Analyzing the activities designed for the popularization of mathematics with regard to 7th grade students' mathematical process skills and attitude towards mathematics

The purpose of this study is to investigate the activities designed in order to popularize mathematics with regard to 7th grade students' mathematical process skills and attitude towards mathematics. The study was designed as a case study and carried out during 2014-2015 school year with 24 7th grade students of a middle school situated in a central quarter of Eskisehir with a middle socio-economic level. The study was conducted within the optional "applications of mathematics" course and the students were from several 7th grade classes. 6 popularization activities were developed on the basis of the Theory of the Didactical Situations [TDS]. The activities were introduced in 3 months during two-hour weekly course. The data were collected via pre and post interviews, video records of the activities, observation forms, the researcher-teacher's notes, students' drawings and written stories. The data were analysed using content analysis method. The analysis of the video records was realized on the basis of the mathematical processes according to TDS. For the analysis of the interviews and other data, codes and categories were defined with an inductive approach. In order to examine the effects of the activities on students' mathematical process skills, the study focused on 4 students' personal and group work via video records. Other data were analysed in order to examine the effects of the activities on students' attitudes towards mathematics. The results showed that, with the popularization activities designed on the basis of the TDS, it was possible to involve students in mathematical processes with a positive mathematical experience. As for the students' attitudes towards mathematics, positive changes were observed in students' visions of mathematics, in their emotions about mathematics and in their perception of success in mathematics.