Students conceptions of mathematics
- 1. QUESTIONNAIRE _______________________________________________________________________________ Name:_________________________________ Section:_________________ Date of Birth:___________________________ Age:____________________ Gender: Male_____ Female_____ Students Conceptions of Mathematics in Everyday Life I.Instructions: For each statement, select the choice that reflects your agreement or disagreement with the given statement. Select only one choice. Kindly check ( / ) the appropriate column that best describes your answer based on the scale below: 5 – Strongly Agree 4 – Agree 3 – Undecided 2 - Disagree 1 - Strongly Disagree Statements 5 4 3 2 1 Mathematics… 1 .is an accurate subject, where all questions have answers that are either correct and incorrect. 2. is a universal subject that is the same all over the world. 3. is a rational subject with no place of intuition. 4. is an abstract subject with little relation to the real world. 5. is a cold subject with no place for emotions. 6. is a cut and dried subject with no place of intuition. 7. context is fixed. We already know all the Mathematics that we need. II. Instructions: Select the statement(s) that best describes your views about the utility of Mathematics. You may select more than one statement. I find Mathematics useful for… _____ dealing with a variety of everyday _____ understanding public policies related life situations to budgets, health care system, etc. _____ dealing with quantities and _____ artistic activities such as drawing and measurements designing, sewing and weaving, etc. _____ developing intellectual skills such as _____ understanding other academic subjects analysis, critical thinking, etc. _____ dealing with a variety of work _____ entertainment activities such as puzzles related situations and games
- 2. III. Instuctions: Arrange the mathematical subjects in order of importance. The subject that you think is most useful should be ranked as ( 1). _____ Arithmetic _____ Calculus _____ Geometry _____ Algebra _____ Statistics _____ Trigonometry IV. Instructions: Arrange the following lessons on order of importance. The lesson that you think is most useful should be ranked as (1). In Arithmetic In Algebra _____ The Four Basic Operations _____ Algebraic Expressions _____ Ratio and Proportion _____ Word Problems _____ Reading and Writing Numbers _____ Variables and Symbols _____ Fractions _____ Radicals (e.g. Square Root) _____ Percentages and Applications _____ Formulas _____ Ordering and Comparing Numbers _____ Equations In Geometry In Statistics _____ Measurements and Estimation _____ Charts (Line, Pie,Bar, etc.) _____ Shapes _____ Measures of Average _____ Calculating length, area, etc. _____ Probability _____ Space Geometry _____ Displaying, Organizing and Interpreting _____ Theorems and Proofs data _____ Standardized Scores (e.g. z- score) V. Instructions: Select the type of skills that mathematics helped you develop. Then, select the specific skills. You may select more than one type or specific skill. _____ Intellectual Skills such as _____ Communication Skills such as _____ learning and understanding _____ language skills _____ thinking _____ communicating with numbers _____ problem solving _____ dealing with others in shopping markets _____ attention and concentration _____ communicating with nature _____ memory
- 3. _____ Mathematical Skills such as _____ Practical Skills such as _____ statistical skills such as reading _____ academic skills for learning other and interpreting charts subjects _____ numerical skills such as calculating _____ professional business skills for and estimating accounting, commerce,… _____ algebraic skills such as solving _____ professional scientific skills for equations engineering design, medication _____ geometry skills such as drawing and administration,… Measuring _____ statistical skills for learner assessment _____ arithmetic skills such as dealing with _____ everyday life skills for shopping, percentages personal banking,… _____ technological skills for computed and calculator use,… VI. Instructions: Select the statement that best describes how Mathematics helps you. Select only one statement. I find Mathematics helpful in _____ telling the time _____ understanding how the social security _____ finding out how much money is system works left after shopping _____ taking courses to improve some _____ solving puzzles in magazines computer skills or newspapers _____ reading tasks and duties schedule _____ dealing with difficult situations _____ finding new ways to improve our that require analysis world _____ designing patterns for _____ describing distances between places weaving VII. Instructions: Select the most useful skill that Mathematics helps you develop. Select only one skill. _____ learning and understanding _____ knowing time differences between countries _____ communicating using numbers _____ solving equations VIII. Instructions: Select the Mathematical subject that you use most. Select only one subject. _____ Arithmetic _____ Geometry _____ Algebra _____ Statistics IX. Instructions: Select the Mathematical topic that you think is most useful. You may select more than one topic. _____ Using Charts _____ Solving Equations _____ Calculating Amounts _____ Estimating Measurements _____ Reading and Writing Numbers _____ Recognizing Basic Shapes _____ Working with Fractions _____ Working with Ratios
- 4. _____ Calculating Area, Perimeter, etc. _____ Working with Averages _____ Working with Percentages _____ Working with Square Roots _____ Comparing and Ordering Numbers _____ Knowing Theorems and Proofs _____ Using Formulas to Calculate Quantities _____ Solving Word Problems _____ Using Probabilities X. Instructions: Select the statement that best describes your view of how Mathematics Developed. Select only one statement. _____ People created Mathematics to address _____ People discovered Mathematics their practical needs as they attempted to understand the world them. XI. Instructions: Select the statement that best describes your view of Mathematics and its applications. Select only one statement. I think of Mathematics as _____ a group of numbers and rules for doing _____ a language of science used to calculations describe the physical world _____ a school subject used in learning _____ a mental exercise that helps develop other subjects and for future studies intellectual abilities _____ a subject used in everyday life and at _____ an activity that allows us to express work our creativity _____ a symbolic language that expresses _____ a mental activity used to develop relations between objects and quantities problem solving techniques XII. Instructions: Select the mathematical topic that you use most. Select only one topic. _____ numbers and calculation ______ shapes and measurement _____ solving equations ______ averages and probabilities XIII. Instructions: Select the most useful skill that Mathematics helps you develop. Select only one skill _____ Communication. _____ Mathematical _____ Intellectual _____ Practical XIV. Instructions: Select the statement that best describes your view of Mathematics and its applications. Select only one statement. I think Mathematics is a tool for _____ explaining things such as rules of _____ studying other subjects gravity _____ developing problem solving _____ dealing with numbers techniques _____ dealing with day to day and _____ representing relations between work related situations objects and quantities _____ developing our ability to think _____ enhancing innovations
- 5. XV. Instructions: Select the most useful skill that Mathematics helps you develop. You may select more than one skill. _____ reading and interpreting charts _____ thinking skills _____ dealing with others in markets _____ learning skills _____ communicating with nature _____ academic skills for learning other _____ measuring subjects _____ doing calculations _____ language skills _____ solving equations _____ business skills _____ solving problems _____ scientific skills _____ attention and concentration _____ calculator and computer skills _____ communicating through numbers _____ memory skills _____ everyday life skills XVI. Instructions: Select the statement that best describes your view on the usefulness of Mathematics. Select only one statement. I find Mathematics useful for _____ dealing with day to day routines _____ understanding government policies _____ dealing with calculations and estimations _____ doing art activities such as drawing _____ developing intellectual skills and design _____ dealing with a variety of work related _____ academic and professional development tasks _____ advancing science and technology _____ doing activities such as puzzles _____ communicating ideas related to numbers and games and measurements XVII. Instructions: Write a few lines in response to each of the following questions: 1.If you were to describe Mathematics, what would you say? _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Do you find Mathematics useful? Why? _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ 3. Can you think of lessons that you found useful in Mathematics? If so, what were those lessons about? _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ 4. Did Mathematics help you develop any skills? If so, what are those skills?
- 6. _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ 5. Complete the following statement as in the example: (To me language is like a key. It opens the door of communication). To me Mathematics is like a _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ 6. Can you think of any profession where Mathematics is needed and used? In what ways? _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ 7. Are there any views that you would like to express regarding the role of Mathematics in our everyday lives? _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ __
- 7. _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ 5. Complete the following statement as in the example: (To me language is like a key. It opens the door of communication). To me Mathematics is like a _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ 6. Can you think of any profession where Mathematics is needed and used? In what ways? _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ 7. Are there any views that you would like to express regarding the role of Mathematics in our everyday lives? _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ __