Forming Positive Identities to Enhance Mathematics Learning among Adolescents (original) (raw)

The construction of identity in secondary mathematics education

2000

Drawing on data from 120 interviews with secondary schools students of mathematics aged from 14 to 18 in England and the United States, this paper argues that young people's developing identities are an important and neglected factor in success at secondary school mathematics. Students in both countries believe mathematics to be rigid and inflexible, and in particular, that it is a subject that leaves no room for negotiation of meaning. However, while the lack of opportunity for understanding mathematics was important, a much more salient factor in determining students' attitudes towards mathematics was that they did not see success at mathematics as in any way relevant to their developing identities, except insofar as success at mathematics allowed access to future education and careers. (Author) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.

Identity research in mathematics education

Educational Studies in Mathematics, 2016

This paper examines the literature on identity within mathematics education published in journals over the past two decades. It analyses the theoretical underpinnings, research methods and definitions of identity, providing a critique rather than a summary of the literature. A total of 188 articles from 85 different journals are reviewed in the sample. This review finds support for common complaints of this research area as lacking in definitions of the concept of identity and suggests that the writing in this topic is at times theoretically incompatible. Furthermore, the work in this field may be coming from two distinct paradigms. Identity may be seen as an action and fit within a sociological frame or it may be seen as an acquisition, fitting within a psychological framing. Defining identity as something we do, as an action, and in particular as performative is promoted in this paper. Finally, suggestions are made for future directions in identity research.

Identity as a Lens to Understand Learning Mathematics: Developing a Model

2008

In this discussion article we consider mathematics learning as a process of developing a mathematical identity. This process is constituted by relationships between three key components -the teacher, the students and the discipline of mathematics. It is posited that the teacher's role is to facilitate the development of students' mathematical identities by relationally bridging student and the subject. Fundamentally, this requires that mathematics teachers have well-developed personal mathematical identities.

Mathematical Identity Formation: Lived Experiences of National Learning Camp Participants

Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 2024

The manuscript you uploaded examines the formation of mathematical identities among students participating in the National Learning Camp (NLC) at Hindang National High School in the Philippines. This study focuses on Grade 7 and Grade 8 students who experienced the transition back to face-to-face classes following the COVID-19 pandemic. The research investigates the factors that influence the development of students' mathematical identities, analyzing their perceptions, challenges, and experiences in a post-pandemic learning environment. It highlights how the NLC, aligned with DepEd's learning recovery efforts, serves as a tool to close learning gaps and foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration in mathematics. Theoretical frameworks such as Social Identity Theory, Self-Determination Theory, and Communities of Practice are employed to explore how group dynamics, motivation, and social interactions contribute to identity formation. Through qualitative methods, the study offers insights into how educational interventions like the NLC shape students' self-concepts, enhancing their engagement and performance in mathematics. The findings are intended to inform the development of school-based action plans and curricular strategies that support positive mathematical identity formation among learners.

Changing in Mathematical Identity of Elementary School Students Through Group Learning Activities

lnternational Electronic Journal of Elementary Education

This article aims to describe the mathematical identity of elementary school students during studying mathematics. When studying mathematics, the students often face difficulties in understanding the concepts which results the decrease in their learning motivation. It will lead to the lack of development of their mathematical identity. The students who are able to develop their mathematical identity well are more likely to succeed in learning mathematics. A qualitative approach was employed to trace the students' mathematical identity. Questions and interviews were used to collect the data. The findings indicated during participating in the group learning activities, the students were able to increase their motivation. Therefore, it can improve their mathematical identity.

Towards a theory of identity and agency in coming to learn mathematics

Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, …, 2009

In writing this paper we draw considerably on the work of Jo Boaler and Leone Burton. Boaler's studies of classrooms have been particularly poignant in alerting the mathematics education community to a number of key features of successful classrooms, and how such features ...

Mathematics identity research: the state of the art and future directions

ZDM

Identity research in mathematics education has become increasingly prominent over the past two decades. In the last few years, there have been several reviews of identity literature in the field of mathematics education generally, or specifically focused on mathematics learner identities or mathematics teacher identity. We begin our paper by summarizing the key findings of these reviews, pointing to various categorizations proposed by their authors, and the key critiques raised therein. We then report on our more recent review of identity literature in mathematics education published in the top twenty mathematics education journals over the past 5 years (47 articles in total). This review enables us firstly to speak descriptively about the extent to which the field is evolving (or not) in relation to earlier findings (dominant regions, focus of research, methods and perspectives used). Secondly, following deeper analysis of the papers, we speak to the way in which the field is addressing (or not) key critiques raised by reviews. Our analysis points to several theoretical, methodological and empirical absences and challenges requiring further engagement. We further highlight key absences in the research, particularly a lack of crossnational comparative studies and studies that connect learner and teacher identities. We then provide a summary discussion and analysis of the contributions of the present special issue papers and engage with how these take the field forward. Finally, we engage with the implications of our analysis and recommendations for future directions for research.

Raising the curtain on mathematics identity: the drama of transition to secondary school

Many people reach adulthood having been denied access to positive mathematics learning experiences. At some point during their schooling they seem to have developed a mathematics identity of failure, helplessness or fear. This study aimed to better understand how this happens by focusing on learners’ identity construction at a particular time in their schooling: the transition to secondary school. Defining identity as a performance enabled an understanding of identity as situated firmly in the social context. This drew attention to the ways that context shapes identities. The study followed 22 students through the transition to secondary school. Interviews were conducted and observations made in mathematics classes at four key points during the 18 months in which students transitioned from Year 8 to Year 10. Interviews were also held with teachers and parents of the students. The data were combined in different ways to present the learners’ mathematics identities within the metaphor...

Creating Mathenstein: Exploring the Construction and Development of Mathematical Identity for K–12 Students

2020

CREATING MATHENSTEIN: EXPLORING THE CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF MATHEMATICAL IDENTITY FOR K–12 STUDENTS by AKHENATEN HOTEP AMUN Under the Direction of Dr. David W. Stinson Research and scholarship in mathematics education address a variety of concepts that benefit students and influences the pedagogy of educators responsible for improving student learning and achievement. Recently, mathematics education researchers have investigated the effects and outcomes of instructional practices (e.g., Shirvani, 2009), technology integration (e.g., Wachira & Keengwe, 2011), the revision or modernization of standards and content development (e.g., Thomas & Edson, 2015), achievement gaps (e.g., Flores, 2007), science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educational initiatives (e.g., Stohlmann, Moore, McClelland, & Roehrig, 2011), student achievement or performance (e.g., Harwell, Post, Medhanie, Dupuis, & LeBeau, 2013), and student growth (Betebenner, 2009). Experiences as a stud...