The Effect of teaching a Small Private Online Course (SPOC) on Elementary Number Theory course based on Constructivism Theory to Enhance Mathematics Logical Reasoning Ability for First Year Students of Xi’an University

Abstract

Background and Aims: With the continuous advancement of new education curriculum reform, especially in China, the classroom roles of teachers and students are evolving. Logical reasoning is an important part of the core literacy of mathematics. The purposes of this research were: (1) Compare Mathematics Logical Reasoning Ability before and after the implementation of a Small Private Online Course (SPOC) on Elementary Number Theory course based on Constructivism theory. (2) Assess the student’s satisfaction with the Small Private Online Course (SPOC) on the Elementary Number Theory course. Methodology: The sample of this study was 40 first-year students in Xi'an University, Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province. They were selected by cluster random sampling. The research instruments were: 1) Seven lesson plans of a Small Private Online Course (SPOC) on Elementary Number Theory course based on Constructivism theory. 2) Mathematics Logical Reasoning Ability test paper. 3) Questionnaire for students’ satisfaction. The researcher used the Mathematics Logical Reasoning Ability test paper to conduct pre-tests and post-tests on the sample. Then the pre-test data and post-test data are analyzed. The content of data analysis includes: score mean, standard deviation, the correlation between pre-test data and post test data, t-test of paired dependent sample. Results: From the study, it was found that: (1) The mathematics Logical Reasoning Ability test paper data showed the mean score of post-test data were higher than pre-test scores at the.05 level of statistical significance (The mean of pretest was 19.48, the mean of post-test was 22.55, p <.05). (2) The mean scores of students’ satisfaction with the Small Private Online Course (SPOC) on the Elementary Number Theory course based on Constructivism theory were very high level. Conclusion: The students who learn through the Elementary Number Theory course will have a post-test score higher than the pretest score. The students’ satisfaction with a Small Private Online Course on Elementary Number Theory course based on Constructivism theory will be at a very high level.