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number: /2022
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 937
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is regarded internationally critical to effectively prepare citizens for the twenty-first century (Early Childhood STEM Working Group, 2017; McClure et al., 2017, National Research Council, 2011). One basic assumption underlying this work how improving outcomes for children requires the provision of support for their teachers so that educators are empowered to provide high-quality STEM experiences during the first years of primary school. This paper presents the case study emerged from the Kanga-Kids Professional Development Model of Training for in-service Math teachers in the early years of elementary school. The model includes three main components: (1) workshops, (2) reflective coaching cycles, and (3) professional learning communities/workgroups. The findings show that the program has succeeded in changing basic attitudes and beliefs as well as daily routines at school in teaching math. This paper contributes to theoretical and practical literature in the area of STEM bringing a detailed example of the design and its impact.
number: /2022
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 1,174
Mathematical modeling in teaching is getting more and more attention. That is reflected in the new General Education program, which considers mathematical modeling one of the core mathematical competencies. Many researchers around the world have given their views on mathematical modeling and the mathematical modeling process. Our research aims to build a teaching process to resolve practical problems on exponential and logarithmic inequalities to develop mathematical modeling competence for students in Vietnam. By the method of theoretical research, survey, and descriptive statistics method, the results showed that mathematical modeling of practical problems under exponential and logarithmic inequalities has a positive impact on students. By surveying 82 students, it is found that students showed more interest in class and actively participated in lessons. Students would rather solve problems on their own than constantly ask for help from the teacher. Students, through practical activities, showed remarkable progress. Students know how to come up with solutions to a real-world problem involving exponential and logarithmic inequalities. These facts demonstrate the importance of teaching modeling of actual issues on exponential and logarithmic inequalities for students.
number: /2022
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 892
Continuing professional development (CPD) of mathematics teachers may take several forms. Some of these involve merely the dissemination of knowledge by experts while others involve teachers in creating knowledge for and through practice. Research has shown that effective CPD for mathematics teachers involve experimenting in their classrooms and reporting back to a group, working collaboratively with fellow teachers, having time away from school to think and discuss common issues they faced in their classrooms and in addition to the pedagogical aspects of their deliberation also doing some mathematics. This paper presents a form of CPD that exemplify a shift of the centre of gravity for CPD from the “supply-side,” “offline” forms of knowledge transmission by professional development providers, such as University academics, to “demand-side,” “online” in-situ forms of knowledge creation by teachers. It involves a hybrid one that integrates the “training model of PD” with sustained support for mathematics teachers to integrate knowledge gained from the PD into their classroom practice. Here CPD is nestled in the classrooms of the teachers, and addresses their needs. The three phases of the CPD, namely: Learn (Acquisition and co-construction of knowledge), Apply (integrate new knowledge into classroom practice) and Teach (develop fellow teachers nationally and/or internationally) appear to make the engagement of teachers in CPD holistic.
number: /2022
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 1,037
Derivative has a central role in calculus. Most students have conceptual difficulties regarding derivative in terms of understanding and giving sense to it. This study conducted a teaching experiment, supported by the use of GeoGebra software to design mathematical tasks on the derivative of a function at a point for an 11th grade classroom. This class of 32 students was divided into eight groups of four students, and each group had the opportunity to operate with the model on GeoGebra. The results showed that the numerical representation, the graphical representation, and the algebraic representation help students understand the concept of derivative. Through observing students’ actions as they carried out tasks, we are able to assess the mathematical competencies that students have achieved.
number: /2022
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 744
number: /2022
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 1,107
Attitude - an important psychology concept has got attention in education research around the world. In Vietnam, research related to students’ attitudes towards studying science subjects is still quite new. This study conceptualizes and operationalizes attitudes, and measures students’ attitudes toward learning mathematics. Building on previous studies, we designed an instrument that based on the ABC model of attitudes to measure how 128 high school students in Hue City changed their attitudes towards mathematics when participating in modeling tasks. The results showed that many students (59.4%) expressed their dislike of Mathematics even though they perceived Mathematics as an important subject. However, student attitudes have gradually changed in a positive direction after taking a mathematical modeling course; they shared their love towards authentic tasks. This shows the students had changed their attitudes about mathematics and were cognizant of its utility.
number: /2021
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 1,272
The Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) currently has 1220 faculty members and staff working under the ten constituent colleges and the Office of the Vice Chancellor. This figure comprises of 402 women employees compared to 818 men (IMS, 2021). This number indicates that gender equality has not been reached within RUB. The present study explored the self-efficacy and job satisfaction levels of female RUB employees and how they are related. A mixed method, sequential explanatory design was adopted for the study. The quantitative data were gathered from 95 participants and the qualitative data were gathered from 38 participants. The participants included female employees working in different colleges of RUB and the Office of the Vice Chancellor. A thematic analysis following descriptive statistical analysis was used for the quantitative data and the qualitative data were analyzed along the same themes. The findings revealed that the participants’ levels of selfefficacy and job satisfaction are high. The study also highlighted a repertoire of factors that affect self-efficacy and job satisfaction. A study to explore the most effective and sustainable source of self-efficacy and job satisfaction is recommended.
number: /2021
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 1,391
In the era of globalization, one of the ultimate goals in English language education is to equip learners with intercultural sensitivity (InS) to effectively communicate with people from different cultural backgrounds; however, EFL learners in rural contexts are supposed to encounter difficulties in achieving InS. Therefore, this mixed-methods study aims at exploring EFL students’ InS in a rural high school where students have few opportunities to interact with foreigners in person. The study involved 185 EFL high school students in Lam Dong province, Vietnam, in answering the questionnaire, and 18 students in responding to the focus group interview questions. The results indicated that participants possessed a high level of InS. Among the five constructs of InS (e.g. interaction engagement, respect for cultural differences, interaction enjoyment, interaction attentiveness, & intercultural confidence), the participants were most aware of respect for cultural differences, had interaction enjoyment and attentiveness, and showed their intercultural confidence. Nevertheless, they were likely to have difficulties in interaction engagement. It can be implied that the EFL high school students could, to some extent, gain their InS except socially intercultural interactions.
number: /2021
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 2,315
The paper aims to investigate the impact of the Big Five personality traits on the academic performance of college students within the context of the Faculty of Business English at Foreign Trade University. A quantitative approach was applied in this study. Primary data was collected through an online questionnaire. Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) was used as the academic performance measure, whereas the Big Five personality traits were measured using the extra short version of the Big Five Inventory-2. Regression results showed that 41.2 percent of the variance in CGPA is explained by personality traits. Conscientiousness and Openness to Experience were found to have significant and positive impacts on CGPA, while Neuroticism was found to have a significant negative impact. It is concluded that Conscientiousness and Openness to Experience enhance academic performance, and Neuroticism impairs it. Suggestions were made on creating an appropriate fit between teaching and assessment methods and individual differences in personality among college students. Limitations of the personality trait instrument and the academic performance measure were considered.
number: /2021
CIT number: 0
Number of views: 3,123
This research mainly aims at investigating non-English majored students’ awareness of autonomous English learning. To obtain the data for this research, one hundred non-English majors, from The Saigon International University, were surveyed. The objectives were to explore the students’ perceptions of their responsibility in learning English as well as the main factors affecting students’ autonomy. In addition to the survey, five students were also interviewed to discover the roles of autonomous English learning in students’ view. The findings indicate that the majority of students perceive themselves as autonomous learners who are willing to take responsibility for their English learning inside and outside the classroom. Besides, according to the results, there are various factors influencing autonomous English learning which includes laziness, a lack of learning strategies, and a lack of motivation. Moreover, the results show that autonomy does play an integral part in English learning. This study concludes by suggesting various methods to promote non-English majors’ autonomy in their English language learning process.