Teachers’ Efficacy to Teach Students with Mathematics Learning Difficulties

Abstract

This study explores teachers’ perceptions of their efficacy in teaching students with mathematics learning difficulties, also known as dyscalculia. This study employed a quantitative survey method. Random cluster sampling was used to select 384 mathematics teachers in the survey. Teaching Students with Mathematics Learning Difficulties Scale has been adapted with permission from Dawson & Scott (2013). Inferential statistics of independent t-test, analysis of variance, and Kruskal Wallis H-test were used to analyze the data. The results showed that teachers have high efficacy in teaching students with mathematics learning difficulties. There is no significant difference in teachers’ effectiveness in teaching students with mathematics learning difficulties based on age groups and years of experience. However, the findings show a significant difference in teachers’ effectiveness based on different academic qualifications. This study implies that the awareness of dyscalculia among mathematics teachers has increased. Future researchers are suggested to design and develop more interventions and instruments to improve the basic mathematical skills among students with mathematics learning difficulties.

The Influence of Teacher Efficacy on Education Quality: A Meta-Analysis

“…Teachers self-efficacy makes them more willing to try new teaching ideas and strategies that can improve students learning processes, and persist in helping student learning processes (Bachtiar, 2020;Nurcahyani et al, 2022;Öztürk et al, 2020). On the other hand, teachers with low self-efficacy have a low desire to try new teaching ideas or strategies that can improve student learning processes (Agormor et al, 2022;Noviani & Kuswandono, 2022;Özcan, 2022;Yoong & Hoe, 2022;Susiani et al, 2020). Therefore, teachers' self-efficacy greatly influences the quality of education.…”

“…In addition, self-efficacy is a people's belief in their ability to exercise some control over his functions and events in their environment (Özcan, 2022;Rahemi, 2007). Consequently, self-efficacy is one of the most important aspects of human self-knowledge in everyday life (Yoong & Hoe, 2022). This is because self-efficacy affects individuals' ability to determine the actions that need to be taken to achieve goals in the face of various events (Noviani & Kuswandono, 2022).…”

“…Therefore, teachers' good personal competence will provide a strong impetus for teachers themselves to work well and produce maximum performance (García-Lázaro et al, 2022;Singh et al, 2020;Wardoyo, 2015). Several studies have indeed analyzed and discussed the effect of teacher efficacy on the quality of education (Bachtiar, 2020;Demirkol et al, 2022;García-Lázaro et al, 2022;Krasniqi & Ismajli, 2022;Parker et al, 2020;Rahemi, 2007;Yoo, 2016;Yoong & Hoe, 2022). However, no single study has analyzed and discussed the effect of teacher efficacy on the quality of education comprehensively and broadly.…”