Investigating Mathematical Literacy In Teaching Mathematics In Junior High Schools

Focusing on the development of students’mathematics literacy has become an important direction of education reform in mathematics home and abroad. The result of PISA in 2012 had shown that students from Shanghai have the best mathematics literacy around the world. Many studies including PISA have given extensive explanations about the result from different perspectives, such as learning opportunity, course load, curriculum research system, educational environment, cultural tradition and so on. However, current researches have rarely provided empirical analysis from the perspective of daily teaching process. In order to explore effective strategies which can be applied to improving classroom teaching aiming to cultivate the students’mathematics literacy, this study tried to discuss the improvement and integration of mathematics literacy, which base on PISA mathematics literacy framework, in classroom teaching by focusing on secondary education.This study selected 20 pieces class videos which covered different mathematics topics as analysis objects. Then made transcription and coding, sorted out 183 teaching video clips and integrated the teaching design and reflection materials. And analysis has been made based on the above information. The study has the following findings:firstly, overall, teachers pay attention to students’mathematical expression, mathematical application and mathematical interpretation. But more attention has been paid to mathematical application. Secondly, in class teaching, few cases contained the complete mathematical expression which includes situational transformation, providing mathematical representation and clarifying conditions or assumptions. However, all the video clips contained the latter two components. Thirdly, the mathematical application in class teaching is consistent with PISA framework which synthesizes various teaching methods such as explanation, question and answer, presentation, discussion and practice. Fourthly, regarding mathematical interpretation, emphasis has been laid on reflection of mathematical methods, results and conclusions while few cases returned to the problematic situation. Fifthly, it is the teachers’understanding about the setting of teaching goals, analysis of students and the teaching procedure that can directly affect the integration of mathematics literacy through class teaching.Based on the mentioned findings above, four conclusions has been drawn from the research to improve the classroom teaching so as to develop mathematical literacy of students of secondary schools deeply. First, design lifestyle situation of problems and lead students to apply mathematics to practice. Second, develop cooperative learning culture and encourage students to generate mathematical knowledge from discussion. Third, create situational mathematical environment and help students apply the mathematical knowledge to different situations. Fourth, develop harmony and equal classroom atmosphere and encourage students to think critically and share their opinions bravely.