EFFECTIVE PEDAGOGY OF MATHEMATICS

Effective Pedagogy of Mathematics in Secondary Schools

Effective Pedagogy of Mathematics in Secondary Schools

Introduction

Mathematics education is of much importance to society and provides the tool which underpins much of the areas that is essential for sustainable development such as technology, science, engineering, economics, and finance. It also underpins information technology, computer science, engineering, and the physical sciences, and plays an increasingly important role in the biological and medical sciences, economics, finance, environmental science, sociology and psychology and is essential for employment opportunities and achievements of individual citizens in decision-making processes. Mathematics is the study of universal patterns and structures and is the quantitative language of the world. Since the language of mathematics is international and transcends cultural boundaries and its importance is globally recognized as essential, being numerate equips students with powerful ways to analyze, describe and ultimately, to transform the world. Based on research by Frean (2008), students, educators, parents, and other stakeholders believe that the ways in which mathematics is taught is failing students. Such concern is related to both the number of students in and the number of students who graduate from secondary schools and are under-performing in mathematics. Within the context of students' under performance in mathematics, Smither (2006) stated, “Mathematics teaching [is] failing secondary pupils” (¶ 1). Effective teaching and learning of mathematics has now become a major cause for concern in schools. Educational stakeholders have become uneasy about the failure of students in mathematics; and as mentioned by Smith (2004), many educational practitioners believe that there is a crisis in the teaching and learning of mathematics in the United Kingdom. All mathematics teachers, therefore, need to recognize the urgency to improve the pedagogy of mathematics in order for students to learn mathematics in effective ways, thus, becoming functionally numerate citizens. Therefore, as a result of the issues and concerns surrounding the pedagogy of mathematics, the topic “Investigating the Factors that Contribute to Effective Pedagogy of Mathematics in Secondary Schools” will be researched and presented in order to bring about change in the teaching and learning of mathematics.

An understanding of the pedagogy of mathematics and deducing the factors that will create change in mathematics classrooms is fundamental for educational growth. The importance of mathematics education in the modern world of competitive international markets and rapidly changing technologies and job opportunities is quite well known. The question, then, of why students are under-performing and the factors that contribute to effective teaching and learning of mathematics in schools is not only a very important but a complex question. It is essential and incumbent of educators to recognize the factors that are preventing effective teaching and learning of mathematics and, thus, implement the necessary strategies to combat this negative trend.

Although there have been some efforts to improve mathematics education in schools, much is desired in this regard. The importance of learning mathematics is constantly stressed by educators and employees alike. Such concerns arise as a result of the importance of mathematics in order for one ...