Indeep Thinking About Mathematics Education

We learn calculus, algebra, trigonometry, etc in this second semester of mathematics education continuously. If we learn in the higher semester of mathematics education program, then we will get the subject of pure mathematics lessons. Besides the mathematics education program, there is mathematics program and what is the difference between mathematics education program and mathematics program?

Mathematics program learn pure mathematics and mathematics education programs not only learn mathematics but also have the educational background of mathematics from semester 1 to semester 6.Mathematics education is for younger student in pre elementary school or kindergarten, elementary school,junior high school, senior high school and high school of university.

In learn mathematics we should feel happy because if we happy then we can learn it with high motivation to reach our purpose. As a student in mathematics education program we will make the student understand where is their position between the older people and the younger people.

There is difference between older and younger people. The older people have many experiences than the younger people. So, the younger people is novice and the older people is experiences.

Psychologically, the difference between older people and younger people are :

The younger people think mathematics in concrete material from daily and the older people think mathematics in abstract materials (mind object)to look for values.

The older people always think to abstract the object from daily. It means that the older people taking certain properties which they want to learn.The older people think about the abstract materials or mind objects wich consider all of the exist properties is perfect.

For example: a line is  perfectly straight, which have no width.

Ability of thinking between the older people and the younger people is different. The older people have higher ability of thinking than the younger people.

For example: we have number as shown below

  2     7

The older people and the younger people have different thinking about that number because they have differences in ability of thinking.

For the younger people, they have ability of thinking that said if 2 is bigger than 7

For the older people, they have ability of thinking that said if 2 is always smaller than 7 because the older people don’t think about the shape but they think about the value.

Ebbut Straker (1995) defines the following school mathematics:

· Mathematics is the search of patterns and relationships

Gave students the opportunity to conduct discovery and investigation to determine patterns of relationships.

Provide an opportunity for students to perform experiments premises in various ways.

Encourage students to discover the sequence, difference, comparison, grouping, etc.

Encourage students to draw general conclusions.

Help students to understand and find a relationship between understanding one another.

· Mathematics is investigation activity

Encourage the initiative and provide an opportunity to think differently.

Encourage the curiosity, the desire to ask, the ability to refute and ability estimates from students.

Appreciate the unexpected discovery as beneficial rather than take it as a mistake.

Encourage students to discover the structure and design of mathematics.

Encourage students to appreciate the discovery of other students.

Encourage students to think reflexive.

Does not recommend the use of a particular method.

· Mathematics is problem solving activities

Provide an environment that stimulates learning mathmatics problem.

Help students solve mathematics problem using their own way.

Help students find the information needed to solve mathematic problems.

Encourage students to think logically, consistently, systematically and develop a system of documentation / records.

Develop the ability and skills to solve problems.

Helps students learn how and when to use various visual aids / media of mathematics education such as: term, calculator, etc.

· Mathematics is a means of communication

Encourage students to recognize the nature of mathematics.

Encourage students to make examples of the nature of mathematics.

Encourage students to explain the nature of mathematics.

Encourage students to justify the need for mathematics activities.

Encourage students to discuss mathematics problems.

Encourage students to read and write mathematics.

Respect the student’s mother tongue in talking about mathematics.

And the character of student learn are

Student learn mathematics effectively if student have good motivation and good preparation

Student learn mathematics individually

 Student learn mathematics incollaboration with others

Student learn mathematics in context

Source : Lecture from Dr. Marsigit, M.A