A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF QUADRILATERALS TOPIC CONTENT IN MATHEMATICS TEXTBOOKS BETWEEN MALAYSIA AND SOUTH KOREA

Abdul Halim Abdullah,Bomi Shin

doi:10.22342/jme.10.3.7572.315-340

Abstract

This study compares Malaysian and Korean geometry content in mathematics textbooks to help explain the differences that have been found consistently between the achievement levels of Malaysian and South Korean students in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Studies have shown that the use of textbooks can affect students’ mathematics achievements, especially in the field of geometry. Furthermore, to date, there has been no comparison of geometry content in Malaysian and Korean textbooks. Two textbooks used in the lower secondary education system in Malaysia and South Korea were referred. The topic of quadrilaterals was chosen for comparison, and the topic’s chapter in the South Korean textbook has been translated into English. The findings show four main aspects that distinguish how quadrilaterals are taught between the two countries. These aspects include the composition of quadrilaterals topics, the depth of concept exploration activities, the integration of deductive reasoning in the learning content and the difficulty level of mathematics problems given at the end of the chapter. In this regard, we recommend the Division of Curriculum Development of the Malaysian Ministry of Education reviews the geometry content of mathematics textbook used today to suit the curriculum proven to produce students who excel in international assessments.

Highlights

Abstrak Penelitian ini membandingkan konten geometri pada buku matematika di Malaysia dan Korea Selatan, untuk membantu menjelaskan perbedaan yang telah ditemukan secara terus menerus antara tingkat pencapaian siswa Malaysia dan Korea dalam hasil Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)
There is a difference in the arrangement of the content for quadrilaterals between the Malaysian and South Korean curriculum
Especially in the topic of Quadrilaterals in South Korean mathematics textbooks, is based on the van Hiele model which begins with visualisation, analysis and informal deductions

Summary

Introduction

Abstrak Penelitian ini membandingkan konten geometri pada buku matematika di Malaysia dan Korea Selatan, untuk membantu menjelaskan perbedaan yang telah ditemukan secara terus menerus antara tingkat pencapaian siswa Malaysia dan Korea dalam hasil Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). According to Koedel, Li, Polikoff, Hardaway, and Wrabel (2017), though textbooks are the most widely used sources of education, studies on their impact on student learning are very limited. Rezat (2009) found that students use mathematics textbooks when they are told by the teacher, and for self-learning. Valverde, Bianchi, Wolfe, Schmidt, and Houang (2002) stressed that the structure of mathematical textbooks might have an impact on teaching in the classroom. Hsu and Ko (2014) compared the geometry content of teaching materials in the mathematics textbooks of Taiwan, Finland, and Singapore. The ratio between examples and mathematics problems is around 1:3 in Taiwan and Singapore and 1:25 in Finland

Objectives

Methods

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Conclusion