Six Sigma DMAIC: Reduce Barries toLearning in Mathematics

Abstract:However, the teaching-learning of the

subject encounters many barriers.These paper

II.

help to understand barriers to learning in

Mathematics

in

primary

students.

LITERATURE REVIEW

For many children, mathematics is seen as a

The

foreign language; the symbols and expressions

guidelines and aim from this paper to provide

provide a formidable barrier to understanding of

teachers with an understanding of the particular

mathematical concepts, COAG, 2008 [1]. The role

lack in teaching and learning mathematics.The

of language in mathematics learning has been a

paper using Six Sigma DMAIC approach to

matter of interest over many years. For example,

identify and improve the problem.

Pimm (1987) explored some of the language issues

that arise in attempting to teach and learn

Index
methodology,

Terms-

Six-Sigma,

DMAIC

teaching

learning

process,

Mathematics.

mathematics in a school setting [2].

Increased anxiety, relating particularly to
problems of mis-communication. Barwell (2002)
has shown how real life maths problems and

I.

INTRODUCTION

word problems create additional challenges for

The word barrier to learning is used to decribe

any problem or situations in education that prevent

pupils learning EAL [3].Mathematics has become a

nightmare for most of the students.

learners to concentrateand prevent from achieve the

success in the mainsteream curriculam.

Despite such importance now-a-days it is

unfortunate that many students have erroneous

In order to solve the problem, various

impressions

about

Mathematics

and

dislike

initiatives have been take to make sure that

Mathematical activities; many seem to fear, even

everyone has access to learning and also to improve

hate Mathematics [4].

the quality of education. There are variety different

things that can prevent from being the best student.

III.

METODOLOGY

Students are diverse, so teachers instruction must

The research methodology refers to the

meeting their unique needs.The most comman

method used in this study. To perform this study

barrier to learning is about the motivation of

effectively

students to learn in the classroom. This paper

involved:

A most simple and friendly tool for solving problem

is The Six sigma DMAIC methodology, it is require
5 phase-Define (D), Measure(M), Analyze (A),
Improve (I), ControlC).

Fig. 1. DMAIC phases

Define D

fullfilled to reduce barrier to leraning in classroom.

Phase

Analyze A Measure M

hierarchy of needs that should

Improve I

examines the

the

methodological

Activities
This is the first step by confirms the
problem, scope, and goal of the

framework

is

Tools used in this project

Project Charter
VOC = Voice of Client

VOC = Voice of Client

Baseline Data
Fishbone Diagram

5-Why Analysis

Action plan
Implementation plan
Designed

project.
Begins process and measurement of
the current performance.
Identification the potential problem
(or

causes)

viaperformance

in

a
analysis

process
by

Experiment
past and
andeffect.
current
understand the cause
performance data

improvements

Control C

Application of techniques methods

collect the necessary data, and carry out the

Control plan

in order to guarantee the stability of

measurements by experiment. This information was

the process within its acceptable

capturedby interviewa. It is

levels

IV.

is a two-way oral

conversation between two or more individual where

DISCUSSION

The idea behind Six Sigma is simply the process for

a set of questions are asked by interviewer to obtain

solving a problem. It consists of five basic phases:

information.

Define you problem Measure where you are,

voice, the information need to discussed

To

understand

cutomer(students)

Analyze data to understand the problem, Improve

the underlying causes, and Control the process for
the long run. In this project with the right tools, we
can identify barriers and remove them so that
leraning accessible and inclusive for all students.
A. Define(D)
Project Charter

Fig 2: Mathematics is difficult or not

Problem Statement
The teachers is concerned about the problem of learning among the students
and reducing the barriers.
Goal Statement
Reducing the barriers to learning in shchools. Find the way to make
modifications to reduce the obstacles and improve the education learning
Project Scope
No additional windows will be purchased. Improvement will be based
solely on existing situation and adoption of change.

Materials

Lang

Confuse mathematical language

Age-appropriateness

People
Non Motivation

Fig. 1. Team Charter

Understand ordinary language

Accessibility

The Define Phase is the first phase of the Lean

Learning barrier in Math

Six Sigma DMAIC methodology. In this phase, the

There too much text in the worksheet

tools use to define the project problem and solutionConfuse with plus sign add, and
to achieve goals. In this case, teacher should know

and others
will use or
plus
Worksheets
did
not offer a variety of taskDid
typewater
not using ICT

a student availability to learn.

Apart from that, data was collected from
students by identified students requirements using
Voice of the Customer (VOC) method.To come

Symbols

with good reason, data was collected from students

Voice of the customer (VOC) is to determine the

preferences, comments, perception of a customers
needs and wants.
B. Measure (M)
In measure phase to decided what parameters need
to be quantified, use the best tool to measure them,

Technology

Fig. 3. Fishbone Diagram

by using Voice of the Customer (VOC) method to

understand the needs of the students of the process.

Worksheets

C. Analyze (A)
The analyzephase generally involves developing a
list of key variables (Xs) and clarifyinghow
changes in these variables can improve the project
Y
It is started by creating shortlisted root
cause and develop a detailed business process map.

Shortlisted
Root Cause
Poor
Worksheets

Confuse in
Mathematic
al language
Language

Why1

Why2

Why3

Why4

too much
text in the
worksheet

Are
the
spaces
given for
the answer
large
enough

Do
worksheets
offer
a
variety
of
task types

Is there a lot
of clutter
on
the
page?

Did
not
used
ordinary
language

N/A

N/A

plus sign
add and
others will
use
andor
plus

him/her to return to using concrete

materials.
Encourage students to practice and apply

the skill of estimation as often as possible

Provide opportunities for the student to
talk about a problem and to say how
he/she can go about solving it.

E. Control (C)
The last phase of DMAIC is the Control

Poor
Materials

the
materials
used are
not
ageappropriat
e

materials
in
the
classroom
not easily
accessible
to students

Unclearly
labelled and
colour-coded
boxes

Have not a
mathematic
s
table
where the
materials
needed

phase.Monitor action plan process performance to

ensure expected improvement in project y has
occurred.Ensure

ongoing

process

monitoring

system is in place.The four techniques used for

process control plans are:

D. Improvement (I)
DMAIC Improve phase to develop the
necessary solution that can be implemented to

Standardization

improve project.
Documentation:
Documentation is a neccessary step to insure that

Learning basic facts

using variety of table games available, for

the learning gained via improvement

example dominoes,
using computer games

Monitoring Plan:

knowledge of basic facts.

providing the student with strategies for

to

reinforce

It help detect the action plan that improvement

continue or to identify it is suittable or not.

learning basic facts.

Response Plan:
Teaching Methods

This will help to identifywhat should do next if

Draw out important facts through

there have defect change in the process while

classroom discussion.
Use wall charts and display boards to

monitoring.

show the facts and concepts that are

relevant to the current classroom work.

Use materials that can be demonstration,
for example using a bundle of ten lollipop
sticks allows the students to see the ten
single units.

Motivation Methods

If a student has difficulties with a new

V.

CONCLUSION

Teachers have a significant role to play in

teaching to help students deal with the problem of
barrier to learning in mathematics. Teachers need to
be aware about the nature in mathematics
classrooms enables teachers to support students to
deal with potential difficulties related to learning
mathematics.

concept and needs remediation, encourage

REFERENCES

[1]

Council of Australian Governments, (2008). National

Numeracy Review report. Canberra: Commonwealth
of

Australia.

http://www.coag.gov.au/

reports/docs/national_numeracy_
[2]

(retrieved December 8, 2009)

Pimm, D. (1987). Speaking

review.pdf
mathematically.

Communication in mathematics classrooms. London

[3]

& New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

Barwell, R. (2002). 'Understanding EAL issues in
mathematics' in Leung, C. (Ed.) Language and
Additional/Second
Language Issues for School Education. (pp. 69 - 80).

[4]

Watford : NALDIC
Lutfuzzaman, A.A.K.M., Muhammad N. M. And
Hasan, A.S.M.T., Developing a Quality Mathematics
Education Culture in Bangladesh, Bangladesh Forum

for Educational Development, 5 (2), 25-34.

Must need to grow a positive attitude towards
learning mathematics, specially students, teachers
and parents need to change their inquisitive
mentality