Using the Information Processing Theory into Teaching Mathematics: A Case Study of "Vector" Concept

Abstract

Teaching methods are one of the most important factors in the teaching process. Today, mathematics educators have used various scientific and technical achievements to improve the efficiency of mathematics instruction in schools. In keeping with that trend, we are particularly interested in information processing theory developed by the American psychologist Gaz. A. Miller in 1956. This theory holds that the process of human’s leaning goes through three types of memory: sensory memory, short-term memory and long-term memory. Based on this idea, we developed a phase –three teaching model and conducted the experiment on teaching concepts of vector in Geometry 10 with activating the above types of memory. This article describes the teaching process we performed and the results obtained from the experiment.