Alexandria Digital Research Library

Thai Secondary School Students' Probability Misconceptions : The Impact of Formal Instruction

Author:
Talawat, Puttoei
Degree Grantor:
University of California, Santa Barbara. Education
Degree Supervisor:
Mary E. Brenner
Place of Publication:
[Santa Barbara, Calif.]
Publisher:
University of California, Santa Barbara
Creation Date:
2015
Issued Date:
2015
Topics:
Education, Mathematics, Education, General, and Education, Curriculum and Instruction
Keywords:
Inquiry-based curriculum
Teaching and Learning
Curriculum implementation
Probability Misconceptions
Teacher Knowledge
Genres:
Online resources and Dissertations, Academic
Dissertation:
Ph.D.--University of California, Santa Barbara, 2015
Description:

Probability is an important mathematics topic and is required for all Thai secondary school students. However, previous research found that both students and teachers often held several probability misconceptions, students had difficulties learning the topic, and teachers did not have sufficient knowledge to teach the topics. The purpose of this study was to investigate the types of probability misconceptions held by Thai secondary school students and their mathematics teachers, how the teachers implemented a nationwide inquiry-based curriculum, and how instruction impacted the students' understanding of the concepts. The participants were two grade 9 mathematics teachers and their students in four classes, 204 students in total. The data collection included lesson observations, a probability misconception pretest and posttest, and teacher interviews. The results showed that both the teachers and the students held several types of probability misconceptions. Even though the students' performance on the posttest was significantly improved after instruction, they still did not do well. The students learned knowledge on probability as evidenced in their responses on the posttest, but they were still having trouble appropriately applying the knowledge. Teachers' probability misconceptions and their understanding of probability topics affected how their students learned and understood probability.

Physical Description:
1 online resource (169 pages)
Format:
Text
Collection(s):
UCSB electronic theses and dissertations
ARK:
ark:/48907/f3765ch6
ISBN:
9781321700695
Catalog System Number:
990045119690203776
Rights:
Inc.icon only.dark In Copyright
Copyright Holder:
Puttoei Talawat
File Description
Access: Public access
Talawat_ucsb_0035D_12473.pdf pdf (Portable Document Format)