PROCEEDINGS OF THE 17TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
2014
Denver, Colorado
Mathematics Beyond The Classroom: Student’ ‘Value Creation’ Through Mathematical Modeling Within A Learning Community
Page: 221
This study examined how mathematical modeling activities within a collaborative group impact on students’ perceived ‘value’ of mathematics. With a unified framework of Makiguchi’s theory of ‘value’, mathematical disposition, and identity, the study identified the elements of the value-beauty, gains, and social good-with the observable evidences of mathematical disposition and identity. A total of 60 college students participated in ‘Lifestyle’ mathematical modeling project. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used for data collection and analysis. The result from a paired-samples t-test showed the significant changes in students’ mathematical disposition. The results from the analysis of students’ written responses and interview data described how the context of the modeling tasks and the collaborative group interplayed with students’ perceived value.