Cognitive style and gender differences in children’s mathematics achievement

Males are often found to outperform females in tests of mathematics achievement and it has been proposed that this may in part be explained by differences in cognitive style. This study investigated the relation between Wholistic-Analytic and Verbal-Imagery cognitive style, gender and mathematics achievement in a sample of 190 Australian primary school students aged between 8–11?years (M?=?9.77, SD?=?1.05). It was hypothesised that males would outperform females in mathematics achievement tests, and that gender would interact with cognitive style on mathematics performance. A significant gender/cognitive style interaction was found. Boys with an Analytic/Imagery style achieved significantly higher results than the girls with an Analytic/Imagery style, supporting the contention that certain cognitive styles affect boys and girls mathematics performance differently. Implications of results and strategies for improving mathematics achievement among girls are discussed.     

理科学生评价文科教师教学效果的影响因素研究

运用<大学教师教学效果评价问卷>(学生用)进行调查分析,探讨师生性别因素及认知方式对评定教师教学效果的影响.结果表明:理科大学生和文科教师的性别因素对评价教学效果的影响很大,男生的打分高于女生,男教师在总分以及学习价值感等四个因子上的得分高于女教师.理科大学生与文科教师的不同认知方式对教学评价的主效应显著:场依存型教师得分最低,场独立型教师得分最高;场中间型学生给老师打分最高,场独立型学生打分最低.     

课堂，别脱离学生的思维轨迹

数学学习本质上是一种思维活动。数学教学过程的本质是教师指导下的学生的认识实践过程,是学生的思维经过同化、顺应,构建新的数学认知结构的过程。教学中教师应该读懂学生的思维过程,把准学生的思维之脉,顺应学生的思维现实,这将有利于学生构建良好的数学认知结构,提升数学思维能力。     

Interaction between attention directing and cogntiive style

Certain instructional techniques are more effective than others in teaching students who have a particular cognitive style. Analytic (field independent) and global (field dependent) styles of learning in 96 sixth graders were tested using two instructional design techniques. One slide/tape presentation was attentiondirecting; the other used supplementary sound. Both covered the same information. A factor analysis of variance of test scores was made using cognitive style and audio treatment as variables.     

The Influence of Individual Cognitive Style on Performance in Management Education

This paper reports the outcomes of an empirical study undertaken to explore the possibility that cognitive style may be an important factor influencing performance on certain types of task in management education. A total of 412 final year undergraduate degree students studying Management and Business Administration were tested using the Allinson- Hayes Cognitive Style Index. Their cognitive styles were then compared with assessment grades achieved for academic modules, the task categories of which were deemed to be consonant with either the Wholist/Intuitive or the Analytic style of working. Overall ability defined by final degree grades was also tested against individuals' cognitive styles. As expected, students whose dominant cognitive styles were Analytic attained higher grades for long-term solitary tasks involving careful planning and analysis of information. However, contrary to expectations, performance on tasks believed to be more suited to the Wholist/Intuitive style was also higher for Analytic individuals, as was overall ability defined by final degree grades. The results were discussed in terms of the nature of the tasks and the need for methods of performance assessment that are independent of an orientation bias. Without this, it is argued, employment selection criteria may favour the wrong type of candidate in some circumstances.     

数学课堂教学任务认知水平的评价模式探究简

数学课堂教学任务认知水平是对学生学习效果进行过程性评价的重要手段,通过方差分析及回归分析影响不同学业成绩、年级、性别学生数学课堂教学任务认知水平的各种因素及其重要程度.不同学业成绩和性别的学生在任务认知水平及多数影响因素方面差异显著;不同年级的学生在任务认知水平及多数影响因素方面差异不显著;影响任务认知水平最重要的三种因素是数学教学情境、数学课堂交流、数学知识应用,构建科学的评价任务认知水平的模式,为测量学生任务认知水平和实施高水平认知要求的教学任务提供可操性方法.     

The Relationship of Cognitive Style and Instructional Style to the Learning Performance of Undergraduate Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relative effect of two different instructional styles, “discovery” and “expository,” on the change in learning performance of subjects of contrasting cognitive styles, field dependent and field independent. Based on the administration of the Group Embedded Figures Test, sixty-four subjects (thirty-two field dependent and thirty-two field independent) were randomly assigned to one of nine experimental groups (three expository experimental groups, three discovery experimental groups, and three no-treatment groups). The Behavior Modification Achievement Test, an original research instrument, was administered to all subjects on a pretest-posttest basis to measure change in learning performance. ANOVA revealed no significant interaction tied to the manipulation of the independent variable.     

Exploring the effects of cognitive conflict and direct teaching for students of different academic levels

Despite inconclusive evidence regarding the effectiveness of cognitive conflict, educators still consider it a significant instructional strategy. One of the challenges of current research is to study the conditions under which cognitive conflict is effective. This research examines the notion that cognitive conflict may have dissimilar effects for students of different academic levels. The study compares the effectiveness of teaching the control of variables thinking strategy to students of two academic levels (low vs. high) by two different teaching methods [inducing a cognitive conflict (ICC) vs. direct teaching (DT)]. One hundred twenty‐one students who learned in a heterogeneous school were divided into four experimental groups in a 2 × 2 design. Results show no main effect of teaching method but do show a significant interaction effect between level of students and teaching method. The findings show that students with high academic achievements benefited from the ICC teaching method while the DT method hindered their progress. In contrast, students with low academic achievements benefited from the DT method while the ICC teaching method hindered their progress. The interaction effect was preserved in a retention test that took place 6 months after instruction. The findings show that previous inconclusive findings regarding the effectiveness of the ICC method can be explained by its contradictory effects on students of different academic levels. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 42: 829–855, 2005     

大学英语论说文教学的社会认知模式

以语类理论和Flower&Hayes的写作认知模型为理论指导,提出了一种针对大学英语论说文教学的社会认知教学模式。该模式倡导教师明确给学生讲授论说文写作中的思维过程,并将这种显性的思维教学与提高学生写作中的社会情境意识进行有机结合。     

基于开放教学理念的竞赛数学教学方法探索

竞赛数学课程是以问题为目标的数学课程。传统教学主要以＂问题为导向,能力为目标＂,以传授教学为主要教学活动,教学方法单一,学生无法获得数学智慧的发展,教学效果一般。鉴于此,我们借助开放式教学理念,在竞赛数学课程中引入开放式教学手段。实践表明,开放式教学能够实现教学的良好互动,使学生学习数学的积极性明显提升。本文对开放教学理念下的竞赛数学课程教学方法进行了探索,以期取得更好的教学效果。     

The effect of manipulatives on mathematics achievement across different learning styles

The current study investigates the influence of manipulatives used in combination with traditional approaches to mathematics education and how varying amounts of time spent on manipulative use influence student achievement across different learning styles. Three learning environments were created that incorporated varying proportions of traditional teaching approaches and manipulative methods. In one of the learning environments, the teacher used strictly lecture- and exercise-based teaching activities, which are more conducive to abstract learning. Abstract learners showed higher academic performance compared with concrete learners in the environment where only traditional methods were used. For the other two environments, which utilised varying combinations of manipulative tools and traditional methods, the differences in the mathematics achievement levels among students of varying learning styles were not statistically significant. The study also showed that concrete learners demonstrated higher performance in mathematics when manipulatives were used than did their counterparts in the environment where only abstract activities were used; however, in the third learning environment, increasing the amount of manipulative use did not provide an extra benefit to concrete learners.     

初中数学分层教学初探

数学是初中阶段主要教学科目之一,初中生学好数学具有非常重要的意义。对于初中数学教学来说,传统的教学方法已经不能满足学生的需求,更不利于教学效果的提高。鉴于学生的差异性,教师要组织开展分层教学,让每个学生都能获得知识,促进教学效果的提高。本文主要分析了初中数学课堂上应用分层教学的策略。     

Type of Instructional Material,Cognitive Style and Learning Performance

The positions of 129 14 to 19‐year‐old students on two fundamental cognitive styles dimensions (Wholist‐Analytic and Verbal‐Imagery) were assessed. They then received, by random allocation, one of three versions of a computer‐presented instruction package on home hot water systems. The versions differed in terms of their structure (large versus small step), advance organiser (absent or present), verbal emphasis (high versus low), and diagram type (abstract versus pictorial). Version 1 had large step, no organiser, high verbal content, and abstract diagram. Version 2 had small step, no organiser, low verbal content, and pictorial diagram. Version 3 was identical to Version 2, except that an organiser in the form of an elaborated introduction was given in which all five topics were introduced and each section began with an overview and ended with a summary. There was a significant interaction between version and cognitive style in their effect on recall. The results were discussed in terms of their implications for instruction.     

基于中职数学教学内容的教学策略探究

文章分析了中职数学在职业教育中的重要性,部分中职生对数学不感兴趣,动力不足,针对不同的教学内容,结合当今中职生的认知特征,提出了生活实例、动手操作、课堂游戏、源流教学及动画展示几种教学策略,主要目的是激发学生的兴趣,提高数学课堂效果。     

初中数优生、数困生的数学学习投入研究

通过对208名初中数优生、数困生的问卷调查,考察两类初中生数学学习投入的特点及其影响因素。结果表明：（1）数困生的数学学习投入显著低于数优生;数优生与数困生的数学学习投入有不同的变化趋势：数优生的学习投入一直维持在较高水平,而数困生的学习投入随年级的升高在逐渐下降;数困生的情感投入水平比认知投入、行为投入更低;数学学习投入的性别差异不显著。（2）社会支持、数学观和数学自我效能感对数优生、数困生的数学学习投入均具有显著影响;社会支持对数学学习投入既具有直接影响,同时也具有间接影响;数学观和数学自我效能感在社会支持和数学学习投入之间起着中介作用。     

Exploring factors that improve mathematics achievement in Brunei

The low pass rate in Brunei Year 13 mathematics is a source of concern for many stakeholders. Success in mathematics is required for students wishing to attend university and pursue courses in the sciences and technology. Many different factors contribute to success and failure in mathematics. This field survey (N = 330 randomly selected Year 13 students representing 179 females and 151 males) determined the extent to which coping mechanisms, study strategies, learning styles, and self-efficacy were related to academic achievement in mathematics. Stepwise multiple regression analysis with backward elimination identified six statistically significant main effect variables with links to mathematics achievement (task-oriented coping, textbook reading, concentration, self-efficacy, time management, and activist learning style). Two-way interactions of the male and female genders with deep processing and reflector learning styles were also significantly associated with mathematics achievement. Other significant interaction variables were beneficial to both genders.     

Effects of the Integrated Online Advance Organizer Teaching Materials on Students’ Science Achievement and Attitude

This two-group quasi-experimental study investigated the effects of the Online Advance Organizer Concept Teaching Material (ONACOM) integrated with inquiry teaching and expository teaching methods. Grade 7 students’ posttest performances on the light unit achievement and light unit attitude tests controlled for gender, previous semester science grade, and pretest scores were analyzed. No significant treatment effects were found between the inquiry and expository approaches. However, both groups demonstrated significant pretest–posttest gains in achievement and attitude. Independent from the method used, ONACOM was judged effective in both groups as students demonstrated increased achievement and attitude scores. ONACOM has a social and semantic network-aided infrastructure that can be adapted to both methods to increase students’ achievement and improve their attitude.     

核心素养下的初中数学教学策略

随着新的教育理念的更新发展,对于数学教学的要求也不再是让学生学习基础的数学知识,而是要求培养学生的核心素养,切实培养学生应用数学知识解决实际问题的能力,为学生的全面发展奠定良好的教育基础。为此,初中教师需要结合学生的特点,主动转变教育理念,坚持以学生为主体,相信学生并且在教学时以核心素养为标准科学选择教学方法。     

类比法在“大学数学”教学中的应用

类比方法是用已有的知识和已掌握的技能去解决新问题,从而加深学生对新知识的理解,促进学生对新规律的认识;找出问题、探究问题、解决问题,有助于思想、方法和技巧的开拓与延伸。类比法对提高教学效果和培养学生的创新意识是十分必要的,也是课程改革所倡导的。介绍类比式教学的基本概念,分别大学数学的基础学科和应用学科两类课程来以类比式教学方法的使用情况。运用好类比式教学法将有助于学生加深对数学课程的认识,形成系统全面的知识体系。     

Differential Effectiveness of Computer-assisted Instruction for Boys and Girls

A sample of 671 secondary school students in 24 classes of nominally slow learners was involved in investigating not only the relative efficacy of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) and traditional expository teaching, but particularly the differential effectiveness of the two teaching methods for boys and girls. Both achievement and attitude outcomes were investigated. The difference in mean scores between CAI and traditional classes overall was 3.5 standard deviations for achievement and 1.4 standard deviations for attitude. However, although there was no overall effect of gender on either outcome, a significant treatment-gender interaction occurred for the achievement outcome (but not for the attitude outcome). Boys achieved better than girls in the CAI groups, but boys and girls achieved similarly in the control group.