ERIC Number: EJ971647
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 23
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1941-5257
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Perceptions of Israeli Mathematics Teachers regarding Their Professional Development Needs
Shriki, Atara; Lavy, Ilana
Professional Development in Education, v38 n3 p411-433 2012
Recent reforms in mathematics education have increased the need for teachers to attend professional development programs. In order to motivate teachers to attend such programs and to maximize their effect on teachers' development, we believe it is important to adapt the contents of such programs to teachers' perceived needs. The current study was designed to explore the professional needs of Israeli mathematics teachers, as they perceived them. Our results show that teachers are mainly concerned with developing their mathematical knowledge and acquiring knowledge that relates to the way in which students comprehend various mathematical concepts. However, these concerns stem from different positions that can be attributed to their teaching experience: new teachers appear to be self-centered; therefore their concern with developing their knowledge might be a result of a need to gain self-confidence. More experienced teachers are able to consider the effect of their teaching on students' learning, and it appears that their wish to acquire knowledge stems from this perspective. Highly experienced teachers, like new teachers, are also self-centered, believing they know everything about teaching and learning, and therefore express interest in acquiring knowledge merely for satisfying their own curiosity. (Contains 3 notes, 2 tables, and 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Mathematics Education, Mathematical Concepts, Mathematics Teachers, Teaching Experience, Faculty Development, Foreign Countries, Teacher Attitudes, Educational Change, Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Self Esteem, Questionnaires, Middle School Teachers
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Israel
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

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