ERIC Number: EJ1129985
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2301-251X
EISSN: N/A
Old Habits Die Hard: An Uphill Struggle against Rules without Reason in Mathematics Teacher Education
O'Meara, Niamh; Fitzmaurice, Olivia; Johnson, Patrick
European Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, v5 n1 p91-109 2017
Mathematics teacher educators in the University of Limerick became aware of a lack of conceptual understanding of key mathematics concepts of prospective secondary mathematics teachers through observation on teaching placement and in pedagogy lectures. A pilot study to enhance the conceptual understanding of prospective teachers was carried out with one undergraduate class in 2009/10 and a longer more in-depth programme was offered to all prospective mathematics teachers in the academic year 2011/12. The intervention was designed to get prospective mathematics teachers "thinking" about mathematics topics they have so far taken for granted and hence better prepare them for classroom practice. This retrospective study divulges a number of observations which emerged, the main one being how rote learning and an emphasis on procedural skills at the expense of conceptual understanding results in a cycle of ineffective teaching which is difficult to break.
Descriptors: Standards, Mathematics Teachers, Mathematics Education, Teacher Education, Foreign Countries, Mathematical Concepts, Secondary School Teachers, Secondary School Mathematics, Pilot Projects, Preservice Teachers, Teaching Methods, Observation, Qualitative Research, Statistical Analysis
European Journal of Science and Mathematics Education. Eastern Mediterranean University, Farnagusta, TRNC, Mersin 10, Turkey. e-mail: editor@scimath.net; Web site: http://www.scimath.net
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Ireland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A