A survey on the teaching of relative velocity and pupils’ learning difficulties

Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, Volume 7, Issue 2, Article 8 (Dec., 2006)
Tin-Lam TOH
A survey on the teaching of relative velocity and pupils’ learning difficulties

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A survey on the teaching of relative velocity and pupils’ learning difficulties

Tin-Lam TOH

National Institute of Education
Republic of SINGAPORE

E-mail: tinlam.toh@nie.edu.sg

Received 31 Oct., 2006
Revised 8 Dec., 2006

Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Background

Brief description of the mathematics teachers’ background

Teachers’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge

Pupils’ Difficulties in Learning Science related concepts

Method

Pupils’ Learning Difficulties in Relative Velocity

Psychological Factor – Rosenthal Effect

Language of Relative Velocity

Related Science concepts

Difficulties related to Mathematics

Survey on Teaching of Relative Velocity

Teaching materials used

Use of Scale Drawing in Solving Problems involving Relative Velocity

Use of Information Technology (IT)

Some Implications for Teaching of Relative Velocity

Conclusion

References

Abstract

It has been five years since the chapter on relative velocity was first introduced into the Singapore Additional Mathematics curriculum. This paper reports some general finding on the teaching of relative velocity in mathematics classrooms and the pupils’ learning difficulties on relative velocity. Some implications to the teaching of this topic are also discussed.

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