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Analysing the Tasks in Middle School Mathematics Textbooks According to the Levels of Cognitive Demand
Abstract
This study aims to investigate and categorize the tasks in middle school mathematics textbooks based on their cognitive demand levels. The goal is to examine how these tasks align with educational objectives aimed at fostering students' critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. This research employed the document analysis method. This study evaluated the mathematical tasks in 5th to 8th grade textbooks used in schools in Türkiye, using Smith and Stein’s (1998) framework for classifying mathematical tasks. The data were examined using the content analysis method. The results indicated that most tasks in these textbooks were concentrated at the levels of procedures without connections and procedures with connections. Additionally, the proportion of tasks requiring higher-order cognitive skills, specifically, doing mathematics tasks, was relatively low. Based on these findings, future textbook revisions should integrate more high cognitive demand tasks to both strengthen students' procedural skills and foster complex problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.
Keywords
Ethical Statement
In this study, all the rules specified to be followed within the scope of "Higher Education Institutions Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Directive" were complied with. None of the actions specified under the heading "Actions Contrary to Scientific Research and Publication Ethics", which is the second part of the directive, have been taken.
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Mathematics Education
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
November 30, 2024
Submission Date
June 6, 2024
Acceptance Date
November 1, 2024
Published in Issue
Year 2024 Volume: 8 Number: 3