NCTM(2007) emphasizes that the mathematics is the effective mathematics curriculum which can solve the various problems faced from the school, the home, and the workplace in information-oriented society. The 7th mathematics curriculum of our country a...
NCTM(2007) emphasizes that the mathematics is the effective mathematics curriculum which can solve the various problems faced from the school, the home, and the workplace in information-oriented society. The 7th mathematics curriculum of our country also makes people know the usefulness and necessity of mathematical learning. Moreover, it helps the students to study and to use the math continuously by keeping them interested. This aim is similar to the general objective of Realistic Mathematics Education(below, RME) the Netherland mathematics theory based on Freudenthal theory. However, the aim of our mathematics curriculum lacks consistency in the aspects of contents and the process of educational curriculum. Also, the student’s Mathematical interest is very low. To achieve the goal of Mathematics, the class uses Realistic Context Problem and it will make students have a positive attitude with corresponding continuous interest, curiosity, and confidence in Mathematics. Furthermore, it will affect the development and deep understanding in Mathematics. Therefore, the experiment group which studied with Realistic Context Problems suggested by RME and the control group conducted under the 7th mathematics curriculum of our country was set up to find out if there are meaningful differences in Affective Characteristics in Mathematics or not. Also, the research will analyze how the experiment group student cognizes the class.
1. Which aspect of Affective Characteristic is affecting the mathematics knowledge of student who studied Realistic Context Problems during the class?
2. How does the student recognize the class that used Realistic Context Problems of RME?
This research reviewed RME theory and Freudenthal theory as the theoretical background and studied the coaching method and the characteristic of RME teaching material in ‘Number and Operations’ unit. Based on this reference, 14 class hours of curriculum materials consisted of Realistic Context Problems were made from ‘Rational Number and Approximate Value’ unit for 2nd grade of middle school.
In order to examine the effect of the affective meaning about Mathematics, each 10 low-rank 8th grade students from 6 normal classes of Seoul S middle school were selected and these 60 students were divided into the experiment group and the control group. The experiment group studied with the curriculum materials consisted of Real Context Problem and the control group studied with the general textbook. Both groups lasted 14 class hours and taught by the researchers.
To find out if the study conducted under Realistic Context Problem of RME is affective or not, the questionnaire about the affective characteristics of Mathematics was digitized and the quantitative research was designed. After experimental treatments, the research was processed under ANCOVA (Analysis of Covariance) for the purpose of verifying the differences of Affective Characteristics in Mathematics between the experiment group and the control group. The analyzing outline about the percentage statistics and the answering were used to analyze the result by answering the questionnaire, prior to knowing the cognition of the experimental group after the experimental treatment.
The results of this study showed as the followings:
First, the result on Affective Characteristics in Mathematics revealed that the average of the 5 affective factors such as interest, confidence, value cognition, self-control, and mathematics anxiety for the experimental group was higher than the control group. And the result of ANCOVA between two groups showed significant result with .05 significance level statistically in 3 factors which are interest, confidence, and self-control. Therefore, the class processed under the curriculum materials composed of Realistic Context Problem seemed to be brought out by the positive result on Affective Characteristics in Mathematics for the students.
Second, 86.7% students responded that the study conducted under Realistic Context Problem of RME was effective. Also, they had the positive cognition in academic achievement aspects and affective aspects in Mathematics. The study helped 56.6% students to have confidence and interest. The students preferred to study with the curriculum materials consisted of Realistic Context Problems.
In January of 2012, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology announced ‘Proposal to advance the mathematical curriculum’. ‘Proposal to advance the mathematical curriculum’ is the movement to have substantial change in order to fulfill and realize the real goal. Before this movement, Mathematics and educational curriculum were bounded in the slogan of ‘Mathematics developing creative mind’, ‘Mathematics understood easily and learned interestingly’ but those got out from conventional ways of thinking. This movement in our mathematical curriculum is similar to the directions of RME theory which tried to fulfill the goal of Freudenthal theory.
This research used RME Realistic Context Problems during the class. And it caused positive result to the Affective Characteristics of low level learner in 2nd grade of middle school. Although this result limited to the unit of 'rational number and approximate value' and objectified low level learner in 2nd grade of middle school. But the Curriculum materials consisted of Realistic Context Problems can be an affective to the Affective Characteristics of learner.