Understanding Mathematics: Some Key Factors

Abstract

<p style="text-align:justify">Mathematics is well known as a subject area where there can be problems in terms of understanding as well as retaining positive attitudes. In a large study involving 813 school students (ages approximately 10-12) drawn from two different school systems in Pakistan, the effect of limited working memory capacity on performance in mathematics was explored along with a survey of areas of difficulty and student attitudes. This involved looking at student perceptions of their experiences, the nature of the difficulties they have with mathematics and possible reasons for these difficulties. The overall aim is to explore the extent of the effect of working memory and to gain insights so that practical ways forward to enhance mathematics education can be identified. It was found that limited working memory capacity has a very strong influence on performance, confirming other studies. Indeed, if the cognitive load exceeds the capacity of working memory, understanding becomes a casualty, with consequent attitude deterioration. Students need to be able to see that mathematics has a purpose in being able to be applied to real-life situations. However, attempts to develop applications may often generate further working memory overload. Curricula devised by those outside the classroom can sometimes be inappropriate while topics causing the greatest problems at these ages and include areas of geometry, statistics and the applications of mathematics.</p>

Pengukuran Prestasi Belajar Matematika Siswa dengan Menggunakan Tes Model Testlet ditinjau dari Status Sekolah dan Gender

“…Hasil analisis juga menunjukkan bahwa bahwa tidak ada interaksi status sekolah dengan jenis kelamin (gender) yang berarti status sekolah dan jenis kelamin tidak berkaitan dalam meningkatakan prestasi belajar matematika siswa jika diukur dengan menggunakan tes model testlet pada sekolah-sekolah yang menjadi sampel penelitian ini. Banyak hasil penelitian yang menganalisis faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi tinggi rendahnya prestasi belajar siswa tetapi tidak ada yang menunjukkan kalau status sekolah negeri atau swasta merupakan salah satu faktor yang dominan (Huda, 2011;Ali & Reid, 2012). Menurut Slameto (2010), faktor sekolah yang mempengaruhi prestasi belajar mencakup metode mengajar, kurikulum, relasi guru dengan siswa, relasi siswa dengan siswa, disiplin sekolah, pelajaran dan waktu sekolah, standar pelajaran, keadaan gedung, metode belajar dan tugas rumah.…”

Effect of Working Memory on Students’ Attitude towards Mathematics at Secondary Level

“…For example, in Scotland, the reason for adopting mathematics for higher education is that mathematics is perceived as an essential part of overall education. While in England, a major motive for adopting mathematics is to become a mathematician or to select a career deeply reliant on mathematics (Ali & Reid, 2012). People do not take interest in mathematics as they consider it a boring subject (Matthews & Pepper, 2005).…”

THE INFLUENCE OF CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING PROCEDURES (CUPs) LEARNING MODELS CONCEPT OF UNDERSTANDING OF CONCEPT STUDENT MATH

“…Developing and deepening understanding of mathematical concepts is an important foundation in teaching mathematics (Ali & Reid, 2012;Hadi & Kasum, 2015;Serhan & Almeqdadi, 2020;Tamur et al, 2018). With a good understanding of mathematical concepts, students will easily remember, use, and rearrange a concept that has been learned and can solve various variations of mathematical problems.…”