Mathematical problem-solving study on developing mixed-ability Essay

Mathematical problem-solving study on developing mixed-ability students' interest in learning mathematics - Essay Example My study will be carried out using classroom observation techniques, interviews with teachers and mixed-ability students and questionnaires to both students and teachers, to gather data on learning outcomes in actual/real Maths classrooms in the United Kingdom. Mixed-ability students can be divided into three categories: (i) students with low performance in maths (ii) students who can perform well in maths and (iii) mathematically promising students. The phrase, ‘promising students’ here means ‘gifted or talented students’ who, by virtue of their outstanding abilities, are capable of high performance. These are students who require differentiated educational programs and services beyond those normally provided by the regular school program in order to realize their contribution to self and society.1 According to some researchers, these students will have the potential to become the leaders and problem-solvers of the future. Mathematically promising students have needs that differ in nature from those of other students. According to Tomlinson (1995), these students require some differentiated instruction by consistently using a variety of instructional approaches to modify content, process, and /or products in resp onse to learning readiness and interest of academically diverse students. No matter what categories they fall, loss of interest in learning Mathematic especially on certain topic can lead to poor exam result or performance. During my eight years of teaching Mathematics at SOAS College and currently Sayyidina Hasan Secondary School, where I started teaching from lower secondary and currently upper secondary for almost 5 years, I have encountered different types of students. Their characters reflect their ability and performance in learning Mathematics. Some find mathematics education theoretical and