ERIC Number: EJ1165808
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 24
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1062-9017
EISSN: N/A
Selecting and Using Mathematics Methods Texts: Nontrivial Tasks
Harkness, Shelly Sheats; Brass, Amy
The Mathematics Educator, v26 n2 p82-105 2017
Mathematics methods textbooks/texts are important components of many courses for preservice teachers. Researchers should explore how these texts are selected and used. Within this paper we report the findings of a survey administered electronically to 132 members of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE) in order to answer the following research questions: What criteria do mathematics teacher educators use when they select texts? How do they use the texts in their methods courses? What strategies (e.g., literacy strategies, reflection strategies, etc.) do mathematics teacher educators use in order to help preservice teachers engage with the texts? Findings suggest that mathematics teacher educators use varied criteria to select methods texts and they use texts in a variety of ways. Some use texts to show and tell about standards-based practices and some want to help preservice teachers use texts to shape their own visions of standards-based practices. Additionally, results indicate that mathematics teacher educators ask preservice teachers to participate in discussions about the texts they select and use in their courses. We propose additional research related to the literacy strategies that mathematics teacher educators use in their methods courses in order to help preservice teachers engage with the texts that they select and use.
Descriptors: Textbook Selection, Preservice Teacher Education, Teacher Educators, Teacher Surveys, Selection Criteria, Methods Courses, Mathematics Education, Literacy, Educational Strategies
Mathematics Education Student Association, University of Georgia. 105 Aderhold Hall, Athens, GA 30602. Tel: 706-542-4194; Fax: 706-542-4551; e-mail: mesaprez@gmail.com; Web site: http://math.coe.uga.edu/tme/tmeonline.html
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A