Pengalaman mengajar, kefahaman dan kesediaan guru dalam pembinaan item KBAT matematik di SJK Tamil

The understanding and readiness of the teachers to construct mathematics HOTS items still less than satisfactory. Therefore, this study aims to identify the teaching experience, understanding and readiness of teachers in constructing higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) mathematics items in Tamil Primary Schools in Penang, Perak and Kedah. The study’s objective is to identify the level of teachers’ understanding and readiness from the aspects of cognitive, affective and behaviour when constructing HOTS mathematics items. Apart from that, this study also identifies the challenges faced by mathematics teachers in Tamil Primary Schools when constructing HOTS mathematics items based on teaching experience. This study employed a mixed-method research design which are quantitative and qualitative. Data collection for quantitative method uses questionnaire, meanwhile, for the qualitative method the data collection uses interviews and document analysis. The saiz sample consisted of 234 mathematics teachers who taught Years 4, 5 and 6 from 78 SJKT. A total of 234 teachers responded to questionnaires, 18 were involved in interviews, and 100 were involved with document analysis. ANOVA test and Tukey HSD test were used to analyzed quantitative data and qualitative data according to the dominant themes. The quantitative and qualitative research findings indicate that experienced teachers will have a high level of understanding and readiness in constructing HOTS mathematic items. Apart from that, the results of this study have practical implications, suggesting that school principals, District Education Department, State Education Department and the Ministry of Education should take initiatives to enhance the level of understanding and readiness of teachers in the construction of HOTS mathematics items. Theoretically, these findings support Bloom’s Taxonomy on aspect cognitive, aspect afective and aspect behavior on constructing HOTS mathematics items.