Self-reported mathematical problem-solving skills of future mathematics teachers
Background: During their university studies, student teachers are equipped for the teaching profession in various domains of knowledge and practice. In addition to learning pedagogic skills for practice purposes, they also expand their knowledge of the subjects that they will teach. In mathematics t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2021-10-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Childhood Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/1011 |
| _version_ | 1818343162064666624 |
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| author | Kathleen Fonseca |
| author_facet | Kathleen Fonseca |
| author_sort | Kathleen Fonseca |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: During their university studies, student teachers are equipped for the teaching profession in various domains of knowledge and practice. In addition to learning pedagogic skills for practice purposes, they also expand their knowledge of the subjects that they will teach. In mathematics teacher education, one important principle is that the content of the subject must, somehow, be fused with the pedagogy in what has become known as mathematical knowledge for teaching (MKT). Although several studies have been conducted about students’ performance of MKT, there is little research in South Africa about how students routinely experience the coursework itself. In this study, I argue that mathematics knowledge and skills should ideally precede the teaching of pedagogy, for reasons of communicating the concepts clearly and for building a foundation of mathematical thinking prior to practising teaching skills.
Aim: To find out what the student teachers’ self-reported experience of one component of a mathematics content course are, namely their engagement with problem-solving tasks.
Methods: A qualitative case study of student teachers’ learning, with the primary source of data, the student teachers’ reflective journal entries. Data were analysed through coding, categorising and thematised mindful of the MPSKT framework.
Results: The findings indicated that, whilst the students’ understanding of the processes of problem-solving was deepened during the course, matters of pedagogy arose spontaneously. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T16:26:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9a25cc7aa2be4726aaa0429d97c5d4af |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7674 2223-7682 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T16:26:12Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Childhood Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-9a25cc7aa2be4726aaa0429d97c5d4af2022-12-21T23:38:36ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Childhood Education2223-76742223-76822021-10-01111e1e810.4102/sajce.v11i1.1011448Self-reported mathematical problem-solving skills of future mathematics teachersKathleen Fonseca0Department of Childhood Education, Faculty of Education, University of Johannesburg, JohannesburgBackground: During their university studies, student teachers are equipped for the teaching profession in various domains of knowledge and practice. In addition to learning pedagogic skills for practice purposes, they also expand their knowledge of the subjects that they will teach. In mathematics teacher education, one important principle is that the content of the subject must, somehow, be fused with the pedagogy in what has become known as mathematical knowledge for teaching (MKT). Although several studies have been conducted about students’ performance of MKT, there is little research in South Africa about how students routinely experience the coursework itself. In this study, I argue that mathematics knowledge and skills should ideally precede the teaching of pedagogy, for reasons of communicating the concepts clearly and for building a foundation of mathematical thinking prior to practising teaching skills. Aim: To find out what the student teachers’ self-reported experience of one component of a mathematics content course are, namely their engagement with problem-solving tasks. Methods: A qualitative case study of student teachers’ learning, with the primary source of data, the student teachers’ reflective journal entries. Data were analysed through coding, categorising and thematised mindful of the MPSKT framework. Results: The findings indicated that, whilst the students’ understanding of the processes of problem-solving was deepened during the course, matters of pedagogy arose spontaneously.https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/1011initial teacher educationmathematics content coursesmathematical problem-solvingstudent teachersmathematical knowledge for teaching |
| spellingShingle | Kathleen Fonseca Self-reported mathematical problem-solving skills of future mathematics teachers South African Journal of Childhood Education initial teacher education mathematics content courses mathematical problem-solving student teachers mathematical knowledge for teaching |
| title | Self-reported mathematical problem-solving skills of future mathematics teachers |
| title_full | Self-reported mathematical problem-solving skills of future mathematics teachers |
| title_fullStr | Self-reported mathematical problem-solving skills of future mathematics teachers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self-reported mathematical problem-solving skills of future mathematics teachers |
| title_short | Self-reported mathematical problem-solving skills of future mathematics teachers |
| title_sort | self reported mathematical problem solving skills of future mathematics teachers |
| topic | initial teacher education mathematics content courses mathematical problem-solving student teachers mathematical knowledge for teaching |
| url | https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/1011 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kathleenfonseca selfreportedmathematicalproblemsolvingskillsoffuturemathematicsteachers |