyker, Geert M. "The upper secondary school mathematics curriculum in Western Australia from 1950-1998 : implementation and evaluation." Curtin University of Technology, Science and Mathematics Education Centre, 1999. http://espace.library.curtin.edu.au:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=9514.

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The study upon which this thesis is based aimed, first of all, to document the history of mathematics curriculum change in Western Australia. Although curriculum development in mathematics in this State has been an ongoing process for at least two decades, the outcome of an extensive literature review conducted as part of the study revealed that only a cursory evaluation of the current upper school mathematics curriculum change process had ever been undertaken. Neither has any formal appraisal of the suitability or otherwise of the variety of new upper school mathematics courses introduced during the last decade ever been carried out.This study was designed to 'fill these gaps' by not only documenting the history of the change process, but also by seeking out teachers' and other educators' views about those curriculum and strategy changes as well as the views of the students who were so intimately involved in the process.Tertiary lecturers' perceptions regarding the mathematical preparedness of first year university students were also considered a relevant source of information in this quest to first, record the events that preceded the establishment of the current State mathematics curriculum, and second, record those events that occurred subsequently. Major reports which have influenced the direction of mathematics education were examined, and underlying didactical principles were identified to determine the origins of previous and current educational policy.To determine upper school mathematics teachers' attitudes to curriculum and strategy changes, and the impact of the present curriculum upon students' choice of mathematics subjects, use was made of a variety of instruments - questionnaires and interview proformas - which were used to interview students prior to questioning them on such matters as their reasons for selecting specific units.Upper school ++
mathematics teachers were also surveyed and interviewed in order to obtain the practitioners' views on new topics which were introduced, such as complex numbers and vectors. Five of Western Australia's most high profile mathematics educators who played significant roles during the period of this study were interviewed to determine their recollections of major points of discussion and concern in mathematics education at that time. Feedback from these interviews was used to compile a questionnaire for upper high school mathematics teachers to determine their opinion on such issues as the introduction and practicality of the new courses, teaching and learning strategies introduced, and the degree of support for the new curriculum.Ten teachers were interviewed one year after the survey to determine any changes in their perceptions about the new upper school mathematics courses. By means of a questionnaire, students' reasons for choosing specific mathematics subjects in either Year 11 or 12, and their perceived success in mathematics in general were sought. In order to determine the effectiveness of the new curriculum in terms of further studies, students' level of mathematical preparedness was investigated by means of a questionnaire for university mathematics staff. The results of this research indicate that the most recent curriculum change in the upper high school has been successfully introduced by the Education Department of Western Australia, although this has not always been the case with curriculum change in this State.Though initially daunted by the number of new topics which were to be taught, teachers were appreciative of the in-service courses available, the resources present and the general support they received from the Education Department. Traditional teaching strategies, such as 'drill-and-practice' and teacher-centred environments have been largely ++
replaced by a problem-solving and investigational approach to mathematics in a student-centred classroom environment. Clearly, the constructivist theory of learning has been a major influence on current teaching and learning strategies used in the upper school mathematics classroom. Teachers' opinions about the practicality of the new courses and approaches to teaching them were positive, though the view was held that previous traditional teaching methods should not be discarded.Specific weaknesses in the various mathematics courses introduced were identified (for example, inadequate attention paid to basic algebra and, in particular, to trigonometry), and many teachers were adamant that certain changes should be made for the benefit of the students (for example, reorganisation of parts of the course content). Improvements in the nature of the information provided to students at the time they make their upper school mathematics subject choice were strongly recommended. Information on influential factors regarding students' subject choices was obtained, and interviews with university mathematics staff showed that many first year students remain underprepared because of incorrect mathematics subject choices made in either Year 10 or 11.

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Poyner, Adam. "Mathematical Literacy and the Secondary Student." ScholarWorks@UNO, 2018. https://scholarworks.uno.edu/honors_theses/122.

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Public education is a continually evolving field, with new research, policies, and practices explored by professionals who are driven to provide America’s youth with high-quality education. Research literature since 2000 has highlighted the importance of disciplinary literacy and its unfortunate neglect in a majority of secondary classrooms (Shanahan & Shanahan, 2008). Students who are literate in a particular discipline, such as math, view themselves as fluent in the language of mathematics, comfortable with reading, discussing, and practicing complex mathematical concepts while using appropriate vocabulary (Buehl, 2017). As seasoned professionals and novice educators consider the role of disciplinary literacy in their own classrooms, it is necessary to ponder the practices that are implemented within classrooms. Do they align with current research on the matter? What role do motivation and culture play in the process of becoming mathematically literate? How do these ideas influence classroom literacy practices? These are the central questions that have guided the construction of this research study, which will seek to examine the phenomena that occur within a classroom as teachers implement practices which promote and teach mathematical literacy. The exploratory nature of this study dictates that no judgement on the effectiveness of observed and discussed instructional strategies is considered, rather, a comparison of the latter with those strategies recommended by current educational researchers and literature. Interviews and classroom observations will work in tandem with a review of the current publications that address the areas of motivation, mathematical literacy, and culture.

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Msomi, Dumile Dennis. "The pre-service preparation of secondary school mathematics teachers: a case study of curriculum effectiveness." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003594.

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The quality of education in most historically black schools is a source of concern for many people. The high failure rate in mathematics in particular, is believed to result in part, from the inadequacy of the teacher preparation programs at many of the colleges of education in the country. Esikhawini College of Education in KwaZulu-Natal is one of the colleges which is involved in the preparation of secondary school mathematics teachers. The appropriateness of the mathematics curriculum of this College was the subject of the study. In particular, the study aimed at the following: (i) To analyse aims and philosophies underlying the prescribed mathematics curriculum of the College. (ii) To establish the teacher educators' and student teachers' perceptions of the appropriateness of the curriculum in general. (iii) To establish the teacher educators' and student teachers' perceptions of the mathematics curriculum content and processes. (iv) To establish the quality of available materials used at the College for realisation of the curriculum goals. (v) To offer proposals and recommendations for the improvement of the education of prospective secondary mathematics teachers. Data about the perceptions of the appropriateness of the mathematics curriculum was gathered through a questionnaire which was administered to one hundred and one student teachers. The issues that arose from the questionnaire study were followed up by an interview study. The interview schedule was administered to a sample of fourteen student teachers and all six mathematics teacher educators in the College. In addition, a survey of mathematics materials available at the College library and in the mathematics department was carried out to collect further data. Some of the significant findings of the, study were : • Limitations in the College mathematics curriculum in as far as the curriculum content and processes were concerned. • Inadequacy of mathematics curriculum materials that were available and used at the College. • Low attainment in mathematics at matriculation level of most of the student teachers. • Widespread dissatisfaction with the curriculum, especially that of Mathematics Didactics. The implications of the findings for the College were considered. Amongst other suggestions is the suggestion that the College introduces a preliminary STD course in which prospective student teachers' mathematics background is enriched to enable them to cope with the demands of the College curriculum.

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Seifert, Angelique, and David K. Pugalee. "Single Sex Mathematics Classes: A Critical Analysis of the Impact at a Secondary School." Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden, 2012. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa-80933.

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Single sex classes have recently been emphasized as an effective way to promote mathematics learning. Despite their popularity, the research on the effectiveness of such programs is mixed underscoring the need for additional research and discussion. This research is set in one of the twenty-five largest public school systems in the United States, where schools have recently been allowed to begin instructional initiatives with same sex classes in mathematics. Preliminary data on the effectiveness of one program will be highlighted. Achievement data, compared to traditional classes, will be considered to demonstrate the academic effectiveness of the project. Qualitative data analysis will provide a rich description of the affective issues relative to this innovation. The current project will be framed in critical analysis of the research literature and will discuss the potential benefits and disadvantages both from this current project and from the related literature.

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Valente, Evandro R. "Mathematics Curriculum Coaching and Elementary School Students’ Mathematics Achievement in a Northeast Tennessee School System." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2013. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1783.

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Educators and policymakers have demonstrated interest in finding ways to better equip mathematics teachers so they can help students achieve at a higher level. Academic coaching has been identified as an effective professional development activity for teachers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference between students’ achievement levels before and after a mathematics initiative in a Northeast Tennessee school district. In this study I analyzed grades 3 – 6 students’ Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program or TCAP scores in the year prior to the hiring of a mathematics coach and their respective scores 2 years after the placement of the mathematics coach. All statistical analyses were analyzed at a .05 level of significance. All null hypotheses under both research questions were analyzed with a pairsampled t-test using repeated-measures design. The results indicate significant difference in students’ TCAP scores prior to and after specialist. Scores after specialist were significantly higher than scores before specialists. The difference was present for students who attended Title I schools as well as for students who attended non-Title I schools. School administrators and school district leaders can benefit from such a study because it presents academic coaching as a viable means to equip teachers so they can help students increase their achievement in mathematics.

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Rivera-Marrero, Olgamary. "The place of discrete mathematics in the school curriculum: An analysis of preservice teachers' perceptions of the integration of discrete mathematics into secondary level courses." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/27280.

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The integration of discrete mathematics into the secondary school curriculum (grades 7-12) is an important consideration because the mathematical area is dynamic and interesting, providing students the development of mathematical thinking. Also, it provides for teachers the opportunity to develop innovative mathematics instruction. Since the publication of the document Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM, 1989), it has been difficult to determine how many schools have integrated discrete mathematics as a separate or as an integrated course in the school mathematics curriculum. Moreover, the mathematics education research community has, for the most part, not focused on teachers' perceptions about teaching and learning discrete mathematics as an area of investigation. Because of the lack of research in this area, the researcher investigated preservice secondary mathematics teachers' perceptions about discrete mathematics and their reactions to the integration of discrete mathematics into the school curriculum. The researcher purposely selected four preservice secondary teachers who were enrolled in a mathematics course in the fall of 2005. Various data sources were used to get a deep understanding of each participant, including selected coursework, an online survey, and interviews. Results indicated that these preservice teachers perceive discrete mathematics as meaningful to students, as it emphasizes processes such as problem solving and mathematical thinking, and it provides opportunities to use innovative instruction. Because of this, the preservice teachers believe that discrete mathematics should be integrated in the school mathematics curriculum. In addition, several factors that affect the integration of discrete mathematics in the school were identified. These factors are the state curriculum and testing, the historical emphasis of algebra and calculus in the school curriculum, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (1989, 2000) Standards documents' views of discrete mathematics, teachers' views of discrete mathematics, the lack of knowledge of discrete mathematics, and the lack of materials and guidelines for teaching discrete mathematics.
Ph. D.

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Proctor, Avis R. "The Relationship between the Secondary Mathematics Curriculum, College Persistence, and Success at an Urban Community College." FIU Digital Commons, 2011. http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/531.

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According to Venezia, Kirst, and Antonio (2003) and Barth’s 2002 Thinking K16 Ticket to Nowhere report, the disconnect between K-12 and postsecondary education was a contributing factor to high attrition rates. Since mathematics emerged as a primary concern for college readiness, Barth (2002) called for improving student transitions from K-12 to postsecondary institutions through the use of state or local data. The purpose of the present study was to analyze mathematics course-taking patterns of secondary students in a local context and to evaluate high school characteristics in order to explore their relationships with Associate degree attainment or continuous enrollment at an urban community college. Also, this study extended a national study conducted by Clifford Adelman (The Toolbox Revisited, 2006) as it specifically focused on community college students that were not included his study. Furthermore, this study used the theoretical framework that human capital, social capital, and cultural capital influence habitus - an individual’s or a group’s learned inclination to behave within the parameters of the imposed prevailing culture and norms. Specifically, the school embedded culture as it relates to tracking worked as a reproduction tool of ultimate benefit for the privileged group (Oakes, 1994). Using multilevel analysis, this ex post facto study examined non-causal relationships between math course-taking patterns and college persistence of public high school graduates who enrolled at the local community college for up to 6 years. One school-level variable (percent of racial/ethnic minorities) and 7 student-level variables (community college math proportion, remedial math attempts, race, gender, first-year credits earned, socioeconomic status, and summer credits earned) emerged as predictors for college persistence. Study results indicated that students who enter higher education at the community college may have had lower opportunities to learn and therefore needed higher levels of remediation, which was shown to detract students from degree completion. Community college leaders are called to partner with local high schools with high percentages of racial/ethnic minorities to design academic programs aimed at improving the academic preparation of high school students in mathematics and promote student engagement during the first year and summers of college.

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Cooper, Carolyn Knox. "Design and Evaluation of an Environmental Science Curriculum for Secondary Students." UNF Digital Commons, 1996. http://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/254.

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Environmental education is becoming an increasingly important component of secondary science education as our society attempts to minimize the exploitations and damaging actions of humankind on the earth. Environmental education has evolved primarily from environmental consciousness in the 1960s to an environmentally active focus in the 1990s. This project examined the effectiveness of an environmental education curriculum that focuses on improving environmental behaviors and attitudes as well as knowledge. The review of the literature for this project indicates that responsible environmental behaviors are linked to four types of environmental education categories. These categories are hierarchical and include: 1) ecological concepts, 2) conceptual awareness, 3) issue investigation and evaluation, and 4) environmental action skills (Disinger, 1993). A review of environmental education curricula provides a wide variety of activities in all four of the above listed categories. Information documenting the relationship between the acquisition of environmental knowledge and behav~ural change as a result of participating in community based environmental activities is less evident. Therefore, this project attempted to investigate the relationships between participation in community-based environmental activities and tenth-grade students' knowledge and attitudes toward environmental issues. During the spring semester of 1995 forty-five tenth-grade biology students at a private urban high school were pretested to assess their initial environmental concept knowledge and their initial environmental attitudes. These students were subsequently exposed to a three-week introduction to environmental concepts and to techniques for investigating environmental issues. Students were simultaneously given a variety of issues to investigate. An additional four hours of time were required of each student to participate in a community service related to an environmental concern. They submitted a written report of their work which included background research, method of participation, results and conclusions on the effect of their project on the environment. Following these experiences, a posttest was administered to assess any change in students' environmental knowledge or attitudes. Effective environmental education encourages the active participation of students in environmental improvement. The results of this investigation could assist educators in the selection of appropriate environmental activities for use with high school students.

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Ariss, Laila Diane. "Differentiated Instruction: An Exploratory Study in a Secondary Mathematics Classroom." University of Toledo / OhioLINK, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1493411297122313.

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Joseph, Jenead Diana Nicole. "Mathematics teachers’ experiences of the influence of the changing curriculum on their professional practice in grades 10 - 12 in the Cape Winelands district." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2495.

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Thesis (MEd (Education))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.
Education in South Africa is a concern to many stakeholders, including government, teachers, teacher unions and non-governmental organisations, owing to the poor academic performances of learners. Mathematics teachers, the focus of this study, are confronted with a constantly changing curriculum. Teachers are often targeted by the education authorities and general public as the primary cause of the poor outcomes of education in South Africa. This study considers the experiences of Grades 10–12 mathematics teachers in the Cape Winelands regarding curriculum change and its influence on their professional practice. The basic assumptions of social constructivism served as overarching theory. The researcher judged that a conceptual framework would make for a clearer and more systematic way of dealing with the constructs that underpin this study. The conceptual analysis framework, which was developed by combining the work of Rogan and Grayson, as well as that of Remillard, which is a perfect fit to this study, guided the interpretation and analysis of the data. A deductive approach in data analysis was applied in accordance with the conceptual framework used in this study. Being explorative in nature, this study is a qualitative design and therefore an interpretive methodological approach was followed. A purposive and convenience sampling method was used whereby teachers from six schools were pre-selected: two from ex-Model C schools, two from previously disadvantaged black schools and two from previously disadvantaged coloured schools. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. The findings of this study pointed to teachers’ acceptance of education reform and changes in the curriculum, provided they were not too radical. Teachers requested involvement on a broad spectrum throughout the planning and implementation process, and proper training and support prior to implementation. Factors that militated against implementation were, among others, poor facilities, resources and instructional aides; poorly trained change facilitators; poor leadership and management at schools; and the many constraints that the learners brought to the school and the classroom.

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Ampadu, Ernest. "Investigation into the teaching and learning of mathematics in junior secondary schools : the case of Ghana." Thesis, Anglia Ruskin University, 2012. http://arro.anglia.ac.uk/313166/.

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The 2007 revised mathematics curriculum in Ghana introduced many changes to the way mathematics should be taught and learned. However, before this research started in 2010, very little was known about how this subject is taught and learned. This study aims to investigate mathematics teachers’ teaching practices and students’ learning experiences in junior high schools (12-14 years) using a mixed methods design. The study’s conceptual framework is informed by two different, but interrelated theories: behaviourism and constructivism. Participants in the study were 24 mathematics teachers and 358 students from 12 schools. Semistructured questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data about participants’ perceptions, and classroom observations and interviews were used to collect qualitative data about actual classroom practices. The quantitative data was analysed using SPSS, STATSDIRECT and ORIGIN software and the qualitative data assessed using a thematic analysis approach. The key findings include: teachers and students espoused the belief that their teaching and learning practices are consistent with the principles and guidelines of the new mathematics curriculum. Teachers perceived teaching practices were complex as they contain both behaviourist and constructivist beliefs; however, their actual teaching practices were didactic. It also emerged that both teachers and students try to avoid making mistakes, despite the importance of correcting students’ misconceptions when promoting effective teaching and learning. The fact that peer influence is a key factor that shapes students’ learning was an important theme that emerged from the interview and the classroom observations. Students were only willing to participate in class discussions if they knew the correct answer, as they would be ridiculed by their peers for giving a wrong answer. The movement towards a more constructivist approach to teaching and learning, which is the prime objective of the new mathematics curriculum, occurred at a slower pace. Thus, a conceptual model for the teaching and learning of mathematics which advocates collaboration and partnership between teachers and students in the classroom is offered.

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Aubrey, Ron. "Student and teacher perceptions of preparation in mathematics in middle school and its impact on students' self-efficacy and performance in an upper secondary school in Western Australia /." Access via Murdoch University Digital Theses Project, 2006. https://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20070419.111054.

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McVicker, Diana Lynn. "The development of curriculum for a high school course integrating drafting and mathematics." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 1997. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/1333.

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Hon, Yuen-sing Vincent, and 韓元聲. "Effectiveness of the changes in the Hong Kong mathematics curriculum: an analysis of the trends in internationalmathematics and science study data." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2005. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B35418072.

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Norman, Maxie. "Making pupils think: the development of a microcomputer-inspired adaptation of the Standard 7 mathematics curriculum." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003550.

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This half-thesis gives an overview of the influence of the microcomputer on the way in which mathematics is done, taught and learnt. The nature of mathematics and the nature of the tutor, tool and tutee modes of microcomputer usage are discussed as background. A case is made for the use of action research methods and a classroom-based curriculum development model to facilitate innovation and the integration of the microcomputer into the mathematics classroom. A curriculum development cycle of situation analysis. planning, trial and evaluation is advocated. This approach is used to develop a microcomputer-based course aimed at enhancing the reasoning skills of standard 7 pupils. Pupils, working in groups of three, interact with the PROLOG system to build up databases of facts and rules. The microcomputer is used in tutee mode. In "teaching" this tutee, pupils discover the need for formal language and logical reasoning. Active learning is promoted by pupils' interaction with the PROLOG system and by discussions within groups. In this environment the teacher becomes a consultant and constructive critic rather than a lecturer. Findings suggest that the microcomputer plays an important role in terms of pupil motivation and that the microcomputer-based course enables pupils to experience formal language usage and logical reasoning·as relevant activities. Pupil databases provide evidence of the pupils' ability to make appropriate use of rules and to distinguish between and-conditions and or-conditions. The objective of making pupils think was largely achieved. It is recommended that the course be incorporated in the standard 1 or standard 8 curriculum to complement or replace parts of the Euclidean geometry sections as a vehicle for developing logical reasoning skills. Suggestions for the further use of the microcomputer as an investigative tool in mathematics classes and for further microcomputer-inspired courses are also made. The provision of appropriate training to enable teachers to make effective and innovative use of the microcomputer in mathematics lessons is advocated.

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Harley, William M. "A Study of the Relationship Between and Among Scheduling, Grouping, Grading, Curriculum, and Mathematics Achievement in Pennsylvania Secondary Schools." Diss., Temple University Libraries, 2008. http://cdm16002.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p245801coll10/id/12949.

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Mathematics and Science Education
Ed.D.
Widespread access to technology facilitates the sharing of effective classroom practices across disciplines. The implementation of successful practices is essential; particularly in this era of educational accountability, most notably the adequately yearly progress (AYP) goals of the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation. In addition to bottom-up classroom practices, teachers and other educational stakeholders are entitled to information about top-down policies to enhance teaching and learning. This study examines the correlation between policies in four areas and outcomes on one specific component of AYP in Pennsylvania public secondary schools. The policies considered herein are scheduling (traditional or block), grouping (homogeneous or heterogeneous), grading (weighted or not), and secondary math curriculum (U.S. Department of Education cited standards-based or traditional). This study quantifies the correlation between school district polices in these areas and results on the 11th grade mathematics portion of the 2006 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). Standard and Poor's recognizes school districts in Pennsylvania and across the country whose students have achieved NCLB testing outcomes that exceed expectations. In 2005, 55 Pennsylvania districts were cited by Standard and Poor's as being "outperforming school districts." The 60 secondary schools in these districts served as the population for this study. The study quantifies the correlation between the specific combinations of the four policies utilized by the 40 participating high schools and PSSA results. Evidence is discovered that, of the four policies, only block scheduling correlated with higher PSSA 11th grade math outcomes.
Temple University--Theses

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Uecker, Jeffrey Hunter 1950. "How teachers evaluate a curriculum developed in-house: Focused interviews with six teachers." Diss., The University of Arizona, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/282194.

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Over the years the field of evaluation has developed many models for evaluating curricula. These models suggest that teachers ought to be concerned about testing and measurement, technical quality, objectives, equity, and the views of stakeholders (Guba & Lincoln, 1989). The curriculum and teacher change literatures (Doyle & Ponder, 1977; Fullan, 1982; Hawthorne, 1992), on the other hand, have suggested that teachers are guided by a different set of concerns: student learning and classroom management, the amount of work involved, the pressure and support provided, the fit of the new curriculum with the teacher's system of beliefs, its clarity and explicitness, and so forth. Those studies, however, were based on curriculum innovations which were developed outside the school and implemented from the top-down. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the evaluative framework teachers used when they evaluated a curriculum developed within their own department. Focused interviews were conducted with six high school mathematics teachers. The teachers had been involved to varying degrees in the development of their own Pre-algebra course in which they replaced the textbook with an activity-based curriculum. The study found that the teachers, in general, considered those criteria suggested by the change literature to be of greater importance for evaluation than those suggested by the evaluation literature. The study also found that the teachers' views of the importance of the individual evaluation criteria was not uniform, but that the teachers' views were mediated by the degree to which they had participated in the development of the curriculum. A model of the teachers' evaluative framework was developed, but further research is needed to illuminate the role of the teacher participation. This study is of particular interest to those concerned with curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation.

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Marsh, Terence Anthony. "The computer in secondary school mathematics : an analysis and classification of possible modes of application, with suggested implications for the mathematics curriculum in South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003340.

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There is a variety of possible ways in which computers can be used to enhance mathematics education. This thesis attempts to identify, analyse and classify these possibilities, particularly at the secondary school level. It describes and exemplifies applications ranging from drill-and-practice through games and simulations to problem solving by computer programming. Software evaluation procedures are considered in some depth. Illuminative evaluations of various items of software and there classroom use are reported. The underlying methodology is small-scale action research. Insights gained during the process of investigating each class of software lead to the eventual formulation of a scheme for classifying mathematics education software by means of 'multidimensional attributes'. It is contended that this scheme will help mathematics teachers to make well informed and sound professional judgements regarding the evaluation and use of computer programs for teaching/learning purposes. Also, it is hoped that this scheme and the thesis as a whole will contribute towards the establishment of well founded standards and procedures for software development in the field of mathematics education. Several implications of the computer for the mathematics curriculum in South Africa are suggested. A note of caution is sounded regarding possible detrimental effects of the computer and several questions requiring further research are posed. A recommendation arising from the thesis is that in-service training courses concerning computer applications in mathematics education should be run for secondary school teachers.

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Perkowski, Michael. "Preservice elementary teachers' initial and post-course views of mathematical arguments| An interpretative phenomenological analysis." Thesis, University of Missouri - Columbia, 2013. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3576087.

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Recent curriculum recommendation call for mathematical argumentation to play a significantly greater role in U. S. mathematics instruction at all grade levels, including the elementary grades. To better understand how preservice elementary teachers (PTs) enrolled in a one-semester course emphasizing mathematical argumentation might become better prepared to implement this change, I interviewed five such PTs at two points in time, near the beginning of the course and shortly after they completed it. Both interviews focused on a problem set in which nine fictional elementary school students present arguments for their solutions to mathematical problems. Interviewees compared the arguments, decided which were convincing and which were not, and gave reasons for their choices. Using an interpretative, phenomenological approach, I analyzed their responses and found that they initially preferred arguments in which they perceived the arguer as knowing what to do, getting the correct answer, using a quick way to get it, showing how with numbers, and having the right attitude. In contrast, after they had completed the course, they focused on understanding the problem, finding answers that made sense, and explaining why with diagrams. They also viewed the arguer’s attitude as a more complex issue than they had at the beginning of the course. These and other findings suggest that current research on PTs’ approaches to mathematical justification may: (a) overemphasize the formal aspects of mathematical arguments and undervalue their substance, (b) overemphasize the role of verification and undervalue explanation, (c) be too far removed from PTs’ perspectives, and therefore (d) fail to accurately reflect significant progress in PTs’ understandings.

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Holzmann, Gwetheldene Louise. "Lessons from the past: An historical analysis of science education (biology) curriculum reforms, 1950 to 1975." W&M ScholarWorks, 1994. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd/1539618617.

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The purpose of this study was to determine what relationship existed between preservice science (biology) teacher education and the reforms in secondary school biology that occurred between 1950 and 1975. Research questions were generated which dealt with the collaboration of the various sectors of education as well as if the prospective teachers were being trained to teach the reform curricula through their college science and teacher education coursework.;Content analysis of textbooks was utilized to determine the content of textbooks on the secondary and higher education level. The secondary texts contrasted were Modern Biology and the BSCS Blue and Green series. A variety of textbooks were analyzed for higher education biology including those authored by Villee and Weisz. Teacher education methods textbooks which covered science education or biology teaching were also analyzed. Five topics were analyzed in each of the textbooks: the scientific method, classification, amphibians, heredity, and ecology. The evaluation instrument was adapted from the Curriculum Materials Analysis System for Science (Haussler & Pittman, 1973) and the Virginia Department of Education Science Textbook Evaluation Instrument.;It was hypothesized that the analyses would reveal that innovations and reforms in high school biology textbooks preceded reforms in higher education teacher education programs which would indicate that prospective teachers were not being taught the necessary skills, behaviors, or methods in their required coursework to adequately institute the reforms on the secondary level. It was also hypothesized that the analyses would reveal an inordinately long period of time before prospective teachers were being instructed in the methods necessary for them to function effectively in secondary classrooms with the reform curricula.;It was concluded that there was generally very little collaboration between the various sectors of education during 1950 and 1975. The first hypothesis was confirmed and the second hypothesis supported but not totally confirmed due to the lack of information on how textbooks were actually used in the teacher education classrooms. Further research is needed in this area.;Additional findings of the study indicate that textbooks from the recent past are difficult to locate and thus a significant portion of the history of education is disappearing.

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Li, Tian. "Critical thinking in the content and language integrated classroom : perceptions of secondary mathematics teachers in overseas Canadian curriculum contexts." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/62483.

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This qualitative study explores the impacts of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) on students’ mathematical critical thinking development in Canadian offshore secondary schools. Critical thinking is a necessary ability in modern society. Until now, the relationship between CLIL and mathematical critical thinking has not been fully examined, particularly in Canadian offshore schools. The objective of this study was to examine the impacts of CLIL in secondary mathematics in Canadian offshore schools for students from non-native English speaking backgrounds. The overarching research question for this study was: How do mathematics teachers working in schools using a hybrid Canadian and Chinese curriculum in China perceive the impacts of CLIL on the development of mathematical critical thinking in secondary students? Qualitative methods contributed to a study design that combined an email questionnaire and follow-up interviews to triangulate data for analysis. A constructivist theoretical framework supported the analysis of the data. Data indicated that CLIL could affect students’ mathematical critical thinking development positively and negatively, as well as directly and indirectly. Three prominent themes, with a number of subthemes, were found throughout the data, including critical thinking, CLIL in mathematics classrooms, and critical thinking and CLIL. Participants referred to external and internal factors that could influence critical thinking development in CLIL and their beliefs related to CLIL. Those beliefs had major effects on pedagogical choices and, as a result, could influence the development of critical thinking skills. The results of this study can assist CLIL instructors in seeing what and how various factors affect students’ critical thinking, thus creating better conditions for students to develop mathematical critical thinking. The findings point to future research related to gathering more perspectives and experiences of secondary mathematics teachers at other Canadian offshore schools.
Education, Faculty of (Okanagan)
Graduate

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Smith, Michael M. "PRE-CALCULUS CONCEPTS FUNDAMENTAL TO CALCULUS." University of Akron / OhioLINK, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1164048974.

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Wong, Mau-wah, and 王茂華. "Evaluation of a set of Hong Kong secondary school mathematics textbooks for form one and form two in light of the new curriculum." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2003. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31963560.

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au, Ronald Aubrey@det wa edu, and Ron Aurbrey. "Student and teacher perceptions of preparation in mathematics in middle school and its impact on students' self-efficacy and performance in an upper secondary school in Western Australia." Murdoch University, 2006. http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20070419.111054.

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Middle school initiatives (including heterogeneous classes and an integrated, flexible curriculum together with promotion of student input) have been implemented in schools in Western Australia in response to a perceived need to align schools more closely with a more student-centred approach to learning, in the expectation of meeting more students needs and thereby reducing student dissatisfaction and increasing the possibility of students pursuing life long learning. Specific goals underlying the initiative include the development of independent learning and student responsibility for learning through a series of strategies such as self-paced learning, student involvement in negotiating their own learning, and a strong emphasis on respecting and valuing student input into the implementation of curricula. However, owing to the way that the curricula for Middle and Upper secondary school mathematics are currently structured, problems might arise for students in the transition from a relaxed to a highly discipline-based organization of content (as described by Venville, Wallace, Rennie, Malone (1998). Students accustomed to the current approaches implemented in Middle schools (Years 8 to 10) may be disadvantaged in the transition to Upper secondary school courses (Years 11 and 12) compared with those students who have been exposed to a more discipline-based organization of content throughout early adolescence and prior to entry into courses leading to tertiary entrance (T.E.E. courses). The aim of this project was to investigate the possible effects of Middle school initiatives in a group of students from three Middle schools in Western Australia in one subject area mathematics on the perceptions of self-efficacy and preparation in mathematics once the students encounter Year 11 Upper school courses. A survey containing Likert-type rating scales pertinent to four areas of interest Self-efficacy in mathematics; Self-Directed Regulation; Views on current teaching; and Views on prior teaching were administered to students transferring from three feeder Middle schools to Year 11 (Upper secondary school) classes in one Senior College in Western Australia for each of 4 consecutive years. Students were also asked for their comments regarding preparation for the challenges of their chosen courses in mathematics. In addition, their levels of performance in a range of mathematical skills were assessed using a teacher-developed test. The perceptions of their Middle and Senior School teachers were also sought. As the survey was administered to all students as a routine part of action research within the mathematics faculty at the Senior College, only the results of those students who subsequently agreed to be participants in the study are reported in this dissertation. Results indicated that a mismatch existed in approaches and skills between Middle School and Senior College Mathematics. The reliance on students making suitable choices for themselves, the absence of specialist teachers of mathematics in middle schools, mixed ability classes in which specialist teachers of mathematics find it difficult to operate successfully and a curriculum that was so flexible that teachers omitted key elements required for later studies were the main factors that resulted in a significant number of students making the transition from middle to senior school with insufficient preparation. Implications for the teaching of mathematics in these three Middle schools and the Upper school are discussed.

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Funnell, Lynette. "A classroom-based investigation into the potential of the computer spreadsheet as a learning tool within the secondary school mathematics curriculum." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003329.

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The influence of modern technology on education is becoming more noticeable and has implications for the curriculum and the teaching methods of mathematics. The microcomputer can be used effectively as a powerful teaching and learning aid within the mathematics classroom. This study considers the role of the computer as an aid to teachers and pupils in the teaching and learning of mathematics and shows it as having great potential. At present relatively few schools in South Africa are using the computer as a teaching aid in the mathematics classroom. The researcher proposes that some reasons are a shortage of suitable programs, the fact that few teachers have adequate skills in educative uses of the computer and most teachers are not skilled in programming techniques. Based on this assessment of the problem, spreadsheet programs related to some mathematics lessons, together with teaching notes and pupils' material have been developed. Besides describing the potential of the computer in mathematics, this study outlines the development of three spreadsheet packages and suitable teaching methodologies used for each package, and assesses an action research investigation undertaken by the researcher, teachers and pupils when using these spreadsheet packages in six classes. The findings of the investigation are most encouraging. The overall conclusion is that computer spreadsheet packages can assist the teacher in making the learning of mathematics more effective, more interesting and more enjoyable.

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Govender, Indren. "The integration of technology in mathematics at secondary schools in the Western Cape to enhance learner performance: an evaluation of the Khanya Project." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2008. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_9131_1267666625.

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There is a dire need to transform Mathematics education in the schooling system in South Africa as this is evident by the poor learner performance in the Mathematics examination results. There is a high failure rate in Mathematics at schools and the number of learners taking Mathematics up to the grade twelve level is on the decline. This study investigates the integration of computer technology in Mathematics education to improve learner performance.

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Clauson, Norma M. "The effect of an activity based integrated science curriculum on secondary student attitudes." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 1995. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/1072.

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Webb, Derek, Glen Richgels, Marty J. Wolf, Todd Frauenholtz, and Ann Hougen. "Improving Student Interest, Mathematical Skills, and Future Successthrough Implementation of Novel Mathematics Bridge Course for High School Seniors and Post-secondary Students." Proceedings of the tenth International Conference Models in Developing Mathematics Education. - Dresden : Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft, 2009. - S. 575 - 578, 2012. https://slub.qucosa.de/id/qucosa%3A1823.

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We present a new course titled “Introduction to the Mathematical Sciences.” The course content is 1/3 algebra, 1/3 statistics, and 1/3 computer science and is taught in a laboratory environment on computers. The course pedagogy departs radically from traditional mathematics courses taught in the U.S. and makes extensive use of spreadsheet software to teach algebraic and statistical concepts. The course is currently offered in area high schools and two-year postsecondary institutions with financial support from a Blandin Foundation grant (referenced under BFG). We will present empirical evidence that indicates students in this course learn more algebra than students in a traditional semester-long algebra course. Additionally, we present empirical evidence that students learn statistical and computer science topics in addition to algebra. We will also present the model of developing this course which depended on increasing future student success in a variety of disciplines at the post-secondary level of study.

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Webb, Derek, Glen Richgels, Marty J. Wolf, Todd Frauenholtz, and Ann Hougen. "Improving Student Interest, Mathematical Skills, and Future Success through Implementation of Novel Mathematics Bridge Course for High School Seniors and Post-secondary Students." Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden, 2012. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa-81097.

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We present a new course titled “Introduction to the Mathematical Sciences.” The course content is 1/3 algebra, 1/3 statistics, and 1/3 computer science and is taught in a laboratory environment on computers. The course pedagogy departs radically from traditional mathematics courses taught in the U.S. and makes extensive use of spreadsheet software to teach algebraic and statistical concepts. The course is currently offered in area high schools and two-year postsecondary institutions with financial support from a Blandin Foundation grant (referenced under BFG). We will present empirical evidence that indicates students in this course learn more algebra than students in a traditional semester-long algebra course. Additionally, we present empirical evidence that students learn statistical and computer science topics in addition to algebra. We will also present the model of developing this course which depended on increasing future student success in a variety of disciplines at the post-secondary level of study.

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Govender, Vasuthavan Gopaul. "The need for a multicultural approach to mathematics curriculum design for the senior secondary school phase: a case study conducted at the Woolhope Secondary School, Port Elizabeth." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003559.

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Multicultural countries such as England have recognised the need to multiculturalise their mathematics curricula to cater for the needs of all ethnic/cultural groups, to encourage racial harmony and have pupils of a specific culture learn about, and accord respect to, another culture (Duncan, 1986;Dyson, 1986; Gilbert, 1984). However, in South Africa, a multicultural country with its large Black majority, such an approach has not been given the necessary attention. Laridon (1990) has criticised the way in which curriculum development in mathematics is conducted in South Africa. He describes it as a "top-down" approach and based on input from non-representative samples of teachers and not taking into account the needs of all cultural groups in South Africa. He criticises the manner in which topics are added to or removed from the syllabus and calls this "syllabus tinkering". With a number of, mostly English medium, schools opening their doors to all races, it is possible that certain cultural groups are at a disadvantage when compared with others if modifications to the syllabus, to accommodate their needs, are not made. This study is a small scale case-study, conducted at Woolhope Secondary, a predominantly Indian school, but with a significant number of Black pupils (approximately 25%). The study focusses on the need for a multicultural approach to mathematics curriculum design. The views of the senior mathematics pupils and mathematics teachers are considered in this regard, and together with the relevant literature, broad guidelines for a multicultural mathematics curriculum design in South Africa are suggested.

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Bailey, Thomas Everett. "The effect of computer-assisted instruction in improving mathematics performance of low-achieving ninth-grade students." W&M ScholarWorks, 1991. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd/1539618758.

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The purpose of this study was to determine whether computer assisted instruction of mathematics produces significantly greater improvement in mathematics performance of low achieving ninth grade students than teaching mathematics skills without computer assisted instruction.;The sample consisted of four classes (N = 46) of ninth grade students who had registered for the course "Mathematics Nine," and whose eighth grade ITBS scores fell between the 1st and 30th national percentile. Identified students were randomly assigned to one of four instructors and one of two instructional groups (computer assisted instruction or non computer instruction). Two classes with different instructors were taught the standard 9th grade mathematics curriculum augmented with computer instructed drill and practice, simulation, and games. Two classes with different instructors were taught the standard 9th grade mathematics curriculum with the conventional (teacher directed) instructional technique without computer assisted instruction. The treatment group used 16 Apple IIe microcomputers. Treatment and control groups were taught at alternating periods 3rd through 6th for 50 minutes daily. The Iowa Test for Basic Skills mathematics subtest and the Test of Achievement and Proficiency mathematics subtest were administered to all students as pretest-posttest measures of student performance in mathematics. A system wide standard exam was administered first and second semester to assess student performance in terms of the divisions mathematic program and as multiple indicators of treatment effect.;The major findings of the study were: (1) Significant differences (p {dollar}<{dollar}.05) in total mathematics achievement gains were found between students receiving computer assisted instruction and those not receiving CAI. Students receiving CAI increased mean scores on ITBS/TAP from the 11th percentile to the 30th percentile. (2) No significant differences (p {dollar}<{dollar}.05) in computation, concepts, and problem solving achievement gains were found between students receiving computer assisted instruction and those not receiving CAI. (3) No significant differences (p {dollar}<{dollar}.05) were found in the performance of the non-computer and the computer groups on the division city-wide exams.

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Kocher, Elizabeth A. Kocher. "Exploring the Expectations Gap in Ohio; Why Do Students from a College Preparatory Curriculum in High School Get Placed in Remedial Mathematics in College." The Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1512051121753477.

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Mosala, Olehile Lazarus. "Problems encountered by educators regarding the implementation of the national curriculum statement in mathematics." Thesis, [Bloemfontein?] : Central University of Technology, Free State, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/11462/173.

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Thesis (M. Tech. (Education)) -- Central University of Technology, Free state, 2011
This study examines the problems encountered by educators regarding the implementation of the National Curriculum Statement in mathematics in grades 10-12. The first aim of the study was to provide solutions to problems regarding training experienced by FET mathematics educators. The second aim was to identify problem areas in the NCS that frustrate mathematics educators teaching in the FET band and to identify areas that appeal to these educators. The third aim was to provide guidelines to assist educators with lesson planning in mathematics in the FET band. The fourth aim was to provide guidelines for appropriate assessment in mathematics in the FET band. The fifth aim was to provide guidelines for the effective integration of OBE in the teaching of mathematics in the FET band. The field work was executed by administering a questionnaire to a randomly selected sample of fifty two educators teaching in the FET band. Interviews were semi-structured, flexible and yielded additional information to that of the questionnaire. The questions of the interview were directly related to the objectives of the study and followed a given sequence that was adhered to in each interview process. The researcher arranged to interview one educator from each of the 15 randomly selected schools in the Motheo-district, but only 10 educators responded positively in the interview process, other educators could not avail themselves on that day. The researcher analysed the responses according to the respondent‟s personal particulars. Descriptive analysis of the sample data for section B of the questionnaire were then done, using respondent counting, percentages and the average for the responses of each statement. This study revealed that educators differ in terms of the problems that they encountered in implementing the NCS in mathematics. The findings from this study pointed out problems such as educators receiving inadequate training on implementing the NCS in mathematics. It was also revealed that educators had not been visited by the departmental officials in their schools for monitoring the implementation of the NCS in mathematics. The last finding showed that teaching and learning support material arrived late during 2008 and that there was a large shortage of such material. The result of the study provides invaluable baseline information with regard to the problems encountered by the educators in the implementation of the NCS in mathematics. On the basis of the findings of this study, a number of recommendations for the implementation of curriculum change in mathematics on FET level are given in Chapter 5.

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Sloan, Stella. "A two and three dimensional high school geometry unit implementing recommendations in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics curriculum and evaluation standards." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 1993. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/647.

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Swincicky, Kevin Bohdan. "A study of a nation-wide pilot program in school mathematics." Curtin University of Technology, Science and Mathematics Education Centre, 2008. http://espace.library.curtin.edu.au:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=118240.

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There has been much debate over many years in the Australian Federal Parliament on the implementation of a national curriculum in mathematics. In 2004, the Government, under the direction of the then Minister for Education Brendon Nelson, initiated a national mathematics program for students in lower secondary high schools and primary schools. The Australian International Centre for Excellence was commissioned to implement a pilot program and called for expressions of interest to participate from high schools across the nation. At that time I was working as the Acting Head of the Mathematics Department at a senior high school in a large Western Australian country centre. I was concerned with the content and level of difficulty in many of the textbooks that were available for our students and also the processes used in these textbooks (or by teachers) to assist students to gain mastery of the basic mathematical concepts in the Outcome Number. I decided to apply to participate in the pilot program on behalf of my school, and my application was accepted. In the first stage of the program two classes of both Year 8 and Year 9 students were selected. One of my cooperative colleagues and I found out very early that the Year 8 ICE-EM textbook was too difficult for many of these students as they lacked the skills to do much of the work in the Outcome Number. These students had very different learning experiences in their primary school mathematics, with schools and teachers placing different emphases on each of the Outcomes in mathematics. The opportunity to modify our school's Year 8 program and to implement change in the high schools' feeder primary schools occurred with the second stage of the pilot program's Transition Phases 1 and 2, due for implementation in 2007.
Twelve teachers and 329 students from the high school and feeder primary schools became involved at the second state of the pilot program. All students were provided with a textbook, and teachers were free to choose how or when these books would be used with their students. Surveys were administered to teachers and students at the beginning of the year and end of the first semester. Tests were designed and administered throughout the study and comparisons were made with the student's WAMSE (Western Australian Monitoring Standards in Education) score. WALNA (Western Australian Literacy and Numeracy Assessment) and the Department of Education and the University of Western Australia's WAMSE scores were used to investigate changes in students' achievement and progress. Interviews with teachers and students were conducted to review the pilot program and investigate anomalies in students' results. The study found differences in students' Achievement and Progress based on WAMSE scores. Most teachers who adopted the program believed that it led to improved student learning and understanding of Number concepts in mathematics. All teachers at the high school and its feeder primary schools have continued to use the ICE-EM textbooks as part of their teaching and learning program. Increased uniformity among the primary schools was beneficial for the high school's Year 8 mathematics program. The results also indicated the need for caution when using State and National testing to report on student progress and achievement.

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Poland, Donna Lorraine. "Instructional strategies in science classrooms of specialized secondary schools for the gifted." W&M ScholarWorks, 2003. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd/1550154144.

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Rodrigues, Losada Ricardo J. "Teachers' perceptions of spreadsheet algebra programs as curriculum materials for high school mathematics in Namibia." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/71846.

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Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2012
Includes bibliography
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) in the form of spreadsheet algebra programmes (SAPs) is important in the professional development of high school mathematics teachers. This is in line with The Namibian government‟s Vision 2030 in which ICT skills and competencies are regarded as core elements of living and participating in the 21st century. ICTs are also considered to be fundamental to the development of a dynamic knowledge-based economy (KBE) through the Education and Training Sector Improvement Program (ETSIP). ETSIP‟s aim is to embed ICT at all levels of the education system. It also aims to integrate the use of ICTs as tools in the delivery of curriculum and learning and in so doing, lead to a marked improvement in the quality of the learning and teaching process across all levels. Education has a key role in achieving Vision 2030. The aim of this research was to investigate mathematics teachers‟ perceptions of SAPs as curriculum materials in selected Namibian secondary (high) schools. This research adopted a qualitative methodology, which in this instance was a case study. The sample population consisted of five teachers from Okamu (pseudonym) secondary school in the Ohangwena Region of Namibia. Four of them had been teaching mathematics at different levels in the mentioned school for a period of four years, and one of them was teaching physical science. Three methods of data collection were used. The first two were semi-structured interviews and focus group interviews based on teachers‟ experiences using SAPs. The third method was an audio taped observation of a lesson taught by one of the teachers,. This research provides evidence about teachers‟ perceptions regarding time concerns and constraints with regards to the SAPs and the use of the SAPs. The teachers showed willingness and enthusiasm to use SAPs on linear and quadratic functions in their teaching. Some of the teachers became more aware of the epistemic dimensions associated with mathematical and algebraic symbols. Interview data reveal that the teachers had not considered these dimensions when teaching with the usual paper-and-pen format. The research also provides evidence of a teacher‟s early vision about the use of spreadsheets as an instrument to teach linear functions. This teacher did not consider any epistemic value for the instrumented spreadsheets techniques, or that they might contribute to a deeper understanding of the linear functions. His concern was focused more on getting the learners to acquire computer skills, such as learning how to use spreadsheets. It is recommended that in-service professional development about ICT integration into mathematics teaching be offered. This might help teachers to learn how their knowledge and skills could be used in the classroom more effectively in order to save time. It is also suggested that professional development programmes be designed to stimulate and promote teachers‟ willingness to develop an understanding of the characteristics of ICTs such as SAPs and their uses. Lastly, it is recommended that new SAPs be designed in order to deepen the understanding of algebra at the secondary level.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die gebruik van inligting- en kommunikasietegnologieë (IKT's) in die vorm van sigblad-algebra-programme (SAP's) is belangrik vir die professionele ontwikkeling van hoërskoolwiskunde-onderwysers. Dit is in pas met die Namibiese regering se visie vir 2030, Vision 2030, waarin IKT-vaardighede en -bevoegdhede beskou word as kernelemente van die lewe in en deelname aan die 21ste eeu. IKT's word ook beskou as grondliggend aan die ontwikkeling van ‟n dinamiese kennisekonomie (KE) deur middel van die Verbeteringsprogram vir die Onderwys- en Opleidingsektore (ETSIP). ETSIP het as oogmerk om IKT op alle vlakke van die onderwysstelsel vas te lê. Dit het ook ten doel om die gebruik van IKT's as hulpmiddele te integreer in die lewering van kurrikulum en leer en sodoende ‟n duidelike verbetering in die gehalte van die onderrig-en-leerproses oor alle vlakke heen tot gevolg te hê. Onderwys het ‟n sleutelrol te speel by die bereiking van Vision 2030. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om wiskundeonderwysers se persepsies van SAP's as kurrikulummateriaal in geselekteerde Namibiese sekondêre (hoër-) skole te ondersoek. Hierdie navorsing het ‟n kwalitatiewe metode gevolg, in hierdie geval ‟n gevallestudie. Die proefgroep het bestaan uit vyf onderwysers van die sekondêre skool Okamu (skuilnaam) in die Ohangwena-streek van Namibië. Vier van hulle het reeds vier jaar lank wiskunde op verskillende vlakke in die betrokke skool gegee en een van hulle het fisiese wetenskap gegee. Drie metodes is ingespan om data in te samel. Die eerste twee was semigestruktureerde onderhoude en fokusgroeponderhoude gebaseer op onderwysers se ervaringe ten opsigte van die gebruik van SAP's. Die derde metode was ‟n klankopname van ‟n waarnemingsessie van ‟n les wat deur een van die onderwysers gegee is. Hierdie navorsing getuig van onderwysers se persepsies ten opsigte van tydskwessies en -beperkinge met betrekking tot die SAP's en die gebruik van die SAP's. Die onderwysers het ‟n gewilligheid en geesdrif geopenbaar om by lineêre en kwadratiese funksies SAP's in hul onderrig te gebruik. Party onderwysers het meer bewus geraak van die epistemiese dimensies in verband met wiskundige en algebraïese simbole. Onderhouddata onthul dat die onderwysers nie hierdie dimensies in ag geneem het toe hulle met die gewone papier-en-pen-formaat klasgegee het nie. Die navorsing bevestig ook ‟n onderwyser se aanvanklike insig oor die gebruik van sigblaaie as 'n instrument om lineêre funksies te onderrig. Hierdie onderwyser het nie die epistemiese waarde vir die geïnstrumenteerde sigbladtegnieke in ag geneem nie, of dat hulle sou kon bydra tot ‟n grondiger begrip van die lineêre funksies nie. Sy belangstelling was eerder daarop gefokus om die leerders sover te kry om rekenaarvaardighede, soos om sigblaaie te kan gebruik, te verwerf. Daar word aanbeveel dat indiens- professionele ontwikkeling oor IKT-integrasie in wiskundeonderrig aangebied word. Dit sal onderwysers moontlik help om te leer hoe hulle kennis en vaardighede meer doeltreffend in die klaskamer gebruik kan word om tyd te bespaar. Daar word ook voorgestel dat professionele ontwikkelingsprogramme ontwerp word, ter stimulering en bevordering van onderwysers se bereidwilligheid om ‟n begrip te ontwikkel van die kenmerke en gebruike van IKT's soos SAP's. Laastens word daar aanbeveel dat nuwe SAP's ontwerp word om die verstaan van algebra op sekondêre vlak te verdiep.

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Amici, Pamela Gene. "Factors that affect success in AP calculus." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1572428.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that predict success in AP Calculus. The factors investigated include student study habits, such as time spent doing homework, working with a study group or tutor, phoning a friend for help, or using the Internet for help. The study also examined the classroom environment and structure and the affect of teacher knowledge and attitude on predicting success. Additionally, teacher teaching styles and teacher designed lessons that predicted success in AP Calculus were investigated. Seventy-three (N=73) former students in the course participated in the study. An online survey was conducted to collect data for the study. The study used multiple regressions to analyze the student data. The results showed that, when taken together, student study habits and teacher teaching styles were two factors that were statistically significant predictors of success in AP Calculus. The study found that the Internet was a factor that predicted success of AP Calculus which was important as students become more and more wired into cell phones, tablets, and other media devices.

Conversely, the results also showed that the classroom environment and structure, teacher knowledge and attitude, and the teacher designed lessons were not statistically significant in predicting success in AP Calculus. However, even though these were not significant statistically, the students expressed that they were very important contributors to their success. Recommendations include the application of specific study habits, teaching styles, and increase use of the Internet resources to students in school, including increased access to their various handheld devices such as cell phones and tablets.

Additionally it is recommended to continue the examination success factors in higher level math courses such as AP Calculus.

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Neshuku, Christian N. "An exploration of problems experienced in the interpretation of word problems by grade 12 learners." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008206.

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This research sought to investigate the problems experienced in the interpretation of word problems by senior secondary school learners, in particular to see how the language used in the articulation of word problems affects the interpretation. The study was conducted in a school in the Oshikoto region of Namibia, a school located in a semi-rural area of Namibia, and selected owing to the accessibility of the required participants. The research was located within an interpretive paradigm focusing on a study sample of 40 learners from a specified class in the selected school. Data were collected through written tests and a semi-structured interview based on written tests, and a comprehensive descriptive analysis of test results was prepared. The findings of the study indicate that the language in which the word problem was articulated did not make a difference. The performance in both English and Oshindonga tests was almost the same. The findings also indicate that vocabulary, syntactic interpretation, semantic relationships, algebraic skills, and practical sense making in relation to real-life are all important for the successful interpretation and solving of word problems. In view of these findings, the study has provided valuable insights into aspects of the teacher education curriculum that need to be revisited in order to improve the training of teachers In teaching word problems.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Secondary mathematics curriculum'

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