Students’ perceptions of their mathematics classroom learning environment in a newly implemented standard-based curriculum during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cluster analysis

Investigating students’ perceptions of their mathematics classroom learning environment introduced during a pandemic is a significant approach for gauging the degree to which the learning environment meets the expectations of students and policy guidelines. The study sought to understand gender and...

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Main Authors: Ebo Amuah, Edmond Kwesi Agormedah, Kwame Akyeampong, Joseph Ghartey Ampiah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Cogent Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2473248
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author Ebo Amuah
Edmond Kwesi Agormedah
Kwame Akyeampong
Joseph Ghartey Ampiah
author_facet Ebo Amuah
Edmond Kwesi Agormedah
Kwame Akyeampong
Joseph Ghartey Ampiah
author_sort Ebo Amuah
collection DOAJ
description Investigating students’ perceptions of their mathematics classroom learning environment introduced during a pandemic is a significant approach for gauging the degree to which the learning environment meets the expectations of students and policy guidelines. The study sought to understand gender and group dynamics in students’ mathematics classroom learning environment. The study is a cross-sectional survey of public school students. Multi-stage sampling was used to select grade 8 students. The Mathematics Constructivist-Oriented Learning Environment Scale (MCOLES) was used to obtain students’ perceptions (N = 520) data and analysed with SPSS 26 and Amos 25. The analysis included (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, validity and reliability analysis) scale validation, descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test and cluster analysis. The findings included a strong factorial structure for MCOLES with six factors (Teacher support, student-initiated involvement, colleague involvement, equity, differentiation, and clarity of assessment). Students’ perception revealed a strong use of assessment to guide learning and minimal differentiated learning. Significant and small gender difference in students’ perception was observed in the student-initiated factor only. Finally, two clusters of students’ perceptions of their mathematics classroom learning environment were found. The implication for teacher professional development programs focusing on differentiated learning in the mathematics classroom learning environment is discussed.
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spelling doaj-art-feedbcdd4cd74b23be9b6ac376e2d7a32025-08-20T02:29:55ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Education2331-186X2025-12-0112110.1080/2331186X.2025.2473248Students’ perceptions of their mathematics classroom learning environment in a newly implemented standard-based curriculum during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cluster analysisEbo Amuah0Edmond Kwesi Agormedah1Kwame Akyeampong2Joseph Ghartey Ampiah3Institute of Education, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, GhanaDepartment of Business and Social Science Education, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, GhanaCentre for the Study of Global Development, Open University, London, UKDepartment of Science Education, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, GhanaInvestigating students’ perceptions of their mathematics classroom learning environment introduced during a pandemic is a significant approach for gauging the degree to which the learning environment meets the expectations of students and policy guidelines. The study sought to understand gender and group dynamics in students’ mathematics classroom learning environment. The study is a cross-sectional survey of public school students. Multi-stage sampling was used to select grade 8 students. The Mathematics Constructivist-Oriented Learning Environment Scale (MCOLES) was used to obtain students’ perceptions (N = 520) data and analysed with SPSS 26 and Amos 25. The analysis included (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, validity and reliability analysis) scale validation, descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test and cluster analysis. The findings included a strong factorial structure for MCOLES with six factors (Teacher support, student-initiated involvement, colleague involvement, equity, differentiation, and clarity of assessment). Students’ perception revealed a strong use of assessment to guide learning and minimal differentiated learning. Significant and small gender difference in students’ perception was observed in the student-initiated factor only. Finally, two clusters of students’ perceptions of their mathematics classroom learning environment were found. The implication for teacher professional development programs focusing on differentiated learning in the mathematics classroom learning environment is discussed.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2473248Clustersmathematics constructivist-oriented learning environmentgender differencesstudents’ perception of their mathematics classroom learning environmentnew standard based curriculumClassroom Management & Organisation
spellingShingle Ebo Amuah
Edmond Kwesi Agormedah
Kwame Akyeampong
Joseph Ghartey Ampiah
Students’ perceptions of their mathematics classroom learning environment in a newly implemented standard-based curriculum during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cluster analysis
Cogent Education
Clusters
mathematics constructivist-oriented learning environment
gender differences
students’ perception of their mathematics classroom learning environment
new standard based curriculum
Classroom Management & Organisation
title Students’ perceptions of their mathematics classroom learning environment in a newly implemented standard-based curriculum during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cluster analysis
title_full Students’ perceptions of their mathematics classroom learning environment in a newly implemented standard-based curriculum during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cluster analysis
title_fullStr Students’ perceptions of their mathematics classroom learning environment in a newly implemented standard-based curriculum during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cluster analysis
title_full_unstemmed Students’ perceptions of their mathematics classroom learning environment in a newly implemented standard-based curriculum during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cluster analysis
title_short Students’ perceptions of their mathematics classroom learning environment in a newly implemented standard-based curriculum during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cluster analysis
title_sort students perceptions of their mathematics classroom learning environment in a newly implemented standard based curriculum during the covid 19 pandemic a cluster analysis
topic Clusters
mathematics constructivist-oriented learning environment
gender differences
students’ perception of their mathematics classroom learning environment
new standard based curriculum
Classroom Management & Organisation
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2473248
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