Formation and development of mathematical literacy in the context of evaluative – Study tasks of PISA

Abstract

To identify the level of education of schoolchildren in different countries of the world, the OECD conducts international studies in the field of education. Comparative results of these studies make it possible to determine the effectiveness of national educational systems contributing to adapting programs for modernization and reform of educational systems. This study aims to develop mathematical literacy among 15-year-old students of the Republic of Kazakhstan by developing the basic skills of the 21st century in solving practice-oriented problems. An experimental study was conducted to determine teachers' attitudes toward the formation of mathematical literacy among schoolchildren. The study involved 32 teachers. The Analysis of the results of the survey revealed that the majority of teachers had a negative attitude towards the formation of mathematical literacy among schoolchildren, substantiating their points of view by the fact that the formation and development of mathematical knowledge and skills by itself contributed to the development of skills in the 21st century. Only 11% of teachers could accurately indicate those tasks, out of the seven tasks presented for consideration, in the solution of which schoolchildren had shown critical, systemic thinking. An analysis of geometry textbooks used in schools of the Republic of Kazakhstan showed that out of the total number of educational tasks studied in geometry lessons, the share of practice-oriented tasks comprised less than 3%. Based on the results of the experimental study, it is concluded that it is necessary to develop appropriate methodological approaches that contribute to the formation of mathematical literacy among schoolchildren using the learning tasks of the school geometry course.