Developing an Interest in Mathematics with Occupational Exemplars

• Published in: Computer Supported Education Vol. 1624; pp. 115 - 129
• Main Authors: Porras, Päivi, Naukkarinen, Johanna
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Springer International Publishing AG 2022; Springer International Publishing
• Series: Communications in Computer and Information Science
• Subjects: Contextual framing; GeoGebra; Mathematics; MOOC; Near-peer role models; Work-life
• ISBN: 3031147553; 9783031147555
• ISSN: 1865-0929; 1865-0937
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-14756-2_7

This paper introduces four different ways for developing upper secondary school students’ interest in and motivation toward mathematics by connecting mathematics topics and contextualizing mathematical problems to working life scenarios in different occupations. They include materials for teachers, a self-study online course for students, a virtual reality environment with embedded mathematics problems, and the use of near-peer role models (university students) as math ambassadors that visit upper secondary schools. All four activities were created in project TyöMAA with the general objectives of informing upper secondary school students where and how mathematics is used in their future careers, enhancing students’ mathematical skills to enable them to progress in their post-graduate studies, and infusing the students with enthusiasm and self-confidence in mathematics. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has inevitably slowed the implementation and dissemination of the created tools, we have observed some encouraging indicators of the need for and effectiveness of the solutions.