The Instructional Methods that Mathematics Teachers Use and Their Perceptions on the Discovery Approach

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to determine the methods/approaches that mathematics teachers apply in their classes and their perceptions on the application of a discovery approach in mathematics instruction. Twenty-five mathematics teachers who were teaching in 14 middle schools in Ankara that were selected by stratified random sampling participated in this study. Data were collected through interviews, class observations, and lesson plans obtained from teachers. Results revealed that most of the participating teachers applied traditional teaching methods both in their lesson plans and classes. Moreover, many participants mentioned that the discovery approach provided an environment for visual and tactile learning; however it was not applicable in our country due to reasons such as time limitations and the heavily packed curriculum.