A Study of Teachers’& A Study of Teachers’& Parents’ Perceptions on Parents’ Perceptions on

the Application of the Application of Constructive Mathematics Constructive Mathematics

in Primary Schoolsin Primary Schools

Instructor: Aiden YehPresenter: Ling-Chun (Linda) Chen

Constructive Constructive MathematicsMathematics

Traditional Traditional MathematicsMathematics

1. Students are the heart of teaching

2. Actively construct the knowledge

3. Subjective experiences

4. Learning key is understanding

5. Meaningful context 6. Discussion with

classmates 7. Knowledge construct

1. Teachers are the heart of learning

2. Passively absorb the knowledge

3. Objective rules 4. Learning key is

memorizing 5. Words and symbols 6. Listening to the

teachers 7. Knowledge transform

Yang’s Theory:Yang’s Theory: CM can help students easily build up their own concept toward the questions.

Nodding’s Theory:Nodding’s Theory: learning environment of CM required highly interactive between students and teachers.

Chang’sChang’s and Chiu’s theoryand Chiu’s theory: CM should not apply in Taiwan.

Chiu’s theory:Chiu’s theory: CM can only adopted by gifted students.

Research QuestionResearch Question

• To investigate Math teachers’ and parents’ opinions toward

Constructive Mathematics.

SubjectsSubjects• Two groups of people within Chia-

Yi 1. Math teachers.

Teaching among fifth & sixth grade in elementary schools.

2. Parents. children who are studying among fifth &

sixth grade in Elementary schools.

Results from Math Results from Math TeachersTeachers

Survey Questions Extremely Agree

Agree

O.K Disagree

Extremely Disagree

1. Your students found Math to be the most annoying subject.

0% 0% 25% 56% 19%

2. Your students found learning Math to be boring.

6% 17% 47% 28% 3%

3. Your students understand Math through learning CM.

3% 14% 44% 31% 8%

4.Your students like Math more through learning CM.

0% 22% 47% 22% 8%

5.Your students think learning Math through CM is interesting

3% 22% 44% 25% 6%

6. You like the Ministry of Education applied CM to teach your students.

0% 25% 44% 25% 6%

7. CM is needed to be changed in order to get a better outcome

22% 64% 14% 0% 0%

1. Do you find it annoying while helping your students to do math homework?

Yes It makes no sense to learn math in such complicated way.

53%

2.The concept of teaching mathematics have changed from the old to CM, do you think it’s beneficial to the students?

Yes I think CM is helpful for my students to learn mathematics. 33%

3.Do you think if the Ministry of Education changed the teaching concept back to the old way would make your students have a better understanding in Math?

Yes It would be a lot easier for my students to learn math.

47%

4. Why do you think the Ministry of Education applied CM as a concept to teach Taiwan’s Students

d. The Ministry of Education thought CM might help teachers and students to have a better interaction in class.

25%

Results from ParentsResults from ParentsSurvey Questions Extreme

ly Agree Agree

O.K Disagree

Extremely Disagree

1. Your children found Math to be the most annoying subject.

23% 11% 20% 31% 14%

2. Your children found learning Math to be boring.

9% 17% 20% 40% 14%

3. Your children understand Math through learning CM.

3% 26% 49% 14% 9%

4.Your children like Math more through learning CM.

3% 26% 38% 29% 9%

5.Your children think learning Math through CM is interesting

3% 23% 40% 26% 9%

6. You like the Ministry of Education applied CM to teach your children.

0% 26% 51% 17% 6%

7. CM is needed to be changed in order to get a better outcome

9% 43% 37% 9% 3%

1. Do you find it annoying while helping your children to do math homework?

Yes It makes no sense to learn math in such complicated way.

54%

2.The concept of teaching mathematics have changed from the old to CM, do you think it’s beneficial to the children?

Yes I think CM is helpful for my students to learn mathematics. 29%

3.Do you think if the Ministry of Education changed the teaching concept back to the old way would make your students have a better understanding in Math?

Yes It would be a lot easier for my students to learn math.

34%

4. Why do you think the Ministry of Education applied CM as a concept to teach Taiwan’s Students

b. The Ministry of Education thought CM could help learning Math easier.

43%

DiscussionDiscussion• Students like math and do not

think it is a boring subject.• However, they do not understand

math more through CM.• Both sides highly agreed that it

makes no sense to learn math by CM.

• The answer “CM is helpful for the students to learn mathematics in certain chapters.” supports Yang’s theory.

• The Ministry of Education should be more considerate before adopted any theory or concept.

• “If changed CM back to old concept can help the students have a better understanding in Math.”

• This is partly contrary to Chang’s and Chiu’s theory.

• Teachers indicated that it is good for Taiwan to diversify the learning concept.

• But CM need a better adjust and development.

• Parents concerned the consequences about changing the learning concept again.

• Teachers agreed “CM do help the interaction between teachers and students” support Nodding’s theory.

• Parents agreed “CM could help students learning math easier.”

ConclusionConclusion• CM helps the first and second grade

students in learning and building the basic concept.

• However, CM poses learning difficulty for the third to sixth grade students.

• CM can increase the level of class interaction between teachers and students.