ERIC Number: EJ1178013
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0020-739X
EISSN: N/A
The Beliefs of 'Tomorrow's Teachers' about Mathematics: Precipitating Change in Beliefs as a Result of Participation in an Initial Teacher Education Programme
International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, v49 n5 p759-777 2018
Mathematics education research has given increasing attention to the role of affective factors in the learning process. While 'affect' is used to refer to a variety of aspects including feelings, emotions, beliefs, attitudes and conceptions, this paper focuses on 'beliefs' of elementary pre-service teachers. In particular, the study evaluates the effect of participation in a reform-based elementary pre-service teacher education (referred to as Initial Teacher Education (ITE)) programme on participants' 'beliefs about the nature of mathematics.' This was completed using two (sub)scales of the Aiken's Revised Mathematics Scale measuring Enjoyment of Mathematics (E) and belief in the Value of Mathematics (V). Both scales were administered before and after participants completed the mathematics education programme, which consisted of 5 compulsory and consecutive modules. This study reveals that entry-level pre-service teachers report generally positive beliefs about the value of and enjoyment in doing mathematics. The findings challenge previous research, which report the tendency of teachers' beliefs to be resistant to change while in teacher education and suggest that it is possible for ITE mathematics education programmes to stimulate improvement in beliefs and attitudes among participants. Particular programme features are identified as instrumental in this positive change in beliefs about mathematics.
Descriptors: Mathematics Instruction, Teacher Education Programs, Elementary School Teachers, Preservice Teachers, Student Attitudes, Beliefs, Value Judgment, Attitude Measures, Foreign Countries, Attitude Change, Student Surveys, Pretests Posttests, Learning Modules, Statistical Analysis
Taylor & Francis. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Ireland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A