A Student-centred Mathematics Booklet System: Its Influence on Student's Mathematical Performance and Attitude to Mathematics

Abstract

There are many approaches to teaching mathematics. This paper examines one student-centred approach called the Booklet System used by a number of secondary schools in Brisbane from the mid-1990's for about a decade. Claims made by those advocating this system include improved achievement in mathematics and a better attitude to mathematics in general. Year 9 students in three schools were given a Pre Test at the beginning of the school year and a Post Test in the second last week of the school year. Two of these schools operated a traditional teacher-centred textbook system and one school used the student-centred Booklet System. All students participating in the study in the three schools also completed Attitude Questionnaires at the same time as the Pre Test and Post Test. Statistical analysis revealed that the Booklet System is successful in improving a student's attitude about their own progress in Mathematics, but does not improve their attitude to homework or Mathematics in general. It is not surprising then that this study shows that the Booklet students do not achieve any better academically than the NonBooklet students.