Mathematics Teacher Education and Development

Facilities for Mathematics Teachers’ Learning from Professional Development Programmes: A Qualitative Systematic Review

Daniel Brehmer — 2024-06-28

It is indicated that research on professional development programmes (PDPs) for mathematics teachers mostly concerns whether a programme affects the teachers’ practice or student learning, while the teachers’ learning is treated as a black box. Calls have been made for a shared body of knowledge on teachers’ professional learning and what supports such learning. In this article, 84 articles from mathematics education journals are examined with respect to facilities and catalysts for teacher learning from PDPs for mathematics teachers. Two main types of PDPs were identified—those that target teacher knowledge growth and those that target changed instruction—and it was determined that the types of facilities for catalysing learning linked to them differ. Typical of PDPs targeting teacher knowledge growth is that they emphasise knowledge of content and teaching, knowledge of content and students and specialised content knowledge; following insight and/or body of knowledge as facilities for catalysing the learning. Typical of PDPs targeting changed instruction is that they use more time and have a larger time span than PDPs targeting teacher knowledge growth, emphasise knowledge of content and teaching; and follow strategies by doing/experimenting when establishing them in the classroom as facilities for catalysing the learning.

Prospective Mathematics Teachers’ Epistemological Obstacles in Developing Project-based Numeracy Tasks

Vivi Suwanti — 2024-06-28

This study aims to describe the epistemological obstacles of prospective Indonesian secondary mathematics teachers’ in designing project-based numeracy tasks (PbNTs). Three case studies focused on qualitative analyses of prospective Indonesian secondary mathematics teachers’ PbNTs from responses to a semi-structured interview based on indicators of epistemological obstacles. It was found that epistemological knowledge was not the main cause of the obstacles they experienced, which is inconsistent with findings described in previous studies. It was revealed the prospective secondary mathematics teachers were too focused on the mathematical aspects and did not pay attention to the role of contextual knowledge in the process of PbNT design.

Pre-service Mathematics Teachers' Views on an Inquiry-based Learning Environment Emphasising Mathematical Communication

Mahir Biber — 2024-08-03

This study examined pre-service mathematics teachers' views on a communicative learning environment based on an inquiry-based learning approach. In the research, the phenomenological research model was used. The research was carried out with 24 pre-service teachers studying in the Primary Education Mathematics Teaching program of a state university located in Istanbul. The data were collected using a semi-structured interview protocol comprised of eight items prepared by the researcher. In the analysis of the data, content analysis was conducted using a qualitative data analysis computer software package. Within the scope of the research, pre-service teachers were asked to evaluate the inquiry-based learning abased on mathematical communication, and their level of readiness for the process. The results showed that pre-service teachers had difficulties in adapting to the inquiry-based learning approach and the mathematical communication environment, but they found the course process useful and efficient. It was determined that pre-service teachers attribute the difficulties they experience during the process to some factors, such as teachers, past learning experiences, and the education system.pproach, the course they took with this approach, the learning environment

Appreciating Productive Struggle: Educators’ Experience of "Confusion to Clarity" During Professional Learning

James Anthony Russo — 2024-07-31

Productive struggle is a vital aspect of mathematics learning; consequently, how teacher educators can effectively communicate the power of this idea to classroom teachers should in itself be an important consideration. We argue that providing teachers with firsthand experience of learning mathematics through structured inquiry approaches (e.g., launch-explore-summarise/review) is vital for supporting their appreciation of productive struggle. To facilitate this, during professional learning workshops with primary school teachers and education support workers, we have introduced a reflective template (the "confuse-o-meter") to enhance educator awareness of their own journey from "confusion to clarity" as work on a task unfolds. In this Illustration of Practice, we draw on data collected from several workshops we recently facilitated, which focussed on introducing challenging tasks and the launch-explore-summarise/review lesson structure. Our purpose is to both demonstrate the importance of providing educators with first-hand experience of productive struggle, and to illustrate how the reflective template designed supports this process.