Evolution of Pupil’s Attitudes to Mathematics When Using a Philosophical Approach

Introduction: This paper forms part of an ongoing global study examining the effects of a philosophical approach in mathematics. In other papers, we have presented results concerning thinking skills (Daniel, Lafortune, Pallascio, and Schleifer, submitted for publication), and concepts of co-operation (Schleifer, Daniel, Lafortune, Pallascio, accepted for publication). This paper focuses on the impact of a philosophical approach on attitudes toward mathematics. We have previously noted (Daniel, Lafortune, Pallascio, Sykes, 1994) the existence of a perception that attitudes become more positive to mathematics when a philosophical approach is used. In this paper we present a more systematic study of a group of students from two different schools, whose initial attitudes toward mathematics varied from positive to negative. We first present our general approach, and then discuss the results obtained.

[1]  Z. Mevarech,et al.  Improve: A Multidimensional Method For Teaching Mathematics in Heterogeneous Classrooms , 1997 .

[2]  Michael Hannafin,et al.  The effects of instructional context and reasoning complexity on mathematics problem-solving , 1997 .

[3]  Herbert J. Walberg,et al.  A Process Model of Mathematics Achievement and Attitude. , 1992 .

[4]  Glenda Anthony,et al.  Active learning in a constructivist framework , 1996 .

[5]  L. Lafortune,et al.  La pensée et les émotions en mathématiques : métacognition et affectivité , 1996 .

[6]  M. Goos,et al.  Do it this way! Metacognitive strategies in collaborative mathematical problem solving , 1996 .

[7]  M. Lipman.  Philosophy in the classroom , 1977 .

[8]  L. Lafortune,et al.  Community of Inquiry in Mathematics for Higher Education , 1995 .

[9]  Herbert S. Lin,et al.  They’re Not Dumb, They’re Different: Stalking the Second Tier , 1991 .

[10]  Thomas A. Brush,et al.  The effects on student achievement and attitudes when using integrated learning systems with cooperative pairs , 1997 .

[11]  Xin Ma,et al.  Assessing the Relationship between Attitude toward Mathematics and Achievement in Mathematics: A Meta-Analysis. , 1997 .

[12]  Greg Smith.  Critical Thinking, a Philosophical Community of Inquiry and the Science/Maths Teacher , 1995 .

[13]  Asha K. Jitendra,et al.  Mathematical Word-Problem-Solving Instruction for Students with Mild Disabilities and Students at Risk for Math Failure , 1997 .

[14]  Jane M. Armstrong,et al.  Correlates and Predictors of Women's Mathematics Participation. , 1982 .