Mathematics Teacher Education Research Articles

Teacher Belief, Knowledge, and Practice: A Trichotomy of Mathematics Teacher Education

Teacher Belief, Knowledge, and Practice: A Trichotomy of Mathematics Teacher Education

Using large language models to support pre-service teachers mathematical reasoning—an exploratory study on ChatGPT as an instrument for creating mathematical proofs in geometry

In this exploratory study, the potential of large language models (LLMs), specifically ChatGPT to support pre-service primary education mathematics teachers in constructing mathematical proofs in geometry is investigated. Utilizing the theoretical framework of instrumental genesis, the prior experiences of students with LLMs, their beliefs about the operating principle and their interactions with the chatbot are analyzed. Using qualitative content analysis, inductive categories for these aspects are formed. Results indicate that students had limited prior experiences with LLMs and used them predominantly for applications that are not mathematics specific. Regarding their beliefs, most show only superficial knowledge about the technology and misconceptions are common. The analysis of interactions showed multiple types of in parts mathematics-specific prompts and patterns on three different levels from single prompts to whole chat interactions.

Generative Artificial Intelligence on Mobile Devices in the University Preparation of Future Teachers of Mathematics

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the field of education. The possibilities of AI in education range from providing intelligent tutoring to facilitating computational thinking, a key skill in an AI-based society. As education systems around the world adapt to technological advances, the need for teachers to develop AI skills becomes crucial. This paper explores the use of AI on mobile devices to improve the preparation of future mathematics teachers. We acknowledge the need for teachers to be skilled in the use of AI tools to foster collaborative, effective, and ethical learning environments. We also provide a case study of our implementation of the generative AI ChatGPT in the preparation of future mathematics teachers at the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science at Comenius University in Bratislava. After this implementation, we analyzed students’ opinions on the application of AI in selected areas. We present the results of this analysis and the implications for the practical use of AI in the university education of future mathematics teachers. Finally, based on our study results, we highlight the possibilities of the successful use of AI in different aspects of teaching and its temporary limitations, which are likely to be reduced by further technological developments.

Mathematics teacher educators’ documents, praxeologies, and beliefs: a holistic model

AbstractThe research presented in this paper aims to shed light on the complex role of mathematics teacher educators who led courses for prospective mathematics teachers. Theoretically, the research combines the documentational approach to didactics and the meta-didactical transposition frameworks, complementing the study with the analysis of the teacher educators’ beliefs about the prospective teachers’ needs. The methodology entails a comparative case study related to two courses, taking place in quite different contexts, led by the two authors independently, and a collaborative self-study of teacher education approach, based on eight reciprocal semi-structured interviews between the authors. The result is a holistic model of mathematics teacher educators’ work that takes into account their practices, including the design of teaching materials based on a variety of resources, justifying discourses and personal beliefs. This can deepen our insight into the expertise of mathematics teacher educators and, prospectively, can be fruitful for their professional development.

Mathematics teacher educators’ navigational expertise when designing multimodal representations of practice: a semiotic analysis

Mathematics teacher educators’ navigational expertise when designing multimodal representations of practice: a semiotic analysis

Publishing mathematics education research in English: amplifying voices from the field

AbstractIn this paper we investigate the issue of representation within the Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education (JMTE) and the broader academic publishing landscape, particularly focusing on the underrepresentation of authors from various world regions. A questionnaire, distributed globally, aimed to amplify the voices of the underrepresented, exploring the constraints and affordances of publishing in English-medium mathematics education research journals. The question that guided our investigation was: What do voices from the mathematics education community raise in their responses to questions about publishing in English-medium research journals like JMTE? We used qualitative methods to review the responses and identify common themes. The findings revealed significant barriers and challenges related to language, research location, and institutional support, highlighting the complexities of navigating the global academic community and the academic publishing culture. We propose actionable suggestions to foster a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive publishing environment.

A community sin vergüenza: Considerations when designing classroom spaces for bi/multilingual students to speak, listen, and be heard

ABSTRACT This article explores the parallels experienced when pre-service teachers and those teaching multilingual students in elementary school design classroom spaces around the Right of the Learner to speak, listen, and be heard. We share examples of democratic commitments and shifts in our own understandings of the role of the teacher and professor. We also discuss the importance of being willing to be with students as they shed the shame that may have kept them silent in other classroom settings. This article explores what it means for educators to make room for Latinx students to use their voices and embrace their ideas sin vergüenza, without shame.

Epistemic emotions and pre-service mathematics teachers’ knowledge for teaching

Affective and cognitive processes may be jointly researched to better understand mathematics learning, paying special interest to emotions related to knowledge acquisition. However, it remains necessary to explore these processes in studies linked to the education of pre-service mathematics teachers. This study aims to characterize epistemic emotions in different practices linked to the practice of mathematics teaching: problem-solving, anticipating what would happen with the students and reflecting on classroom implementation. It considers the theory of Mathematical Working Spaces to describe the mathematical and cognitive dimensions generated by epistemic emotions, paying special attention to the cognition-affect interaction and the workspace created. The results indicate that the epistemic emotions of the pre-service mathematics teachers associated with the distinct practices were different. Differences are observed in the interaction between emotions and cognitive epistemic actions, depending on whether the pre-service mathematics teachers analyze them within the framework of their own solving or anticipate them in their students. This reveals how personal work relates to what is considered to be suitable for students. Specifically, certain antecedents and consequences have been specified for the emotions of surprise and boredom in relation to the characteristics of the optimization problems and the cognitive activity of the subject when solving them. These results highlight the need to enhance the education of pre-service mathematics teachers through training that helps regulate their epistemic emotions and model effective strategies for regulating their own emotions and those of their students.

A Review of Research on Mathematics Teacher Educator Knowledge: Mapping the Terrain

A Review of Research on Mathematics Teacher Educator Knowledge: Mapping the Terrain

The Integration Strategy of Class Teacher Management and Mathematics Teaching

The professional and moral education of high school mathematics teachers will make classroom management work better, but their work pressure will also lead to classroom management problems. To do a good job in high school class teacher management and organically integrate it with mathematics teaching, we need to start from two aspects: mathematics teaching class teachers and class teacher work teaching, and penetrate mathematical thinking into daily classroom management, moral education, and classroom culture construction. Based on the attributes of the subject, we guide high school students to reflect after class to stimulate their self-management initiative through the cultivation of qualified class representatives. In addition, it is necessary to skillfully resolve classroom generative problems, change the roles of teachers and students, and integrate classroom management with mathematics teaching.

Mathematical Work of a Future Teacher in Teaching the Box Plot Diagram

Objective: The study aims to characterize the teaching proposals of the future Mathematics teacher in the context of their practical training in the final year of their university studies. Theoretical Framework: To achieve this, we consider the theory of Mathematical Workspaces, which allows for the analysis of both the mathematical activity that an individual engages in while solving a mathematical task, and the activity that is promoted during teaching. Method: A qualitative methodology is adopted through the design of an instrumental case study. The case pertains to a future teacher conducting a class on constructing a box plot. This class was observed and transcribed for analysis in light of the proposed mathematical work. Results and Discussion: The mathematical work exhibited by the future teacher includes a strong semiotic component and the use of non-material artifacts for quartile calculations. Students' prior knowledge is utilized in this context, with procedural aspects taking precedence over statistical thinking. Implications of the Research: The study raises concerns about the statistical education of mathematics teachers and its impact on future teaching proposals. Originality/Value: This research contributes to the study of statistics and initial teacher training in their influence on the future practices of Mathematics teachers. It provides a characterization of the mathematical work promoted by a future teacher and offers insights into concerns regarding the development of statistical thinking.

A study about the education of mathematics teachers in public schools in the region of Formiga (MG)

The education of mathematics teachers who teach in public schools in the region of Formiga (MG) was investigated, together with the perception of a group of teachers regarding the need for specific training. Data from the State Department of Education were used, and a questionnaire was developed and administered to participating professionals. The demand for teachers in the region has grown more than the number of teachers working since 2014. The average number of professionals licensed in the subject has been higher than the national average for elementary education but lower than the average for high school. Finally, teachers consider knowledge and specific training in mathematics essential for working in basic education and adapting content to official curricula and for the quality of the teaching and learning process.

Correction: Mathematics teaching and teacher education against marginalisation, or towards equity, diversity and inclusion

Correction: Mathematics teaching and teacher education against marginalisation, or towards equity, diversity and inclusion

The Mathematics Teacher Education Partnership: The Power of a Networked Improvement Community to Transform Secondary Mathematics Teacher Preparation: A Review

The Mathematics Teacher Education Partnership: The Power of a Networked Improvement Community to Transform Secondary Mathematics Teacher Preparation: A Review

Introducing the role of being an advocate in mathematics teacher education

AbstractMathematics teacher education is often described in terms of the mathematical content and pedagogy that teachers need. However, recent calls for equity in mathematics education demand a broadening of this view. In this article, we articulate a theoretical description of what the role of being an advocate in language-diverse classrooms could involve and some of the practical challenges that mathematics teacher educators may have when introducing it, using empirical examples from our teacher education courses for teachers of Grades 1–7 in Norway. In the theoretical description of the role of being an advocate into mathematics teacher education, we distinguish between in-class advocacy and advocacy beyond the classroom and what these different kinds of advocacy might entail in language-diverse classrooms. The practical issues that we identified in raising different aspects of the role indicate the need for further research into how to raise preservice teachers’ awareness about the role of being an advocate, in and outside of the classroom, in different cultural settings and how this knowledge could be used in teacher education to challenge preservice teachers’ language ideologies and raise non-trivial issues.

Non-Euclidean geometries in and for the mathematics teacher education: A literature review

Science challenges the relevance of school geometry in its treatment of space. Therefore, the research discusses the incorporation of non-Euclidean geometries in the initial and continuing education of mathematics teachers. Hence, this literature review aims to synthesize and describe, in a broad and current range, the recent state of research in educational mathematics on these geometries in teacher education. To do this, we configured a method in three moments: the search, evaluation, selection, and organization of the sources found and reading, analyzing, and writing results. The results highlight a regional and temporal interest that prioritizes teaching practice. Furthermore, a deficit and prescriptive perspective of teachers' knowledge and a minority perspective of the teacher as a subject of knowledge are recognized. We conclude with the need for research on various phenomena, including Euclidean generalizations.

Mathematics teaching and teacher education against marginalisation, or towards equity, diversity and inclusion

The interrogation of often unintended practices of marginalisation has gained focus in research on mathematics teaching and mathematics teacher education throughout the last decades. In this introductory survey paper, work against marginalisation in these contexts of mathematics education is viewed in terms of work towards equity, diversity and inclusion. Based on this interpretation, we present a framework on awareness and practice of equity, diversity and inclusion in mathematics teaching and mathematics teacher education research. We then use this framework and a survey method of mapping review to identify and comment on a selection of studies. As a result, we illustrate three research moves towards equity, diversity and inclusion, in the form of interconnected themes: (1) Widening the understanding of the mathematics and the mathematics education curricula (2) Improving the practice and discussion of mathematics teaching (3) Unpacking ideologies in mathematics teaching and mathematics teacher education. We finally examine the themes and the special issue papers together to foreground commonalities regarding awareness of discriminatory discourses and practices of creating and distributing opportunities for all groups, including those historically and currently marginalised. Despite the important increase of equity-driven principles of awareness, we conclude that mathematics education research on teaching and on teacher education needs more examples of practices whose development has been proved to challenge marginalisation.

Moving the Conversation Forward: Research Commentaries in Mathematics Teacher Educator

Moving the Conversation Forward: Research Commentaries in Mathematics Teacher Educator

Publisher Correction: Professionalisation for inclusive mathematics–teacher education programs and changes in pre-service teachers’ beliefs and self-efficacy

Publisher Correction: Professionalisation for inclusive mathematics–teacher education programs and changes in pre-service teachers’ beliefs and self-efficacy

Concept-Focused and Procedure-Focused Instruction on the Algebra Performance of Grade 9 Students With and Without Mathematics Difficulty.

Developing both conceptual and procedural knowledge is important for students' mathematics competence. This study examined whether Grade 9 general education mathematics teachers' self-reported use of concept-focused instruction (CFI) and procedure-focused instruction (PFI) were associated differently with ninth graders' algebra achievement after 2.5 years, depending on students' mathematics difficulty (MD) status. Data for this study were drawn from the High School Longitudinal Study for the years 2009-2010 and 2011-2012 (N = 19,104). Multiple regression analyses indicated that students with MD who participated in Grade 9 mathematics classrooms where teachers self-reported the use of less CFI and more PFI were more positively associated with having higher algebra achievement after 2.5 years. Conversely, students without MD in classrooms where mathematics teachers self-reported the use of more CFI and less PFI were positively associated with having higher algebra achievement after 2.5 years. However, this study's findings do not suggest that teachers should disregard CFI and provide only PFI when teaching students with MD. Because the data set did not include any variable to discover whether teachers provided sufficient support (i.e., evidence-based practices) for students with MD, who have more constraints in their cognitive skills compared to students without MD, to benefit from CFI, the findings of this study should be interpreted cautiously. Directions for future research and practical implications are discussed.