How Indonesian and Singaporean Students (might) Learn the Pythagorean Theorem: A Comparative Analysis of Textbooks

Abstract

Textbook is considered as a potentially implemented curriculum because it mediates between the intended curriculum and teachers' classroom practices. Textbooks heavily influence the teaching and learning process that, consequently, implies students' achievement. A number of studies show the relationships between students' mathematics achievement and the textbooks they use during the learning processes. The present study reports a comparative analysis of Indonesian and Singaporean textbooks for the topic of the Pythagorean Theorem. An Indonesian mathematics textbook and a Singaporean mathematics textbook for junior high schools were analyzed. The results of the textbook analysis show that both textbooks used activities-based and context-related explanation section. Although Indonesian and Singaporean textbooks included context, the purpose of context in both textbooks were different.