Mathematics Teachers' Challenges in Implementing Reasoning and Proof Assessment: A Case of Indonesian Teachers

This study aimed at evaluating the content of the Jordanian mathematics textbook for the elementary fourth-grade in order to find out the extent that the fourth-grade mathematics textbook includes the standards of the American national for Council mathematics teachers (NCTM-2000), which concerned with mathematical operations (problem-solving, reasoning and proof, mathematical communication, Connections mathematical, mathematical representation) from the point of view of mathematical Connections teachers in Ma'an Governorate, thus, to find out the reasons for the low achievement of students in mathematics international tests. In order to fulfill these objectives, the descriptive analytical approach was used, that is a list of (NCTM) standards was prepared and changed into a questionnaire which was applied on a sample consisted of (119) male and female mathematics teachers for the primary fourth grade representing the study community. The results of the study showed that the extent to which the basic (NCTM) standards are included in the mathematics book for the fourth grade was at a moderate percentage on average about (2.76), the mathematical connection standard had the highest availability at (3.10), followed by the mathematical communication standard (3.08), the representation of mathematical operation at (2.99) respectively, and the problem solving standard at (2.51), whereas the reasoning and proof standard had the least representation. The findings also indicated there were statistically significant differences with regard to the experience variable and for the favor of (11-and more) category. Regarding the social gender, it did not have an effect. The study sets out several recommendations such as, developing the mathematics curriculum in the light of national standards, increasing the percentage of (NCTM) standards in the fourth-grade mathematics textbook, and the necessity to focus on issues connected with proof and reasoning, and problem solving.

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Teachers’ learning and assessing of mathematical processes with emphasis on representations, reasoning and proof

Pythagoras ◽

10.4102/pythagoras.v39i1.373 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Satsope Maoto ◽

Kwena Masha ◽

Lekwa Mokwana

Keyword(s):

Mathematics Teachers ◽

Approaches To Learning ◽

Mathematical Discourse ◽

High School Mathematics ◽

Written Responses ◽

Complex Processes ◽

Interpretive Analysis ◽

Reasoning And Proof ◽

Numerical Representations

This article focuses mainly on two key mathematical processes (representation, and reasoning and proof). Firstly, we observed how teachers learn these processes and subsequently identify what and how to assess learners on the same processes. Secondly, we reviewed one teacher’s attempt to facilitate the learning of the processes in his classroom. Two interrelated questions were pursued: ‘what are the teachers’ challenges in learning mathematical processes?’ and ‘in what ways are teachers’ approaches to learning mathematical processes influencing how they assess their learners on the same processes?’ A case study was undertaken involving 10 high school mathematics teachers who enrolled for an assessment module towards a Bachelor in Education Honours degree in mathematics education. We present an interpretive analysis of two sets of data. The first set consisted of the teachers’ written responses to a pattern searching activity. The second set consisted of a mathematical discourse on matchstick patterns in a Grade 9 class. The overall finding was that teachers rush through forms of representation and focus more on manipulation of numerical representations with a view to deriving symbolic representation. Subsequently, this unidirectional approach limits the scope of assessment of mathematical processes. Interventions with regard to the enhancement of these complex processes should involve teachers’ actual engagements in and reflections on similar learning.

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