students conceptions of mathematics
TRANSCRIPT
QUESTIONNAIRE_______________________________________________________________________________
Name:_________________________________ Section:_________________Date of Birth:___________________________ Age:____________________Gender: Male_____ Female_____
Students Conceptions of Mathematics in Everyday Life
I.Instructions: For each statement, select the choice that reflects your agreement or disagreement with the given statement. Select only one choice. Kindly check ( / ) the appropriate column that best describes your answer based on the scale below:
5 – Strongly Agree4 – Agree3 – Undecided2 - Disagree1 - Strongly Disagree
Statements 5 4 3 2 1Mathematics…1 .is an accurate subject, where all questions have answers that are either correct and incorrect.2. is a universal subject that is the same all over the world.3. is a rational subject with no place of intuition.4. is an abstract subject with little relation to the real world.5. is a cold subject with no place for emotions.6. is a cut and dried subject with no place of intuition.7. context is fixed. We already know all the Mathematics that we need.
II. Instructions: Select the statement(s) that best describes your views about the utility of Mathematics. You may select more than one statement.
I find Mathematics useful for…
_____ dealing with a variety of everyday _____ understanding public policies related life situations to budgets, health care system, etc.
_____ dealing with quantities and _____ artistic activities such as drawing and measurements designing, sewing and weaving, etc.
_____ developing intellectual skills such as _____ understanding other academic subjectsanalysis, critical thinking, etc.
_____ dealing with a variety of work _____ entertainment activities such as puzzlesrelated situations and games
III. Instuctions: Arrange the mathematical subjects in order of importance. The subject that you think is most useful should be ranked as ( 1).
_____ Arithmetic _____ Calculus _____ Geometry
_____ Algebra _____ Statistics _____ Trigonometry
IV. Instructions: Arrange the following lessons on order of importance. The lesson that you think is most useful should be ranked as (1).
In Arithmetic In Algebra
_____ The Four Basic Operations _____ Algebraic Expressions_____ Ratio and Proportion _____ Word Problems_____ Reading and Writing Numbers _____ Variables and Symbols_____ Fractions _____ Radicals (e.g. Square Root)_____ Percentages and Applications _____ Formulas_____ Ordering and Comparing Numbers _____ Equations
In Geometry In Statistics
_____ Measurements and Estimation _____ Charts (Line, Pie,Bar, etc.)_____ Shapes _____ Measures of Average_____ Calculating length, area, etc. _____ Probability_____ Space Geometry _____ Displaying, Organizing and Interpreting_____ Theorems and Proofs data
_____ Standardized Scores (e.g. z- score)
V. Instructions: Select the type of skills that mathematics helped you develop. Then, select the specific skills. You may select more than one type or specific skill.
_____ Intellectual Skills such as _____ Communication Skills such as
_____ learning and understanding _____ language skills_____ thinking _____ communicating with numbers_____ problem solving _____ dealing with others in shopping markets_____ attention and concentration _____ communicating with nature_____ memory
_____ Mathematical Skills such as _____ Practical Skills such as
_____ statistical skills such as reading _____ academic skills for learning other and interpreting charts subjects
_____ numerical skills such as calculating _____ professional business skills forand estimating accounting, commerce,…
_____ algebraic skills such as solving _____ professional scientific skills forequations engineering design, medication
_____ geometry skills such as drawing and administration,…Measuring _____ statistical skills for learner assessment
_____ arithmetic skills such as dealing with _____ everyday life skills for shopping,percentages personal banking,…
_____ technological skills for computed and calculator use,…
VI. Instructions: Select the statement that best describes how Mathematics helps you. Select only one statement.
I find Mathematics helpful in
_____ telling the time _____ understanding how the social security_____ finding out how much money is system works
left after shopping _____ taking courses to improve some_____ solving puzzles in magazines computer skills
or newspapers _____ reading tasks and duties schedule_____ dealing with difficult situations _____ finding new ways to improve our
that require analysis world_____ designing patterns for _____ describing distances between places
weaving
VII. Instructions: Select the most useful skill that Mathematics helps you develop. Select only one skill.
_____ learning and understanding _____ knowing time differences betweencountries
_____ communicating using numbers _____ solving equations
VIII. Instructions: Select the Mathematical subject that you use most. Select only one subject.
_____ Arithmetic _____ Geometry _____ Algebra _____ Statistics
IX. Instructions: Select the Mathematical topic that you think is most useful. You may select more than one topic.
_____ Using Charts _____ Solving Equations_____ Calculating Amounts _____ Estimating Measurements_____ Reading and Writing Numbers _____ Recognizing Basic Shapes_____ Working with Fractions _____ Working with Ratios
_____ Calculating Area, Perimeter, etc. _____ Working with Averages_____ Working with Percentages _____ Working with Square Roots_____ Comparing and Ordering Numbers _____ Knowing Theorems and Proofs_____ Using Formulas to Calculate Quantities _____ Solving Word Problems_____ Using Probabilities
X. Instructions: Select the statement that best describes your view of how Mathematics Developed. Select only one statement.
_____ People created Mathematics to address _____ People discovered Mathematicstheir practical needs as they attempted to understand
the world them.
XI. Instructions: Select the statement that best describes your view of Mathematics and its applications. Select only one statement.
I think of Mathematics as_____ a group of numbers and rules for doing _____ a language of science used to
calculations describe the physical world_____ a school subject used in learning _____ a mental exercise that helps develop
other subjects and for future studies intellectual abilities_____ a subject used in everyday life and at _____ an activity that allows us to express
work our creativity_____ a symbolic language that expresses _____ a mental activity used to develop
relations between objects and quantities problem solving techniques
XII. Instructions: Select the mathematical topic that you use most. Select only one topic.
_____ numbers and calculation ______ shapes and measurement
_____ solving equations ______ averages and probabilities
XIII. Instructions: Select the most useful skill that Mathematics helps you develop. Select only one skill
_____ Communication. _____ Mathematical
_____ Intellectual _____ Practical
XIV. Instructions: Select the statement that best describes your view of Mathematics and its applications. Select only one statement.
I think Mathematics is a tool for
_____ explaining things such as rules of _____ studying other subjectsgravity _____ developing problem solving
_____ dealing with numbers techniques_____ dealing with day to day and _____ representing relations between
work related situations objects and quantities_____ developing our ability to think _____ enhancing innovations
XV. Instructions: Select the most useful skill that Mathematics helps you develop. You may select more than one skill.
_____ reading and interpreting charts _____ thinking skills_____ dealing with others in markets _____ learning skills_____ communicating with nature _____ academic skills for learning other_____ measuring subjects_____ doing calculations _____ language skills_____ solving equations _____ business skills_____ solving problems _____ scientific skills_____ attention and concentration _____ calculator and computer skills_____ communicating through numbers _____ memory skills
_____ everyday life skills
XVI. Instructions: Select the statement that best describes your view on the usefulness of Mathematics. Select only one statement.
I find Mathematics useful for_____ dealing with day to day routines _____ understanding government policies_____ dealing with calculations and estimations _____ doing art activities such as drawing _____ developing intellectual skills and design_____ dealing with a variety of work related _____ academic and professional development
tasks _____ advancing science and technology_____ doing activities such as puzzles _____ communicating ideas related to numbers
and games and measurements
XVII. Instructions: Write a few lines in response to each of the following questions:
1.If you were to describe Mathematics, what would you say?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Do you find Mathematics useful? Why?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Can you think of lessons that you found useful in Mathematics? If so, what were those lessons about?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Did Mathematics help you develop any skills? If so, what are those skills?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Complete the following statement as in the example: (To me language is like a key. It opens the door of communication). To me Mathematics is like a____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Can you think of any profession where Mathematics is needed and used? In what ways?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Are there any views that you would like to express regarding the role of Mathematics in our everyday lives?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________