Using an online web magazine to motivate the learning of statistics

Abstract

Students have difficulties to appreciate the role of mathematics in their daily life. Failure to understand how mathematics is relevant in life might hinder learning. An online web magazine entitled Dunia Matematik has been published to share mathematics that beyond the classrooms. This paper discusses students' rating of the articles which portray statistics in real life that made available at one section of the web magazine. Students' motivate on were assesed based on four components of ARCS model: Attention, Relevance, Confidence and Satisfaction. The thirty-seven form four students who participated in the study were given one hour to review on some selected articles on statistics that have been published in Dunia Matematik. At the end of the one hour session the participants were required to respond to 20 survey items. Findings showed that the students rated highest for Confidence while Attention was rated lowest. Meanwhile, the overall rating for the articles on Statistics of the online web magazine Dunia Matematik was rated considerably high. The study shows that form four students viewed the articles on applications of statistics published in Dunia Matematik has the potential to motivate the learning of statistics. It is hoped that students take advantage to what is offered by this local web magazine to attain learning and experience beyond classrooms.