Pre‐service secondary mathematics teachers’ beliefs about the nature of technology in the classroom

Abstract

This study investigated pre-service secondary mathematics teachers' (PSTs) beliefs about teaching mathematics with technology, the experiences in which those beliefs were grounded, and the organizational structure of those beliefs. In particular, this article reports on research that was designed to investigate questions beyond that of whether technology can profitably be used before mathematical content has been mastered (the question about technology most commonly reported in the literature). Beliefs were defined as dispositions to act and were viewed through what is referred to as the sensible system framework. Through the qualitative research methodology called grounded theory, four PSTs were purposefully selected and studied. The primary dimensions of the PSTs' core beliefs with respect to technology, referred to as their beliefs about the nature of technology in the classroom, were beliefs about the availability of technology, about the purposeful use of technology, and about the importance of teacher knowledge of technology.