A study conducted by the Mathematical Association of America showed that calculus not only has significant effects on students' decision to pursue STEM fields, but also on their attitudes towards mathematics. Inspired by this large-scale study, the present study sought to deepen the current understanding of the impact of calculus on student…

This study investigated the sources of difficulties experienced by prospective teachers in mathematical modelling in the context of a semester-long course on mathematical modelling for teachers. The data reported in this study were collected from six prospective teachers through in-depth semi-structured interviews supported by audio and videotaped…

We present a model for roleplaying (RP) for university students that is aimed at fostering the interactions of each learner with the teacher and coursemates, self- and peer-assessment, as well as an awareness and meaningful learning of mathematics. Specific features of our model are its focus on metacognition and individualized learning, based on…

Differential equations are widely used tools for modelling the world around us, making a course in differential equations a natural place for students to connect concrete mathematical applications to abstract concepts. Since students grasp the concepts better by applying them, introducing differential equations through modelling becomes essential.…

We believe that developing cultural competencies can help students learn mathematics and conversely that learning mathematical content can help students learn about themselves and others. Using frameworks introduced by Rendón (2009) and Gutiérrez (2018), we present a five-part bundle of activities for undergraduate differential equations course…

Engagement in complex, challenging and multifaceted model-eliciting activities is considered helpful for preparing learners for everyday life. The current study seeks to trace the evolution of modelling routines during two model-eliciting activities. To identify how these routines emerged and evolved, we video-recorded a group of five prospective…

The Students' Approaches to Learning (SAL) tradition comprehends an approach to learning as a combination of students' aims for learning and the processes used to achieve them. The tradition values a deep approach to learning; this is the case also in the context of university mathematics, where a deep approach is seen as a requirement for…

Educational success is mainly based on the formation of effective learners. Students' learning is affected by several variables, such as intelligence, motivation, teaching and learning approaches. Research showed that approaches to learning are among one of the most important variables that influence students' learning quality. They are related to…

International literature is increasingly disclosing the relevance of cultural aspects within the processes of teaching and learning mathematics. Knowledge is inextricably linked to the activities in which the subjects engage, and must be considered in relation to the socio-cultural context wherein the activity takes place. Literature reveals the…

This paper reports on the development of the Teaching Mathematics for Social Justice beliefs (TMfSJ-B) scale and its psychometric properties. Preservice elementary education teachers enrolled in teacher education programmes at seven universities completed multiple surveys designed to understand the evolution of attitudes and beliefs about teaching…

Teachers' beliefs about mathematics play an important role in the teaching of mathematics. Future teachers' views of mathematics are the basis of the quality of instruction they will deliver, as well as the teaching materials that they will present to their students and the means necessary to learn and participate in mathematical tasks. This…

In modern information societies, evaluating information, data, or knowledge claims is crucial. As these activities are influenced by epistemological beliefs, such beliefs are a key element of education in the sense that educational institutions intend to prepare students for professional and social life. Hence, this study aims to examine the…

In traditional advanced mathematics lectures the instructor usually provides definitions, theorems, and proofs on the board rather quickly. The students often cannot make sense of these during the lecture as they are busy writing. In order to gain an understanding of the content, an intensive post-class processing on the basis of their notes would…

In spring 2018, an inquiry-oriented differential equations course was offered at the Lebanese American University. This paper highlights students' comprehension of some qualitative aspects of differential equations, namely their understanding of the equations and their solutions. It also explores the students' success in moving between the…

This study aims to identify what curriculum resources preservice teachers are using when planning a lesson individually and with a group. Moreover, it is interested in understanding the criteria they use when selecting curriculum resources in their lesson plans. The data were obtained from 28 preservice mathematics teachers through a written…