Practice makes perfect on the blackboard: A cultural analysis of mathematics instructional patterns in Taiwan

Studies show a sharp difference in math achievement between students in the U.S. and students in several East Asian countries, amongst them Taiwan. It is suggested that the patterns of math instruction applied by teachers may have contributed to these differences. This study intends to investigate the patterns of math instruction applied by the Taiwanese teachers and to delve into the cultural roots of these patterns. Data source includes videotaping of instruction by three middle school math teachers and a questionnaire survey of 297 eighth-graders. It was found that the Taiwanese math instruction pattern may be summarized as a cultural activity of “practice makes perfect, on the blackboard”. The underlying cultural beliefs are further explored, including the incremental view of human intelligence, self-improvement through diligent effort, and the teacher's role as an authority figure.