A Learner-Centered Syllabus-Based Approach to engaging master students into research activity

Abstract

This paper presents a vision of a team of researchers on solving a problem of engaging future Mathematics teachers into a research activity through implementing person-centred approach to learning and teaching. The authors of the given article present a designed Learner-Centered Syllabus of a training research workshop in Mathematical Analysis for Master students, majoring in Mathematics at teacher training universities. This study presents the structure, the components and the content of a Learner-Centered Syllabus. When giving content to the sections of the syllabus, the developers take into consideration the conditions for person-centredness; creating the atmosphere of acceptance and congruence; shaping in students the personal qualities, which contribute to their research activity; arranging collaboration; engaging students into the assessment process. The researchers in the present study identify orientation at self-development as a key concept of the course policy and make each section of the syllabus personal. The following sets of attributes were used to evaluate the designed Learner-Centered Syllabus: Community, Power and Control, Assessment and Evaluation. The experimental study was done over four years, two groups of Master students majoring in Mathematics became its participants. One group was given a conventional Content-Focused Syllabus of a training research workshop in Mathematical Analysis, while the second group received a Learner-Centered Syllabus, designed in accordance with the Person-Centered Approach to Teaching and Learning. The analysis of the findings of this experiment justified the effciency of creating a learning environment, which is determined by the emotional components, such as Congruence, Acceptance and Empathic understanding. The present paper also shows a positive impact of the syllabus on the degree of students’ motivation to choose the training research workshop in Mathematical Analysis.

The Wheel of Mathematics Learning Methods

“…Developing structured tips for Mathematics teachers, the authors of this paper take into account the opinion of Shaikh and Khoja [19] and Vlasenko et al [20][21][22][23][24], according to whom the teacher's professional activity at all its stages from planning to implementation should be aimed at achieving goals of student development.…”