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Effects of a mathematics cognitive acceleration program on student achievement and motivation

  • Teukava Finau
  • , David F. Treagust
  • , Mihye Won
  • , A. L. Chandrasegaran

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

This paper presents the effects of a cognitive acceleration program in mathematics classes on Tongan students’ achievements, motivation and self-regulation. Cognitive Acceleration in Mathematics Education (CAME) is a program developed at King’s College and implemented worldwide with the aim of improving students’ thinking skills, mathematics performance and attitudes. The first author adapted the program materials to Tongan educational context and provided support to participating teachers for 8 months. This study employed a quasi-experimental design with 219 Year 8 students as the experimental group and 119 Year 8 students as the comparison group. There were a significant differences in the mean scores between the pre-test and post-test of the three instruments that were employed in the study, indicating that learning mathematics under the CAME program had a positive effect on levels of students’ self-regulation, motivation and mathematics achievement. Students also reported changes to the ways they learn mathematics.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)183-202
Number of pages20
JournalInternational Journal of Science and Mathematics Education
Volume16
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Achievement
  • Cognitive acceleration
  • Lower secondary schools
  • Mathematics learning
  • Motivation
  • Self-regulation

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