Zaleha Ismail

Many efforts on identifying misconceptions among schools and undergraduate students have been done, but for postgraduates, in particular serviced teachers, are yet to be understood. Researches, thesis writing and publications require substantial level of statistical reasoning for postgraduates. The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze postgraduates' misconceptions in descriptive statistics (central tendency and variability). The instrument was a set of questions design to test statistical reasoning in descriptive ...

Matematika merupakan salah satu mata pelajaran yang menantang pemahaman siswa; pokok bahasan peluang dalam topik statistik merupakan hal yang bermanfaat dan mempunyai aplikasi ke berbagai disiplin ilmu. Namun, pokok bahasan ini termasuk yang kurang dipahami oleh siswa. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji pemahaman siswa dalam menyelesaikan masalah peluang (probabilitas) dan untuk mengetahui masalah yang dihadapi oleh siswa dalam menyelesaikan masalah peluang. Untuk tujuan tersebut, satu studi kualitatif dengan pendekatan studi kasus telah dilakukan dengan jumlah sampel secara purposif sebanyak delapan orang pada siswa kelas sepuluh di sekolah menengah negeri di daerah Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Data penelitian pada tahap awal didapat dengan memberikan ujian diagnostik kepada sampel, kemudian empat orang diantaranya dipilih untuk di wawancara secara mendalam mengenai jawaban yang diberikan. Wawancara difokuskan kepada pola pemahaman siswa dalam menyelesaikan masalah peluang dan masal...

The focus of assessment in statistics has gradually shifted from traditional assessment towards alternative assessment where more attention has been paid to the core statistical concepts such as center, variability, and distribution. In spite of this, there are comparatively few assessments that combine the significant three types of statistical reasoning (reasoning about center, spread, and distribution) with information technology in the context of secondary school students. Hence, this paper intends to discuss the development and initial validation of a technology-based statistical reasoning assessment tool that has been created based on a previously developed statistical reasoning framework. This framework has been useful in evaluating students' statistical reasoning levels in task-based interviews. The assessment tool formulated through this study will be used to refine and validate the initial statistical reasoning framework. There are five tasks in this instrument and eac...

This paper describes a proposal to enhance the teaching of Engineering Mathematics by integrating mathematical thinking and engineering thinking. In our previous research we had focused on the development and support of the mathematical thinking amongst engineering undergraduates and the results showed that the strategies we used were successful in promoting positive changes in our attitude as well as that of our students. However, the transfer of knowledge remains problematic since the application of the mathematics learnt to the specific engineering discipline was done in a general manner. Here, the emphasis will be on how mathematics can be better integrated into engineering education to support the flexible thinking skills that are critical for engineering practice broadly as well as for creativity and innovation. We will present a conceptual framework on the importance of making both thinking processes explicit which would positively influence the teaching of mathematics to pro...

... Feng SL and Tuan HL (2005), Using Arcs Model To Promote 11th Graders' Motivation And Achievement In Learning About Acids And Bases, International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, Volume 3, pp. ... Norulhuda Ismail & Zaleha Ismail / Journal of Edupres ...

ABSTRACT Mathematics is considered a fundamental component of engineering education, thus it is important to determine the mathematical competencies (MCs) attained by engineering undergraduate students so that they will be able to use these competencies to support their professional engineering work. The MCs were identified based on Niss's work, namely, thinking mathematically, reasoning, problem posing and solving, modeling, representing, communicating, symbolism and formalism, using aids and tool. This research was done to explore MCs in engineering mathematics curriculum by conducting two studies, a study on engineers' MCs requirements at the workplace and a study on the engineering students' MCs acquirements at the university. In the first phase, 22 engineers from various industries in Malaysia responded to a set of open-ended questionnaires followed by interview session with 10 selected engineers. In the second phase, 41 engineering undergraduate students participated by answering a set of questionnaires with open ended questions The data of the research were analyzed qualitatively using schema coding approach as well as appropriate statistical analysis. The findings from both phases gave indication the MCs required should be the focus of engineering mathematics curriculum. Particularly it highlighted which MCs were actually attained by the undergraduate engineering students as compared to the MCs that were needed based on the demands at the workplace. The results gave suggestion that mathematics curriculum should also focus on MCs as outcomes besides the development of mathematical concepts and skills.

ABSTRACT Differential equations are indispensible for engineers as they help to produce models which to study various phenomena. Research has shown that students experience difficulty in interpreting graphical solutions of differential equations and symbolic solutions. Therefore, mathematical thinking powers should be developed in differential equations in classrooms as the current situation in differential equations is concerned with procedural knowledge such as finding symbolic solutions with an emphasis on conceptual knowledge rather than procedural knowledge. However, very few studies have investigated how engineers use differential equations in real situations. This study reports the computation of real life problems, applying differential equations. Data was collected through in-depth interview with seven engineering students from chemical engineering faculty at a public university in Malaysia. Findings showed that to solve real life problems, students needed both procedural and conceptual knowledge of differential equations. Moreover, they used software packages, specifically a computer algebra system, to compute the problems and to interpret the solutions using their mathematical thinking powers such as specializing, generalizing, conjecturing, and convincing. The findings may lead to an examination of the current situation in differential equation classrooms to ensure a balance between procedural, conceptual, and technological knowledge with mathematical thinking approach.

Previous studies demonstrated that students encountered difficulties in understanding the concept of variability. Hence, the purpose of this study is to identify the misconceptions in reasoning about variability among tenth grade students in Malaysia. In this study, a statistical reasoning test consisting of five main questions with 16 items was employed. A total of 412 students from nine secondary schools participated in solving problems. The results showed that 41.5% of students answered a question concerning standard deviation incorrectly. Two new misconceptions about variability have been discovered in this study. Several recommendations are proposed in order to overcome students’ incorrect reasoning. This study helps instructors and researchers to design appropriate assessment and learning activities in a statistics classroom.

... Ismail, Zaleha and Mat Arshad, Rosnita Bahan E-Pembelajaran Berasaskan Sistem Pengurusan ... topik disajikan dengan pelbagai sumber dan aktiviti pembelajaran mengikut kurikulum ... Hot Potatoes Quiz', 'Forum' bagi membincangkan segala masalah pembelajaran dan 'Chat ...

Matematik telah berkembang dari awal tamadun manusia sehingga diiktiraf sebagai disiplin yang amat penting untuk dipelajari oleh setiap lapisan masyarakat. Perkembangannya semakin pesat dengan munculnya teknologi komputer memainkan peranan ...

ABSTRACT Persepsi mengenai matematik tercemar berikutan cara ia diajar di sekolah. Sistem persekolahan masa kini berasaskan peperiksaan di mana pembelajaran terlalu bertumpukan kepada pengiraan, penggunaan rumus dan latih tubi. Maka ramai pelajar mempunyai sikap negatif terhadap matematik. Secara realitinya, matematik merupakan ilmu yang sangat berguna dalam menjalani kehidupan seharian, menarik dan menyeronokkan. Pembangunan Dunia Matematik bertujuan untuk mendedahkan sifat matematik yang sebenarnya dengan menjangkaui matematik di bilik darjah kepada masyarakat Malaysia khususnya guru, pelajar serta ibubapa. Penulisan ini hanya bertumpukan kepada ruangan Kuiz dan Pelajari Matematik. Dunia Matematik merupakan satu majalah web yang menyediakan kuiz atas talian bertujuan untuk penaksiran dan pembelajaran dalam matematik. Penaksiran penting untuk mengetahui tahap pembelajaran pelajar dalam menguasai topik yang diajar oleh guru. Kuiz dibangunkan dengan menggunakan perisian sumber terbuka MOODLE versi 1.9 dengan berpandukan pada model ADDIE. Penggunaan MOODLE dalam membangunkan kuiz ini bertepatan dengan konsep pembelajaran yang berasaskan Konstruktivisme Sosial dimana pelajar boleh membina pengetahuan dalam suasana yang menekankan interaksi. Kuiz yang disediakan bersesuaian dengan topik-topik pilihan yang sering ditekankan dalam peperiksaan. Kuiz bersifat interaktif dan item berbentuk aneka pilihan yang disertakan sekali dengan maklum balas mengikut jawapan. Pelajar diberi masa yang mencukupi untuk menyelesaikan setiap percubaan kuiz tersebut. Maklum balas yang diberi berdasarkan kepada kesilapan lazim pelajar yang mungkin dilakukan oleh mereka dan bertujuan untuk membantu dalam memperbaiki kesilapan mereka. Pemberian gred dengan serta merta memudahkan untuk pelajar dan guru melihat dan menyemak markah bagi setiap percubaan kuiz. Majalah web ini turut memberi pendedahan kepada pengguna untuk mengubah sikap mereka terhadap matematik. Artikel bagi ruangan Pelajari Matematik meliputi topik-topik seperti penyelesaian masalah mengikut kaedah Polya, kaedah menghafal yang berkesan, teknik-teknik pelajari matematik serta video pembelajaran. Ruangan tersebut dapat membantu pelajar dengan mendedahkan kaedah pelajari matematik dengan cara yang berkesan. Katakunci : Pelajari Matematik, MOODLE, ADDIE model, dynamic mathematics web