Challenging students through mathematics: a culturally relevant problem solving
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The Ohio State University / OhioLINK
2004
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| Online Access: | http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1072722613 |
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ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-osu10727226132021-08-03T05:48:42Z Challenging students through mathematics: a culturally relevant problem solving Molefe, Jacob Kgabudi Mathematics culturally relevant problem solving context language issues code-switching individual strategies According to the Human Science Research Council of South Africa’s (2002) analysis of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study-Repeat, reveals that low achievement was related to: (1) low socioeconomic status, (2) fairly low parental educational level, and (3) lack of fluency in the language of testing. This last factor implies difficulty in communication. Only about a quarter (26%) of the participants had the language of the test as their first language and these scored better in mathematics and science. The current study investigated the effect and role that culturally relevant problem solving in the language of their choice may have on learning mathematics. It explored students’ thinking and recorded any emerging mathematics concepts during culturally relevant mathematics problem solving while using any language of their choice. The investigation started with six South African grade 10 students. One participant withdrew from the study while two volunteered, thus ending with seven participants. They were selected from two schools whose only common denominator was that they are from previously disadvantaged communities and use English as the medium of instruction. Data were collected from whole class observations, participants’ journals, transcripts of audio taped interviews, and participants’ written work. The majority of the seven participants, preferred to communicate their mathematics thoughts in a mixture of English and their first language. It also emerged from the data that they solved problems they could not solve before using own strategies. These strategies differed from person to person. The data also revealed that culture had an influence on the type of strategy to be used and the solution of the problem. 2004-02-04 English text The Ohio State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1072722613 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1072722613 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws. |
| collection |
NDLTD |
| language |
English |
| sources |
NDLTD |
| topic |
Mathematics culturally relevant problem solving context language issues code-switching individual strategies |
| spellingShingle |
Mathematics culturally relevant problem solving context language issues code-switching individual strategies Molefe, Jacob Kgabudi Challenging students through mathematics: a culturally relevant problem solving |
| author |
Molefe, Jacob Kgabudi |
| author_facet |
Molefe, Jacob Kgabudi |
| author_sort |
Molefe, Jacob Kgabudi |
| title |
Challenging students through mathematics: a culturally relevant problem solving |
| title_short |
Challenging students through mathematics: a culturally relevant problem solving |
| title_full |
Challenging students through mathematics: a culturally relevant problem solving |
| title_fullStr |
Challenging students through mathematics: a culturally relevant problem solving |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Challenging students through mathematics: a culturally relevant problem solving |
| title_sort |
challenging students through mathematics: a culturally relevant problem solving |
| publisher |
The Ohio State University / OhioLINK |
| publishDate |
2004 |
| url |
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1072722613 |
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AT molefejacobkgabudi challengingstudentsthroughmathematicsaculturallyrelevantproblemsolving |
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