Assessment of mathematics textbooks potential in terms of student’s motivation and comprehension

Journal of Education and Practice
ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper) ISSN 2222-288X (Online)
Vol.4, No.28, 2013

www.iiste.org

Assessment of Mathematics Textbooks Potential in Terms of
Student’s Motivation and Comprehension
Valbona Berisha1* Xhevdet Thaçi1 Hasan Jashari2 Shukri Klinaku1
1. University of Prishtina, Faculty of Education, Rr. Agim Ramadani, p.n., 10000, Prishtina, Kosova
2. South-East European University, Faculty of Public Administration and Political Sciences
Ilindenska, no.335, 1200 Tetovo, Macedonia
* E-mail of the corresponding author: valbona.berisha@uni-pr.edu
Abstract
This paper discusses the role and influence of textbooks in mathematics teaching and learning in lower
secondary school in the Republic of Kosovo. In particular, it focuses on their potential in enhancing student’s
motivation and comprehension to engage in mathematical learning. Rivers matrix and Skovsmose’s learning
milieus are two methods involved in analyzing the mathematics textbooks in current use in grades 6 – 9 of lower
secondary school. Rivers matrix identifies key factors of the textbook content with direct impact on student
motivation and comprehension. Subsequently their degree and quality of presence are examined. Using
Skovsmose’s learning milieus, textbook tasks and examples are scrutinized according to the extent in which they
are embedded in contexts that make connections to real life. Further on, the organizing structure of content and
the range of used or proposed teaching and learning activities throughout the textbooks is discussed. The article
is the first of its kind in Kosovo and it has provided valuable data regarding the functionality level of the above
mentioned textbooks.
Keywords: Comprehension, Mathematics textbooks, Motivation, Textbook analysis
1. Introduction
“School textbooks, because of their importance as instruments of education in children’s schooling, have been
the subject of research internationally for quite a long history” (Fan, 2011, p.1). Last decades this interest is
rising because classroom studies and observations have shown that “textbook has a very central function in the
classroom for both teachers and student” (Brändström, 2005, p.2).
Countries advancing in mathematics education are creating whole teams and networks of experts, which deal
with the analysis, comparison and continuous improvement of mathematics textbooks as a factor with central
role in contemporary mathematics teaching and learning.
Despite this, in Kosovo is not done any previous research assessing the effectiveness of mathematics textbooks
in current use in any level of schooling. This paper represents the first step in that direction and its tendency is to
look into the learning opportunities offered to kosovar students in low secondary school, which includes grades 6
– 9. More precisely essential pedagogical and structural textbook features which impact directly the student’s
comprehension and motivation are observed.
The analytical framework used for textbook analysis in this study is primarily based on the work of O'Keeffe &
O'Donoghue (2009) and Skovsmose (2001), expanded with a number of observations regarding the structure of
content organization as well as teaching and learning activities used and proposed throughout the textbooks.
The final aim of this paper is identifying textbook elements which can be improved in order to enhance teaching
and learning.
2. The role of textbooks in student’s motivation and comprehension
“Student motivation is an essential element that is necessary for quality education ... very little if any learning
can occur unless students are motivated on a consistent basis” (Williams, Williams, 2010, p.2). In mathematics
teaching and learning, a more comprehensive and motivating learning environment is provided making strong
connections between mathematics content and real world, everyday experiences, history of mathematics, modern
technology, other school disciplines as well as using a variety of presentation styles, methods and classroom
activities. Mathematics textbook, as a primary and most important instrument in teaching and learning
mathematics, must be “a provider” of these connections and activities. A textbook analysis regarding these
features would be with interest, in order to give an insight of the opportunities offered to the students in terms of
comprehension and motivation.

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Pepin and Haggarty in their study (2008) explored different connections within mathematics and beyond
mathematics that different tasks and exercises from selected English, French and German textbooks of lower
secondary school would provide. One of the aspects investigated was the embeddedness of the real contexts
throughout the tasks and exercises. The authors emphasized that an important issue for textbook task analysis is
to what extent and in which ways the real world experiences are incorporated, considering the motivation it
stimulates.
Romberg in his paper (2001) describes the research on designing of a series of mathematics textbooks for grades
5 – 8 called “Mathematics in Context”, based on the Realistic Mathematics Education theory (RME). This theory
emphasizes student’s motivation and understanding of the mathematics they are learning. In RME, the real
world, everyday experiences and school subjects different from mathematics are used as a starting point for the
development of mathematical concepts and ideas. The RME originally was developed in the Netherlands, but it
has been embraced by education systems worldwide, because of its effective approaches in mathematics teaching
and learning.
3. Methodology
Analyzed textbooks are Matematika 6, Matematika 7, Matematika 8 and Matematika 9 (Editing House
Dukagjini, Pejë), allowed for publication by the decisions of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
of Kosovo. These textbooks are free distributed to students for one year period and students have access to their
mathematics textbook at school as well as at home. According to the Kosovo curriculum these textbooks
represent the basic literature for teaching and learning of mathematics in grades 6 – 9. Textbook analysis is
performed with the combination of two methods – Rivers matrix (Rivers, 1990) and Learning milieus
(Skovsmose, 2001). The Rivers matrix is used in identifying and investigating the presence of the following
factors:
• Motivational factor – which includes historical notes, scientist biographies, career info, practical implications,
applications and real world problems. As mathematics textbooks must not be isolated from modern society, they
are required to provide adequate national and international context, background and application when
introducing mathematics concepts and topics. Content enriched in this way is far more acceptable and interesting
for students, compared to abstract and isolated mathematics information.
• Comprehension cues – which include use of colors and graphical representations. Many researchers agree that
colors and illustrations are a very powerful factor in terms of student’s comprehension. Comprehension can be
greatly influenced by the color, layout and inclusion of graphics within a text (Dowling, 1996). Color and the
presence and correct use of diagrams play a vital role in student’s comprehension (O'Keeffe and O'Donoghue,
2009).
• Technical aids – which include references to calculator and computer use in the first place. According to recent
research technology is a tool with great potential of use for teaching and learning of mathematics (Wiest, 2001),
therefore textbooks must reflect to this view, for the benefit of students.
• Philosophical position – which includes the orientation of the textbook in terms of philosophy of education,
deals with the purpose and nature of teaching and learning mathematics. Rivers matrix identifies possible
emphases and philosophical orientations of a textbook. The predominant emphasis deals with the aims and
nature of teaching and learning mathematics and this in turn provides a basis for identifying the predominant
philosophy of a textbook (O'Keeffe and O'Donoghue 2009). The possible emphasis: utility and motivation,
career goals and immediate reinforcement, proficiency and logic, reduction of threat, retention and depth of
understanding, language of mathematics and active participation, critical thinking and communication. The
possible philosophical orientation: reconstructionism – focus on society and changes; pragmatism – focus on
problem solving; perenialism – focus on intellect and the importance of understanding; realism – focus on
observation and experience; existentialism – focus on students individual learning.
According to recent research, use of this elements in textbooks is an imperative of modern mathematics teaching
and learning (O'Keeffe and O'Donoghue, 2009).
Skovsmose’s learning milieus (2001) provided a more fine – grained approach to the issue of the incorporated
real contexts through the textbooks content which is related with motivational factor ingredients such as practical
implications, applications and the involvement of real problems. More precisely this method was applied for
classifying textbooks examples and tasks with respect to their contextual characteristics:
• Examples and tasks with reference to pure mathematics – context unembedded tasks.
• Examples and tasks with references to a semi reality – tasks situated in artificial reality constructed by the
textbook authors, which in fact have nothing to do with the relationship between mathematics and reality
(Skovsmose, 2001).
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• Examples and tasks with references to a real life – tasks that make mathematics useful and worthwhile, they
give to the students meaningful contexts and connections to familiar experiences (Pepin and Haggarty, 2008).
Before we go further, let us clarify some notions used in the process of analysis in order to avoid ambiguity:
• Examples represent all the tasks provided with solutions and noted in the textbooks as examples as well as all
practical implications and applications that were found in the course part of the text.
•Tasks for individual work represent all the exercises situated at the end of each topic, intended for individual
and independent students work.
• Word problems represent all the exercises where information on the problem is given as text and not in
mathematical notation.
Let us clarify too that there was no specific method required for observing of the general characteristics of the
structure of content organization as well as used or proposed teaching and learning activities throughout the
textbooks.
4. Results and discussion
The data obtained from the textbooks analysis are presented in the tables below. The first table reflects the
findings obtained applying the Rivers matrix to each of the textbooks involved. As one can see, Table 1 indicates
the lack of most of the factors that support motivation and comprehension. The presence of historical notes and
biographies is almost non-existent comparing to the number of topics included.
Humor is not used at all. On the other hand, we have a truly large number of illustrations. Many researchers have
highlighted the relevant role of bright and attractive illustrations (e. g. Dowling 1996, Mikk 2000). However,
these textbooks weakness regarding the illustrations matter is twofold. Firstly, the only colors used through all
the illustrations are black and two or three nuances of gray. Secondly, realistic illustrations, which actually have
greater weight and importance (O'Keeffe and O'Donoghue, 2009) are very few, only 3.10 % of the total number
of illustrations. There is no use of colors in any of the textbooks involved. Through all the textbooks, the page
background is white, while the font color is black. Sometimes a nuance of gray is used for background of the
highlighted text. The use of technology is ignored at all, even though the incorporation of technology means
involving more of the student’s experience in mathematics learning. It also means the higher proficiency in using
technology which is a highly necessary skill today.
Of all the possible emphasis outlined by the Rivers matrix, proficiency and logic is the only one coherent and
predominant in the textbooks series. According to this the predominant philosophical position is perenialism,
with the textbooks focusing mostly on the intellect.
Table 2 contains the data obtained applying Skovsmose’s learning milieus to each of the textbooks. Table is
organized based on three categories: examples, tasks for individual work and word problems. Each of these
categories has three subcategories. Table gives an insight into the percentage of presence of each subcategory
within the respective category through each textbook accordingly.
In their study of analyzing and comparing French, German and English mathematics textbooks of low secondary
school, Pepin and Hagarty (2008) highlight the fact that in English and German textbooks half of the tasks are
context embedded, while in French textbooks only a third of the tasks are such. As we can see
Table 1. The Rivers matrix
Matematika 6

Matematika 7

Matematika 8

Matematika 9

Historical notes

1

2

1

1

Biographical notes

0

0

1

4

Humor
Colors
Tables and mathematical
illustrations
Real life illustrations

0

0

0

0

black, grey

black, grey

black, grey

black, grey

253

225

142

252

Calculator use

8
0

17
0

2
0

0
0

Computer use

0

0

0

0

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from the Table 2, contextual analysis of Kosovar textbooks gives us quite different results. Despite the fact that
Kosovo curriculum emphasizes the establishing of the connections between mathematics and real world, as well
as between mathematics and other school subjects, as some of the primary purposes in mathematics teaching, in
this textbook series the context embedded exercises and tasks are in a very low percentage. The major part of the
tasks is situated into the abstract mathematics world. Through all the text books there is a
Table 2. Skovmose’s learning milieus
Matematika 6
Context unembedded
examples
Semi-real examples
Real life examples
Context unembedded
tasks for individual work
Semi-real tasks for
individual work
Real life tasks for
individual work
Context unembedded
word problems
Semi-real word problems
Real life word problems

Matematika 7

Matematika 8

Matematika 9

85.62%
12.63%
1.75%

76.09%
19.02%
4.89%

93.79%
1.86%
4.35%

67.92%
28.34%
3.74%

90.62%

78.91%

90.05%

85.60%

5.63%

16.36%

2.62%

13.61%

3.75%

4.73%

1.83%

0.79%

78.26%
13.04%
8.70%

66.45%
25.32%
8.23%

84.26%
9.26%
6.48%

57.36%
40.31%
2.33%

very small number of exercises and tasks (16 such items through the whole textbook series) that represent some,
mostly implicit, connectivity with other school subjects. As for the problems solving issue, the results show that
from the total number of the exercises involved throughout the whole series, 39.97 % of them are word
problems, most of which are context unembedded.
One of the important roles that textbooks have in education is to provide teachers with ideas and activities for
teaching students (e.g. Johansson, 2006). The range of methods and activities presented in the textbook is closely
related with its motivating and comprehension potential for students learning, too. Erbaş, Alacaci and Bulut in
their study (2012) reveal different possibilities of using student centered activities and methods for presenting
mathematical knowledge in order to turn a textbook more reader – friendly and helpful for students. Classroom
activities, student – centered activities and manipulative materials through all the analyzed textbooks, in our
case, are very few and occasional. The worst exemplar is the textbook Matematika 8, in which even one single
used or proposed activity could not be found. It is certain that these textbooks do not offer any support or help to
anybody, as for the activities and the range of presentation methods found in them.
The structure of content organizing is quite simple through all the textbooks, including first a presentation of the
basic knowledge on the topic, which sometimes begins with a warming activity or a real or semi - real example,
but mostly not, and later come the exercises followed by the tasks for individual work which are not at all
graduated in order of difficulty. This textbook structure offers very poor possibilities of use in a mixed ability
class, like ours are in that level of schooling, considering that every student must be challenged in his own ability
level. In Kosovo, students are later on differentiated depending on their learning abilities. Brändström, in her
paper (2005) reveals a structure of three Swedish mathematics textbooks for grade 7. Every textbook chapter
starts with a basic course section, followed by a diagnostic test and a follow - up section. The strand on which
student works within the follow - up section is based on the result of the diagnostic test. Follow - up sections are
divided into two or three strands based on the degree of difficulty. At the end there is a section with mixed tasks
and a final test to verify if the student has passed the course. This is an example of the textbook meant to be used
in a mixed ability students group, where students can work at their own specific levels and individual speeds.
5. Conclusions
As the results show, there is a huge difference between perspectives and approaches in analyzed textbook series
and modern perspectives and approaches in mathematics teaching and learning. Knowing that Kosovo Ministry
of Science and Technology gives priority to the analyzed textbooks as the main source for mathematics teaching
and learning in the lower secondary school, we can conclude that kosovar students, as for the learning

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opportunities offered by the curriculum materials, are situated in an abstract mathematic world with almost
nonexistent connections with real life and other school disciplines, and no connection what so ever with modern
technology. Furthermore, textbooks do not offer any support or help with classroom activities and teaching
strategies. The existing organizational structure of these textbooks results in reduced opportunities and less
challenge for whole parts of a heterogeneous group of students with mixed ability levels. This analysis brings us
to conclusion that these textbooks ability to facilitate students motivation and learning is very low and working
with them is not of much use.
References
Brändström, A. (2005). Differentiated tasks in Mathematics textbooks - An analysis of the Levels of Difficulty.
(Licentiate thesis, Luleå University of Technology). Luleå: Luleå University of Technology, Department of
Mathematics.
Dowling, P. (1996). A sociological analysis of school Mathematics texts. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 31
(4), 389-485.
Erbaş, A., Alacaci, C., Bulut, M. (2012). A comparison of Mathematics textbooks from Turkey, Singapore and
the United States of America. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 12(3), 2324-2330.
Fan, L., (2011). Textbook research as scientific research: Towards a common ground for research on
mathematics textbooks. Retrieved on 28-th May 2013 from http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/201715
Johansson, M. (2006). Teaching mathematics with textbooks: A classroom and curricular perspective. (Doctoral
thesis, Luleå University of Technology). Luleå: Luleå University of Technology, Department of Mathematics.
Mikk, J. (2000). Textbook: Research and Writing. Oxford: Lang.
Noonan, J. (1990). Readability Problems Presented by Mathematics Texts. Early Child Development and Care,
54, 57-81.
O'Keeffe, L., O'Donoghue, J. (2009). Mathematics Textbook Analysis: its role and significance for student
comprehension and motivation. Proceedings of Third National Conference on Research in Mathematics
Education, (pp. 283-294). Dublin, St. Patric’s College.
Pepin, B., Haggarty, L. (2007). Making connections and Seeking Understanding: Mathematical tasks in English,
French and German textbooks. Paper presentation at AERA 07, Chicago.
Rivers, J. (1990). Contextual Analysis of Problems in Algebra 1 textbooks. Presented at the Annual meeting of
the American Educational Research Association, Boston.
Romberg, Th. (2001). Designing Middle-School Mathematics Materials Using Problems Set in Context to Help
Students Progress from Informal to Formal Mathematical Reasoning. Retrieved on 14-th February 2013 from
http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/ncisla
Skovsmose O. (2001). Landscapes of Investigation. Zentralblatt für Didaktik der Mathematik, 33 (4), 123-132.
Wiest, L. (2001). The role of computers in Mathematics Teaching and learning. Computers in the Schools, 17,
41-55.
Williams, K., Williams, C. (2011). Five key ingredients for improving student motivation. Research in Higher
Education Journal, 12, 1-23

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