Primary School Students\' Measurement Estimation Performance and Strategies They Used in Real Life Situations

Year 2013, Volume: 12 Issue: 1, 295 - 307, 26.06.2013

Çiğdem Kılıç Sinan Olkun

Abstract

This study aimed at finding out performance and measurement estimation strategies of primary school fifth grade students in real life situations. In addition, the study has also investigated the relationship between students’ success and the strategy they used. Data were collected from 40 participants. Task-based interviews were conducted with 15 students representing different achievement levels in mathematics. The results of the study indicated that primary school fifth grade students had a tendency to primarily use rough guess strategy in order to determine the linear properties of real life objects. Comparison and prior knowledge+ comparison strategies were used secondly by the participants. The strategies used by participants varied according to the students’ achievement levels. Although high and typical achievers used comparison, unit iteration, prior knowledge, chunking and using a combination of these, low achievers used rough guess strategy more often. Implications for mathematics education at the elementary level were discussed.

Keywords

primary school students, estimation, measurement estimation, measurement estimation strategies

İlköğretim Öğrencilerinin Gerçek Yaşam Durumlarındaki Ölçüsel Tahmin Performansları ve Kullandıkları Stratejiler

Abstract

Bu çalışma ile ilköğretim 5. sınıf öğrencilerinin ölçmeye dayalı tahmin etmelerini gerektiren günlük yaşam durumlarında ne tür stratejiler kullandıkları ve bu strateji kullanma ile başarı düzeyleri arasında bir ilişki olup olmadığı araştırılmıştır. Araştırmaya toplam 40 öğrenci katılmış olup, bu öğrenciler arasından başarı düzeyleri farklı olan 15 öğrenci ile de klinik görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmadan elde edilen bulgulara bakıldığında, ilköğretim öğrencilerinin gerçek yaşam durumlarının lineer özelliklerini (genişlik, yükseklik) tahmin etmede öncelikle rasgele tahmin etme yoluna gittiklerini, ikinci olarak da karşılaştırma ve önceki bilgi+karşılaştırma stratejilerini kullandıkları görülmüştür. Öğrencilerin kullandıkları bu stratejilerin başarı düzeylerine göre farklılaşıp farklılaşmadığına bakıldığında ise, başarı düzeyi yüksek ve orta olan öğrencilerin karşılaştırma, birim tekrarı, önceki bilgi, parçalama ve bunların birleşimini kullanırken, başarı düzeyi düşük olanların ise rasgele tahmine daha çok başvurdukları belirlenmiştir

Keywords

İlköğretim öğrencileri, tahmin, ölçüsel tahmin, ölçüsel tahmin stratejileri

References

• Chang,K.L, Males, L.M. Mosier, A. & Gonulates, F. (2011). Exploring US textbooks’ treatment of the estimation of linear measurements. ZDM Mathematics Education, 43,697–708.
• Clement, J. (2000). Analysis of clinical interviews:foundations and model viability. Editor: Kelly, Anthony E. And Richard A Lesh. Handbook of research design in mathematics and science education. London: Lawrence Erlbaum Asssociates Publishers.
• Çilingir, D.&Türnüklü, E. B. (2009). Estimation ability and strategies of the 6 th- 8 th grades elementary school students. Elementary Education Online, 8(3), 637-650.
• Dowker, A. (1992). Computational estimation strategies of professional mathematicians. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 23(1), 45-55.
• Gay, L.R. vd. (2006). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and applications. 8th edition. Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall.
• Goldin, G. (2000). A scientific perspective on structured, task-based interviews in mathematics education research.Editor: Kelly, Anthony E. And Richard A Lesh. Handbook of research design in mathematics and science education. London: Lawrence Erlbaum Asssociates Publishers.
• Gooya, Z., Leyla G. Khosroshahi, L. G.& Teppo, A. R. (2011). Iranian students’ measurement estimation performance involving linear and area attributes of real-world objects. ZDM Mathematics Education, 43, 709–722.
• Hildreth, D. J. (1983). The use of strategies in estimating measurements. Arithmetic Teacher
• Hogan, T.P.&Brezinski, K.L. (2003). Quantitative estimation: One, two, or three abilities?, Mathematical Thinking and Learning, 5 (4),259-280.
• Hanson, S.A. ve Hogan, T.,P. (2000). Computational estimation skill of college students. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 31 (4), 483-499.
• Joram,E, Subrahmanyam,K.&Gelman, R. (1998). Measurement estimation: Learning to map the route from number to quantity and back. Review of Educational Research, 68 (4), 413-449.
• Joram, E., Gabriele, A. J.,Bertheau,M.,Gelman, R.&Subrahmanyam, K. (2005). Children's use of the reference point strategy for measurement estimation. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 36(1),4-23.
• MEB (2009a). İlköğretim matematik dersi 1-5.sınıflar öğretim programı. Ankara Devlet Kitapları Basımevi.
• MEB (2009b). İlköğretim matematik dersi 6-8 sınıflar öğretim programı. Ankara Devlet Kitapları Basımevi.
• Miles, M. B. ve Huberman A. M. (1994). An expended sourcebook qualitative data analysis. Second Edition. California: Sage Publications.
• NCTM (2000). National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Principles and standards for school mathematics. Reston, VA: NCTM.
• Patton, M. Q. (1990). Qualitative evaluation and research methods. Second Edition. California: Sage Publication.
• Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods. Third edition. California:Sage Publication.
• Segovia, I&Castro, E. (2009). Computational and measurement estimation: curriculum foundations and reseacrh carried out at the University of Granada, Mathematics didactics department. Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology, 17 (1), 499-536.
• Siegler, R. S.& Booth, J. L. (2005). Development of Numerical Estimation A Review. Edited Jamie I.D. Campbell. Handbook of Mathematical Cognition.
• Sowder, J.(1992) Estimation and number sense. In Grouws, D.A.(ed) Handbook of Research in Mathematics Teaching and Learning New York; Macmillan. 371-389.
• Van de Walle J. A. (2004). Elementary and middle school mathematics. Teaching developmentally. Fifth edition. Boston: Allyn &Bacon.
• Yıldırım, A. ve Şimşek H. (2005) .Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri. Beşinci baskı. Ankara: Seçkin Yayıncılık. EKLER