Thesis (M.Ed. (Mathematics Education)) -- UNiversity of Limpopo, 2013 / In this study, I presented the exploration of Mpho’s growth in mathematical understanding. Mpho is a grade 10 mathematics learner. To fulfil such, a qualitative research method was employed. I explored her growth in understandings in the context of co-ordinate geometry, exponents, and functions. Data generation, management and representation were guided by the notion of teaching experiments. Analysis was done through mapping learner’s growth of mathematical understanding using Pirie-Kieren’s (1994) model. Findings suggest that learner’s growth in mathematical understanding can be observed, mapped and improved with the aid of probing questions.

Thesis (M.A. (Mathematics Education)) --University of Limpopo, 2013 / This study intended to improve Grade 9 learners’ mathematical processes of solving word problems. It was an action research study in my own classroom consisting of 64 Grade 9 learners. Learners were given learning activities on word problems to carry out as part of their normal classroom mathematics’ lessons. Data were collected in two stages: first, through passive observation, that is, without my intervention, and later through participant observation thus provoking their thinking as they attempt the given questions. The learners’ responses were analyzed through checking the mathematical processes they used without my intervention. Learners also submitted their post-intervention responses for analysis of progress after interventions. The scripts were reviewed based on four problem- solving stages adopted from George Polya (1945). Those stages are, namely understanding the problem, devising the plan, carrying out the plan and looking back. It became evident from the findings that learners attempt solving word problems with no understanding. Communication, reasoning and recording processes appear to be key factors in assisting learners to make sense of word problems and, finally, proceeding towards an adequate solution.

Thesis (MEd. (Mathematics Education)) -- University of Limpopo, 2013 / In this study, I presented the exploration of Mpho’s growth in mathematical understanding. Mpho is a grade 10 mathematics learner. To fulfil such, a qualitative research method was employed. I explored her growth in understandings in the context of co-ordinate geometry, exponents, and functions. Data generation, management and representation were guided by the notion of teaching experiments. Analysis was done through mapping learner’s growth of mathematical understanding using Pirie-Kieren’s (1994) model. Findings suggest that learner’s growth in mathematical understanding can be observed, mapped and improved with the aid of probing questions.

Abstract not available

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Educational Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

This study examined the use of digital game design and development process in secondary mathematic classroom to develop students’ mathematical problem-solving skills. The findings indicated students were able to acquire new mathematical concept and applied the newly acquired knowledge to solve different problems throughout the game design and development process. The game development process was highly motivating and it promoted students learning attitudes and interests in general. However, the complex skills required in the game development process did discourage one of the students. / published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Science in Information Technology in Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

With advancements in information technology, people can now access enormous amounts of information with ease. The education system, which plays a vital role in developing our future, has undergone important changes. In the past decades, nearly every part of the education process, from curricula design, assessment methodologies, to teaching methodologies, have been scrutinized. As a result, a series of reforms or changes have been implemented. The purposes of the present study are to investigate more about perceptions and attitudes of secondary school mathematics teachers towards the use of computers in their teaching. Besides, the factors affecting teachers’ attitudes towards computer application in teaching are also analyzed. Finally, the study will also explore the effectiveness of students’ learning through cooperative learning One class of 36 students from 5C, aged 14-16, were invited to participate in this research by using the DMS of GeoGebra for teaching the topics of ‘Basic Properties of Circles’. The teaching outcome of 5C would then be compared with 2 other classes of 5A and 5B, which would be taught by my peer teachers. 5A and 5B’s teachers would employ conventional teaching methods to teach ‘Basic Properties of Circles’ (i.e. the Control Group). Five student worksheets for Basic Operation of GeoGebra and each sub-topic of “Basic Properties of Circles” were devised (see Appendices I to V). Those 5 students were all asked to fill in the questionnaire I. Besides, 12 mathematics teachers were asked to fill in the questionnaire I (see Appendix VIII) of Mathematics with Technology Perceptions Survey (MTPS) in order to investigate their perceptions of using information technology (IT) in teaching mathematics. The purpose of the MTPS items was to ascertain the prevalence of key attitudes and perceptions creating barriers or enabling teachers’ intentions to alter their practice and to teach mathematics with technology. Demographic data of MTPS items were collected on gender, age group, years of teaching, education level, teacher training, teaching level and subject taught. During the whole study, video-recording was taken. In addition, my two peer teachers from classes 5A and 5B were also invited to have an interview. Then, they were asked to fill in the questionnaire II (see Appendix XIII) in order to investigate their’ intention in using the DMS of GeoGebra for teaching and learning mathematics in Secondary 5 classes. Besides, 14 students were randomly selected in order to find out the effects of their learning by using DMS of GeoGebra through peer groups, and these 14 students were invited to complete an extended version of questionnaire II (see Appendix X). Finally, students were asked to conduct a test (see Appendix VI) in order to compare the learning outcome of students learning ‘Basic Properties of Circles’ with the DMS of GeoGebra with those learning in its absence. It is suggested that the integration of computer in learning mathematics should be required. Schools need to make full use of technology to guide students to learn as much as possible. Also, leadership needs to be available to teachers and to provide an in-service education in technology use, so that technology use was operating as well as possible. / published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

This is an analysis on textbooks for elementary secondary levels in Hong Kong, focusing on the type of problem solving and the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in geometry strand. Textbooks can provide different learning opportunities for students. Usage of textbooks is widespread in secondary schools and most mathematics teachers are used to rely on textbooks in classrooms. As such, the differences of textbooks would affect what happens in the lessons. Problems in the textbooks are significant elements of the approach, as they are of any educational process, because problems focus on energy and attention, and conduct the students in the integration, application, and extension of knowledge. A content analysis has been taken in this study, by comparing the distribution patterns of the quantities of problems representing various kinds of applications in the selected textbooks. The framework is the conceptual framework used by Fan and Zhu (2006) which concerns with the definition of the task from the perspective of textbook analysis. According to the quantitative patterns, it hints the frequencies with students exposed to different kinds of the problems and, therefore, has critical influence on student’s learning. The coding results of the study indicated that the majority of the three types of problems were traditional, closed-end, non-application and problems with sufficient data provided. Most of the to-be-solved problems and worked problems were routine ones while half of the problems with use of ICT were of that type. / published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education