Abstract Book of the 8th International Academic Conference on Education, Teaching and Learning
Year: 2025
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Connecting Culture and Mathematics: Implementing Ethnomathematics in Online Learning Through Simple House Theory
Wen-Haw Chen
ABSTRACT:
This study investigates how integrating students’ cultural backgrounds into online mathematics instruction can foster deeper conceptual understanding, intrinsic motivation, and sustained engagement. Centered on the Ethnomathematics Project, the instructional design employs Simple House Theory—a novel pedagogical framework grounded in projective geometry and inspired by traditional house design—to contextualize abstract mathematical concepts within culturally relevant practices.
Conducted collaboratively between Universitas Negeri Makassar (UNM), Indonesia, and Tunghai University (THU), Taiwan, the study engaged 36 undergraduate students (20 from UNM and 16 from THU) in a cross-cultural, project-based online learning environment. The research adopted a mixed-methods approach involving pre- and post-tests, a 23-item Likert- scale survey, and qualitative assessments of student projects and reflective journals.
Quantitative analysis revealed a statistically significant improvement in engagement, alongside marked gains in conceptual understanding and creativity, as evidenced by the design outputs rooted in participants’ indigenous cultures. Qualitative data further highlighted enhanced learner autonomy, increased cultural pride, and deeper metacognitive awareness, which facilitated emotional connection and personalized learning paths. By integrating ethnomathematical concepts, projective geometry, and learner-centered strategies, educators can create meaningful and motivating experiences that transcend geographical boundaries. The findings advocate for broader adoption of localized, culturally responsive teaching models in global distance education and offer practical insights for interdisciplinary innovation in STEM pedagogy.
Keywords: ethnomathematics, culturally responsive teaching, simple house theory, distance learning