A plan for the development of a conceptually-based mathematics curriculum for disadvantaged children I: Theoretical foundations

The purpose of this two-part article is to point the way towards more sophisticated educational technologies with specific reference to educating the disadvantaged. In Part I, after summarizing some of the current problems in educating the disadvantaged, a new theory of structural learning is proposed and relationships between this theory, educational technology, and curriculum development are made explicit. This conceptual framework then is used as a basis for planning curriculum development in education. Part II shows in more detail how this plan may be applied in the real world with special reference to three specific projects:

1. An efficient and self-instructional way to diagnose and teach the basic arithmetical skills of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
2. A systematic way of teaching children how to read critically based on a behavioral analysis of the process in terms of logical reasoning.
3. A plan for in-service teacher education which deals with mathematical processes (as opposed to content).

     

Developing a mathematics curriculum to improve learning behaviors and mathematics competency of children

The authors investigated the effect of a mathematical curriculum (CU) developed based on verbal and practical activities on the mathematical competency (MC) and learning behaviors (LB) of preschool children. In a quasi-experimental design, 60 children (5- to 6-year-old girls) were selected using the accessible sampling method. The children were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, and the relevant concepts were taught to the children in both groups. While the control group received the typical kindergarten education based on the usual textbooks and worksheets, the CU was taught to the experimental group. Structural equation modeling was used to model the data and statistical evaluation. The results demonstrated a significant difference between the two groups in MC and LB. The CU significantly improved MC directly, and indirectly through the improvement of LB (i.e., engagement and learning focus, verbal behaviors, and type of activity).     

高职数学网络课程开发浅析

"网络教学"是现代多媒体技术与教学内容的整合,是一种新型的教育教学手段。数学的教育教学在知识和信息资源的输入受传统黑板教学的约束,所以很多的数学抽象性描述和大量实现手段难以进入课堂,要想突破这些难点,开发网络课程会给数学教育教学带来春天,即实现高职数学教学网络化是很好的一种选择,利用多媒体网络课程进行教学是一种很好、可以交互的教学方式。为了满足基于网络的远程教育的需要,开发高质量的高职数学多媒体网络课程教学软件已成为必然。     

以数学实验室为基地创新驱动数学课程教学改革

数学作为高校教育的基础课程,教学效果的优劣对高校人才的培养起着关键作用。针对新形势下传统数学课程教学模式已不能适应高校教育需求的问题,分析了目前对数学课程教学改革认识上存在的偏差,并分别从教学目标、教学效果、功效发挥这3个方面阐述了数学实验室建设对促进数学课程教学改革的必要性,以及在人才培养方面所起的作用。     

A practice-oriented professional development programme to support the introduction of a new mathematics curriculum in Portugal

This article presents the extended workshop, a national professional development programme that was used in the preparatory stages of the introduction of a new mathematics curriculum for basic education (grades 1–9) in Portugal. These workshops are based on five major ideas—orientation towards practice, focus on students’ learning, collaboration, practitioner research, and change of professional culture. The evaluation shows that these workshops constituted a stimulating professional development setting that encouraged teachers to reflect about classroom practice and students’ learning and was quite successful in supporting an overall movement favourable to the orientations of the new curriculum.     

Designing a curriculum based on four purposes: let mathematics speak for itself

Trends in curriculum reform recognise the need to develop skills and competencies in addition to specifying what knowledge should be taught and when. However, a balance between skills and knowledge is sometimes difficult to achieve. In this paper which takes mathematics as the focus, we consider reform currently underway in Wales, from the perspective of a ‘knowledge approach’ and from the perspective of the Successful Futures report which is, we argue, driven more by a skills approach at the heart of which are ‘four purposes’: developing young people as ambitious, capable learners; enterprising, creative contributors; ethical, informed citizens; and healthy, confident individuals. Our interest is in the contribution that mathematics makes to the four purposes; and contribution that the four purposes make (or do not make) to the development of a school mathematics curriculum. After outlining the background and context, the paper consults literature and experts to consider what mathematics is and how the learning of mathematics can be seen to fulfil the four purposes. The study contributes to understanding the difficulties of re-contextualising school subjects from the academic disciplines and proposes that operating with a curriculum driven by big ideas or overarching statements places higher demands on teacher knowledge.     

Performance of mentally retarded children on a hierarchically sequenced introductory mathematics curriculum∗

Sixteen severely and moderately retarded children were given diagnostic tests to assess their understanding of number concepts. One group of eight children (experimental) were then given training on a hierarchically sequenced introductory mathematics curriculum and the other group of eight children (control) were given training on the same objectives but through traditional techniques. Results at the end of 12 months showed that the experimental group mastered an average of 32 objectives while the control group averaged 15.5 These results suggest that hierarchically sequenced mathematics curriculum may provide an effective approach to the teaching of number concepts to the severely and moderately retarded.

     

基于新课程下的高中数学教学方法

随着课程改革的不断深入,传统的数学教学观念正面临着向现代教学观念转变的挑战.如何将新的课程理念贯彻在课堂教学之中,真正使学生更快更好地获得数学知识,发展能力,形成良好的品格,掌握科学的方法,值得数学教育工作者思考.     

基于建筑类专业的高职数学课程改革的几点思考

在面对新的教学形势下,结合建筑类专业特点讨论了的高职数学教学改革的方法,提出了加强数学教师专业化建设,选择建筑专业特色的内容和多种教学手段等措施。     

基于数学专业的数学实验课程研究

探讨了数学实验课程在数学专业教育中的地位和作用，以及高校数学专业中数学实验课的教学设计，并提出了目前开设数学实验课程有待解决的几个问题。     

Assessment of a conceptually based instructor evaluation form

An instrument to be used by students in evaluating faculty was developed with the major focus being five conceptualized interpretations of scales (factors) culled from other research on faculty evaluation. The five conceptualized factors were: Evaluation, Presentation, Preparation, Personality, and Intellect. Thirty-five professors from the Division of Curriculum and Instruction teaching 65 classes (1,122 students) at graduate and undergraduate levels participated in May; and 75 professors teaching 2,804 students participated in a December study. Each of the five factors were found to be: independent; stable across student groups; of high internal consistency and reliability; of a high degree of concurrent validity (faculty evaluating themselves); discriminatory among faculty; and applicable under sundry instructional conditions. The instrument can provide information to instructors for the improvement of teaching, as well as providing information for students concerning individual instructors. As part of a larger evaluation system, the instrument can provide information for career decisions.     

Current status of secondary school mathematics curriculum development in China

In this article, we intend to give a brief account of secondary school mathematics curriculum development in China. Some experimental teaching materials and teaching methods are introduced. One of the most influential projects is described in detail.Heartfelt gratitude is due to our supervisor, Professor David F. Robitaille at the University of British Columbia. It is under his encouragement and guidance that this article sees the light.Appendix 1–3 are quoted from Leung's (1987) article.     

数学教师课程资源的开发与利用

教师是第一位的课程资源。数学教师要确立课程资源的意识,提高开发课程资源的能力,使自己的知识素质结构不断充实优化,心理及人格素质不断升华提高,促进数学课程资源的开发利用。     

The development of classification abilities in culturally disadvantaged children

Culturally disadvantaged children appear to do less well in analyzing categorical relationships than middle class children.     

The teacher education curriculum and the world of work: A study of teachers of disadvantaged children in Nigeria

A key element in the current attempt to actualise the goals of the Dakar Framework of Action for Education for All in Nigeria is the broadening of access to education for disadvantaged groups. These groups include: nomadic pastoralists; migrant fishermen; and out-of-school children and youth. Special educational programs are being provided for them so as, inter alia, to: integrate them into the mainstream of Nigeria's social and political life; disseminate modern occupational and life skills; and promote cultural renewal based on reconstructionist principles.The major concern of this paper is to analyse the teacher education curriculum in Nigeria vis-à-vis the concrete existential realities in which teachers of these disadvantaged groups teach. It critically examines the extent to which the curriculum prepares teachers for the world of minority children, particularly the realities of the schools and the cultural contexts within which teaching takes place. To what extent has the teacher education curriculum adequately prepared teachers for the realities and challenges of teaching disadvantaged children? What do the teachers themselves think of the training they have received? How have their experiences as teachers of disadvantaged groups influenced their sense of marginalisation, professionalism and sense of worth? These questions are posed using quantitative and qualitative strategies so as to determine the level of congruence or incongruence between the existential realities of teachers’ work and the teacher education curriculum. Finally the paper highlights the suggestions made by the teachers sampled for this study about how to reform the teacher education curriculum in order most effectively to address the peculiarities and challenges of the cultural and educational contexts in which they work.     

Time for curriculum reform: the case of mathematics

Mathematics education is rarely out of the policy spotlight in England. Over the last 10 years, considerable attention has been given to improving 14–19 mathematics curriculum pathways. In this paper we consider some of the challenges of enacting curriculum change by drawing upon evidence from our evaluation of the Mathematics Pathways Project (MPP). From 2004 to 2010 this project, which was directed by England's Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, aimed to improve the engagement, attainment and participation rates of 14- to 19-year-old learners of mathematics. Our particular focus is upon the temporal problems of piloting new curriculum and assessment and we draw on Lemke's discussion of timescales, heterochrony and the adiabatic principle to consider the interlocking and interference of various change processes.