Teacher's belief of mathematical literacy based on local culture: Case study of junior high school mathematics teacher

Abstract

This study was conducted to explain the teacher's belief of school mathematics subjects in relation to their concepts of mathematical literacy based on local culture. The participants were three mathematics teachers at Junior High School in Java, Indonesia. They were chosen because they met the criteria, namely having at least five years teaching experience, having the awareness to conduct ethnomathematics studies, and teaching mathematics at school using local cultures minimum in one academic year. Research data were collected through interviews, observations during the teaching and learning process, and lesson plans. The data were then analysed using the interactive models of Miles and Huberman. The results of the study showed that mathematics was believed as a tool for solving problems in everyday life, which was related to human and cultural dimensions. The conception of teaching mathematical literacy based on local culture, as according to teacher perceptions, had not placed local culture as an evaluation tool for the development of mathematical literacy. This was because mathematical literacy was not yet believed to be a social construction developed based on mathematical ideas and practices in local culture.