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Introduction
Zaleha Ismail currently works as a professor at the School of Education, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities (FSSH), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Zaleha does research in Educational Technology, Educational Assessment and Curriculum Theory. Their current project is related to sustainability in education, STEM education and aboriginal students.
Current institution
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January 1984 - present
Publications
Publications (113)
This study examines the conceptual understanding of numbers and operations among 372 fifth-grade students, based on their responses to an online three-tier test designed to assess their number sense, declarative knowledge, explanatory knowledge, and confidence. The results showed that most students had low performance and low number sense, with onl...
This study examines the conceptual understanding of numbers and operations among 372 fifth-grade students, based on their responses to an online three-tier test designed to assess their number sense, declarative knowledge, explanatory knowledge, and confidence. The results showed that most students had low performance and low number sense, with onl...
The purpose of this study is to compare the differences of four essential aspects (i.e., representational forms, contextual features, cognitive demand levels, and response types) embedded in mathematical problems within the topics of numbers and operations in mathematics textbooks used in Finland, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan. This st...
This paper shares the working process that has been carried out in a postgraduate mathematics teacher education course known as Technology in Mathematics Education. Many efforts around the world attempt to train student teachers on the use of technology without giving much attention to appropriate instructional model. Our
![Fig. 1: Shulman [17], Shulman [18] categories of PCK and subcategories...](publication/372285121/figure/fig1/AS:11431281174031542@1689126372441/Shulman-17-Shulman-18-categories-of-PCK-and-subcategories-of-CK-by-Shahali-Halim_Q320.jpg)
The purpose of this paper is to present the need to develop the integrated Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (iSTEM) course training module for preparing the pre-service mathematics teachers’ readiness in teaching the iSTEM course in their future classroom instruction. In this paper, the researchers present the data for the study col...
The development of any country in the world depends largely on its escalating focus on integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (iSTEM). Over the years in Nigeria, there are calls for action to integrate STEM disciplines as the pre-service teachers are only receiving training in the separate field of STEM. Therefore, the purpose...
This research is used to study engineering undergraduates fostering their mathematical creativity during creative problem solving. This was an exploratory research carried out in a public university as to find out the impact of CPS towards mathematical creativity among the engineering undergraduates. A case study was used to provide deep exploratio...
The study examines the effectiveness of station rotation model in blended social collaborative learning environment in enhancing pre-service teachers critical thinking skills in Nigerian University. two sets of instruments were used to collect pre-test and post-test data from experimental and control groups with a sample of 108 n = 54 each from the...
In this paper, we conducted a study that integrated students' algebraic thinking into the problem-based learning (PBL) process. Three different learning approaches, namely, the conventional approach (CA), the integration of algebraic thinking (AT) and the PBL approach with the integration of algebraic thinking (ATPBL); were implemented in three dif...
This preliminary study is conducted as a preamble for the need to develop the iSTEM course training module for preparing the pre-service mathematics teachers’ readiness in teaching the iSTEM course. Based on this preliminary study, the researchers were guided by the theory of constructivism learning and model of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK)...
One of the tools that are widely used to develop
creative thinking is known as brainstorming. This paper report
on a research carried out to determine engineering
undergraduates’ creative thinking by using SCAMPER as a
brainstorming technique. The purpose specifically is to determine
the occurrence of using SCAMPER in solving the problems by...
The purpose of this study is to investigate the levels of cognitive domains of Malaysian Mathematics primary four textbooks developed under the old and new curriculum based on Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2015 Mathematics Framework. This study adopted content analysis where the mathematical tasks from the textbooks...
This study aims at investigating the effects of station rotation model in blended social collaborative learning environment in enhancing pre-service teachers critical thinking skills in university of Maiduguri. A sample of 108 pre-service teachers registered for methods of teaching science course were selected through quasi-experimental study (Expe...
Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) faces high demands, challenges and opportunities. Based on the constraints of traditional education teaching philosophy, the integration of two different subjects in TVET program namely, food microbiology and food chemistry subjects for Diploma in Food Technology was carried out for an easier u...
This research intended to study on the level of Numeracy Competency among high achievers in lower secondary school. For this research, stratified sampling technique was used in order to get 209 respondents participated in this study involving 4 secondary schools from 3 districts in Pahang. The research was done using the quantitative method in the...
This study aims to examine the problem solving skills among form four high achievers in a boarding school. 52 students from two classes were purposively chosen based on their mathematics achievement in mid-year examination and PT3 results. As this study was to test students’ problem solving skills with the daily life problem, the Mathematical Probl...
The purposes of this study were, to identify students’ higher order thinking skills and their problem posing ability, as well as to ascertain relationships between them. The study, involving a total of 28 secondary school students as respondents, used two instruments, namely, A Higher Order Thinking Skills Test and A Mathematical Problem Posing Ins...
Algebraic thinking is about the ability of students to analyze, make generalizations, solve problems, predict, justify, and prove as well as model some situations. Many contemporary educators encourage the teaching and learning of algebraic thinking with technology as an alternative to non-computer approaches. This research paper discusses on the e...
This research aims to find out the creativity among the geomatical engineering students. 96 geomatical engineering students participated in the research. They were divided into 24 groups of 4 students. Each group were asked to solve a real world problem collaboratively with their creative thinking. Their works were collected and then analysed as to...
The purpose of the study is to examines the dominant design and learning strategy used by various MOOCs platforms to foster students’ Self Directed Learning. Method used in the study was based on the search of relevant literature through online database such as IEEE Explore, ProQuest, ScienceDirect and ResearchGate. The keywords in the search for t...
Engineering students often find their first university multivariable calculus experience very challenging. While moving from single variable function to multivariable function with procedural aspects of the subject, solving limit, derivation, and integral problems, they may struggle with crucial conceptual ideas underpinning them, making it very di...
Through our experience in teaching mathematics to engineering undergraduates, we found that students had numerous difficulties with the mathematics learned. Although our students have demonstrated the ability to answer standard or routine questions, there were still some inconsistencies between their ability to answer questions and their understand...
An essential outcome in undergraduate mathematics learning is the ability for students to be able to solve problems. Thus, the development of higher order thinking skills (HOTs) is essential in mathematics learning. A relevant consideration is the need to appraise current assessment processes and procedures in determining students' capability in us...
Overcoming statistics anxiety is one of the main goals in statistics teaching. Previous researchers believed that statistics anxiety can only be reduced by developing and implementing appropriate effective intervention strategies. In order to be able to develop an effective strategy, the nature of statistics anxiety should be studied. Acknowledging...
Mathematics is a subject that relates to the real world and is applied in various fields. However, the teaching and learning of mathematics is more procedural and requires drill and practice. For this reason, students of mathematics become passive receivers who are unable to think mathematically. The literature indicates that Problem-based learning...
There are many ways to implement blended learning, among them are online learning, e-learning, mathematical softwares, and web-based learning. For new practitioners, it is important to determine the best practices in blended learning system to ensure successes. This paper studies a meta-analysis of a blended environment. It was conducted by searchi...
STEM education reform plays a critical role in modern education for the country to keep abreast of being competitive in global economy. For a long time, STEM disciplines have been in silos, rendering the students unable to connect learned knowledge with real life problems. The emergence of integrated STEM education in some institutions suggests tha...
Problem posing is a new and inventive pedagogical approach in mathematics education. It has long been under the shadow of problem solving, until recently, when researchers started to realize its potentials, resulting in a fastgrowing recognition of the need to incorporate it into Mathematics classroom learning. Therefore, the purpose of this study...
This paper aims to understand the use of open-ended mathematical problem to stimulate students' ability in problem solving. There were five mechanical engineering participating in this study. Their works were video-taped as to reveal their process of problem solving. Intervention of creative problem solving was used as to help the students to come...
Based on a synthesis of literature, earlier studies, analyses and observations on high school students, this study developed an initial framework for assessing students’ statistical reasoning about descriptive statistics. Framework descriptors were established across five levels of statistical reasoning and four key constructs. The former consisted...
Anxiety towards mathematics among secondary school students have been reported. Anxiety creates strong negative emotions and can hinder a person's cognitive, learning and academic performance. Fear of mathematics came early in the educational process and if this is not handled properly, it will negatively affect the students to adulthood. In learni...
This study explored the levels of awareness and procedural knowledge of undergraduate students in IIUM, Gombak and examined the levels of students' intention to use BookMyne as a library search tool that can allow users to access the library catalogue on the go. The study employed Rogers' (2003) conception of knowledge and Davis' (1989) technology...
Current research on the importance and relevance of the relationship between emotional intelligence and work outcomes has continuously gained momentum since the publication of Daniel Goleman's best seller Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ (Goleman, 1995). Professional expertise is no longer the only standard by which to evaluat...
The current situation in teaching and learning mathematics for engineering undergraduates is very procedural such that students are not actively thinking in mathematical manner.. It is believed that mathematical thinking can be improved in a conducive learning environment such as using a computer algebra system. A CAS, namely Maxima was selected to...
To date, there are abundant studies on statistical reasoning in descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Nevertheless, the types of statistical reasoning assessments used in those studies are different from each other. Hence, this qualitative meta-analysis is aimed to explore the methods utilized in assessing statistical reasoning among s...
Statistics is generally taught using conventional methods in most schools but such approach can only enhance students' procedural understanding and not conceptual understanding. As an alternative, a new model called Statistical Reasoning Learning Environment (SRLE) was examined to investigate the effects of SRLE in developing the statistical reason...
Engineers often need to make sense of mathematical structures in differential equations to deal with real life problems. However, students showed difficulties in grasping them. This study presents the teaching of mathematical structures in differential equations using a computer algebra system. The computer algebra systems played the role as a peda...
This paper aims to find out how undergraduate engineering students solve open-ended mathematical problems. More specifically the paper provides an insight into the effects of using Creative Problem Solving (CPS) when solving open-ended mathematical problem. This preliminary study was carried out in a local Malaysian university. Students (n= 25) had...
Algebra is interrelated with other mathematical topics such as statistics and geometry. Learning algebra is about solving an unknown and is the way of thinking. Algebraic thinking is a process of thinking in specific domain in Mathematics. Teaching and learning process of algebra should be reform nowadays as to beyond computational and assisted wit...
It is widely documented that mathematics anxiety is one of the factors that influence the learning of mathematics. Mathematical anxiety can cause one to forget and loose mathematics confidence. In this paper we investigate the predicting role of mathematics anxiety components on mathematics confidence among fresh engineering students. The research...
Statistical reasoning is an essential field in statistics education, but its assessment has yet to be fully established in Malaysia, especially in terms of alternative assessments. This study has been conducted to refine an initial technology-based statistical reasoning assessment tool from Chan and Ismail’s4 study in descriptive statistics for upp...
In spite of its importance, statistical reasoning has not gained much attention by researchers. Similarly, the Malaysian primary students’ statistical reasoning in descriptive statistics is still unknown. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the statistical reasoning in descriptive statistics among the primary school students in a Chinese...
Creative teaching in mathematics based on teachers’ competency is important in helping to realize the objectives of the quality of education that is to be in the third position in international assessments such as Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) and Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). This study aims to explore and...
The use of computer software has good chance to form an efficient and powerful learning among the students. On the other hand, using open source software to teach mathematics in the school system of Malaysia, particularly in secondary school is still an uncertain issue. As a result, in an attempt to bring in a freeware, GeoGebra, this paper studies...
Generally, statistics is taught using the traditional method that only promotes students’ procedural knowledge instead of conceptual knowledge. Therefore, a model called Statistical Reasoning Learning Environment (SRLE) was utilized in this study to develop students’ statistical reasoning ability. The effectiveness of this model was measured using...
Earlier studies revealed that students encountered difficulties in understanding the concept of measures of central tendency. However, there is negligible empirical support concerning this problem in Malaysian context. Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify misconceptions held by tenth grade students from Malaysian secondary schools regardi...
Students have difficulties to appreciate the role of mathematics in their daily life. Failure to understand how mathematics is relevant in life might hinder learning. An online web magazine entitled Dunia Matematik has been published to share mathematics that beyond the classrooms. This paper discusses students’ rating of the articles which portray...
In the last decades, a considerable number of studies investigated the teaching and learning of statistics. The
implications of these studies have changed the content and structure of statistics. Hence, the applications of statistics to understand the world around us should be followed by the learning of statistical concepts so that the students ar...
Earlier studies revealed that students encountered difficulties in understanding the concept of measures of central tendency. However, there is negligible empirical support concerning this problem in Malaysian context. Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify misconceptions held by tenth grade students from Malaysian secondary schools regardi...
Higher order thinking skills (HOTs) is currently at the centre of educational attention. In particular, the revised secondary mathematics curriculum has shifted its emphasis to the fostering of HOTS through teaching and learning. Therefore, this study tries to explore teacher teaching in mathematics classes and their view about problem posing in en...
Mathematical competencies (MCs) are essential for engineering students to be competent and qualified engineers after graduation. The term mathematical competence refers to the ability to understand, judge, do and use mathematical concepts in relevant contexts and situations, which is the predominant goal of mathematical education for engineers. Thi...
This is a conceptual paper to study the project-based learning is an approach to creating learning environments where students create their own knowledge. A brief discussion on previous research and the theoretical foundations of project-based learning. The paper then examines that Project-Based Learning (PjBL) provides opportunities for students t...
Severe problems concerning climate change leads to the emerging idea of
formulation of low-carbon society (LCS). However, the awareness about low-carbon
society among Malaysians is still at the infancy stage. Understanding LCS from the
mathematical perspective support Realistic Mathematics Education as well as creating
awareness about this global c...
PBL is a pedagogical and instructional approach towards holistic learning that demands thinking and intentional connections by using relevant and meaningful real life situations. PBL promotes problems as a process of learning and it consists of reinforcement of existing knowledge integrated with new content acquisition and new information towards p...
Earlier studies provided evidence that students had misconceptions in statistical reasoning. This study was aimed to determine the statistical reasoning ability in descriptive statistics among the tenth-grade students from Malaysian secondary schools. There were 412 participants randomly selected for this study. An instrument called statistical rea...
Matematika merupakan salah satu mata pelajaran yang menantang pemahaman siswa; pokok bahasan peluang dalam topik statistik merupakan hal yang bermanfaat dan mempunyai aplikasi ke berbagai disiplin ilmu. Namun, pokok bahasan ini termasuk yang kurang dipahami oleh siswa. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji pemahaman siswa dalam menyelesaikan masa...
Differential equations are indispensible for engineers as they help to produce models which to study various phenomena. Research has shown that students experience difficulty in interpreting graphical solutions of differential equations and symbolic solutions. Therefore, mathematical thinking powers should be developed in differential equations in...
Mathematics is considered a fundamental component of engineering education, thus it is important to determine the mathematical competencies (MCs) attained by engineering undergraduate students so that they will be able to use these competencies to support their professional engineering work. The MCs were identified based on Niss's work, namely, thi...
In recent years, there has been a growing focus on central statistical ideas or ‘big ideas’ in statistical reasoning such as centre, distribution, and variability in research studies. To date, however, there is a paucity of assessments that integrate three statistical reasoning using information technology, i.e. reasoning about centre, spread, and...
The focus of assessment in statistics has gradually shifted from traditional assessment towards alternative assessment where more attention has been paid to the core statistical concepts such as center, variability, and distribution. In spite of this, there are comparatively few assessments that combine the significant three types of statistical re...
The focus of assessment in statistics has gradually shifted from traditional assessment towards alternative assessment where more attention has been paid to the core statistical concepts such as center, variability, and distribution. In spite of this, there are comparatively few assessments that combine the significant three types of statistical re...
Previous studies demonstrated that students encountered difficulties in understanding the concept of variability. Hence, the purpose of this study is to identify the misconceptions in reasoning about variability among tenth grade students in Malaysia. In this study, a statistical reasoning test consisting of five main questions with 16 items was em...
Pre-service teachers should be equipped with mathematical thinking. Mathematical thinking is one of the most critical aims of the mathematics education has an extremely crucial role for enhancing then conceptual learning. Mathematical thinking is a process that enables students to expand the for the complexities of their ideas. This article describ...
This paper describes a proposal to enhance the teaching of Engineering Mathematics by integrating mathematical thinking and engineering thinking. In our previous research we had focused on the development and support of the mathematical thinking amongst engineering undergraduates and the results showed that the strategies we used were successful in...
Multivariable function is one of the most important concepts in the learning of advanced mathematics. We had implemented a teaching approach to support students in the learning of two-variable functions by promoting mathematical thinking in face-to-face Multivariable Calculus classroom. This study investigates the obstacles and difficulties faced b...
Generic skills are such an important requirement for successful engineers that their developmentin undergraduate courses is deemed essential. This paper summarizes the design of a blended learning environment based on mathematical thinking and creative problem solving aimed at improving generic mathematics skills in a group of undergraduate enginee...
The advent of new technologies in education has transformed learning and the teaching of mathematical concepts, but its integration into the curriculum at the university level is much slower than predicted. For example, a computer algebra system or symbolic manipulation system is a type of computer program that carries out mathematical operations i...
This study aims to investigate the perceptions of engineers and engineering lecturers on their mathematical experiences in the development of thinking skills and the mathematical concepts, mathematical skills and thinking skills that they use in the work place. The sample of the study consists of 23 engineers and 28 engineering lecturers in various...
Owing to the abstract natures of statistical concepts, students are often misled, paving the way to misconceptions in statistical
reasoning. Previous studies have indicated that integration of technology has a positive impact on addressing misconceptions and
improving students’ statistical reasoning. In this paper, statistical reasoning has been in...
Calculus as a prerequisite course to other advanced mathematics courses is one of the important and difficult courses for undergraduate students in many fields of study. Mathematical thinking is an important method to support students in the learning of calculus and specifically multivariable calculus. Researchers endeavour to support students' mat...
In multivariable calculus, the concept of multivariable function is one of the most difficult for undergraduate students to study. The main objective of this study is to establish a model of teaching and learning to support students' mathematical thinking in the learning of two-variable functions through a blended learning environment. The impact o...
Many efforts on identifying misconceptions among schools and undergraduate students have been done, but for postgraduates, in particular serviced teachers, are yet to be understood. Researches, thesis writing and publications require substantial level of statistical reasoning for postgraduates. The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze p...
This paper aims at examining the relationship between achievement goals- mastery and performance goals, metacognition, students' beliefs and academic success of the physics students in University Technology Malaysia (UTM). Regression analysis indicates that metacognition is a full mediator between mastery goals and academic success whilst; students...
Creative Problem Solving as a framework to encourage whole-brain thinking which employs different thinking skills and tools is not sufficiently emphasized in universities. Research findings indicate that for most engineering students, mathematics has always been one of the most difficult courses to study. Previous researches tried to overcome stude...
Mathematics is considered as one of the most important basic skills, however, most employees and those entering the work market fail to successfully deploy mathematical knowledge in their work. There are major difficulties faced by the students in learning mathematics in technical and vocational education both in secondary and post-secondary school...
Much research has been conducted on the teaching and learning of mathematics for engineering undergraduates. This paper reports on a preliminary study in an investigation on the mathematics curriculum of engineering students, a study of engineering students and lecturers’ perceptions about the mathematics curriculum, teaching and learning that have...
Multivariable calculus is one of the most difficult courses for undergraduate students in many fields of studies. This study used blended learning as a teaching and learning environment to support students’ mathematical thinking and to help students in overcoming their obstacles in the learning of multivariable calculus. The main purpose of this st...
Effective communication and teamwork are two important generic skills requirements for successful engineers. In this study, we used blended learning environment based on mathematical thinking and Creative Problem Solving to support students’ communication and teamwork skills in the learning of multivariable calculus. The main goal of this study is...
This study is part of a project concerned with the students’ obstacles in face-to-face Engineering Mathematics classrooms through mathematical thinking approach. The main data collection for this study was carried out through students’ structured questionnaires of three classes at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in the end of semester. The find...
This paper reports a research conducted to understand the development of concepts on differential equations in a learning environment supported with a cognitive tool developed known as DEgraf. The students' levels of understanding were analyzed via concept mapping as introduced by Novak. Their written solutions on various problems were examined and...
Multivariable Calculus is one of the most difficult courses for undergraduate students. Researchers at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) endeavor to support students in the learning of Multivariable Calculus by promoting mathematical thinking in a face-to-face classroom. This study attempts to identify not only learning difficulties in Multivaria...
The purpose of this paper is to discuss current issues related to information technology usage for mathematically gifted students. The development of information technology in gifted education is examined. In addition, the problems and challenges on using information technology for mathematically gifted students are determined in this paper.
Mathematics is one of the most difficult courses to study for engineering students. In addition, effective communication, teamwork, and problem solving are important skills for graduate engineers in their professional work. This study proposes Creative Problem Solving as a framework to improve the way engineering students learn mathematics and supp...
The purpose of this study is to identify students' difficulties in Multivariable Calculus through mathematical thinking approach at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). The data collection for this study was collected from a Multivariable Calculus class in Faculty of Electrical Engineering during semester I 2009-2010. Data collection was carried ou...
Teknologi e-pembelajaran telah berkembang pesat sehingga mempengaruhi pendidikan di peringkat rendah hingga institusi pengajian tinggi. Untuk melaksanakan e-pembelajaran secara efektif, projek ini telah memilih satu system pengurusan kursus yang merupakan perisian sumber terbuka dinamakan MOODLE. Sistem MOODLE dianggap sesuai memandangkan reka bent...
Function of several variables is one of the most important concepts in mathematics and its applications. The lack of its understanding will cause certain obstacles in the learning of next concepts or even subjects. The researchers at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) tend to support students to overcome their deficiencies in the learning of two-v...
Questions
Questions (2)
Many countries are going through lockdown during this Covid19 pandemic. The crisis impacts education as schools have to be closed. Inspire of the isolation, teachers are required to carry out teaching alternatives to reach out to their students. Mathematics have been a difficult discipline to many students while it has been taught face to face in the classroom. In this crisis, how can mathematics teachers teach effectively? What are the constraints and how to cope with them?
Some irresponsible factory owners simply dumped their waste into the rivers. Chemicals such as benzene and methane among others are dangerous to the health. How to technically clean such rivers in a short time?
