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Policy Innovations in Singapore Mathematics

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Singapore Math and Science Education Innovation

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Abstract

Mathematics education in Singapore schools in the twenty-first century is still going through the period of change and innovation that began in the early 1990s: changes in emphasis from rote memorisation to meaningful understanding of concepts and problem-solving; from a dependence on paper and pencil and manipulative calculations and skills to mental computations and thinking strategies; and from teaching by telling to activity-based learning, group work, and communication in mathematics. This chapter makes an attempt to describe how the mathematics curriculum in Singapore has responded to such changes and innovations. At the same time, the chapter has chosen three out of many major innovations in Singapore mathematics education and discusses them in relation to school mathematics: problems in real-world contexts (PRWC), Learning Support for Mathematics (LSM), and Improving Confidence and Achievement in Numeracy (ICAN). These innovations are selected because the ways Singapore has approached them might be of theoretical and practical interest to international readers.

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The ideas expressed in this chapter are of the authors and do not represent the official positions of the National Institute of Education or the Ministry of Education, Singapore.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mathematics & Mathematics Education (MME), National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University (NIE/NTU), Singapore, Singapore

    Kai Kow Joseph Yeo & Lu Pien Cheng

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  1. Kai Kow Joseph Yeo
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  2. Lu Pien Cheng
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Correspondence to Kai Kow Joseph Yeo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Research in Child Development, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

    Oon Seng Tan

  2. Office of Teacher Education, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

    Ee Ling Low

  3. Mathematics and Mathematics Education, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

    Eng Guan Tay

  4. Academic & Faculty Affairs, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

    Yaw Kai Yan

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Yeo, K.K.J., Cheng, L.P. (2021). Policy Innovations in Singapore Mathematics . In: Tan, O.S., Low, E.L., Tay, E.G., Yan, Y.K. (eds) Singapore Math and Science Education Innovation. Empowering Teaching and Learning through Policies and Practice: Singapore and International Perspectives, vol 1. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1357-9_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1357-9_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-16-1356-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-16-1357-9

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